We need your help. Kiteboarding has been selected for the 2018 Youth Olympic Games.
The format is awesome because it fast, hectic, involves jumps and suitable for anyone who loves to kite already even if you've never been in a race before. Twin Tip Racing is great for all competent riders. For the Youth Olympic Games there is going to be obstacles that make the racing even more hectic and fun for people who love to jump.
We are not looking for kids who are total pros, or people who have been racing for their whole life. The best part is that everyone is in the same boat: this is a new type of kiteboarding that anyone who loves to ride a twin tip can be involved in.
Kiteboarding Australia is working with Australian Sailing on developing a youth program that allows people across the country to try out twin tip racing, get some kiteboard coaching and have fun kiting with kids their own age!
What we are doing currently is looking for people who might be interested in being involved so that we can get a grip on numbers around the country. Are you interested or know a parent of a child or child that might be?
Get them to head over to this survey at kiteboardingaus.com.au/lets-get-prepped-for-youth-olympic-games-help-us-out-by-filling-out-this-survey/ to help us make the right plans!
The more responses we have the more chances we have of getting Australian Sailing to use their resources to put together an awesome opportunity for young kiteboarders and the industry alike.
Thanks for your help!
Alex @ KA
Email me at contact@kiteboardingaus.com.au with any questions.
twin tip racing in 8 knots is going to be as interesting as reading a cauncy thread on what the wind is doing and what sea creatures his non-seabreeze sponsor cafe is serving up
The mind boggles to how this scammed it's way into the Youth Olympics with virtually no participants at all currently.
Freestyle is where youth development would make far more of a positive impact but alas no #fundingwar
Totally agree with Iandvnt.
Freestyle is the equivalent of modern day gymnastics.
Technical and difficult. It's also the niche where youth push the limits of progression.
From above
"Kiteboarding Australia is working with Australian Sailing on developing a youth program that allows people across the country to try out twin tip racing, get some kiteboard coaching and have fun kiting with kids their own age!"
Hence I'm not so sure I agree with you guys on this...well on one level I do, but currently I don't.
I don't think there is enough young people currently kiting (and if they are, at a decent level) to start with to start asking for development programs in the freestyle area. It's expensive to start, to learn..let alone a structured training and development program.
Maybe the intention is to at least get some more young people involved per say, in some kind of achievable training program and subsequent competition...THEN I would agree. The next stage would involve advanced training and development in freestyle as well as those that move into the racing disciplines.
Maybe I'm wrong, but at the moment that's how I see it.
Hi All,
Just started advertising the first opportunity for Under 19s to have a go at Twin Tip Racing see it here: us10.campaign-archive.com/?u=2ff5579144193069ad4343c42&id=78badb1f00
Interesting comments regarding Freestyle above. At the moment building the number of young people just kiting is a real priority. However, I think the political decisions around whether it should be freestyle or racing displayed on a center stage at the Youth Olympics or full Olympics is a bit more complicated.
Things to think about are conditions freestyle is do-able in - a foiling regatta can happen in 6+ knots, Freestyle requires 20+. The other key thing to remember is the decision makers on a lot of this are sailing folk who find freestyle totally different and unapproachable. As surfing and skating have entered in the 2020 Olympics I think the prospects that freestyle kiting may be chosen down the track increases .However, the first point about competition conditions still has a massive effect on the practicality of the discipline chosen.
At the moment, let's keep pushing for better coverage, better numbers of kiters and better funding from our government to develop this super cool sport!
Alex | General Manager - Kiteboarding Australia
