An official update just in...

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Thursday, October 6

The 2005 Gravity Games H2O, presented by Vodafone, kicks off in Perth today, with 110 of the world’s top-ranked action sport athletes from the United States, Canada, Spain, Brazil, Portugal, Italy, France, Sweden, South Africa, China, New Caledonia, New Zealand and across Australia ready to put their bodies on Perth’s skyline, waterways and Swan River foreshore.

A location change for the Kiteboarding event has been called, with (at least the opening rounds of) the Kiteboarding contest moving to the popular kite spot, Dutch Inn beach at Cottesloe (approx 1km south of Cottesloe main beach).

Event officials announced late yesterday that the offshore wind direction forecast made the original Kiteboarding location (of the Swan River at Sir James Mitchell Park) unfavourable and potentially unsafe for riders. Conditions are however, expected to be excellent on the coast today, with 15 to 20 knots southerly (side shore) winds setting the scene for a thrilling opening round.

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS

Kiteboarding – from 8.00am, Dutch Inn beach, Cottesloe

* Spectacular Kiteboarding displays at relocation venue, Dutch Inn beach at Cottelsoe (approx 1km south of Cottesloe main beach, Marine Parade, Cottesloe).

* Competition Round One (and Two, subject to weather conditions), with 32 male kiteboarders and for the first time, 16 females.

* Top-ranked riders in the world on show, including the 2004 and current KPWT World Champion Male Mickael Fernandez and Female Gisela Pulido from France.

#9642; 6 local Perth entrants, including current Australian No. 1 Adam Ratajewski (highest-placed West Aussie at the 2004 Gravity Games H2O); Ryland Blakeney (23, of Scarborough); Jake Gordon (25, of Mullaloo); Dale Stanton (23, of Ferndale); and in the women’s event, overall National Champion female Theresa McKirdy (25, of Mullaloo) and Jessica van den Berg (24, of Doubleview).

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Enjoy .. Lozza