Say NO to Olympics without windsurfing...

BrianMaiden · **Joined:** Wed May 06, 2009 7:57 pm **Posts:** 145

Why all this talk about kitesurfing in the olympics?
Why is it so important for the sport?
Why all this Kitesurfing vs Windsurfing?

Seriously, only a small percentage of kiters actually race and give a shit about kite racing. Kite racing isn't indicative of our sport yet this is the discipline that will be showcased around the world. Why the big deal? Kitesurfing isn't better or worse than windsurfing and having it included in the olympics doesn't 'validate' it either. Just discussing that issue makes me cringe. Just enjoy!

kitewindunite · **Joined:** Sat Aug 11, 2012 12:26 am **Posts:** 81

BrianMaiden wrote:

Just enjoy!

Amen to that!

I wish I had your ability to distance myself from all of this. My enjoyment level is seriously diminished by what ISAF did to our kinship with the windsurfers...

BrianMaiden wrote:

Why all this Kitesurfing vs Windsurfing?

Precisely! Hence the petition.

frankm1960 · **Joined:** Sun Feb 04, 2007 10:48 pm **Posts:** 1226

I'm a windsurfer and I've never paid any attention to the olympic windsurfing... ever.
I can't imagine any regular 9 to 5 windsurfer caring one iota about it.
From the little I've seen and read it doesn't appear to resemble anything like regular windsurfing.

That said though... I've seen some clips of the sailing events in general and I think their days are numbered as well.

I could be wrong.... I usually am.

PS: I think they would do good to add another aspect of kitesurfing to the sailing events... mega loop stuff, big air, pier jumping etc etc. That would be something people would watch I bet. Be no more dangerous than cruising 110km/hr down a ski hill.

McAbe · **Joined:** Sat Oct 24, 2009 11:58 pm **Posts:** 287

BrianMaiden wrote:

Why all this Kitesurfing vs Windsurfing?

Its the windsurfers that don't like us, don't think kite surfers in general has anything against windsurfers, besides the fact that some of them are whining bitches.
They don't like to share spaces that have been exclusively used by them in the past, they don't like to see that we have more fun than them, but are to old/conservative to admit that, they rather cry than to start kite surfing instead.

kitewindunite, say NO to Olympics without windsurfing, :duh:

kitewindunite · **Joined:** Sat Aug 11, 2012 12:26 am **Posts:** 81

frankm1960 wrote:

mega loop stuff, big air, pier jumping etc etc. That would be something people would watch I bet.

Agreed, but ISAF won't allow that because they're all about course racing, whether it's on dinghies, cats, boards, etc. So what's the point of getting into the Olympics, and waging war with the windsurfers in the process, if the end result doesn't represent our sport? Seems like we're making a whole lot of enemies for no good reason at all.

We'd be much better off applying to the Olympics OUTSIDE of ISAF. Then, we could have freestyle, big air, etc. and I bet the windsurf freestyle riders would gladly join in!

JS · **Posted:** Sun Aug 12, 2012 4:01 am

kitewindunite wrote:

So what's the point of getting into the Olympics, and waging war with the windsurfers in the process...? Seems like we're making a whole lot of enemies for no good reason at all.

Nobody is waging war.

Some folks apparently think what's said on internet forums is a reflection of the real world. It's not.

kitewindunite · **Joined:** Sat Aug 11, 2012 12:26 am **Posts:** 81

JS wrote:

kitewindunite wrote:

So what's the point of getting into the Olympics, and waging war with the windsurfers in the process...? Seems like we're making a whole lot of enemies for no good reason at all.

Nobody is waging war.

Some folks apparently think what's said on internet forums is a reflection of the real world. It's not.

Point taken!

It's the other way around, isn't it? The real world is a projection of what's said on internet forums!

windmaker · **Joined:** Sun Jun 15, 2003 8:48 am **Posts:** 847

kitewindunite wrote:

I'm sick to my stomach that we had to kill windsurfing at the Olympics in order to get in. From what I can tell, I'm not the only one. How about we take the moral high ground and do something about it?

The IKA represents our interests at ISAF. Let's ask the IKA to decline those spots on the Olympic Sailing Programme as long as Windsurfing isn't reinstated. Can you imagine the message that would send? If ISAF and the IOC are so desperate to add youth and media appeal to the Olympic Regatta, let them find a solution.

What's the worst thing that can happen? We're kicked out of the Olympics, and so is Windsurfing. But we'll be able to hold our heads high. Doesn't that count for something? And who knows, freed from the constraints that ISAF places on our sports, we might team up with our other friends on the beach (surfers, freestylers, paddlers, etc.) and carve our own path into the Olympics!

Let's show what it means to be 'brothers.' Let's stand up for each other! Please add your name to this petition:

http://www.change.org/petitions/ika-say ... indsurfing

Just signed. Agreed 100%. Replacing the present most popular olympic sailing categorie by another craft makes no sense.
Besides the fact that Olympic windsurfing or kitesurfing, to be, does not represent the image 99% of the world population have of the sports, what is fair is fair and some of the more short sided persons using this forum should wise up. Kite sailing could be the next one to be cancelled from the olympics one day. Especially if things do not go according to plan in Rio 2016!

wdric · **Posted:** Sun Aug 12, 2012 1:12 pm

kitewindunite wrote:

Let's show what it means to be 'brothers.' Let's stand up for each other! Please add your name to this petition:

So if you was in a competition and were leading, would you stop and let the second place getter catch up and beat you just because you felt sorry for them?

This was a competition for two spots in the Olympics (male and female), both camps knew before the vote.
One camp said we are already here guys nothing to much to worry about.
The other camp was mounting a challenge and won!
Somebody had to come second and somebody had to win.

I dont think the windsurfers would have been interested in standing down from Olympic competition if kitesurfing lost it's bid :jump:

But I do think it a shame windsurfer had to go in place of kitesurfing.
These two forms of sailing surely deserve to be their and offer the most cost effective solution for most countries to get into the sport

kitewindunite · **Joined:** Sat Aug 11, 2012 12:26 am **Posts:** 81

wdric wrote:

kitewindunite wrote:

Let's show what it means to be 'brothers.' Let's stand up for each other! Please add your name to this petition:

So if you was in a competition and were leading, would you stop and let the second place getter catch up and beat you just because you felt sorry for them?

That's not a good analogy. Here's a better one: if you're a gladiator and your survival in the arena is tied to killing the other guy, would you hack each other to death or rise together against the system? ISAF made it a kite vs. windsurf contest, but we don't have to accept that.

wdric wrote:

But I do think it a shame windsurfer had to go in place of kitesurfing.
These two forms of sailing surely deserve to be their and offer the most cost effective solution for most countries to get into the sport

Exactly. And together, we have the leverage to make it happen.

Say NO to Olympics without windsurfing...

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