UKWA to race kites at 3 National Championship events

Over the closed season the UKWA has been looking at developing links with other class associations.

The UKWA Committee is now pleased and proud to announce that following extensive discussions with the British Kitesports Association (BKA) the UKWA will run course racing for Kiteboards at 3 National Championship Events.

Whilst there is still work to be done the race management team have been working hard to understand how they can serve the interests of both windsurfers and Kiteboarders and how to do this in a safe environment that offers enjoyment for all. Representatives of your race officers and of the safety crew had discussions last weekend and will be talking further with our event management team and Richard Gowers from the BKA to make sure this is developed smoothly.

UKWA Chairman Bob Ingram said:

Having spent an afternoon sitting on a rib at the windward mark during a Kiteboarding event it seemed clear to me that our two sports had much in common. My interest was further raised after an afternoon towards the back end of 2013 when I spent time sailing formula kit with my son Jamie and with RS:X sailors Connor and Ali on their kiteboards. We had a great afternoon, angles and speeds appeared to be very similar in fact after a while and you became more confident in one another's ability and understood the lay lines there seemed little if any difference.

This is a great opportunity for the two associations to work together for the good of sport. The time has long gone for any hostility, we are a stronger voice together than we ever will be apart. Whilst windsurfing is safe for 2016 & 20 it may well be that Kiteboards will also get their chance in 2020 if extra medals can be achieved and lets hope this is the case and both sports can prosper. I sincerely hope that we the committee can count on the support of our membership and commend it for its forward thinking as standing still is just not an option. Finally I should like to thank Richard for his vision and support.

Richard Gowers BKA Chairman posted that:

UK Southcoast Series announced

The UKWA ( United Kingdom Windsurfing Association ) and British Kitesports are proud to be working together in 2014 The UKWA will run the Kiteracing for 2014 as part of there already successful windsurfing series which has been going for 30 years.

Richard Gowers of British Kitesports - a former competitor in windsurf racer in the 90's added " This has been a really good opportunity to get the two sports together which share many common characteristics , many of the top windsurfers now kitesurf as was demonstrated by the great success the RS:X sailors had in the short time they had racing in 2013

The UKWA have a wealth of race management experience and we look forward to working with them to deliver some great racing.

There will be two race classes:

• IKA Sanctioned Race boards that are a box rule and generally 70cm wide and 190 cm long
• Freerace class - Maximum width 60cm- for boards such as Airush Sectors or any older race boards and foilboards

Courses (wind / kite) will be run independently of each other and riders can ride in each class if they so wish.

Dates

May 3rd-4th Christchurch
July 12th-13th Weymouth
October 4th-5th Gosport

Costs

£50 Pre Entry
£60 on the day
as second discipline to Windsurfing £15

Entry open soon, British Kitesports membership is required.