This post was originally listed under New Topics and was moved to Announcements
Are you ready to show off your stuff in the waves? Do you want to discover the world class wave conditions of Taranaki's coast line? Do you want some wave riding tips from fellow kiteboarders or check out the newest gear? Or do you simply want to walk away with a brand new kite without even getting wet?
www.kiteboardingnationals.co.nz
Cheers,

hmmm.. finishes the day before mi English exam.. hopfully i can talk dad into it

No chance Brockie, going by the quality of your english in your posts here, you ne all the swot u cn gt !!

"The future of NZ kiteboarding".... NZ Kiteboarding wave nationals; $50 now or a hundee later, you promote eclipse kites & competitors pay for you to give one away. Not bad concept, quite clever in fact.

But what is the attraction for me to participate?

I ride the Naki coast alot, so why spend my gas money on an entry fee to a competitive overcrowded circus instead of a normally mellow, uncrowded spot.

I like the idea of riders judging, I'd be happy to, but why should we be paying $$$ to sit around judging someone elses riding? It could just as easily be a voluntary & free event.

You have mentioned that any pofits from this venture will go to a charity which is a nice sentiment..... But for me to have to pay to do the sport I enjoy, I would prefer to know that ALL $$$ contributed was going to charity.

No offense intended, I'm only voicing my opinion & that could change tomorrow - like the wind.

Hello Skyrider,
Thank you very much for your post. I really appreciate it since it shows that the event website is not self-explanatory and I need to change some sections.
Here are the answers to your questions:
My company, The Kiteboarding Shop Limited, is donating the 6m kite complete with bar and lines. The competitors will not pay for it. The same is true for the 9m kite complete that was donated by Eclipse Kiteboarding.
The entry fees will be used to organize the event exclusively. I am still hoping to give every competitor a rash guard. The wholesale price for a printed rash guard is $46.- if I buy 50. Furthermore, since I am located in Tauranga and do not have a fleet of volunteers in New Plymouth, I intend to cater the Saturday night party. The prices for catering are around $20.- per head. So we are already looking at $66.- per person and your entry fee is $50.
Please do not forget, I also have to pay for a rescue boat, first aid personnel, liability insurance, sound system, portable toilets, event tent, etc. So entry fees will not cover the event and I am presently in contact with corporate sponsors.
As soon as I have all costs, I will publish the budget on the event website and you can take a look.
I created the event because there was nothing similar ever done for the growing number of wave riders in New Zealand. Furthermore, many “old” guys like myself can not show off with handle passes and will never survive the first round in the Freestyle Nationals but still like to compete.
On the website, I have also invited all manufacturers, distributors and dealers to come and have their new gear available for testing and I do not expect any sponsorship in return. According to your profile, you are working in the industry and really have no need for a demo day, but I am sure there are many others out there who wouldn’t mind trying the new stuff.
Unfortunately, I can not answer your question what the attraction for you would be to participate. You have to decide for yourself if you would like to ride in the final heat with everyone else watching you from the beach.
Hope to see you in November.
Cheers,

Thanks KiteBoardingShop - good to hear a bit about your organisation to be ringmaster for a circus - I respect how you are going about it & I’m sorry about my previous presumptions.

I’m not really “in the industry” anymore - I burnt out on kite instructing, & welll to be honest I’m a bit over the whole kitie-industry thing it’s got so friggin gimmicky & is growing too fast, it’s too easy to start now I believe & theres more likelhood of serious accidents with “safe” bridled kites.

So anyway, as you have mentioned, this competition is about a kind of riding that is less Trapeze-artistry for 14 year olds - accomplishing the latest inversion trick with a twist & several bar passes with a TT on flat water - more about connecting with the surging power of the ocean waves, surfing with a kite.... sure is swell fun when the conditions occasionally line-up, I wouldn’t like to bet money on wether you’ll get the weather to oblige for this competition.

If Freestyle is the Trapeze event of the kite competition circus, then I guess wave events are the merry-go-round.

Freestyle competition is a relatively simple discipline to contest - you have a buoyed flat water judging area & competitors are riding similar boards & kites.

The PKRA, KWPT both have had years of succesfull contest in freestyle. N.Z. has had it’s own modest intermittant Freestyle Kiteboarding Nationals.

Kiting & surfing waves is a sport that is still evolving.

You cant have a contest when every one is doing a different form of riding with completely different equipment.... it’s destined for controversy & failure of it’s objective -you wont get agreement on who is the “best rider” for that event - there is too much divergence in the degrees of difficulty.

Here’s the list of what / how people are likely to ride (listed in order of degrees of difficulty):

#1. Twintips / Mutants with lots of kite-power,strapped, hooked.

