I've always been a bit perplexed by kite race courses, and by the decision to replace windsurf racing with kite racing. While I don't windsurf, it just seems like a more appropriate choice of vessel for course races. Doesn't mean that I think there shouldn't be kite races, but it seems to me that the standard format of racing around buoys that works well for sail powered boats really isn't ideal for kites. Kites just take up too much area in the sky. If I were to design a kite race, I guess that it might be race across a single line (starting line to finish line, no turns) or maybe in very small heats (kind of like ice skate racing), but I do agree that the standard format of racing in a pack with kites seems like a recipe for disaster.

I've always been a bit perplexed by kite race courses, and by the decision to replace windsurf racing with kite racing. While I don't windsurf, it just seems like a more appropriate choice of vessel for course races. Doesn't mean that I think there shouldn't be kite races, but it seems to me that the standard format of racing around buoys that works well for sail powered boats really isn't ideal for kites. Kites just take up too much area in the sky. If I were to design a kite race, I guess that it might be race across a single line (starting line to finish line, no turns) or maybe in very small heats (kind of like ice skate racing), but I do agree that the standard format of racing in a pack with kites seems like a recipe for disaster.

I've got no particular interest in whether kitesurfing makes it into the olympics or not, but I don't understand why everyone is getting so hung up on the safety aspect of it.
Obviously, statistically speaking, kitesurfing is never going to be as safe as windsurfing. A large amount of windsurfing involves pootling around a small resevoir in 12knots of wind, conditions that you've got to be a proper charlie to get yourself into a life or death situation, and this is really going to skew the statistics in windsurfing's favour. There doesn't seem to be any data that compares accident rates for professionals in the two sports for a given discipline (eg race or wave riding), only overall participation figures and any pillock can buy a kite off ebay.
Even if we accept that kitesurfing is not a safe sport, why should that matter? The skeleton/luge are properly dangerous, and yet these remain in the Olympics. Only this year an Olympic medal favourite died paracticing for the halfpipe, yet I don't see anyone calling for this discipline to be removed. In fact, a bit of added risk factor might be just what is needed to bring in audience figures -lets face it, the only thing that makes F1 worth watching is the occasional pile-up.

The windsurf representatives were a bit complacent and uneducated about the kitesurfing bid. The ISAF's own technical committee had recommended windsurfing be retained by a huge majority, so the whole thing swung around very suddenly just before the vote.

There will be a vote in November and I'm sure that the windsurfing representatives will be making all of the points made at the start of this thread - and more - before the next vote is taken because they have now woken up and started educating themselves.

Despite the windsurf reps being able to make a very good case, the ISAF did make the decision based on an imaginary future they bought into, and kite course racing is capable of delivering the most entertaining sailing class in the Olympics. The ISAF could stick to their decision and it only requires more than 25% of them to do so for kiting to stay in.
Depending on the wind, (ie. if its light enough) it could also be a bigger disaster than any other sailing class.
There is also the possibility of it being ruined by an equipment war where whichever country spends the most money on the highest technology wins. And it will require the sailors to all be of a high enough standard to avoid tangling kites (which will be extremely difficult in very light winds).

thx keep em coming

i just love thread like this one!

just marvelous!

and you asking why so much negativity towards olympic kiting?
well, that is why!

did you miss confrontations like these?
do you need intrigues like these?
do you know that if kiting gets olympic YOU are going to be the one who pays for it? like it or not. and believe me, i know, i'm already paying for the whole bunch of disciplines as a tax payer. but one thing is participating in classic disciplines like running, walking, jumping and throwing stuff and another is competing with the use of high-tech technology means as the sails, boats and kites. and i don't even want to talk about the doping...
do you realize olympic kiting is going to be as boring to average tv viewer as olympic athletic 50km walk would be to you?
do you need those pretty much anonymous isaf, ika or whatever else three or four letter abbreviation parasite organizations pretending to representing "your" interests, indirectly for your own money?

looking for more comments from kiteboarders on Olympic report on kiteboarding thx.