Australian Nationals, WA 2005 -your input required.
WA will be hosting the Australian National Kitesurf Championship in late January or early February 2005. The WAKSA committee is seeking membership suggestions on location, dates and format of the event prior to a planning meeting due to be held in two weeks.
This is your opportunity to have a say and help this to be an awesome event. We require your input by Monday 5th April. Please email waksa@auswind.com.au or write to WAKSA, PO Box 275. Scarborough. WA 6922 with your suggestions on the following:
1. Where should the event be held? Why?
2. When should this be? Why?
3. What disciplines should the championship include, ie freestyle, wave, race, big air?
The aim of the championship is to determine the Australian Kitesurf Champion(s) in a safe event that provides the best chance of superb kiting for the competitors. In order to achieve this, the following factors need to be considered:
Location
· Safety of spectators, officials and competitors
· Sailing conditions: wind, waves, space
· Access, local support and infrastructure. This is perhaps secondary to the first two points, but important in ensuring sufficient support from volunteers upon whom the success of such an event depends.
Dates
· It is proposed to run the nationals the week following the Rottnest Kitesurf Classic (race only). Note Australia Day public holiday is Wednesday 26th January
· A national championship typically runs for 7 or 8 days.
Kitesurf Disciplines
· Given there will be 64 competitors, which disciplines should be included. From a timing and organisational point of view, it may only be practical to include two.
Finally, please contact the committee if you would be willing to help with the running of this event, either in the planning/organisational stage, or during the event itself.
We look forward to receiving your ideas.
WAKSA
Committee
Ian,
Geraldton Windsurfing Club is putting forth a prposal for the competition and will send it to you by the 5th.
An outline for all readers:
1. We understand the distance issue is a major problem and we are addressing that as the first priority with the airlines. We are attempting to make it the same price as driving up here.
2. From there, you will be collected and taken to where it is you want to stay and there will be several accomodation specials lined up for competitors and WAKSA/AKSA members.
3. Safety and venue is the number 1 priority of the event. Safety is far easier for us to achieve than anywhere in Australia. We have the full support of Emergency Sea Rescue Group, The Geraldton Surf Life Saving Club and the Combined Emergency Services. This is possible because Geraldton is a town that gets behind events. We also are able to access a great deal of equipment and infastructure on goodwill because of "small town closeness" people and businesses aren't all driven by the mighty dollar. We can run the safest event possible.
4. Venue, well....if you haven't been to Geraldton then you should probably come and see. Those who don't like the idea of waves at the Pt. don't obviously understand that Geraldton has a MAGNITUDE of spots that we can run Flat Water/Waves/Race/Course anything is possible up here and without freaking out different local councils and worrying about JOE PUBLIC doing silly things.
5. This Nationals is about the "COMPETITORS" and after being in Sydney for the last Nationals. I can guarantee that we will have more spectators than they had.
6. A final note, the Geraldton Windsurf Club has a seperate local business who doesn't own a seedy bar...who is committed to running the social side of things. Geraldton has a lot more to offer socially than some people realise, maybe it's been a while since you have visited Geraldton and you rightly spoken in saying it has seedy bars. But we have the ability to attract anything to this town because it's in the best interest of the local prorietor. If he knows he's going to have a couple of hundred people come along then he can get whatever we want. I don't think you have that "town freedom" that we have.
7. We have a big group of people that have run events and have run kiting comps. Speak to those that visited the Geraldton Blast last year for input. I urge those who attended to give feedback on that competition please. We know it wasn't perfect from the judging side of things, but that will come from WAKSA/AKSA I'm assured.
Feedback is welcome....visit the Geraldton Windsurf Club website and have your say. Especially those who came to the last Blast as you are all members of the GWC in case you forgot.
www.geraldtonwindsurfclub.com
Gavin Hirschausen
Vice President
