Kiteboarding Trials Dates Announced

ISAF is pleased to announce that there will be a series of Kiteboarding format trials held in Santander, Spain from 21-25 March. The Prince Felipe High Performance Centre that is hosting the evaluation event will also host the 2014 ISAF Sailing World Championships.

In May 2011 ISAF Council selected Windsurfing and/or Kiteboarding as a possible event for the 2016 Olympic Sailing Competition.

In November 2011 ISAF Council agreed that a specialist evaluation team be appointed to look at the format and event management implications for Kiteboarding.

The evaluation team has been selected for their in depth Kiteboarding knowledge and is made up of representatives from both ISAF and the IKA:

• Kamen Fillyov – Chairman of the ISAF Windsurfing & Kiteboarding Committee

• Bruno de Wannemaeker – ISAF Equipment Committee

• Michael Gebhardt – Olympic Windsurfer and professional Kiteboarder

• Markus Schwendtner – Executive Secretary, International Kiteboarding Association

ISAF has also appointed a panel of windsurfing, Kiteboarding and race management experts to prepare a final report for the ISAF Mid-Year meeting:

• Tomasz Chamera – ISAF Events Committee

• Ilker Bayindir – ISAF Windsurfing & Kiteboarding Committee

• Bruno de Wannemaeker – ISAF Equipment Committee

ISAF and the IKA have proposed the following format options for Kiteboarding to be trialled in Santander: short track, slalom, course racing and enduro: Click the links for more information.

Throughout the five day trials, sailors will sail the different formats and provide feedback.

ISAF is inviting Member National Authorities, National Kiteboard Associations and Kiteboarding manufacturers to nominate a maximum of one man and one woman to attend the format trails. Please complete and return the application for before 24 February. ISAF and the IKA will then select a maximum of 12 sailors to attend the trails in Santander.

Sailor nomination form.

The RS X Class is also holding its own independent Equipment Evaluations in Cadiz, Spain from 9-13 March. ISAF will be attending the RS:X Equipment Evaluation Event with the aim of testing possible changes to foils and/or sails that will allow the equipment to evolve without increasing costs. In Autumn the RS:X Class is also planning a Format Evaluation in order to look at optimal windsurfing formats.

For more information, visit: www.sailing.org.

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