http://www.sailing.org/news/32852.php


The proposals to re-open the debate did not receive the required 75% of votes from ISAF Council. The Events and Equipment confirmed in May 2012 stand.

Nothing else was to be expected.

Yeeeeeew!
That's such good news - those RS:X sailors who were making the switch were worried they'd end up with both sports in Rio!

equipment race.... yay, most money wins!

Spot on pumpnjump, windsurfing was hamstrung by a one-design class that was relevant to the 1980's. When the pro sailors went and invented a whole new class in the early 2000's (Formula, being one board and 3 sails) which was exciting planing fast windsurfing in 8kn upwards, rather than schlogging in anything under 15kn, the Olympics mob knocked it on the head. All that development by the sailors, the PWA and manufacturers off their own bat at great cost ...... and then, guess what - a whole new class (RS:X) but still basically one design racing. That whole new class was tendered for by major manufacturers ........ all about $$$$ for one mob....... rather than everyone being on different companies' gear.

Now it is in, kiting needs to fight tooth and nail to have (an keep) the box rule

Otherwise the competition of companies and development is lost - imagine if you are all on the SAME kite and IDENTICAL boards. Now imagine the same kite and board in 2036. YES REALLY!!!

Imagine if a major innovation happens and your professionals spend mega bucks developing a perfect class for the Olympics yet the crusty old farts at the IOC and ISAF fk it for you and make you continue to use old gear...
The perfect blend of not too costly, but still some development and innovation..... but no, they still want u to use 10 y/o designs. That is what happened to us, so make sure you keep them relevant.



BTW InTheLoop - I think it is a bit harsh to say "nothing else was to be expected". Many nations voting at the first meeting did not know it was on the cards, and never thought a vote for kiting to be included was akin to voting for windsurfing to be replaced.

There was considerable grumbling afterwards, the fact it went to another meeting really says something, and it was actually 68% of the committee who thought they should start over.
That means over TWO THIRDS of the peak industry / competition / international body in the world, thinks it is ****ed. So no, not "nothing else was to be expected"

www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Windsurfing/General/RSX-its-not-over/

seems the other half feel differently.

Definitely out.

from Richard Branson founder of virgin group : "A sad day for one of the best entertainment sports in the world today as kitesurfing has been removed from the Olympic programme for Rio 2016.

Windsurfing has reclaimed its place in the Olympics at kitesurfing's expense, after the International Sailing Federation (ISAF) voted to reinstate it.

It is a huge disappointment for all the kitesurfers worldwide who have been training hard since it was announced in May that kitesurfing was going to be in the Rio Olympics. What a shame too for all the windsurfers who spent the last year training to become kitesurfers.

The ISAF have misled everybody and been very short-sighted in making this knee-jerk decision. Their original decision was the right one and a brave one, although my own feeling is that there is room for both sports in the Olympics. If they had to drop anything it should have been one of the less exciting sailing races, which really don't capture the public's imagination.

Kitesurfing is one of the greatest spectator sports around, pitting man against the elements. After a magnificent summer, it leaves the Olympics the poorer for this decision.

On a personal note, I have been pulling together a British Virgin Islands kitesurfing team to participate in Rio 2016. Quite a few ofthose people had switched over from widnsurfing to kitesufing and actually ended up enjoying it more. There is also a great Brtitish kitesurfing team already hard at work too. A bitter blow for everybody involved."

Yes, kitesurfing is definitely out.

ISAF, IKA & IWA politics are doing us all over. The original decision to drop windsurfing was bad. Flip flopping the decision is even worse.

Surely there is room for both? They should trial kitesurfing as a demo sport in Rio then decide how to progress, and leave Windsurfing as the established sport that it is.

I wasn't planning on competing, but this sort of nonsense is no good for either kitesurfing or windsurfing.

www.peterskiteboarding.com/2012/11/kitesurfing-replaced-by-windsurfing-at.html

Ya put kiteboarding in,
Ya take windsurfing out,
Ya put Kitesurfing in and shake it all about,
Ya do the Olympics pokie
and the decisions turned about,
Thats what commities are all about.

Give it another 6 months may be it will be back in!

Misread Sailing comments - Box rule Cool & the best - I thought I read they voted for 1 Design!

Shame - was fun that some great comps like Sail Melbourne would have had some world class racing in Australia for local kiters for next 4 years -

I was really looking forward to this positive of Kiting in Olympics 2016. Hopeful our Australian crew can organise a regular racing comp every year. Come on you Sydney guys you are the centre of Australia.

Sad day for the sport.

Not really.

"Sad day for racing"... perhaps. (although kite racing is still so immature I think it's probably even good for them.)

Definitely best day in the year for every other kiter. Racing killed windsurfing and it would have done the same for kiteboarding and kitesurfing. I'm celebrating with a rum and coke tonight.

fuggit - just run your own world pro race tour

the concept looks great - its exciting for racers and spectators -

Olympic windsurfers are great technical racers but arent really respected in windsurfing in the same way as iconic World tour race champs / wave champs / freestyle freaks (except in the 1 or 2 countries that win a gold or silver every 4 years)

I reckon Red bull are probably planning a world tour in kite racing by now - which will be far more rock and roll.

Covered with a good camera crew , a heli and some tight fast racing - it'll go off for sure!

apparently the races are stopped after 25kns ??? go figure

Speed kiteboard jousting could be the future...or maybe gladiator style full combat sword fights mid flight..

ISAF have dropped it from the olympics
www.sail-world.com/Australia/ISAF-Conference---Kiteboarding-out,-Windsurfing-back-in/103684