Kitepix Magazine No.6 April - June 2015 | Page 120

The rules also seek to make it as
even as possible for competitors.
This stability means I can still race
a Temavento board from 2012
and be competitive. Race Kites
went through a major upheaval
last year as many riders moved
to high aspect closed cell parafoil kites. TT(twin tip) is aimed at
the average local kiter, it’s the
ultimate in ‘have a go racing’.
It shares many similarities
in course and procedure so
it’s great entry level class to
experience the thrills and spills
of racing using standard free ride
gear.

Underpinning all of these are
grassroots events at local clubs
and national levels. I suppose
you can make the year as busy
as you want, or just dip in and
out for a few key events.

Slalom is raced on a fast and
furious cross wind zig zag
course with downwind gybes
around marks that works well
for spectators. It’s light on rules
and favours the brave as much
as the technically good. Racers
use everything from full on
course boards to fast directional
and twin tips. Check out the IKA
web page for more info (http://
internationalkiteboarding.org).

What’s riding a raceboard
like? It looks pretty easy, flat
water, big kite?

What does the 2015 racing
calendar look like? Are there a
lot of events?
There’s two main sanctioned
tours for Formula Racing;
ISAF World Cup, alongside the
Olympic Sail Boats Classes and
then there’s the IKA Formula
Tour consisting of Continental
Championships and a World
Championship. Then there’s
the Gold Cup for Hydrofoil
Racing, and PKRA for slalom.

This year I’ll travel about 140
days that will see me to 8
events worldwide and many
away training trips. It’s a big
commitment, but one I gladly
take. Thankfully goldenpages.
ie, FCR Media Group, and
PureMagic Watersports help
significantly, couldn’t do it without
them!

Riding a race board is well within
the ability of any intermediate
rider and a whole lot of fun too.
It’s really just a big directional with
some tweaks. Screaming along
flat water in under 10kts of wind,
maxed out on a summers day, is
a really great feeling, especially
when your twin tipping mates
are standing on the beach, arms
folded, watching you have all
the fun! One of the things I love
about formula raceboards is the
endless learning curve; I’m never
bored even after all these years.
I’m still learning every session,
each time going faster and more
consistently. The difference
between riders is now so small
that the slightest error will shake
up the results in a heartbeat.
Racing at international level is
incredibly demanding in lots of