So Local San Francisco Kiter now the 2011 Kite Course Racing World Champ gave a talk this past Wednesday about what kite course racing is at the St Francis Yacht Club.
This is the raw footage sorry about the sound on the second part. Had to shoot it with a Contour GPS cam when the SD card got filled up on the video cam.

So Kiteboard racing is an evaluation sport in the 2016 Summer games in Rio.   I was looking at some old photos and figured this one would be great to share. It is form the 1St kite race season in our home spot of Crissy Field . This was the birth of the sport.

You are looking at a shot looking back at the St Francis Yacht Club in May 2006.  Most used C-kite and twin-tips those days.

Tho official release from the ISAF:
The International Sailing Federation (ISAF) has confirmed the ten events for the 2016 Olympic Sailing Competition at 2011 ISAF Mid-Year Meeting in St Petersburg, Russia.
ISAF President Göran Petersson led the ISAF Council in more than three hours of debate and discussion before the ten events were decided. Over 50 Submissions were received for consideration following the changes to the process for selecting events and equipment that was agreed in November 2010.
The ten events selected by the ISAF Council for the 2016 Olympic Sailing Competition are:

Men’s Board and/or Kiteboard – evaluation
Women’s Board and/or Kiteboard – evaluation
Men’s One Person Dinghy – Laser
Women’s One Person Dinghy – Laser Radial
Men’s 2nd One Person Dinghy – Finn
Men’s Skiff – 49er
Women’s Skiff – Evaluation
Men’s Two Person Dinghy – 470
Women’s Two Person Dinghy – 470
Mixed Two Person Multihull – Evaluation

The Vote
In November 2010, a provisional list of Events and Equipment (“the slate”) was agreed by the ISAF Council. Since then, ISAF received over 50 Urgent Submissions which proposed alternative slates. A two-stage voting process, similar to that used by the IOC when choosing a host city for the Olympic Games, was used to decide the final list.

After the first stage, seven Submissions went through to the second stage of voting. There was a palpable sense of tension in the meeting room as the Council awaited the results of the second stage.

About the ISAF Council
The ISAF Council is the final decision making body of ISAF. It is chaired by the President who was elected along with seven Vice-Presidents for a four year term in 2008. The Council also includes the other members of the Executive Committee, Presidents of Honour and a Treasurer (all non-voting). There are also 29 appointed members who represent each of the regional gropus of sailing nations, and representatives of the Oceanic and Offshore Committee, the ISAF Classes Committee, the Women’s Forum and the Athlete’s Commission (non-voting).

At the 2010 ISAF Annual Conference, Council agreed that the process for selecting the Olympic Events and Equipment should be changed and approved new Regulation 23.

The report from the Olympic Commission recommended the change as a way to better serve the ISAF Member National Authorities (MNAs) and sailors and to provide greater continuity for the sport between Olympic Games’ and create a system for Equipment evolution.

Other decisions made in St Petersburg
A full report of the decisions made in St Petersburg will be published in the minutes, these include:
• Decisions on the core events for 2020 were deferred until the 2011 Annual Conference in November.
• 29er XX granted Recognized Class Status
• 2014 Youth Olympic Games Events confirmed as: Boy’s Windsurfer, Girl’s Windsurfer, Boy’s One Person Dinghy and Girl’s One Person Dinghy.
• Olympic Class World Championships set to continue
• A single ranking system for the Olympic events to be operational from 2013 onwards.For more information about the ISAF Mid-Year Meeting and to read the Submissions visit – www.sailing.org/2011-midyear.php

To read the ISAF Regulations go to www.sailing.org/regulations

The 2011 Cabrinha kiteboard Race Series schedule is out.
All the Races are in the Bay around Crissy Field in San Francisco and run by the St. Francis Yacht Club.
This is an open event and anyone that wants to race is welcome! The competition is steep but it you can find it a battle though out the fleet. Sign up for a single night or the whole season.

Registration is now open.
The dates are April 7,21 May 5, 19 June 2, 16, 30 August 4, 18 July 14, 28 September 1, 15.
Come out and be a part of the series that birthed the sport! Our Google Calender below has all the dates of this series and also the date for the rest of the SF Bay kite related races this year.

The kitesurfing and windsurfing are bidding for one place in the 2016 summer Olympic Games, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. But today Neil Pryde sent a shot across kiteboarding’s bow. He withdrew his support for kiteboard in favor of windsurfing. This sucks cause his brand (Neil Pryde) owns Cabrinha which in the lead sponsor for our kite racing series here in San Francisco that started the sport.

