PKRA is no more.....

In its place we now have the Virgin Kitesurf World Championships (VKWC)
Now with the backing of the Virgin Brand, Richard Brandon and his FIVE BILLION EURO empire.

Waves, Freestyle & Slalom Racing.

When & how will Australia at some point crack the nod for a VKWC stop?

Should the other classes (foil/Formula) of Racing also be included?

www.afternic.com/forsale/vkwc.com?utm_source=TDFS_DASLNC&utm_medium=DASLNC&utm_campaign=TDFS_DASLNC&traffic_type=TDFS_DASLNC&traffic_id=daslnc&

you may wish to spell it Branson before he pulls his money

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PKR said...
PKRA is no more.....


Now with the backing of the Virgin Brand, Richard Brandon and his FIVE BILLION EURO empire.

Wonder when he will invest some of that 5billion in the tour? First stop in morocco and prize money is almost the same, live stream is now less and their professional cameraman left because they couldn't offer him a better deal than last year...

If you want an event all you have to do is pay the money, there's no "nod of the head"...

Doesn't sound the best, hopefully they come through and make things better. I would love to see the livestream improved.

they need redbull tv to get involved. Have a look at the coverage of the mtb world cup events. It makes the pkra coverage look amateur at best!

Looks like your gonna have to change your name to vkr.

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bennie said...
they need redbull tv to get involved.

Bingo. That's the only way it'll ever get "big"
And by big I mean it mite just get more ratings the women's pro badmitten.
It'll never be "BIG" witch is fine by me. It's just to much of a neach/sub culture sport.
As for Branson if he loves us so much how's about he bringings back the 5kg sporting goods baggage allowances?

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Capt Loopy said...

bennie said...
they need redbull tv to get involved.

Bingo. That's the only way it'll ever get "big"
And by big I mean it mite just get more ratings the women's pro badmitten.
It'll never be "BIG" witch is fine by me. It's just to much of a neach/sub culture sport.
As for Branson if he loves us so much how's about he bringings back the 5kg sporting goods baggage allowances?

Hahaha. Pretty true what you say though, kiting will never be big, the ease of entry into the sport and ability to this relate to it is far too high. Even sports with easy access struggle to make it big.

Honestly I hope for all the riders sakes that it does grow and some money starts to filter in. These guys work way harder than you would think, most of which for little or no return. The day the organisers start listening to what the riders want will be the day the tour takes a turn for the better.

(Sorry should have read) - *and thus the ability to relate to it.

At the end of the day events cost a heap of money to run. Sponsors as a general rule need some sort of return on investment, the days of slapping a logo on something and expecting the cash to flow in are long gone.

I hope the Virgin Kitesurf World Championships are a big success for all parties.

cheers

Very early to be critical , Branson's a very passionate kiter, hold quite a few annual events worldwide, the virgin kite armada grows every year, I carnt see him wanting this to fail, with his profile media and tv will be keener , maybe judge it in a couple of seasons

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sir ROWDY said..

The day the organisers start listening to what the riders want will be the day the tour takes a turn for the better.

So what would the riders do if they could decide?

At least they have got themselves a decent website, that's a start.

Personally they are idiots for losing themselves in the Virgin branding.

Whilst I love Virgin & think Branson is a legend the fact that the PKRA sold & then changed their name shows they are no longer the Professional Kiteboarders Riders Association, with each word having a meaning (& personally K could be Kite not Kite boarding) but rather a branded (like cattle) group who is competing for a chalice.

This to me shows a sport that is both for sale & is about the "CUP" not necessarily the effort.

NB: the individuals competing I still & will always respect but the companies and people trying to steer the sport for their gains I will always suspect.
This comes from a person who didn't see summer for 13 years due to chasing winter & trophies which I loved but is definitley not for everyone.

Cheers,
Marcus

P.S. my 2c & worth every bit.

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Number said...



So what would the riders do if they could decide?

I'm sure they would like to be a part of deciding how the judging criteria and system will be (like in the past) instead of it being handed to them last second with no options for anything else. These guys trained all winter for how the old system worked (which is normal) and then turn up at the first stop and get told they must conform to a new half autistic system because "it's better for them"...

Wanos is on the money. There's lots of vested interest in many aspects of the tour and the sport that most people will never understand.

