Ok, this is gonna open me up for some slander... so sling it.
What the F%$K is the ASA? "American Snowkite Association"
And do we need a national organization for Snowkiting? Or should we all just watch the weather and chase snow and powder like we always do?
I skipped out on the AWSI meeting (Kitesurfings Industry Association) Primarily due to the fact that Ozone does not follow industry standards, and our 2011 product is coming in Oct/Nov not September like the companies that attended. As well, the weather was bad. Instead I spent the last couple weekends soaking up the amazing winds and warm weather at Lake Mojave. So I have been out of the loop so to speak, focusing on kiting, not industry BS.
I come back and I get a bunch of calls regarding the ASA and the newly formed National Snowkite Tour. Funny thing is, nobody ever asked if we wanted our event to be a part of the tour. The other funny thing is the tour has been running already for a few years on a grass roots level. Now at the AWSI, several dedicated Snowkiters along with several egos came together and formed a new independent tour, that is based on the half dozen snowkite events that are independently organized and operated by local kite shops.
I am just confused I suppose. Do we need a Snowkite Association? Who will be members, who will run it? What will the costs be and why should anyone pay or support it? The AWSI was formed to support the industry of Kitesurf and Windsurf. Not sure where a Snowkite organization will fit in and if it is even needed. It seems that all the brands invested in supporting Snowkiting are already working hard together to grow the sport.
As far as the tour goes, it is already happening as every event organizer typically works together to create symbiotic dates and plans. I think a Unified tour is a great idea (I have tried to launch it myself the past few seasons) but it will take time to come together. The rules are already in place, although open to modification, so there is some good from group feedback on that subject. I just find it funny that this is all happening without the feedback from event organizers that put their hard earned time, energy and money into these events already.
OK, SPAM ME. I hope someone can help me see the sense in this... because its seems wierd to me that folks are trying organize something that is already organized. Or maybe I'm just seeing the greed and ego that is at the bottom of this new uprise in our PURE SPORT of SNOWKITING.
I dont believe we need an association. And there is already an established race tour working towards a unified series. BTW- this will be the 5th year of the US Open Snowkite Masters with National Championship Title.
Windzup,
Brian Schenck
435-462-5303
info@windzup.com
www.FlyOzoneUSA.com