I wonder if the reason for this is the fact that his windsurfing brand supplies the current Olympic class board (RS:X) and is pushing the RS:One as the junior Olympic board.

Here is what he had to say:

“I have been acting as an Ambassador for the IKA in order to assist Kitesurfing in its objective to attain Olympic Event status.

I have now withdrawn my endorsement of the IKA Campaign because it is my view that Kitesurfing has not yet developed the rules of competition and disciplines that must be demonstrated to qualify Kitesurfing as an Olympic Event.

As the Managing Director of Neil Pryde Limited, the owner of Cabrinha, a world leader in Kitesurfing I remain a strong supporter of Kitesurfing and I believe that the sport will continue to grow and develop as a lifestyle / adventure sport. Kitesurfing offers tremendous opportunities to combine sport and travel and there is no doubt that it is an exciting action sport that ultimately could obtain Olympic status.

However it is important to look at Kitesurfing today and understand the limitations of the sport within the requirements of an Olympic Event.

I would support the inclusion of Kitesurfing as a Demonstration Event at the 2016 Olympic Games if this is feasible.

NEIL PRYDE
Managing Director
NEIL PRYDE LIMITED”

Yo IKA keep your friends close and your enemies…….

The Notice of Race for the 2010 North American Course Racing Championships has just been published and is available here for download.

You can register online for this event by following this link.

The event is hosted by Asociacion Mexicana de Kitesurf for and on behalf of Copa Mexico and the Mexican Sailing Federation and will be held from March 1st (Registration) till March 6th at Bucerias,Nayarit / Mexico.

20000 US Dollar are up for grabs and will attract the best course racers in the kiteboarding world.

The event will be based at the beach in front and to the south of hotel Decameron, in Bucerias, Nayarit, Mexico.

Conditions to be expected: Onshore to sideshore winds ranging from 8 to 25kts; water conditions are choppy with occasional small shorebreak on windy days.
Average water temperature in March is 24 degree celsius (75F) but sudden cold currents can drop it as low as 20C (68F) so a neopreme top or shorty is recomended. Air temperature ranges from a high of 27C (81F) to a low of 17C (63F) at night, averaging 22C (72F).

Provisional Schedule:
Saturday February 27th Amateur course racing & clinic.
-11:00 Riders meeting for amateur course racing clinic/qualifyer for intl fleet.
-12:00 First possible start.
-18:00 Opening Ceremony of Copa México as a whole at the Skybar of Marival Residences´ Penthouse.

Sunday February 28th Amateur course racing
-11:00 Riders meeting for amateur course racing clinic/qualifyer for intl fleet.
-12:00 First Possible start.
-TBA party

Monday March 1st Free day of competition
-17:00-20:00 International course racing registration.
-TBA party

Tuesday March 2nd International Course Racing
-11:00 riders meeting
-12:00 First possible start
-TBA party

Wednesday March 3rd International Course Racing
-11:00 riders meeting
-12:00 First possible start
-TBA party

Thursday March 4th International Course Racing
-11:00 riders meeting
-12:00 First possible start
-TBA party

Friday March 5th International Course Racing, National freestyle.
-11:00 riders meeting for international course racing
-12:00 First possible start
-15:00 end of international course racing, riders meeting for national freestyle
-15:30 first possible start for national freestyle
-TBA party

Saturday March 6th  International Course Racing Finals & National freestyle
-11:00 riders meeting for international course racing
-12:00 First possible start
-15:00 end of international course racing, riders meeting for national freestyle
-15:30 first possible start for national freestyle
-19:30 Prize giving ceremony for international course racing at Marina Riviera Nayarit.

Sunday March 7th National Freestyle finals
-11:30 national freestyle riders meeting
-12:00 fisrt possible start
-TBA prize giving ceremony/party

Air Mexicana is offering 25% reduced tickets, booking information is available at the registration page.

The organiser will provide shuttle from Puerto Vallarta Intl Airport. For details see the notice of race.

OFFICIAL WEBSITE: http://www.internationalkiteboarding.org

PREVIEW PICTURES: http://www.internationalkiteboarding.org -> Press Center
Hi-Res Pics and Videos available on request.

