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01 June 2015: The way of kiteboarding to the Olympic Games

This page collect all the main events and decisions that have a bearing on the way of kiteboarding to the inclusion in the Olympic Games.

Beginning with the discipline that most fits with the Olympic Games, that the choice of Formula kite, until the events of the last days.
Below is the list of the main events.

  1. Formula Kite: category selected by ISAF for Olympic Games
  2. May 2012: Kitesurfing at the Olympic Games of Rio De Janeiro 2016
  3. 2nd – 7th October 2012: Kiteboard Racing World Champioship
  4. 9th November 2012: Windsurfing restored to Olympic Games 2016 in Rio de Janeiro
  5. June 2014: Foil kites (or Ram Air kites) have taken the scene
  6. 1st November 2014: Kite Foil or Inflatable kites (LEI)?
  7. 4th November 2014: One Design proposed to save Formula Kite
  8. 5th November 2014: Foil and LEI kites will compete in separate classes in 2015
  9. 27th – 30th November 2014 ISAF Sailing World Cup Grand Final 2014: Kiteboarders eye Tokyo 2020 Olympics
  10. 1st June 2015: Kiteboarding Takes The Next Jump Forward On The Olympic journey. It has been included in the 2018 Youth Olympic Games

 

10. 1st June 2015 – Kiteboarding Takes The Next Jump Forward On The Olympic Journey: Kiteboarding included in the 2018 Youth Olympic Games

Young kiteboarders from around the world can now look forward to competing in the 2018 Youth Olympic Games (YOG) in Buenos Aires, following a confirmation from the ISAF Executive Committee during its session at the 2015 midyear meeting of the International Sailing Federation (ISAF). The IOC Executive Board will confirm the final list of events for all sports of the 2018 Youth Olympic Games during its session in early June.
Following final IOC confirmation, kiteboarding will be included as one of the four sailing events in the 2018 Youth Olympic Games. This is a significant milestone in ISAFs continuing bid to include kiteboarding in the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, as the 2018 event will showcase formats and equipment with the potential for inclusion in Tokyo.

Note: To read the full article, click here

9. 27th – 30th November 2014 ISAF Sailing World Cup Grand Final 2014: Kiteboarders eye Tokyo 2020 Olympics

Kiteboarding opened a new chapter in its route to the Olympic Games. Kiteboarding has been showcased in the ISAF Sailing World Cup Grand Final 2014, in Abu Dhabi.

A total of 20 male and female course race kiteboarders has competed before a representative of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), looking after a recommendation and inclusion in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Kiteboarding failed the 2016 Olympic Games, but the International Kiteboarding Association (IKA) has continued to lobby and make presentations to the IOC. The delegates seemed to like the idea of a short track format.

In a four way single race shoot out for the Open Kiteboarding title, Great Britain’s Oliver Bridge used his exceptional speed to blow away the competition.

After a tense semi-final Bridge qualified through to the final alongside 2014 World Champion Maxime Nocher (FRA), 2013 World Champion Florian Gruber (GER) and regular podium finisher Florian Trittel (ESP). The result of FinaGruber fended off Trittel to complete the podium.

Souce: IKA

8. 5th November 2014: Foil and LEI kites will compete in separate classes in 2015

The International Kiteboarding Association (IKA) has decided that the Formula Kite discipline will feature two sail classes in the 2015 season.

Foil kites and Leading Edge Inflatables (LEI) will compete in separate course board races. The controversy is over, for now, as the world governing body for the sport of kiteboarding reaches an agreement over the sail dispute.

“This decision was a clear message that we want to keep foil kites. There is simply no way to go back with the performance that foil kites afford, especially in light winds,” explains Markus Schwendtner, CEO at IKA.

7. 4th November 2014: One Design proposed to save Formula Kite

The Polish Kiteboarding Association (PKA) has proposed the creation of the “white board concept”, in which Formula riders compete on identical boards, fins and kites.

The PKA believes that the One Design proposal (there would be one board, a kite design and three fin designs) will encourage racers to join contests, making it cheaper and more competitive.

“Formula Kite can be saved only with radical moves. With the present ‘box rule’ we may disappear from the sailing world soon,” explains Marek Rowinski, president of PKA.

Source: surfertoday.com

6. 1st November 2014: Kite Foil or Inflatable kites (LEI)?

Polish Kiteboarding Association (PKA) that would effectively outlaw ram-air kites from the beginning of next year.

The move has stirred bitter controversy among Formula kite racers as the devastatingly efficient and quick foil kites have revolutionized the course board discipline this season, leaving those flying Leading-Edge Inflatable (LEI) kites trailing.