#2. Small directionals/ high-depower kites,strapped, hooked.

#3. Surfboards / high-depower kite, strapped, hooked.

#4. Surfboards C-kite,strapless unhooked.

Over the last 7 years of kiting I have worked my way through this list of equipment & “Styles” of riding on waves.

People label the strapped/strapless hooked/unhooked-TT-Mutant-Small Directional-Surfboard divergence “styles”, but I would suggest that each way of riding is a seperate “form” or discipline with differing degrees of difficulty.

For example, 3 years ago I was riding a 5’11” surfboard strapped with C-kite hooked & unhooked .... I was stoked on how many aerials I was getting & how I could smack every section of the wave with no consequences for errors or mistiming..... that got kinda boringly easy after a while so then on to strapless unhooked on 6’3”surfboard & much less kite power 100% unhooked & fixed-bar.... now every interaction with the critical section of the wave has heavy consequences for the slightest error & an aerial is a work of art.

The less power you have with your kite the more critical it becomes to have your kite in the right place & the closer you get to approximating “surfing” the wave.

One of the biggest divergences of riding is hooked/unhooked, how do you judge the difference? Hooked to a bridled kite is like cruising around in an automatic V8 - unhooked on a C kite with a fixed loop is like driving a Formula 1 that's about to blow a tire (give me the F1 adrenaline every time, bummer about the pitstops but it's still worth it !).

Sorry I have begun to bla bla bla & get off track - probably gonna get smashed from a huge set of threads on the horizon callin B/S on me.... Anyhow this is just my opinion, i ‘m not that enthusiastic about a pissing-competition when there is dudes out there trying to take a dump.... if you know what I mean.

Not too serious here, so please to all in kiteforumsville - no offence intended

Skyrider burnt out from kiting and took up forum bleeting. Unfortunately your on the wrong kite forum you probably won't find many like minded bleaters here...

Nice work on organising the wave nats, nobody else has so far so good on you. Of course you will have your knockers and bleeters but who cares

Hi Aunty! A warm-spring welcome to you.

thank you for your kind cuts through bleat like

pursuing meat from bleadin bone.

Sugar-Daddy Earl; Perhaps you could answer me this... How much more succesfull & entertaininly easy would it be to have a N.Z. S.U.P nationals!

Yes, the janitors of the surf world have no dependance on wind, marginal waves is no worries. & they all use equipment with very similar performance/limits.

Unlike a kiteSmurfing Nationals A N.Z. S.U.P competition would be obvious to spectators and judges as to skill level & best rides.

I don't think whatever board you are riding matters - surf, skim, twin, mutant, hybrid, sup - yeah entertain us! Maybe someone should bodysurf kite the wave LOL - whatever... but

Give placings/credit for

Top unstrapped riders
Top unhooked riders
Top strapped riders

as obviously some riding techniques are much more difficult than others

Often comes down to the conditions of the day for many.

Some big wave footage I shot in WA last year, njoi!

Hello Skyrider:
"The contestant who executes the most radical maneuvers generating power and speed in the most critical section of the biggest and longest wave, hooked or unhooked, strapped or strapless shall win."
That’s the event format and it is basically copied from a surf event. Since we are the judges, I don’t think we will hesitate to score (admire) someone’s riding even more when we see he/she is strapless and unhooked.
Cheers

I think given the different styles and ways of wave riding with a kite, it is good to have an all in competition on what ever gear you ride, and be judged on your ability to time and ride the wave the way you want.

Some guys unhooked with out straps look like crap on waves, while others rip.

Some TT riders ride open away from the peak while others are pulling into barrells and getting into the pocket .

If you want to make it more difficult with the gear setup you use thats up to you.
This isn't Olympic diving with a degree of difficulty factored into the score, this is about fluid wave riding style using the power of the wave on what ever works best for you.

There is a lot of different opinions over what is right or wrong, so if it comes down to judging, letting us the competitors decide what looks fluid is a good idea. Its not like there's a world ranking or prize money hinging on the results.

I live here and I wouldn't have got around to organizing a wave comp. Too much time and effort for the hassles people give you, so good on ya for taking the plunge and organizing an event.

It will be fun to ride with a few others for a weekend and have a social event.

I'll be happy to stump up $50 and turn up for some fun and ride a few waves and go into the draw for a new kite.

:wink:


And Skyrider your getting cynical in your old age.... You know you can come to the Naki and ride for free anytime you want.
This isn't about paying to ride waves.... All comp's have an entry fee.

