Plan forged for 2016 Kiteboarding World Championships

The International Kiteboarding Association (IKA) has unveiled plans for 2016 Kiteboarding World Championships, with the disciplines of Freestyle, Big Air, Wave, and Slalom all to have a full series of events in the 2016 season. Incorporating well-proven existing and fantastic new locations, the World Champions in each discipline will then be crowned at the last event of the season.

Events are planned to be held on all five continents, with the main focus remaining on the coveted Freestyle World Championship Title. Where conditions allow, Big Air, Wave and Slalom disciplines will complement most events programme. Some venues will only host individual discipline events to showcase the sport at its best and to take advantage of each locations prevailing conditions.

The decision to incorporate the IKA Kiteboarding World Championships for all disciplines became necessary after the tour promoter contract between IKA and PKRA had been terminated earlier this year. PKRA, currently operating under the name PKT/VKWC, had been contracted to operate the IKA World Championships through a tour in previous years. This cooperation ended on July 19, 2014.

IKA is currently negotiating final details of the 2016 events with current and new event organisers. Possible new venues include Turkey, Italy, the Middle East, Egypt, Cabo Verde and Australia.

A key focus is set on evolving the rules for the individual disciplines, as well as the judging criteria and judging systems which were controversially discussed in the 2015 season. IKA will collaborate with riders committees, industry representatives and event organisers to include all stakeholders input into the shaping of the sport and invites all parties to an open dialogue in the lead up to the 2016 competition season.

Re-introduction of live scoring and live streaming wherever technically possible, trials at all events and improved media work and distribution are further topics to be discussed in the upcoming weeks.

More details on the schedule and each disciplines details will be published soon.

Background: The IKA classes IKA Open, IKA TT:R and IKA Formula Kite are class associations of the International Sailing Federation (ISAF). Additional IKA kiteboarding class associations have applied for recognition as ISAF classes at the 2015 ISAF Annual Conference. ISAF is the world governing body for the sport of Sailing as recognised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

Under ISAF regulation 25.2.2, “ISAF Class Associations have the sole right to hold world and continental championships of their class, these being class events as defined in Regulation 10.5(f).”

These rights will now be exercised by all IKA classes.

IKA has been founded in 2006 and became a member of ISAF in 2008. IKA has currently 63 member national associations in all parts of the world. The national members of IKA are responsible for the development and management of kiteboarding in their countries, often not only on water but also on land and snow, and represent hundred thousands of kiteboarders around the globe.

Click here for a full list of association members, with Korea, Saudi Arabia, Iran and India being the latest national associations applying for membership status.

ISAF STATEMENT ON OCTOBER 14, 2015: The International Sailing Federation (ISAF) has been working with the International Kiteboarding Association (IKA) and the Professional Kiteboarding Tour (PKT) over the development of the discipline around the world.

ISAF has confirmed to the IKA that they have the right to award the following 2016 World Championship titles at the following events:

IKA Formula Kite: Slalom Open – Perth, Australia (29 November – 4 December 2016)
IKA Open: Freestyle Men, Freestyle Women – Perth, Australia (29 November – 4 December 2016)
IKA TTR: Big Air Men, Big Air Women – Perth, Australia (29 November – 4 December 2016)
IKA Open: Wave Open – Sal, Cabo Verde (12 – 18 December 2016)
IKA Formula Kite (Racing Men and Racing Women) World Championships – Qatar (1 – 5 June 2016).

ISAF has confirmed to the PKT that they will be awarded ISAF Special Event status for a World Tour, run under the auspices of the PKT, in the Freestyle, Big Air, Wave and Slalom disciplines.

ISAF is committed to developing relationships with the Kite Riders, IKA, PKT, event organisers and equipment manufacturers to ensure the long term growth of the sport.

Kiteboarding is set to be showcased at the upcoming ISAF Sailing World Cup Final in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates at the end of October. Furthermore, the sport will make its Olympic debut at the Buenos Aires 2018 Youth Olympic Games with the finest youth riders racing on out of the Argentinean capital.