Kite Racing May be included in MIAMI OCR!!!

[kent]

I just got some news that Kite Course racing may be included as an exibition fleet at the Janurary Miami Olympic Classes regatta. All of the top ISAF folks will be there to check out kite racing first hand.

Here is the issue... as most of you are aware, we only have a few people in Florida that actually course race. My guess is that it's mainly Miami and a few others. I'm hoping that we can gather 7-8 people from Florida and encourage as many as 10 more from the Carribean and South America to attend. This is the big time and some informal decisions may be made as to the validity of this class in the 2016 Olympics.

My list of potential FL racers for the OCR are as follows: Please let me know if there are others that may want to attend. I'm assuming that it will be a Friday- Sunday event.

Attendng:
Damo L.
Kent M.
Patrick
Garry Menk
Todd Greaux
Josh Noe
Chris Levins
Melissa

Maybe attending:
Gebi
Christophe

Good candidates:
Racers from Puerto Rico
Brazil
Argentina
California (if a 3 day event)

I'm sure that there are a few more people with race boards in FL and good kites. Keep in mind that we race in conditions that range from 6-40 knots.

For those that are interested, we do have competitive production boards availalbe from Cabrinha, but we would need to get to work on potting better race fins for those intersted in the Cabrinha board.

I should have more info tomorrow. I'll keep you posted.

PS. I'm willing to provide a free clinic in Miami to help get some guys up to speed if they have racing boards. It doesn't take long to use them, but setting them up right can take a bit of time. Let me know.

[ricki]

Sounds like a big development Kent. Not having looked at the process before, after it is shown around as an exhibit sport for a while what happens next? It is great to put the word out to folks that may want to be in the Olympics in a brand new sport!

[experienced1]

what are the dates for the Jan OCRs in Miami?
steve

[The Kite House]

kent, count me in

aloha paul

[miamikiteboarding]

Count me in as well, am sure Tanguy will join as well .

We are putting together some Race Clinics at Crandon, along with Kent, the Cabrinha folks, and others fine-tuned local racers.

Optimally several of them, on weekend or weekdays.
let's throw several before january.

Stay in touch on the dates on our Miamikiteboarding Facebook page

We will have Races boards to Demo.

[Whitey]

What are the dates of the event?

[experienced1]

think Miami OCR is Jan 28-30
might even see Brian Lake and/or Bruno Sroka there

and wouldn't be surprised to see Adam Koch and Johnny Heineken there as well

steve

[kent]

probably not going to happen. we needed to use the causeway for a launch... talked to cswy manager he said don't both putting in for a permit as it will not be accepted at this point. i have one mail into him and hope to meet with him Monday or Tuesday. i'll keep you posted.

the point of the event was to place kites next to the gold medal rounds of of the OCR. all top ISAF peopel will be there and wanted to see if we were ledit... guess not.

[experienced1]

Kent:
OCRs bring some revenue to Miami...and we're talking about Olympic prep here. I assume that each kite competitor will have an official OCR jersey? So, let the causeway officials know it will be easy to regulate..no jersey, no kite on the beach.
Could even have special sticker on board and kite...no sticker OFF the beach!

Might want to have OCR official also contact the proper causeway official, as well as an ISAF official. We're talking about a 2-3 day waiver for a controlled/selected group.

Also, if any competitor violates "beach rules" they will be disq'd from the event and 2011 ISAF events

Get your creative juices going...
steve