Did you have a good trip to Samoa? Get some waves ? :wink:

Regarding different gear ,and straps vs none or hooked or unhooked riding, IMO if you start putting restrictions where does it stop?

Will we all have to ride the same kites and boards ? wear the same harness's? see it would become a can of worms.

Waves should be about freedom of expression not limitations.

Promoting a particular style or type of equipment as the only one that is right doesn't fit in with the freedom of the ocean and waves in my book.

My 2cents worth 8)

O.K. thats all good, interesting posts yes... no B/S, in fact, I'm the one soundin like a kitewomble.

This forum is a goody - looks like it's possible to have a good discussion / intermingling of ideas.

So I'm sort of playing the devils advocate on this, trying to see where N.Z. kitesurfing is at.

The Criteria; "generating power and speed in the most critical section" is pure surfing terminology - but kitesurfing is NOT surfing - generation of power & speed is derived from the additional source of kite/wind.

Obviously the generation of power from the source of a wave is the key element in a SURFING contest.

KITEsurfers generate power from the combination of kite/wind. KITEsurfers can interact with a wave, but I would suggest that sailing on "apparent wind" is 95% of the power source in KITEsurfing a wave - the remaing 5% is timing & positioning yourself around the waves power to get the sensation of surfing the wave.

So what am I surf-womble-kiting on about ???

How about adding to the criteria to suit KITEsurfing.

Length of ride is not really applicable or relevant, but I would go with;

"The rider that does the highest amount of quality manouvres around the critical section of a wave flying the kite with fluid power (No slack-lines, stalls/recoveries etc)"

Clearing a 20 foot closeout section with kite high floater using straps vs a powerful re-entry strapless and unhooked

A big frontside air strapped taking off and landing in the wave strapped vs a shorter floater section unstrapped

Yes and in both of the above you could use the wave like a half pipe for big hits, or you could time and use the power of the wave for fluid style, and two different people would judge it quite differently.


So competitors who ride strapless will perceive and judge one way, while others will see it different.


How come tow in surfers use foot straps and different boards to regular surfing. Cos the waves and conditions are different to regular surfing.

We Kite in wind effected waves and the conditions are more like windsurfing or tow surfing conditions with big faces and chop etc, so ride the way you want to optimize the conditions we ride in.


With the competitors being the judges it will balance out in the end .


In the future there well may be enough riders in different styles to have separate competitions, but that would need some one keen enough to organize it all, and in the mean time we have an expression session style of competition , which is easy to organize and should work well for everyone.

For myself where I place isn't important. I ride waves for my own satisfaction , and ride the way I like, so I'm not to concerned about the judging format.

"With the competitors being the judges it will balance out in the end . "

That's why I just think it would be a good idea to at least acknowledge the different techniques (not equipment) of riding with a placing/small prize for strapped/unstrapped hooked /unhooked if the conditions are good for all those techniques of riding.

You might well be right, but it makes judging a lot more complex for us the competitors, who are the judges.
I think that if you are going to start giving prizes for places etc you need dedicated judges , small heats and a lot more organization and people power than you do for the expression session format with this comp.

This is the first year of this comp & obviously the organisers will come away at the end of it with hopefully a better idea of how to run it in years to come.

I'm one of those guys who pretty much ride unstrapped all the time these days, & yeah I do think about wouldn't it be cool if there were different divisions for at least strapped & unstrapped riders. I've heard the same argument at the Australian wave nationals & Mambo events. Both of these events have been won by both strapped & unstrapped riders in the past.

You could also argue that there should also be a junior, mens, women, & masters divisions in this comp as well. But I'm happy to go out there & have fun, see what the Naki conditions throw at me, & meet and kite with heap of new people & have a few beers afterwards. I will probably even learn a thing or two from it all.

I'll also be bringing along a strapped board just in case

Kiteboardingshop - I would like to acknowledge & show my respect to you for stumping up the $$$ & energy to organize this event.



I hope I have not in anyway offended you by my comments on this thread & I wish you fair winds & clean swells for your event.


I think it is good if the riders can have some discussion on this thread, questions, opinions, I think it is interesting to find out where the sport is at in N.Z right now. I know only half a dozen guys who even do this kind of kitesurfing..... so it would be quite interesting to see some new faces in the line-up.... absolute nightmare trying to ride waves in crowded conditions but, maybe this event will help to raise awareness of surf ettiquette & right of way in the waves - that would be great!

The rider judged format with no prizes or ranking points for the final is the way to go to keep it fair & friendly.

