Dont just ignore the banner guys - thanks Laurie.
This is one awesome step forward for kiters & kiting everywhere
(yeah I know Im biased but Im smiling my ring off biased - still cant kn believe my luck here )
The Monkeykites Great Downwinder is a "by kiters for kiters event". There are no sponsored riders or competition champions etc etc in on this one. Its an everyday kiters chance to show the world what kiting is all about. Having fun, making friends, showing off, partying hard & enjoying the great outdoors in a way non kiters dont even know how to dream of.
And its promising to be an annual event - maybe Brasil next year & it will never be the same riders a second time round. Next time it could be YOU.
So lets kick it along.
Check out the web-site : www.thegreatdownwinder.com
Vote for your favourite rider & maybe win yourself a trip to Mauritius .
Follow the daily updates while its happening ..
(sure to be informative & entertaining; well as entertaining as the hangovers will allow)
& tell all your friends to do the same.
OMG I just gotta stop smiling.
thank you thank you thank you Monkeykites

just wondering...is this only sponsered by monkey kites or did aska or nswkba sponsor the monkeykite downwinder aswell?

Hi dachopper,

The Monkeykites Great Downwinder is completely organised and funded by our own fundraising activities. It is being made possible because of the vision and generous sponsorship we have recieved from a multitude of Australian and OS companies. You can check them all out on our website under the sponsor page.

It is great to see that our sport is attracting sizeable funding and support from non-kiting businesses. Air Mauritius has been particularly generous with their provision of 3 return air fares to Mauritius, one for the Aussie rider voted most popular and 2 for an Aussie voter. So go to the website and vote to win!!!

Camelbak have also generously given all our riders hydation packs to enhance their performance, and Douglas Pharmaceutical piles of Hairy Lemon to give them energy and stamina.

Today we were very excited to be given swimp3's (waterproof mp3 player using bone conduction technology) which each rider will be able to wear comfortably with their Gath Helmets to keep them focussed and entertained on the long haul runs. - Ian young asked for one to keep him going on his Guinness World Record attempt and Pavel Trcala hunted them out!

An event like the Monkeykites Great Downwinder would probably be the perfect promotional vehicle for NSWKBA as we are heading along a big section of the NSW coast but I keep my roles as owner of Monkeykites and Secretary of NSWKBA very separate.

My passion is for keeping the sport and it's friendly culture alive and fresh and I hope The Great Downwinder will inspire many to take it up , keep kiting and to be safe kiters.

I have made it a requisite for all our Aussie riders to lead by example and wear their AKSA tags. I have also personally paid for AKSA membership for all our international riders so they are covered pre and post event in case of any mishap.