i have just heard that apparently AKSA have changed the selection process for the gravity games. which has greatly disadvantaged the WA riders.
Last year i think there were a set amount of competitors per each state and then there were 4 places awarded to people based on the last nationals. which i thought was a reasonably fair way to do it wouldn't you agree?
apparently this year the 4 national spots have been given out not based on the national titles but based on some little comp that was run in Queensland

Under last years selection process this year 3 out of the 4 top spots rightfully should have gone to WA riders but under the new selection process i dont think we get any of those spots. So why has it been changed????

so not only do WA riders have to travel over east twice this year for the nationals if they want to be competitive but now we have also been pushed out of the gravity games for no apparent reason! what the hell is going on here? should we change AKSA from a national governing body to an east coast governing body because that seems to be all they are interested in.

can someone in the know (maybe from AKSA if it is not too much to ask) please tell me that i have been misinformed and its not true or explain why the selection process has been changed.

i am not having a go at AKSA because i know that they do a lot of very important work and if it wasn't for AKSA kitesurfing would probably be banned already in Australia. I just think that they just need to be more accountable and transparent in their actions and decisions.

Hmmm.....As I see it,WA will have to continue with it's clear acountability process and nominate riders who are highest ranked here based upon performances here in WA.

I am unsure if the Nationals will count towards that as that is a "National matter". This would mean that local comps such as Gero Blast, Woodies, etc would be the ranking process. with the Gero blast being the state titles?.

In a nutshell....the Rat and Dan Anderson would be inelidgeable. Firstly by AKSA because of their "change of mind" in excluding the nationals from their process and by WAKSA because of their responsibility to it's members expressed in no short terms last year for "Clear accountability".

Losers are many- the boys, the sport, the gravity games.....Australia....Western Australia. With two of the BEST riders in the country not being invited to an invitation only comp.

Don't quote me as I don't know all the details...but it will be interesting times ahead for WAKSA and AKSA in this little saga.

I hope that it all comes out well and that the best riders in the country are represented. How that will be achieved?....glad I'm not in the hot seat.

Damo,

I thought it was 4 to be chosen by WAKSA and 4 to be chosen by AKSA, which is not bad for WA.

Has that changed??

Ian.

special thanx to paulio 'the diplomat'

Yeah Damo,
where did this info come from? I received the latest AKSA newsletter on Monday 1st this week (Volume 6) and it still says 4 WAKSA/WA and 4 AKSA/all other states. Does this mean it's changed since going to print (very unlikely they could get away with doing that) or was someone pulling your leg maybe??
Jess

Remember that even though the WA guys took out 3/4 of the nat top spots, there was not an equal representation because alot of the east coast riders couldn't get over to WA for the event.. exactly what your saying about wa riders haveing to travel twice over the east for comps applies to the east coast crew ( which is alot larger than the wa crew) having to travel over west for the nats... it's only fair to give the other few thousand of the east coasters a chance to get into the comp, and as ryland said.... there's 4 waksa spots??? and 4 others ... so if any1's disadvantaged its nsw, qld, tas, SA, Nt, VIC and canberra who have to share 4 measly places

Man Damo, what a tradgedy for you with the knee. We are all going to miss seeing you.........sheeeeeeeeeeeeeet.

Get well soon.

Nick