Acknowledgement of the best of the different forms of riding would be good (not for your style of harness :wink: )


Re. judging; The emphasis for what amateur judges are to look for would be to give the highest score for riders that are powerfull, flowing & always either carving turns on-rail, getting barrelled, trimming the pocket, aerialling, snaps, rios, floaters etc. - always in contact with the critical section of the wave & the kite flying should to be smooth too.


There are grey areas about priority that I would like to mention, because even riding amoungst my mates this can become contentious....

You have stated that the first rider on the swell has priority (well this rule doesn't work out too good - it's actually a windsurfers rule & we aren't windsurfers :roll:) I have conceded many good waves to windsurfers because of this rule - even though I have worked my way upwind & waited for longer than they have for that wave - that law is an ass

I suggest with priority, the furthest upwind rider OR the closest rider to the breaking curl of the wave has priority. Riders making their way back out through the break must not impede anyones path riding the wave in.

In real-time this would mean that if you were out the back but downwind of the peak, riding supposedly"first" on a swell or the shoulder of a wave that's breaking downwind towards you & a rider was upwind of you - the upwind rider has priority, if you continue your course on that wave you are effectively blocking their path. ( in serious competition you'd be DSQ'd.)

Raving again, I know - catch ya later :cry:

Good shit that some dude out there has gotten off there ass to set up an event for us (Kiteboarders) Who really cares what the f**k people ride, how they ride or what planet they come from.

If they turn up, we should welcome them to impress us with their execution of multiple slaps, slashes, turns, aerials, spins, dance maneuvers, and any manner of showman ship to make the judges rally to award them the ultimate price "master of the wave kite universe in new zealand"

Hello Skyrider,
You did not offend me at all and I absolutely understand where you are coming from. Watching Dave Edwards ripping it strapless and with a C kite always amazes me and once in a while I take the straps off my board on a sunny sea breeze day and realize quickly what a pathetic wave rider I am. So anyone who goes out there like you and pulls it off will get my vote for sure.
Cheers,

You should come Skyrider. Most have us have never seen you wave-riding close up, you're always too far out on the Raglan bar

Simon

Yeah I'll be coming down for sure.

Was down there last week & had classic competition-style grovelling conditions... there was only a few guys out & it was a mission to get upwind & get a wave - dread to think what it will be like with 25+ guys out.

At one stage I'd finally got upwind & lined up a nice wave, got a few hits in then saw my mate on the same wave further downwind - so I proceeded to go for the lip thinking he'd give-way... Nup! I had to stop mid-reo or hit him. Back on the beach he claimed I'd "turned onto" his wave. O.K. so I was heading out & had reo-d onto the peak - Hell I was miles upwind & had got 2 reos in and was onto a 3rd when I got down to where he was on the shoulder.

I'm pretty apprehensive about a comp using this strange windsurfers rule.... It basically means you cant hit the waves from the beginning of the peak because someone downwind riding up the unbroken swell from out the back will claim they were on it first.

So yeah, I'll be down for sure, have a look - but if it's chaotic I'll just go ride another spot.... tnere's always lots of options in the Naki.

Hi Skywalker,
Rules can be changed quite easily. Please feel free to post your ideas and we have no problems adopting them assuming they make sense.
Cheers,

depating aucks thursday 13th nov>><<returning monday 17th nov, offering pic up and full return, plus transit to and from the comp location during the event, limited seats (6 only) so book now, modern air conditioned bus. lots of room for kite gear.$220 per person,accomadation and meals not included. conditions apply call johnie now. 021 airtime . 8)

The after function is finalized! We will meet on Saturday, November 15, 2008, at 8pm at the East End Surf Club, located at Nobs Line, New Plymouth.
The event will be catered and we will be offering a BBQ buffet. For the menu, please check the event website.
The buffet is included in the entry fee for all competitors. If you would like to bring a guest/s, tickets are available at $20.00 (our cost) per person. Unfortunately, there are no ticket sales available on the event night. Please check the event website for more info.
Since the event is catered, we unfortunately can no longer accept race day entries.

Please note there is absolutely no BYO beverage. The Surf Club is offering their premises at a very affordable rate and needs to make money with liquor sales.

We were successful in signing up sponsors and will supply rash guards to all competitors. However, we need to place the order for the rash guards on October 21, so should you decide to sign up last minute, you might be out of luck!

Cheers,

As this is my first post since obama osama was born and buried, there must have been some serious air waves rocking my chair into action...

Should be a great event, well done the organisers!!!

I would like to have a minor bleat about the event format as defined on the website (only since you have invited opinions on the rules above...).

There is a contradiction within your rules:

Firstly you state that the rider upwind has to give way to a rider downwind, then you state that - "the competitor closest to the break (usually upwind) has priority of the wave".

