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There are concerns that race-series is turning into a arms race with new waapens being introduced every week.

Voices have been murmuring about possible restrictions on boards for next years race series, ie. you have to sign up with one board and you are only allowed to use that one board throughout.

I'd like to voice my opinion on the subject and hear others view on the matter - the sooner we get it settled the better so guys know whats happening.

My personal preference would be no restrictions whatsoever - part of the game is to work out what works for you. Easy perhaps, coming from someone like me who is sponsored and testing gear all the time, but I've seen guys on all levels tweaking their set-ups, even if it came down to moving a footstrap.

Thats part of the game and why would we wish to let the guys that want to develop their game be forced to restrict themselves. We might evn find that some of the guys want to go and represent us overseas, why would we want to restrict them and put them on a back footing.

We could go one further and say we're only allowed to use kites under 10m (would suit me right up the alley) so as to keep outlay down. But again, why restrict yourself, I've lost races being on the wrong kite - thats part of it.

Anyway - I've thrown it out there - would be keen to hear peoples opinion. Is it an issue or not?

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Peter Petersen
NAISH SUP Merchant - purveyor of Stand Up Paddle boards from NAISH....
082 658 7033

Not having done the race (yet... next week I'm _so_ there), but having been involved in the Luderitz Speed Challenge event for the past two years, talking to sailors that do Speed World Cup, etc, my thinking is on the "do not restrict unless it's damaging the spirit of the sport".

The idea in a sail race is to be faster than the next guy, whatever it takes. The top guys refine their gear all the time (they have the time and resources), the middle guys learn from their trial-and-error, the rest pick up stuff as they go along. The whole sport develops.

Some guy will pop up with a hydrofoil board, he'll have an advantage and win, everyone will be pissed, then other boards will be improved, the hydrofoil will prove to not be such a great advantage, it'll be abandoned... All great, as a possible development dead-end is explored, then rejected. The sport advances.

And quite honestly, equipment is only part of the winning. There's also fitness, talent, skill, luck, race strategy. You can't afford the latest gear? Practice harder.

When is it damaging the spirit of the sport? When the gear uses technology that is contrary to the spirit of sailing (which is a craft riding on water propelled by the natural wind). This would include energy storage devices, etc. Or gear that presents a hazzard to other competitors.

As a final thought, was talking about a similar topic last week with Michael Ellison, the WSSRC observer who has been officiating at sail races for fifty-odd years. He does not like the idea of restrictions at all... Example: way back when, yacht sails were starting to be developed from synthetics. Only the richest teams could afford them (they were goddam expensive, and only lasted a few races), but they gave a massive advantage. Some sail classes banned them, some didn't.

For those that didn't, the sails tech developed, the volumes went up, prices came down, now everyone uses them. The classes that banned them no longer exist today.

Racing is about winning. Winning is about getting better. If you can't get better, you lose interest. That's a death sentence for a sport.

Course racing is a different discipline from freestyle or waveriding. Racing uses flatter kites, narrower boards. You can't enforce the wrong equipment on the sport just because most people have freestyle gear.

~R

No resitrictions = more designs = more new boards = more work = more $ =  : ) so now you know my opinion .

No seriously though I believe part of the whole hype is to try new kites , boards , fins ect and  to restrict this would be a step backwards .  

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Regards
Gavin Spowart

Cyclone Extreme Products
25 Hunter street Durban
27 31 3686864
083 4638025
www.cyclonekiteboarding.com

Slingshot CT
shop 55 Eden on the Bay
Big Bay
Blouberg
Cape Town
021 5549777
www.sskites.co.za

Restrictions = Formality = Rules = Less Fun.

The whole race series is supposed to be some good fun, if you don't win so what, come out for the kite / beer / banter etc.

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Follow Me @timharper

Hey Tim, i like your formula..and Spowy start make some Xtreme speed boards dude.

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www.kitespotters.co.za
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None of the arguments posted are new, and all remain valid. Coming from a yacht racing background I’ve heard it all before. The concept of racing with a common denominator, be it a certain track, distance, surface or propulsion, will always raise both sides of the argument. For that simple reason the world of racing has always evolved towards a class system, catering for standardized and unlimited. This is true for every form of racing (even horseracing) Kitesurfing will follow suit - it's inevitable

Indeed - very true. But we're prob still several years away from class standardisation. It's far too early to start talking about restrictions when we don't even really know what works in kite racing.

Hmmm.

My take on this.. Restrictions should only be there if a person is getting an UNFAIR advantage. Riding equipment that might have cost the guy R100 000.00 is not unfair. That person is just fortunate. I can't afford all these nice things and are stuck with hand me downs and 2nd hand stuff, however this in my mind isn't a reason why i should start moaning if there are people like pete and greg that are sponsored. (sorry other guys i can't mention all of you now)

The people that are up there have paid their dues and done their fair share in uplifting the sport. We beginners and intermediates only have to try harder. One day it will be your day. Whether it be on a home shaped board made of box foam and hardware store fiberglass or a professional designed thing. who cares.. Enjoy it..

HOWEVER... PRO'S be on the watch out, there is a whole pack of wolves behind you at the moment but sooner or later they are going to catch up. hahahha

***, get ISAF involved or worse yet the IKA! Then you will be screwed. Restrictions are stupid.

Different classes are in place (Twin TIp & Directional) now we have fun class, 1 lap, and open 2 or 3 laps.

If you want to run with the big girls, you need to get more gear. Most of the kites in the top 10 are sponsored or shop owned, so those wanting to be serious should look for sponsorship. Greg alluded to this the other day with his post about Bow kites. Grant, Greg, Berzack, Luke, et cetera all are sponsored, as are the other riders.

Boards and fins make all the difference and concentrate on your boards first. Get some fins and you will notice a big difference right away. Yet in high winds a lot of this falls away.

Restrictions are horrid and end up taking away the fun. Keep it open and grow the sport!

Oh, and a 110kg guy on a 10m kite against Oswald (40kgs) in 15kt would be fun to watch, but ridiculous all the same!

Keep it simple, that is always best.

Cheers

Rob

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Naish Africa

www.naishafrica.com
info@naishafrica.com

+27 79 569 4688
Skype:: robmunro65

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