tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7899182854594309129.post983067053560727785..comments2024-01-05T20:25:35.853-08:00Comments on USA 4 Windsurfing Campaign: Thoughts on 2016 Olympics- windsurfing & kitingUSA-4 Steve Bodnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15335819825435711123noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7899182854594309129.post-52589283108048834872012-10-18T13:22:05.796-07:002012-10-18T13:22:05.796-07:00@Anonymous
It may be alive and well and better off...@Anonymous<br />It may be alive and well and better off for not being in the Olympics!<br />Go windsurfing!USA-4 Steve Bodnerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15335819825435711123noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7899182854594309129.post-77427346464907692502012-10-18T12:52:38.592-07:002012-10-18T12:52:38.592-07:00"Never a event that big again"... I disa..."Never a event that big again"... I disagree: Medemblik 2012, Youth Techno Worlds = 400 competitors. Everyone needs to realize that windsurfing is alive and well.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7899182854594309129.post-56204970528036948532012-10-12T11:40:03.252-07:002012-10-12T11:40:03.252-07:00"Olympics = the death of the most sailing cla..."Olympics = the death of the most sailing classes for local fleets."...this happen in 1984,...1983 worlds in Kingston,Ontario,Canada - over 500 windsurfers ,never a event that big again. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7899182854594309129.post-48146900677736637592012-08-06T12:58:12.247-07:002012-08-06T12:58:12.247-07:00@yianni- Just because a particular discipline of s...@yianni- Just because a particular discipline of sailing seems to be more mature or popular or sells out its championships are not really valid reasons for inclusion a the Olympic Games.<br />The decision on what classes to include are more so based on what might be good for a sponsor, not particularly- the athlete.<br />Seems line our priorities are screwed but that's the reality at the moment.USA-4 Steve Bodnerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15335819825435711123noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7899182854594309129.post-37128333739419381912012-08-06T12:53:09.608-07:002012-08-06T12:53:09.608-07:00@ E Carmichael
As a supporter and even a competito...@ E Carmichael<br />As a supporter and even a competitor we both have very little say in what classes are represented at the Olympic sailing events every 4 years.<br />At the end of the days its not really about what disciplines are in the Olympics but the total number of athletes. The Olympics can only be so big so naturally there will only be a few lucky (or unlucky) classes that get chosen. <br />For all the others- there is world championships.USA-4 Steve Bodnerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15335819825435711123noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7899182854594309129.post-14125488309501579452012-08-04T11:17:37.744-07:002012-08-04T11:17:37.744-07:00I do not agree with removing windsurfing from the ...I do not agree with removing windsurfing from the olympics.<br />Why not have kite and wind surfing. There is no good reason in my mind why both sports cannot be represented. Every sport should have a chance at the olympics and one that has been represented for as long as windsurfing and is great to watch should be allowed to carry on. How would the gymnasts like it if their sport was scrapped. And I am only a supporter not a participant of the sport.E Carmichaelnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7899182854594309129.post-86038723577312062432012-07-23T05:01:56.676-07:002012-07-23T05:01:56.676-07:00*kitesurfing has fewer categories but fewer athlet...*kitesurfing has fewer categories but fewer athletes as well....<br /><br />Typo. my apologies.yianninoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7899182854594309129.post-45483966285988253082012-07-23T05:00:26.500-07:002012-07-23T05:00:26.500-07:00Hello,
It's great that you try to see both sid...Hello,<br />It's great that you try to see both sides. Unfortunately though you are missing out the greater picture. I don't know if Australia and US prefer kite to windsurfing but, there are other countries on this planet as well. Recently the Asian Sailing Association voted pro-windsurfing. Also the European Union is favoring windsurfing. <br />Windsurfing has fewer categories but fewer athletes as well. Windsurfing on the other hand provides all stages of competition (entry, youth, adults). Every single championchip (Worlds, Europeans, Asians etc) is sold out. 200 athletes every time. <br />Bottom line is that windsurfing is a more mature sport. I respect your opinion but i disagree. Thank you.yianninoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7899182854594309129.post-28150732581191603902012-05-21T16:43:25.521-07:002012-05-21T16:43:25.521-07:00I'm bummed for the prospective 2016 RS:X sailo...I'm bummed for the prospective 2016 RS:X sailors, but I agree with your assessment that it's kiteboarding's turn for an Olympic run. If kiteboarding is able to set a precedent for allowing production class "boarding" into the Olympics then maybe windsurfing can rejoin the Olympics later as formula or slalom, free of the awful light wind pumping curse. Or maybe windsurfing can just say "screw the Olympics" and focus on whatever kinds of racing people are most excited about doing. <br /><br />You've mentioned your interest in kite racing a couple times. How is that coming? Have you ridden a kite raceboard yet? I'll be interested to hear your impressions if you go that route. I used to kite, and I even rode one of Mike Gebhardt's old kite raceboards for a while, but I had enough kitemares just riding solo that there's no way I would feel safe in the dense groups on a race course.James Douglasshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15380226220764974087noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7899182854594309129.post-3886592427332759792012-05-14T01:59:10.140-07:002012-05-14T01:59:10.140-07:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7899182854594309129.post-78485578370412897452012-05-11T03:16:56.969-07:002012-05-11T03:16:56.969-07:00better:
http://translate.google.nl/translate?sl=...better: <br /><br />http://translate.google.nl/translate?sl=auto&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rfev.es%2F%3Fp%3D10635<br /><br />KoenAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7899182854594309129.post-84373227143181937252012-05-11T03:14:41.526-07:002012-05-11T03:14:41.526-07:00Spanje voted wrong .....? 18/18 ???