This point requires clarification as it is symbolic of the general confusion that can arise. If you have any interest Ralph, I have a diagram schematic showing the easiest way to solve this problem, hich I could e-mail to you (created by a local artist).

Generally if it is to be wave riding competition in a classic down the line place like taranaki, the rider closest to the peak/breaking section AND actually riding the wave down the line, has right of way. Assuming the event will be located at a cross shore location, then this means someone riding down the line (from upwind) on the wave has right of way. Its simple... if someone is in the position to hit the best section of the wave from upwind, its theirs...

Sounds simple but alas... the very wonderful aspect of our sport, every wave being a unique expression of energy, is the reason there will always be contention as to who's wave it is....

answer, ride with aloha brothers and sisters.

PS I have a friend who is a good in water videographer, keen to be involved...[/img]

I thought Hippy had joined the "Armie" training in a secret spot near Raglan 8)

This definitely makes sense. So assuming no one objects within the next few weeks, I will adopt your rule. Since I have been quite busy trying to find sponsors, getting the website going and organizing the rest, I actually spent no time at all on the rules and copied them from the internet.
Personally, I am not too worried that we won’t behave courteously during the event, or would you give your vote to a guy who consistently stole your wave?
In regards to your friend who is a good water video photographer, please ask him to call me as soon as possible. I am really interested.

Good on you Hippie............
I reakon you are the most advanced and technical rider in New Zealand! When there is no wind thats when you are the greatest!
Peace...........

Cripes... I am going there to get boozed and talk crap... anyone at the after party talking this technical bollocks must consume.. are we under buffalo rules???

big ups for oragnising !!!!

Any ideas for accommodation? Us jaffas like sticking together, so if you could suggest a nice spot near the after party venue, suitable for a sophisticated bunch of townies that serves lattes & presses your wetsuit, let me know...

I am pleased to announce that we have singed up some significant sponsors and we greatly appreciate their generous support.
The promoting of the event was picked up by 2 radio stations (The Most and More FM), Wind&Kite and I am still hopeful to have Channel One TV coverage. The posters will be printed on Monday. Please contact us if you require a copy for your shop or sailing spot.
Unfortunately, due to the workload involved organizing the event, I was unable to suggest any accommodations as of yet. The closet campground to the After Event site is Fitzroy Motor Camp and I have been told it is within walking distance. If time allows, I will check it out and post my findings.
Along with the Rash Guards, every competitor will receive a brightly coloured bib with his/her registration number printed on it. This will identify them as competitors and we ask anyone who is not signed up but decides to come and check out the event to please stay away from the waves!
Please note, registration will close on October 31 and there are no exceptions for late comers. Furthermore, if you want that rash guard, you need to send your registration before 0ctober 21 or we can not guarantee that we will have one for you. So do yourself a favor and sign up!
Cheers,

To all competitors,

Thank you very much for the overwhelming support and the awesome number of entries. The registration is now closed and you have until Monday November 10, to enter friends for the After Party.

Since we will decide on the day where we will hold the competition, we have updated the website with maps and you can print the directions from your accommodation to the different spots. We will notify you each day where will meet by text message and by updating the website.

Also, because the event most certainly will not make any profit, we thought of a different way to support The Child Cancer Foundation.

We will have Daniel, a video photographer, in the water and we will offer a video for sale after the event. All proceeds from this will go The Child Cancer Foundation. Since the video photographer basically volunteered his services, we offered him the opportunity to cover his expenses by selling video footage to the competitors. So if you want to show off to your friends ripping 3m waves, talk to Daniel and he will document your wipe outs for a small fee.

Furthermore, William from Wind & Kite will take pictures that will be for sale for $20. For each picture sold, William will donate $10 to The Child Cancer Foundation. All pictures taken will be posted on the Wind & Kite website.

www.marvelmedia.co.nz/wind-kite

Also, please check out the revised wave riding rules under:

www.kiteboardingnationals.co.nz/format/format.htm

Following your suggestions, we changed the judging slightly. For details please check:

www.kiteboardingnationals.co.nz/judging/judging.htm

The preparations are coming to an end, but we still would need the following support:

- If there is no wind we won’t have any video footage to show at the After Function. So if anyone has some wave riding videos or DVDs – please bring them along!

- Our budget would not allow for a band or DJ, so please bring music on a MP3 player or some CDs for the After Function.

- Anyone out there keen to be heard on the microphone and entertain the crowd? Luca’s airfare really would have blown our budget and we are unable to fly him up from Queenstown.

Thanks for your support.

I am looking forward to seeing you all in a few days and let’s hope we will be blessed with huge swell and solid wind.

Cheers,