Only three heat completed and thats all for today folks but it's only gunna get better over the next couple of days, wind and swell increasing and a better swell angle, should be sick.
Put your straps on - its over 4 ft !!!!!!
These guys are claiming they got the best riders in the world but there are some serious names missing
Check the Live stream haha, they should have packed their race boards, because all I see is straight lines.
It's on again, winds a bit light and yeah It's not really the place to see some good strapless, lip smashing but hey there is some nice waves.
How could it be considered a serious competition with out Rowdy judging to let us mortals know who's legit.
You do make a pretty good point, but hey Im watching anyway, they're doing better than I could do, not enough wind to go for a kite but enough to mess up the surf and stuff all on tv.
Commentators doin my head in though.
Guilly and Mitu coming up, Mitu has been ok riding strapless, switch, airs etc but I'd much rather watch chadster doing some real surfer turns.
This part of the sport is still developing... Not the riding but the commercial aspect... I personally support their efforts 100%.... This will grow in the years to come and help develop the sport.... IMO....
I am a very unskilled strapless rider in texas usa and enjoy watching the feed...
Did u see mitu switch his feet under the lip a couple times... To me, thats pretty awesome...
I just hope the sport gains the respect and popularity it deserves....
Just my opinion...
^^^ who cares rowdy it's all politics. (that is unless your lively hood depends on it) It's good to see a comp on a good wave just a shame the riding isn't the best.
I'll admit i'm clueless about ika and whatever politics are involved...
I'm a 50 yr old who took up the sport 2 yrs ago and its all I think about and want to do... Luckily I work for myself and can kite whenever there is wind...
I'm sure some people want the sport to be hidden, and I have no problem w/ that..
Watching the contest and interviews and commentary it seems to me they all have the passion too... Maybe for monetary reasons or some other...
Call me an idiot or clueless or whatever you want, but I truly love this sport..
I just want to play in the waves, and when I cant I want to watch others who feel the same...
What more can I say...
My apologies if i'm out of line.......................
Your not out of line at all. This stuff all needs to be aired publicly and I'm sure a full list with details of everything that has been going on will emerge soon.
My lively hood doesn't depend on it, if you think I make money from judging a couple of PKRA stops your on crack. Also I didn't even judge any wave stops this year. The truth is I just hate seeing a good thing turning to crap when bullies think they can just muscle their way in. Especially when those bullies have about as much idea about kiting as I have about professional lacrosse.
I guess it's how the world works, some people like to know what's happening, others are fine with not knowing about things... They don't want to know about the sweatshops that their overpriced Nikes come from, they don't want to know about all the innocent people their country kills every year... It's just human nature, it's easier not knowing.
p.s. If you really think that is a "good wave" you haven't kited waves for long enough. It's by all means a pretty good wave to surf, but to kite is a whole nother thing. How can you hold a competition on a wave where people can't even do 1 turn properly because it's so offshore...
Practically every video ever of One Eye, they are straightening out - it just seems to be that type of wave. The windsurfers have never held a competition there, and maybe its not that good a spot other than for surfing.
Day 4
I don't think the guys would be riding One Eye - the break is too offshore and fluky in the prevailing wind direction. When I was there in July the kiteable break was around the corner and the wind was straight down the line to cross onshore. I had never been in waves like that before and was just getting a feel for it on my twinny but guys were carving it up on directionals.
I liked watching the footage just because I love Le Morne. Mauritius is such a great place - the locals are really having a go at getting people out of the resorts and staying in the villages, and supporting you by organising a hire ute, or having a kite pump in the kit room of your accommodation. The guy I rented an apartment off is trying to set up a kiters' and windsurfers' "hotel" where everyone can socialise, get bands in and not pay the crazy prices of the resorts.
Does IKO run a comp there? If not, they should be because it would really give back to the locals who work hard to make the place a good destination.
But Rowdy is right how can a comp be called "Professional" if there is no prize money or nobody is getting paid to be there?