Mite just have to look at flights..... See if that quality airline TIGER has any deals on.. that'd be sweet.

www.chriswardell.com/web/News/Entries/2010/2/16_Balance_Boards_Rail_Jam_-_May_Longweekend2010.html


Trying to get this link to work, might have to cut and paste into your browsers etc...

Still a work in progress but we are getting there, let me know your thoughts.

Still waiting to hear from people who might be able to source some materials etc, lets us know what you can do....

It looks like only virgin and quantas are flying to mackay that weekend. I think Tiger do but no flights scheduled for that weekend

Sounds like its goin to be a sick event!!

Yeahhhh!

To add another element into this event and to follow from Rowdy's post about changing the format, this event could be just the platform to try such changes in comp riding.

What better way to harbour style and progression than having rails and a mix of flatwater tricks.

I am thinking out aloud again here, but why not throw the pro division open to having to combine their runs with hitting obstacles and throwing down a number of flat water tricks as well. Very similar to most pro wakeboard runs, where the rider hits rails then throws off wake tricks in each pass.

Depending upon the setup, it would be easy to have obstacles on each tack with enough space in between to allow for flatwater tricks without the risk of hitting or dropping kites onto rails etc.

This would also add to the spectacle and allow for variation in riding style and skill levels. Some riders, well most in fact would be at this stage far stronger on flatwater than obstacles thus giving these riders a competitive chance over the more experienced rail riders who are not so strong in flatwater tricks. Of course we have got a number of riders who are killing it in both and these guys will be riding at this event and also coaching in the clinic...so we all can learn win lose or draw!

What are your thoughts?? Is it too much to have this amount of variety or are we on the money combining the obstacles with flatwater based tricks?

just my thoughts on this are usually like this, you have 3 days to hit rails and kickers and a whole year to throw flatwater tricks. Sure if guys want to throw freestyle tricks thats cool but aslong as its no where near the obstacles that people have come afar to ride. Thats just my thoughts. You would prob need to space the features right apart to throw down tricks in between while maintaining a safe area. I'm not all that excited about comps but I know that sponsors and articles love to have a result at the end of an event, so I see the need for a "comp"

The other problem with flat water tricks is this, if you have a board that really excels at rails like a flat bottom flex board with no fins and alot of rocker then it really doesn't excel at flat water tricks to... So if you need to do flat water tricks in between then the rail side of things isn't going to look so good because you are using a board that can do both things ok but nothing really good. I think the best idea is just to throw a best trick comp in the mix as well.

The wakeboarders make it work for a couple of reasons;
1. they dont have to worry about going upwind so a board with rocker works for both flatwater tricks and rails pretty well.
2. They have boards with built in channels and stuff that no kiteboard really has (custom kinda has some).

But the reality is that it doesn't fully work for them either, they still have "Rail Jams" at the cable and behind the boat that have zero flat water or wake to wake air type tricks. The guys that own it in these type of rail jams are on boards that are best suited to rails i.e. flat bottom flex boards and wouldn't work very well for air tricks.

More than happy to leave this format as rails only...if riders over the weekend want to bust freestyle stuff there will be plenty of room etc.

This topic was discussed heavily during the 2008 Freestyle Nats at Elliot where we did try to incorporate obstacles, I think it was Bill's vision for both!

Yep I agree.

Its decided, a pure rail event with the focus on pressing the bag!

We will have registration opening soon, be a simple process of calling Adrenalin Rush Sports Australia, give em name and details and make the payment of either $50 for just the clinic day or only $75 for all three days! Once I have more details I will post them here and update the web page etc, I will also give all the local shops a heads up.

Make sure to spread the word, for this type of event to gain momentum, we need it supported by riders, as mentioned it doesn't matter if you have never ridden park before, we will teach you! This clinic day alone is worth the travel (IMO)... having Australia's best known rail and wakestyle riders (keep in mind these guys have international recognition and are considered among the world's leaders in this discipline) giving you intensive coaching is all time!

Even if its just to have a go, party and get amongst it, Mackay is a great place to kite and party. The more riders the better this event is going to be! The organisers along with some fantastic industry sponsors are digging deep into their own pockets to make this work.

If you need airport pickups etc, and acomm let me know ASAP and we will try to make this as cheap as possible for you all to be here.

Looking forward to meeting new riders and catching up with old friends...yewww!

Stay tuned for more.....Chris