I thought we got kicked off the Olympics?

www.independent.co.uk/sport/olympics/news/branson-leads-the-kitesurfers-revolt-as-olympic-chiefs-reverse-course-to-leave-sport-out-of-rio-8305001.html

That thing looks pretty awesome though. Is it real? haha Any vids of it in action?

hmm.. if I was a tv network which would I want to cover, the amazing spectacle of kite raceboards doing 35 knots, with an ever growing global following and the obvious wow factor to even non sailors, or a sport that has clearly had it's day. I'm an avid windsurfer and even I could see the wisdom of kitesurfing in the olympics.

Maybe it's a venue thing? kiting not suited to the area? host nation not keen?

Cluffy said...
the amazing spectacle of kite raceboards doing 35 knots and the obvious wow factor to even non sailors

Not sure what racing you have been watching... But people 2k's away in the ocean rounding bouys instead of getting air (as every spectator expects them to) have never been interesting to any spectators at any racing event I've ever been involved with.

sir ROWDY said...

Cluffy said...
the amazing spectacle of kite raceboards doing 35 knots and the obvious wow factor to even non sailors

Not sure what racing you have been watching... But people 2k's away in the ocean rounding bouys instead of getting air (as every spectator expects them to) have never been interesting to any spectators at any racing event I've ever been involved with.

A bit behind the time there Dong

As much as I am into racing, Rowdy has a point, it is more fun for the people competing than the people watching

Although the pics looking at 110 kiters heading to the beach from Rotnest island is pretty cool

wdric said...

sir ROWDY said...

Cluffy said...
the amazing spectacle of kite raceboards doing 35 knots and the obvious wow factor to even non sailors

Not sure what racing you have been watching... But people 2k's away in the ocean rounding bouys instead of getting air (as every spectator expects them to) have never been interesting to any spectators at any racing event I've ever been involved with.

A bit behind the time there Dong

As much as I am into racing, Rowdy has a point, it is more fun for the people competing than the people watching

Although the pics looking at 110 kiters heading to the beach from Rotnest island is pretty cool

I dunno, watching somebody getting beaten badly is lots of fun. Especially at L2L

^^^ yah yah sorry man, yes he only did the last bit - so I guess you are talking about it being fatiguing huh? ..... but hey, windsurfers did over and back faster 10 yrs ago (plus) so that negates the fatigue argument
And ledge to lano was a longer course for windsurfers and they were still faster.

The record is Anders Bringdal at 19mins for one way. 22 years ago.

But cue Lotofwind and Hamburglar and Waveslave etc etc coming over to the poley forum to tell us we are slower, old, fat, out of date blah blah blah...