mikesids wrote: ↑Fri Jan 25, 2019 3:16 am
What's wrong with the GKA and IKA - surely they both know something about kiteboarding? Expression-type events and racing events covered between them.
I wasn't kiting back then ( was windsurfing) but I distinctly recall the" chicken loops are for sissies" arguments from years ago. Utter BS. Things move on. Personally I am stoked to not have my modern kiting choices restricted to a C kite with minimal depower and a 120cm long twin tip as it was in the "good old days".
There is no conspiracy. It is simply progress and the maturation of a sport. You need to chill , and get back to the simple joys of harnessing windpower on the water . In my opinion.
I assume you are a fellow Kiwi ( from your user name) in which case I would hope that you are not also advocating a return to 12 metre boats for the America's Cup !!!!
Chicken loops are for sissies was a maui thing 1999- 2001 when 4 line kites first came out... hardly any kiters Dont' think we will be going back there in a hurry.
Kite equipment took a dramatic change over 10 years ago now. I kite foiled in maui over 11 years ago with a high depower kite. Even the patented naish push release used by nearly all manufacturers now, existed then.
I got no time for those organisations, they are an embarassment to kiteboarding IMO.
GKA compete in one freestyle heat with 2 different style boards.. one wakestyle , one twintip. Possibly the most rediculous competition in all of kiteboarding history.
IKA - the organisation that failed in its bid to control $kiteboarding after intervention from Robby Naish who was very public in his critisism of the organisation. Now only involved with racing ( maybe speed too?). Thanks Robby Naish.
Nothing wrong with short twintips, try one when it is nuking out west.. they rock, or airstyle..!?
I would never entrust the safety of a different sport ( especially young riders), controlled by another sport ( world sailing). It's a huge liability for sailing organisations, I wouldn't want to be in their shoes when the $hit hits the fan. Look at the stats.. over half of all deaths from kiteboarding occur from the flying aspect of the sport.
Greed. I hope we see big changes in the attempted destructuring ( sailing had nothing to do with kiteboarding until there was a sniff of olympic funding) of kiteboarding.
Kiteboarding should be 100% self governing, not these kooks involved.
Even the inventor of kiteboarding agrees, he is horrifed by what has happened too.
No interest in AC, into kiteboarding, not sailing.