For many riders the key difficulty was that only two manufacturers – Ozone with the Chrono and St Petersburg-based Elf with the Joker – had put resources into pioneering the new generation of foil kites that took the race scene by storm.

In particular North Kiteboarding team riders – including women’s world champion Steph Bridge and son Olly, men’s European champion – had to use North-badged Elf foil kites in order to be competitive against Ozone riders. Other companies like Cabrinha have nowhere to go, with nothing for their paid riders to race.

However, the number of riders who turned up to compete at the Formula kite World, African and European championships was dramatically down on the previous year. Some argue the biggest factor for the fall was the expense and lack of availability of foil kites, without which riders felt at a big disadvantage. A few racers left the Worlds early, disheartened their campaign was doomed riding LEI kites.

But the PKA (Polish Kiteboarding Association), which hosted the European championships in Mielno in September, argues in its submission likely to be aired by the IKA at the meeting in Palma de Mallorca (November 2014), Spain, that the foil kites pose grave risk to riders because of a lack of buoyancy – unlike tube kites – when in the water. The Polish association proposes that kites’ inflated tubes should be at least 50 litres in volume, with the additional proviso they should have three inflatable struts to hold the trailing edge clear of the water to improve visibility and buoyancy. The stipulations would effectively rule out foil kites.

Obviously displeased with the PKA proposal is Luibimtsev from ELF: “Now ram air kites are going to be declared outlawed. But this is outrageous! I have been around as a rider and coach. I have not seen a single accident because of a foil “lacking safety”. What I have seen is that sometimes inflatables float while foils fly. I know it hurts.”

Source: kiteboardtour.asia

 

5. June 2014: Foil kites (or Ram Air kites) have taken the scene

Foil kites (or Ram Air kites) have taken the scene on by storm the 2014 season.

The Ozone Chrono and Elf Joker are quite literally the only two kites on the podium at any event around the world, and it’s had a devastating effect on racing scene. 

4. 9th November 2012: Windsurfing restored to Olympic Games 2016 in Rio de Janeiro

The decision took in May 2012, to include Kitesurfing in the Olympic Games of 2016 replacing windsurf, has been changed: Windsurf is back to Olympic Games 2016.

In fact, the Annual General Meeting of the International Sailing Federation approved the decision to keep windsurfing in the Rio 2016 Olympic Games with more than 50% of the votes.

Olympic windsurfers who have spent six months retraining as kitesurfers for the 2016 Olympics must abandon their progress in kiteboarding and go back to windsurf RS:X races.

Source: Windusurfing is back to Olympic Games 2016

3. 2nd – 7th October 2012: Kiteboard Racing World Champioship

From 2nt to 7th October 2012, Cagliari, the capital of Sardinia (Italy) hosted the first Formula Kite World Championship after the decision of ISAF to admit the Kiteboarding to the Olympic Games.

With the illusion of Olympic sport status, the Formula Kite registred about 200 kiters.

Johnny and Erika Heineken became the 2012 Kiteboard Course racing World Champions.

2. May 2012: Kitesurfing at the Olympic Games of Rio De Janeiro 2016

The ISAF Council has decided that kiteboarding should debut in the Olympic Games, both in Men’s and Women’s category. In November 2011, an evaluation group was appointed to examine kiteboarding formats with the board events for Rio 2016 defined as “windsurfing and/or kiteboarding”.

The Evaluation Group recommended to include Kitesurfing in the ISAF Sailing World Cup and the ISAF Sailing World Championships. The Council, having one step further, has decided to include Kitesurfing ar Olympic Games 2016 in Rio de Janeiro (Brasil).

The ISAF Windsurfing and Kiteboarding Committee will consider and make further recommendations to Council on the implementation of the inclusion of kiteboarding at their meeting in November 2012 at the ISAF Annual Conference.

Source: Kitesurfing at the Olympic Games 2016

1. Formula Kite: category selected by ISAF for Olympic Games

Formula Kite Course Racing Cagliari Sardegna 2012
Kite Course Racing Cagliari Sardegna 2012

According to the IKA (International Kiteboarding Association) there are currently six categories of kiteboarding: Wave, freestyle, slalom, speed, foil (hydrofoil) and course racing (Formula Kite).

Formula Kite (or course racing) is the category selected by ISAF as an Olympic sport.

Course racing is very similar to sailing’s “fleet racing” and during a regatta it is common to have 60 or more kiteboarders cluster around a course at dramatic speeds.

The most important elements of course racing are the ability to generate and control the speed and tactical understanding.

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