Virgin has the naming rights for the tour, but as far as I can see the tour is still owned by the same guy who is the majority owner of Best Kiteboarding. I think this is the major reason the Virgin name was used, also it's obviously going to be easier to sell it to sponsors etc with that name behind it.

It's a shame there is so much politics and bullsh!+ involved with it all as on paper it seems like an amazing opportunity for the riders an the sport, I hope it all works out.

I don't really understand how they came up with the points allocation for riders placing. The points 1st place gets isn't really fair although it means the competition is a lot closer even with a dominant rider.
For example formula 1 points vs Pkra


F1
1st 25
2nd 18
3rd 15
4th 12
5th 10

PKRA
1st 25(1000)
2nd 22.5 (900)
3rd 20.25 (810)
4th 18.25 (730)
5th 17 (680)

Closer points suits tournaments, spread out points suit one outright race

I hope it helps build the sport for the best riders in the world. Personally I enjoy watching the highlights vids that come out showing the best tricks of the heats or events. I'd like to see them run the event in places with nice conditions and start incorporating some kicker and slider comps, as well as the tradition wakestyle / freestyle stuff.

Richo could make this an awesome event.

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kungfupete said..
I'd like to see them run the event in places with nice conditions and start incorporating some kicker and slider comps, as well as the tradition wakestyle / freestyle stuff.

What you're talking about is SSS (or Core Jam when it existed), I wouldn't hold your hopes up for anything like that happening until they see these other comps as a threat. Check out the spot they want to hold the Argentina comp... ask Andy Yates about it .

Yeah the SSS level of riding is always great to watch. Personally I think that kicker and sliders at the pro level has lots of potential for developing the sport. Race boards and circuits or whatever that stuff is has no business been in the same comp setting IMO. Or surf riding for that matter. But having wakestyle/ freestyle, and kicker & slider events in the same comp setting makes sense to me.
Some of the videos being posted by guys like hadlow, brandon scheild, alex fox, sam light, jake kelsick, and of course Dre (just to name a few) has been amazing in the kicker and slider department. I think it helps make the sport stand out.

One of the most amazing videos I have ever seen are Raph's (cable / wake boarder)

I don't know how this translates to kiting, but one day an amazing kiter will show us the way. That's called progression.
Here's a link:

You're preaching to the choir here Pete . I'm keen on trying to get a few more comps happening around the place for this type of stuff and am working on it a bit now, lets see if we can't make something happen .

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sir ROWDY said..
You're preaching to the choir here Pete . I'm keen on trying to get a few more comps happening around the place for this type of stuff and am working on it a bit now, lets see if we can't make something happen .

On ya Rowdy. Hope you get it happening and its a huge success. Us Melbourne kids don't have playgrounds (cable parks) like you guys, so our level of riding is pretty ****ttt (except for Pat Riordan) who is rad on rails. Either way I'm sure it would be a fun weekend to ride and party, just like how Mambo use to be!

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kungfupete said..

sir ROWDY said..
You're preaching to the choir here Pete . I'm keen on trying to get a few more comps happening around the place for this type of stuff and am working on it a bit now, lets see if we can't make something happen .

On ya Rowdy. Hope you get it happening and its a huge success. Us Melbourne kids don't have playgrounds (cable parks) like you guys, so our level of riding is pretty ****ttt (except for Pat Riordan) who is rad on rails. Either way I'm sure it would be a fun weekend to ride and party, just like how Mambo use to be!

I don't have a cable either haha. But yeah, the goal would be to make sure that everyone was having a good time.

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sir ROWDY said..

kungfupete said..

sir ROWDY said..
You're preaching to the choir here Pete . I'm keen on trying to get a few more comps happening around the place for this type of stuff and am working on it a bit now, lets see if we can't make something happen .

On ya Rowdy. Hope you get it happening and its a huge success. Us Melbourne kids don't have playgrounds (cable parks) like you guys, so our level of riding is pretty ****ttt (except for Pat Riordan) who is rad on rails. Either way I'm sure it would be a fun weekend to ride and party, just like how Mambo use to be!

I don't have a cable either haha. But yeah, the goal would be to make sure that everyone was having a good time.

Don't give me that Rowdy, I've seen you shred rails. Seriously if you put on an event together, I'll try to drum up support so some of us Melbournites get our arses there. I'm at Tapes now having beers, and he reckons chuck on some skates and you'll have best event ever!