Yer I can see a few high profile riders, who are not interested in racing a the moment, having a crack at kite racing in the olympics.

Taurus said...

Yer I can see a few high profile riders, who are not interested in racing a the moment, having a crack at kite racing in the olympics.

The problem with that idea is that you assume there is no art to the practice of racing. For someone like BWS to have a crack at the Olympics Kite Racing, they would have to learn race rules, race tactics and be able to employ them successfully. I'm not saying BWS couldn't. I'm just questioning whether he would have the time to actually get good at kite racing.

I think the people who will dominate Kite Racing are those who have a competitive sailing background, and who have come over to kiting for reasons such as portability, affordability etc etc.

BWS might dominate waves but race craft is a totally different story. Unless you have learnt the basis sailing Optys and Mirrors (as a bare minimum) you wouldn't even qualify for the Olympics.

I think Ben's comments were more him being a good ambasador for the sport rather than him actually thinking about trying to qualify for the team. For him he would be better off having his designers design some race specific equipment and sponsor an up and coming sailor who has the race experience. That way he would still get the commercial exposure. All of his time is taken up with being the spokesperson for his company which wouldn't allow much time to train for a racing event and doing all of the races domestically and overseas to qualify.

Cabrinha Crossbow is meant to be good. Here's a 16m Crossbow with race board in less than 8 knots

Mask said...

eppo said...

It also would help having a high aspect race kite...if you want a chance to win!

Maybe a North??

sunseeker said...

I think Ben's comments were more him being a good ambasador for the sport rather than him actually thinking about trying to qualify for the team.

Indeed, from what I heard he made no discernible intimation that he might actually want to take part, while at the same time being thoroughly agreeable and accommodating to the interviewer.

wdric said...


Yep takes a lot of time to travel to bali, fiji, WA, hawai, south america etc etc to talk the talk of how good that last session was

gold

BennyB12 said...

theDoctor said...

wdric said...


Yep takes a lot of time to travel to bali, fiji, WA, hawai, south america etc etc to talk the talk of how good that last session was

gold

Sour grapes...

hell no, he's just a lucky bugger

I will have to check out some Ozone Edge vids

Taurus said...

Yer I can see a few high profile riders, who are not interested in racing a the moment, having a crack at kite racing in the olympics.

This thread is not about Ben actually racing in Rio. ^^^

... actually qualifying for the Olympic team.

This thread is just another stupid Jeep ad.

Seabreeze is the new idiot box.

Ads sh1t me.

lol.

waveslave said...

Taurus said...

Yer I can see a few high profile riders, who are not interested in racing a the moment, having a crack at kite racing in the olympics.

This thread is not about Ben actually racing in Rio. ^^^

... actually qualifying for the Olympic team.

This thread is just another stupid Jeep ad.

Seabreeze is the new idiot box.

Ads sh1t me.

lol.

Wow you are right, jeeps are stupid lol

getfunky said...

I hear they have the power of a Mack Truck but turn like a Cooper S.

Nice!

mick91 said...

I'd love to see who qualifies for the Olympics for aus, I've raced for 10years now and I'll do my best to give kite racing a go, as said before the best performer would have the match racing skills from one design dinghy and then have sufficient kitesurfing background to merge the two rather than starting either one from scratch. BWS would be an excellent brand to get behind someone.
A question for all, what's the racing scene like for nationals in Australia? Can it be compared to a sailing skiff event?

Hey Mick, ther's a kite racing tab right here on Seabreeze.

www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Kitesurfing/KiteRacing/