AKSA has been watching this thread for some days now, while consultation and opion were sought from all committee members. This notice is to clarify AKSA’s decision making process and the reasons behind the decision to split the Nationals into two disciplines (Wave and Freestyle) and hold those events in two separate locations.
History: Last year the AKSA national were held in Geraldton and run by WAKSA. The decision to allow WAKSA to run last years Nationals was made in 2003 or early 2004 before any of the current committee were their positions. The decision making process for that decision is unknown. Although the current AKSA committee had faith in WAKSA and their ability to hold a good event, it was recognised that AKSA’s lack of involvement in the early stages of the organisation of the previous (Cronulla) Nationals was partly to blame for some deficiencies in that event. AKSA wanted to ensure the 2005 Nationals would be widely well respected by its competitive members from around the country, and so created the Competition Steering Committee (CSC). The role was to create a forum for feedback from the organisers and to the organisers of the Nationals, to increase the likelihood of a well received competition format. To some extent this worked, although the lack of procedures by which the CSC was operating led to tensions between the CSC and the organisers, and ultimately reduced effectiveness. After the Nationals, the CSC has laid dormant while the operating procedures are reviewed, discussed and put into place. This process has almost finished.
AKSA Nationals 2005 – review.
The Geraldton Nationals, from AKSA’s perspective was the most successful competition in its history. The number of competitors was up on previous years, despite Geraldton’s isolation and the widespread ill feeling towards the Nationals concept after the 2004 Cronulla event. The general response from the competitors was strongly in favour of WAKSA’s management of the event despite some major changes from previous years. The decision do split the event in to wave and freestyle was very well received. The introduction of the modified Priority Buoy System and associated judging system was extremely well received by judges and organisers, and although the system receiving mixed reviews from competitors, it was certainly approved by the majority of competitors. The Geraldton Nationals showed to AKSA that competitor support and interest in the Nationals is as strong as it ever has been. It was noted by many that a criticism of the event, although hard to find, could be that the weighting system was not widely consulted, and that the individual place getters of wave and freestyle did not receive the accolades and recognition they deserved. All focus was on the overall winner with none for the discipline winners. In the context of the event being the first of its kind, this is an understandable oversight. Another potential criticism was lack of sponsorship funding. The process of making the decision not to chase sponsorship was never made clear to AKSA, however the success of the event overshadowed any lack of prize money or high cost to competitors and there was no significant level of grumbling from competitors regarding this issue.
AKSA Nationals 2006 – Current situation
Word was spread at the Geraldton Nationals that AKSA would be making the location and organising committee decisions for the 2006 Nationals in much the same way as these decisions are made for the Olympics, ie to receive bids from interested parties, weigh up the options, and make an announcement. The AKSA January newsletter announced this process formally and said the final decision would be announced at the AGM. This date was set to allow organisers sufficient time to prepare for a major event. Most experienced event organisers would suggest that less than one year for a major event of this kind is short notice, so AKSA didn’t want to delay the decision further. In the months before the Geraldton Nationals we had hoped the obvious candidate would be presented and be able to attend Geraldton and learn from the event. This didn’t happen and we moved on.
In the weeks leading up to the AGM only two parties had suggested they wanted to organise the nationals. Groups from St Kilda and the Sunshine Coast were keen. In a general meeting held in association with the AGM, the AKSA Committee discussed the options and recognised that it was important to have two disciplines separate from each other. This decision was based on observations of our members and recognition that there are a significant number of members who specialise in one or the other discipline, especially on the east coast where locations and sections of coast often have only flat water or only wave locations. As the sport and its participants develop, the riders skills and equipment are becoming more specialised, and fewer riders are able to be highly competitive in both disciplines. So it was agreed there should be separate events as pioneered by WAKSA in Geraldton. This decision sat comfortably with Andrew Regan (vice President) who drew on many years experience in Windsurfing and similarities in the development of that sport. It was also supported by Mike Walker (president) through observations in the development of competitors and competitions around the country. Every other committee member present agreed with the logic and the decision was unanimous.