http://transl...Spanje voted wrong .....? 18/18 ???<br /><br />http://translate.google.nl/translate?sl ... Fp%3D10635<br /><br />Koen BEL-2Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7899182854594309129.post-88500364962733050972012-05-09T11:42:07.398-07:002012-05-09T11:42:07.398-07:00@steve gunn- thanks for the offer of assistance- I...@steve gunn- thanks for the offer of assistance- I may be taking you up on that!<br /><br />@matt- unfortunately being preferred by more people is not a credential of Olympic status. <br />...easier and less hassle?<br />I saw a mini cooper at the beach yesterday with a course racing kite board and a quiver of kites inside. It would take a sprinter to do the same thing with a windsurfer program ;)USA-4 Steve Bodnerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15335819825435711123noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7899182854594309129.post-61981436748224772602012-05-09T11:12:07.803-07:002012-05-09T11:12:07.803-07:00Kite-surfing may be all the rage as definitely mor...Kite-surfing may be all the rage as definitely more tv/camera friendly and thus advertising friendly (more neat objects to watch with the kites and everything), but windsurfing is still preferred for most people. It's easier, less hassle and better for people not able to put so much time into it.<br /><br /><br />Either way, still blowing in the wind so all good, maybe just another trick to add to the already chock full bag, :). More hats!Matthttp://www.odysen.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7899182854594309129.post-75993091091988695372012-05-09T08:18:06.650-07:002012-05-09T08:18:06.650-07:00Steve: a good perspective and well said. AS you kn...Steve: a good perspective and well said. AS you know, I have been a strong proponent of Kite Racing, but my roots are in windsurfing and sailing before that. I was very pleased with the current decision regarding kiteboarding but not at the expense of windsurfing. Will be interesting how this all plays out. If you need any assistance in transferring your skills to use a kite and a smaller formula board with three fins, let me know<br />stevesteve gunnnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7899182854594309129.post-16283878290980978352012-05-08T22:53:12.928-07:002012-05-08T22:53:12.928-07:00@CG I wouldn't be surprised if the windsurfers...@CG I wouldn't be surprised if the windsurfers made another bid in November to change back with the peition. 2020 seems inevitable with another class. The test will be if the rsx can survive without the olympics. Im not sure I would want to see formula as an olympic class the way ISAF runs the show. If we had more control yes. If not- its not worth it. Olympics = the death of the most sailing classes for local fleets. <br /><br />@koensurf we paved the way with formula for the kites with wide boards & carbon fins. What comes around goes around...<br /><br />@joe cool I call it like I see it.<br />Kites are becoming of age.USA-4 Steve Bodnerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15335819825435711123noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7899182854594309129.post-91480295233412763692012-05-08T22:33:27.075-07:002012-05-08T22:33:27.075-07:00Well said, thanks for giving one of the most level...Well said, thanks for giving one of the most level headed reflection on the giving situation. wow your thinking of racing kites ? zyou will probably be in the top 5 in SF in one year. Good Luck. Those boards where just to heavy ..joe coolnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7899182854594309129.post-59385747872487847222012-05-08T08:30:41.160-07:002012-05-08T08:30:41.160-07:00Hi Steve,
Really good comments and although my wi...Hi Steve,<br /><br />Really good comments and although my windsurf heart is crying , I must admit you are right, this is a fact of life.<br /><br />Having experienced high level formula racing , I must also add that I will forever keep on believing this is the most exciting, thrilling board racing format that combines sensation, tactics, material trim, technology and physical/ mental abilities and this still at an affordable price. The performance and wind range of a FW is hard to be beaten.... FW is one of the most underestimated racing disciplines ! Ironic, many people were laughing at the sight of our FW boards , and look now to those kite racing boards .... Funny IMHO.<br /><br />Koen Sonck Bel-2koensurfhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12861241362077223853noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7899182854594309129.post-78317749465258798862012-05-08T07:15:30.077-07:002012-05-08T07:15:30.077-07:00Steve... we probably are getting a lot more people...Steve... we probably are getting a lot more people frm rs-x into formula... and<br />remember tornado out form last comitte? they are not sailing in london 2012. But are back with NACRA17 for Rio.<br />I really think is too early to join the kiters mate.CGhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02160138693635304177noreply@blogger.com