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IKA News:

15 Manufacturers Advance To Factory Inspections In IKA Formula Kite Registered Series Production Scheme For Paris 2024


IKA launched the application process for new Formula Kite equipment registrations in September 2019, with requirements for registration clearly laid out in an online application system.

This application system required interested builders to submit dimensions of their equipment together with an extensive list of supporting documentation in order to assess professional and technical competence.

Following the timelines laid out in the Formula Kite class rules, IKA has received 17 applications for hydrofoil system equipment registrations and 6 applications for foilkite (RAM-air) equipment registrations by 1st May 2020, the application period closing date.

Other than in so called "single builder one design" classes, under the registered series production scheme detailed information on the building process is required in order to ensure that all competitors have access to the same equipment, and building specifications remain unchanged throughout the Olympic quad.

The IKA Technical Committee has considered all received applications and has assessed them against the requirements set out. One foilkite (RAM-air) and seven hydrofoil system applications were rejected.

The registration process will now continue with factory inspections for the successful applications. Equipment lists on the Formula Kite website will be updated accordingly.

Hydrofoil Systems - subject to successful factory inspection:
Airush-Starboard
Chubanga
Duotone
Enata
Flying Sardine
KFA
Levitaz
Moses
Taaroa
Uramoztu

Foilkites (RAM-air) - subject to successful factory inspection:
Aeros/Elf
Flymaax
Flysurfer
F-One
Ozone

For further information see

https://www.formulakite.org/equipment/e ... -2020-2024 and
https://www.formulakite.org/equipment/e ... -2020-2024

IKA is also investigating irregularities with currently registered equipment from the previous registration cycle.

The IKA Formula Kite class is committed to ensure fairness between competitors. This includes strict control of the equipment and building processes in order to avoid an arms race with custom made equipment.

All manufacturers, boutique brands and custom made equipment, are welcome to race in the open IKA KiteFoil World Series events.

For more information on the Olympic IKA Formula Kite class, please visit www.formulakite.org

Why is Mike's Lab not on the approved list?

slowboat wrote: ↑

Tue May 05, 2020 9:51 am

Why is Mike's Lab not on the approved list?

viewtopic.php?t=2406267

Whos money is IKA spending for all this stuff, flying around for inspection and whatnot.

I hope any gear I am buying is not subsidising their spending.

Very unfortunate that MikesLab did not get IKA approval. Mike has made some of the very best and fastest boards and foils for years now. His development work has greatly benefited our sport. My MikesLab board was way ahead of it's time and the MikesLab foils that I have tried are a pleasure to ride.
The IKA apparently wants standard mass produced gear that gives every rider equal opportunity in a race. This is perhaps a different goal than what Mike is best at.
CG

PrfctChaos wrote: ↑

Tue May 05, 2020 11:04 am

Whos money is IKA spending for all this stuff, flying around for inspection and whatnot.

I hope any gear I am buying is not subsidising their spending.

A brand like flysurfer for example, for a single line of kites they manufacture (7 sizes ) would pay $3500 US dollars to IKA for registration.

Any company that produces kites for less than half the average price of the current kites registered (there are many that fit in this category - even 500% less! -Pansh Kites) is refused being able to register whatsoever.

It is a great shame that a sport that promised affordability, now uses price fixing /protectionism in order to stop competition. In the world of business I understand this kind of practice could be considered price fixing which is illegal in most countries.

Where can find you find that the lower priced kites cannot register as olympic equipment?

I could not find any reference to exclusion of a brand for having prices too low, only if too high (from a couple pages into https://www.kiteclasses.org/equipmentregofoilkites)

"Criteria leading to the decision not to recommend a builder to World Sailing for licensing include:
...
Retail price in excess of the average retail prize +50% of all equipment of the same type registered during the applicable application period."

Competition like races show us which are the best performing kites. I have raced a bit and I assure you that most racers choose the very fastest kites that they can get their hands on in the hope that they do better. The five kite brands approved by the IKA dominate the racing scene for good reason. Anyone who thinks there is a cheap kite brand that can be competitive is welcome to race in any open event..

geokite wrote: ↑

Wed May 06, 2020 8:15 pm

I could not find any reference to exclusion of a brand for having prices too low, only if too high (from a couple pages into https://www.kiteclasses.org/equipmentregofoilkites)

"Criteria leading to the decision not to recommend a builder to World Sailing for licensing include:
...
Retail price in excess of the average retail prize +50% of all equipment of the same type registered during the applicable application period."

I am wrong, I must have misread it?! Sorry.

Affordable kite racing isnt arriving any time soon though.

Minimum 50 pieces per equipment/model/size per month = 350 a month (7 sizes) = 4200 kites a year. 3500 Euros registration.

It is a crying shame because sailing classes have things like the optimist that see some of the biggest fleets and are super affordable. 4200 kites a year for a single brand model ? am I misreading this too - it seems this will result in a small "club" of brands with no entry for others.

There are ways of making kite racing so much more affordable, but clearly $ is the main motive...olympic funding always brings those business people out that talk of inclusion, youth participation, 3rd world participation, affordablity - when they lobby, but once thought the door it is all about protecting an income.

A shame. Kiteboarding has such a high performance ratio to equipment cost at the lower end.

Kite racing has become like SUP racing became before it died, a high reliance on equipment performance and at a high cost, not the athlete, and hence very few young riders coming through, and so it ends.