Discussions then turned to a location and organising committee. It was then recognised that the Nationals, being the peak event in the sport, need to be open to as many competitors as possible, and run in such a way that is as fair as possible. The fairest system is a full double elimination draw with the latest contest rules used in Geraldton. Some modifications and evolution of the rules may be expected. A maximum draw of 64 competitors, (plus other divisions of possibly another 40 competitors) will lead to an event with around 100 competitors. History has shown that completing a full double elimination draw of this size, in a window of one week, is difficult on the east coast in good conditions. Neither the Gold Coast or Cronulla event achieved it. East Coast winds generally don’t kick in until midday. 7 half days of wind is barely enough time to get through the heats for one competition. So it was recognised that to hold both wave and freestyle competitions separately in one location, would require a window of at least one and a half, but realistically two weeks to give a fair chance of a result in both. It was immediately agreed that two weeks of competition back to back was a bad idea for a variety of obvious reasons and discussions down that line ceased.
The option of re-combining the two disciplines was discussed again with pros and cons of separation looked at more closely. The cons were chiefly convenience based issues. Difficulty for some competitors to get to both events and the potential that they be unable to do so; extra effort with the limited pool of resources in the sport of organising two events. On the other hand the pros of splitting the event were widely varied: attracting competitors who specialise in one discipline and may not enter a combined competition; presenting the national media two peak level events; promoting the sport at peak level in two different regions; potentially increasing sponsorship dollars drawn to the sport; increasing overall attendance to the nationals; elevating significance, accolades and recognition of the champions of the different disciplines; encouraging the natural diversification of the sport; increasing the pool of experience within the sport of peak level event management; and others. After this closer assessment of the pros and cons of splitting the event in two, it became an easy decision for the committee to vote on. Again the decision was unanimous. It then became obvious to allow both bidding parties to accept responsibility for the nationals and to hold flatwater freestyle in the proven location of St Kilda, and The Wave event on the Sunshine Coast.
AKSA’s responsibility to its members, to ensure the event goes well had historically been abdicated to the event organisers, however the committee agreed this was not the best management principal and it was agreed that a document would be delivered to the organising committees which outlines the minimum performance requirements of committees organisng the nationals. The announcement of the winning bids would be postponed until this document was created and could be delivered simultaneously.
The decision and minimum performance requirements were delivered officially to the bidding groups and both groups are currently carrying out their responsibilities to AKSA members. The location decision has been made and will not this year be changed. AKSA is confident that these events will be well represented and lead to a positive development of the sport. The decisions and decision making processes will be reviewed on approach to and after the next season, and they will amended accordingly for 2007 Nationals planning.
As stated in the most recent newsletter, it is possible (but still up for discussion for the CSC) that there will be 3 national champions; a wave, freestyle and an overall champion based on the combination of both disciplines. This decision has not been discussed or finalised. Most other sports don’t combine these sorts of results to achieve an overall National Champion, but AKSA will take advice from the CSC and do what’s currently best for the sport
AKSA generally doesn’t discuss this sort of issue on internet forums as it can be very inefficient use of time, the respondents on the forum are often anonymous, and often not members of AKSA. For example a time consuming check of this thread reveals that only 12 out of 20 opinions definitely come from AKSA members. Also, the convenient nature of forums leads to unthought-out questions, and instantaneous emotional responses that often need not ever be raised. Forums are very entertaining and a valuable form of communication however, the large member based association that AKSA is, would be better served by direct email feedback. It is nice to finally get some feedback from people regarding an issue we need to resolve – however in this case it’s too late. If members have queries, suggestions or any sort of feedback in the future, please make your first point of contact with your local association or AKSA directly via email through
[email protected]. .
, (Brighton Beach, Melbourne 2002)
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