ClASS MANAGER: Markus Schwendtner

For more information about the International Kiteboarding Association, please do not hesitate to contact us at:

The International Kiteboarding Association
Rohrbecker Weg 43
14612 Falkensee
Germany

Fon: +49 1713819139

http://www.internationalkiteboarding.org
info@internationalkiteboarding.org

So the International Kiteboarding Association officially is working to get kiteboard racing added in to the 2016 Olympics!  I just got the press release below that includes a link to the brochure.  The thing that I noticed is how much the roots of our sport from here in the SF Bay come through in the images used.  Lets hope that we can get some of the local SF boys and girls on the podium in Rio.

So here is the Press release:

With the successful bid of Rio de Janeiro and the Olympic Sailing Regatta 2016 held on the beaches of the Copacabana, Kiteboarding would perfectly suit  into this scenery and add a true highlight to the Olympic Games.

Have a first look at the 2009 brochure and learn more about what kiteboard racing has to offer to the Olympic Games

“Kiteboarding is the purest form of sailing and would be an awesome addition to the Olympic Family within the framework of the 2016 Olympic Sailing Event. Kiteracing is not weight sensitive and all of your equipment can fit in the back of a regular car. Its colorful, dynamic, inexpensive and super easy to learn… and can be done in water as shallow as 2 inches deep, opening up many places where no other craft can navigate.
As a five-time Olympic Athlete within the sport of Windsurfing and now a professional kiteboarder, I feel Kiteboarding would marry well within ISAF’s umbrella of international and Olympic Sailing events. Why not introduce the sport to the world for the 2016 Olympics. It is the most modern and efficient form of wind powered sailing on the planet.“, says two-time olympic medalist Michael Gebhardt (USA), member of the IKAs Olympic Commission.

• Kiteboarding perfectly suits the IOC strategy
• Kiteboarding is the best performing of all sailing classes
• Kiteboarding offers equal opportunities for any kind of athlete
• Kiteboarding is affordable and transportable
• Kiteboarding is media attractive
• Kiteboarding brings the sports top athletes to The Games
• Kiteboardings Olympic Campaign is supported by the major manufacturers
• Kiteboarding can help to make Olympic Sailing attractive again

Watch out for our regular updates on the development of kiteboard racing towards the Olympic Games !

The high-resolution version of the 2009 brochure “Kiteboarding and the Olympics” can be downloaded here

Men

1. Sean Farley
2. Chip Wasson
3. Johnny Heineken
4. Damien LeRoy
5. Bruno Sroka
6. Jesse Richman
7. Bjoern Rune Jensen
8. Dirk Hanel
9. Sky Solbach
10. Michael Gebhardt

Women

1. Steph Bridges
2. Kristin Boese
3. Melissa Gill
4. Sandy Parker
5. Katja Roose
6. Paula Sonnenberg

Silver Fleet

1. Eric Geleynse
2. Chris Brown
3. Bruce Johnson

Here are links to the scoring PDFs.

Qualification Series Results

Gold Fleet Results

Silver Fleet Results

Women’s Division Results

Men’s Division Results

Chip Wasson and John Gomes enjoy the night after a lot of hard work.

Pete Cabrinha and Jeff Headington at the Awards party.

Shawn Farley and Mike Gebhardt watch the slide show form the pictures take over the week.

Bruno and one of the International Judges inside the St Francis.

Evan and Stafaans top the charts for their home countries, Canada and South Africa. I will skip how many rider of each country there where

So here are some pictures of the boards and people at the beach.

Chip getting his kites ready for day 4.

Here is team Cabrinha boards

Nils and Shawn talk about what fins to run.

Eric Due happy after a good day of racing.

Martin Vari and Mike Zajicek

Nils hits up Eric's majic cooler.

Bruno Sroka and Steph Bridges sit before a long day of racing.

Frank and Stefaans. Protest ?!? No way man.

Shawn Farley getting ready to set up for the day.

Here is an video embedof the local ABC news interviewing Damon Leroy, Jeff Kindt and me.

Here are some more of my pictures of yesterday races.

Bruno heads up wind.

The blue fleet comes into the start of the race.

Shawn Richman and other getting ready to get off the beach for the second race of the day.

Here are a few links to local articles about the event.

Gabe Brown article in the Examiner

Local report for the SFappeal view on the event. It includes a photo gallery and on of my kite cam pics.

Kron 4 News video.

What I would report is that the score will be changing after today because we will get a throw out of our lowest score.  Notable Jesse Richman will jump into the top 10.  Also today Chip will be racing head to head with Bruno without Farley.