There's a new tour being developed called the KSP.

Lots of talk on here about how to just strapless/switch etc.. check what they're up to:

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From the Kitesurf Pro Tour

Despite some expectations of conflicting opinions amongst the KSP committee and the riders, the process of developing the guidelines went rather smoothly with everyone agreeing on almost all points from the outset. Only the topic of riding "switch" has seen some inconsistency and will therefore be observed closely during the first 3 events.

In general all riders agreed that no mandatory rule can be made whether or not to ride with or without straps, hooked in or unhooked. Therefore, all riding styles will be allowed within the KSP competitions. It was also identified that, depending on the conditions, riders may need to adjust their style of riding to the spot.

The judging guidelines developed in cooperation with the riders and finalized by the judging committee read as follows:

KSP Judging Guidelines:
Kite Surfers must perform according to the KSP judging key elements to maximize their scoring potential. Judges analyze the following major elements when scoring waves:
• Commitment
• Degree of difficulty
• Innovative and progressive maneuvers
• Combination of major maneuvers
• Variety of maneuvers
• Speed, power and flow

Riding strapless, switch, unhooked or displaying any combination thereof is considered more technically difficult.

It should be noted that kite surfers must combine the major elements in order to be awarded scores in the excellent range.

For example: Simply increasing your degree of difficulty by riding switch, unhooked and strapless will not produce an excellent wave score if it is not combined with other key elements such as commitment, speed, power, flow, combination, variety and innovative/progressive maneuvers.

And vise-versa, a kite surfer using foot straps will decrease his degree of difficulty and commitment even if he is fulfilling all other major elements, making it more difficult to produce scores in the excellent range.

how can they score more points for riding 'switch' in a wave comp???

you either ride right or left according to the break and the wind. just because you choose to ride switch instead of backhand should not influence the score.

must be euro guidelines.....

small kites u still go fanggin down the line at a million miles.

Anyways why dont they have heats for strapped and un strapped? Becuase a strapped rider and unstrapped will have two completely different styles

lotofwind said...

sir ROWDY said...

Well for all the "perfect" spots they claim to be going you're going to have to be hooked in or strapped in most of the time anyway, because it's either howling cross-offshore, or 50 million knots...

Thats what small kites are for.Rig down,problem solved,you can thank me later
Howling cross-offshore is awsome for waves,
kicks ass over on-shore slop.
Tell me this isnt fun wave kiteing conditions.Well... more off ,,than cross-off,
but same difference
If you are getting dragged down the line,even on a small kite,go smaller again,,or keep kite more above or to the side out of the power more.

watched the first thirty seconds of that an watchin mitu do raileys on a surfboard is not one bit entertaining i would rather pick my nose and eat it.
There is no way u can have a consistent competition with strapped and unstrapped riders competing in the same heat! They need to keep it simple so it can be properly judged easily. Nothing to do with trying to look like a surfer because there is no way professional kitesurfing can be compared to surfing at all.

I just love the things some committees come up with LMFAO.

Hey Mitu is a freak, just like Ian E and Patrick R. Lets face it, a line in the sand needs to be drawn. You either unstrap or you know, unstrap. All the above are unbelievable to watch but you cannot say that all oils are the same oils, eh!!! How about the best guys in the world have their say. How do they want to be judged??

ok said...

watched the first thirty seconds of that an watchin mitu do raileys on a surfboard is not one bit entertaining i would rather pick my nose and eat it.

Enjoy your snott sandwich then

Tony Armstrong said...

Hey Mitu is a freak, just like Ian E and Patrick R. Lets face it, a line in the sand needs to be drawn. You either unstrap or you know, unstrap. All the above are unbelievable to watch but you cannot say that all oils are the same oils, eh!!! How about the best guys in the world have their say. How do they want to be judged??

Wow,Rowdy,you really are care about what other think about how you ride hey.Why?
Dont really get the idea of "need to be judged"
and we need to have better judging(lol) to push the sport forward.ha ha
Who is better off by pushing the sport forward????? maybe
the few crew that can only enjoy it if others are watching??
The maority of the crew in the sport couldnt give a rats rectum about "thats not legit,not pushing the sport forwards".
The majority do it cause they love it and not because they care that some other loser thinks their legit or pushing the sport further.
Time to look at when you started and what you enjoyed about it, before you cared about what others thought about what you were doing.

sir ROWDY said...



p.s. At least you will be kiting the "worlds best locations" so I guess you will be fine with not really having any prize money anymore either... Oh well at least 50 times womens who gives a f@ck champion will be getting paid.

hahahahah

Of course it sums me up, am I missing something here?

p.s.
Judges should be open to whatever the judging guidelines are... Pay me some cash and I will judge however you want, whether I like that style or not is irrelevant.

lotofwind said...

Wow, you really havent changed since school.

If it aint broke don't fix it.

lotofwind said...

Wow, you really havent changed since school.
See ya in a few weeks

Did you two go to school ??

I find it hard to believe.