WA
649 posts
Great News! The 2006 Gravity Games will be 7-10 Dec. Should give us MUCH better opportunity for MUCH better winds :-)
The bad news is that Octagon have said that they will drop kiteboarding if we can't run it within sight of McCallum Park :-(
Before you ****-can it, at least give Herrison Island a go - it will take most any wind directions off the Western tip - the launch is very tight - in a SW you must launch from near the helicopter LZ on Riverside Drive - for the event the plan is to either cover the rocks at Herrison with sand or non-slip decking - this is what the Swan River Trust canned this year but Octagon think they can satisfy their concerns. South Perth is un-flyable in a SW.
I would be very keen to hear from those willing to fly Herrison - if it's considered un-workable after people other than me have actually flown it then I'd like to hear any suggestions - if we can't come up with a workable plan then I guess we're out of the GG scene :-(
WA
1 posts
will the event still be run by the KPWT or will it be run by someone else in a way to get some good riders out here and have the best riders winning??
NSW
3904 posts
Have you thought about the possibility of an Easterly in the morning?
WA
649 posts
Phill - Last year both PKRA and KPWT were approached but in the end neither signed up. This year KPWT had a contract with Octagon - not sure if it includes 2006. I heard that PKRA were approached again this year but weren't interested. I thought that the level of competition was pretty respectable actually considering the conditions.
Laurie - we have always planned on using an Easterly if it blows - that's why we had to be mobile with Cott and South Perth being options this year. Herrison takes Easterlies as well as SW. We planned putting the judging tower about 50m off the Western tip of Herrison Island - getting a safe launch is the challenge
WA
819 posts
I have no clue about this at all, but would it be possible to set up a floating launching pontoon/platform of some kind, so kiters can launch in the middle of the river?
Just a thought.
WA
705 posts
I ask this recognising Ian's hard work with the previous Gravity Games, and the usual sh1t he gets in response to the Herrison Island venue.
But why not fck off Octagon and the Gravity Games and try and arrange a stand-alone kite competition that will attract international riders and media? Seems to me that way it can be run properly by kiters (such as Ian) for kiters, at the right time of the year and at the right location.
