Windsurfing is out of the olimpic games

[mcross19]

I thought this was Nick's last games anyway??

[mark h]

Ah, that's true Alan, now I wont feel so bad if I see him

Sad that windsurfing will be out BUT glad that RSX will be out !

Will Starboard be able to design a new board for future re-entry into the Olympics? A board and rig which can be exciting and fun to ride at a more affordable price? And does not weigh a tonne?

[mcross19]

They already have one..........Formula!

[BelSkorpio]

Yes, I never understood why they did not accept it for the Olympics 2012.
After all, it already starts from 6 knots.

I've seen a few official Formula races and I always found them VERY spectacular.

[mark h]

Originally Posted by mark h

Ah, that's true Alan, now I wont feel so bad if I see him

Martin, I don't why I called you Alan?? I must stop drinking meths )

[Philip]

I think the equipment exists in large slalom boards for light winds and small boards for stronger conditions. It is what most WS use (even if in detuned free ride format). It is light and simple to use with a graduated skill level as the boards become more 'dedicated'. It is a myth that slalom boards need insane winds to shine. Somehow the Olympic requirement got locked into traditional regatta style equipment. My recollection is that long boards went into decline when some racers in open classes started to use slalom boards to really good effect. May be the Olympic thing also became distorted by an artificial division between the amateurs on long boards and professionals racing formula or slalom. Perhaps each suits a different weight class, but using slalom you take the conditions on the day versus the weight you carry. Olympic gear tries too hard to equalise and force fit people of different physical builds onto one kind of kit. WS by it's the nature is highly probabilistic which is the essence of the excitement that comes with surf carnivals and other sports that are at the mercy of prevailing conditions.

[mcross19]

Mark I wondered why too, was guessing it was something stronger than tea! Just don't drink it out of a brown paper bag, that is when you really have a problem! haha

Phillip, I agree the IOC are stuck in a time warp, they could have at least used Phantom Race boards!

Some radical thinking needed by the top bods to bring our sport back to the limelight and look exciting to all.

[Gyurmo]

hi,

lots of people thinking usa is general against windsurfing in the question of the olimpic games future, since they voted on kite to rio. here you can find one of the legendary american windsurfer Nevin Sayre's artical about this subject.

http://www.windsport.com/news_article?news_id=1409

the comments are interesting too.

the usa situation is very special, since the most succesful usa olimpic competitor Mike Gebhardt (silver and bronz medalist) campaign for kite for years.

gyurmo

Let's pull out from ISAF all together and set up a separate discipline in Olympics .
It will incoporate RSX , Slalom and freestyle !
It will reborn windsurfing .