So the powers that be have made a crazy decision and decided to drop Kitesurfing and put Windsurfing RSX back in for Rio 2016.
Really strange outcome after all the recommendations at the ISAF conference all week to keep kiting in. But hey, politics and money is something I will never understand? 
Not sure how they can reinstate a dying class that will be pumping around the course in Rio, not very enjoyable to watch and especially after the RSX class took ISAF to court costing them at least £35000 in legal fees. Still I'm not entirely sure Kitesurfing was ready for the Olympics anyhow?
I do feel real sorry for all my friends who have now lost their Olympic dream especially Steph and Olly Bridge who were looking like being the first ever mother, son combo at an Olympic games.
so lets look at the positives-

• Even being selected for the Olympics has increased media attention and awareness that Kiteracing is a high performance sailing sport.
  
• Every country now has some kind of kiteracing going on and sailing clubs have started to include kiteracing events all around the world
• The kiteracing world tour can now go back to being run by the PKRA who were heading in the right direction and had some great events coming on board
• It will now be left to people who are passionate about kitesurfing and do racing for the love and sportmanship rather than just for a job with no passion. This was something I didn't like at the IKA Worlds this year!
• we have gained a lot of kitesurfers who have given it a try because of the Olympics. some of these may go back to RSX some may stay kiteracing, some freestyle and some may even wave ride ;)
• We can now keep developing equipment, courses, race structure and most importantly a training network and clear pathway enabling the youth to get into kiteracing on our own terms.
• By the time ISAF come begging for Kitesurfing to be included in 2020 to save sailing as an Olympic sport, we will have a set structure and can go in on our terms as kiters rather than changing to what they want as yachties.

I would like to thank everyone involved in this process especially Markus at the IKA. It's been a rollercoaster ride but i am positive that this outcome is the best for the sport and Kiteracing will only become stronger from it.
If you are looking for kitesurf race coaching or just to get into kitesurfing then gp to my school in Cornwall- Pasty Adventures
Cheers
Lee

This years Pasty Cup in Mounts Bay, Cornwall is being combined with coaching from BKSA coach Lee Harvey and will also involve interested parties who will be checking out how we go and learning about safety as well as making a video.
The plan is to have coaching on saturday morning followed by 3 races for the Pasty Cup saturday afternoon and another 3  races sunday morning followed by long distance training after lunch.
This event is open to everyone who has raced before and wants to improve with coaching and also have some quality racing! 
Due to outgoing costs this will only run if enough people book in so please send your details asap to lee@pastyadventures.co.uk 
Price is £50 which will simply cover the boat costs.
we will meet at Marazion on Saturday 4th August at 9am. more details will be sent once you are registered.
Lets show everyone that Kitesurfing is ready and the right board sport for Rio 2016!!!!  


Other kitesurfing clinics coming up include- Intermediate TT in July and Wave in September. For more details check out my school website http://www.pastyadventures.co.uk/kitesurf-clinics.html

Thats it we are Olympic! now all the hard work starts but hopefully we will now be able to get funding?
to get involved, have lessons or train with me check out my school www.pastyadventures.co.uk

below is the official statement from the ISAF council meeting-

The International Sailing Federation (ISAF) has confirmed
the final event and equipment selections for the Rio 2016 Olympic Sailing
Competition.
The ISAF Council voted that Kiteboarding will replace
windsurfing for the men's and women's board events and confirmed the equipment
that will be used for the Women's Skiff and Mixed Multihull Events.

The
Mackay FX, referred to as the 49er FX, was selected yesterday as the two person
women's skiff and today the Nacra 17 joins the Olympic equipment family after
being selected for the two person mixed multihull event.

The 49er FX
received the majority of votes from the ISAF Council in the first round after
the six evaluation trial entries were narrowed down to just three; the 29erXX,
the RS900 and the 49er FX.

There was an equally animated debate on the
final morning of the Council meeting at this year's ISAF Mid-Year Meeting to
decide the equipment to be selected for the mixed multihull event. After
discussing the recommendations from the Evaluation Panel, the Equipment
Committee and the Events Committee, Council voted between the Nacra 17 and the
Viper with the Nacra 17 securing the majority.

The final discussion on
the events and equipment for the 2016 Olympic Sailing Competition was about the
men's and women's board events with Council voting in favour or
kiteboarding.

In November 2011 an evaluation group was appointed to
examine kiteboarding formats with the board events for Rio 2016 defined as
'windsurfing and/or kiteboarding'. The Evaluation Group recommended that
kiteboarding be included in the ISAF Event family including the ISAF Sailing
World Cup and the ISAF Sailing World Championships but Council went one step
further and selected Kiteboarding for the Rio 2016 Olympic Sailing Competition
as well.

The ISAF Windsurfing and Kiteboarding Committee will consider
and make further recommendations to Council on the implementation of the
inclusion of kiteboarding at their meeting in November 2012 at the ISAF Annual
Conference.

ISAF President Göran Petersson said, "These announcements
mark a new era for sailing and we welcome the new classes into the ISAF family.
The equipment selections have fulfilled the criteria set out by the Evaluation
Panel and we look forward to seeing the boats not only at the Rio 2016 Olympic
Games, but the ISAF Sailing World Cup and ISAF Sailing World
Championships.

"Kiteboarding has proven to us that it is ready to be
included into the list of prestigious ISAF Events and it is a fantastic addition
to the sailing programme for the 2016 Olympic Games."

The events to be
contested at the 2016 Olympic Games are confirmed as:
Men's
Kiteboarding
Women's Kiteboarding
Men's One Person Dinghy -
Laser
Women's One Person Dinghy - Laser Radial
Men's One Person Dinghy
(heavy) - Finn
Men's Two Person Dinghy - 470
Women's Two Person Dinghy -
470
Men's Skiff - 49er
Women's skiff - 49er FX
Mixed Two Person
Multihull - Nacra 17

These ten events will be featured in the 2012-2013
ISAF Sailing World Cup which kicks off in Melbourne in December and will come
together in Santander, Spain in 2014 for the ISAF Sailing World
Championships.

ISAF Council also approved applications from Kosovo (Group
C) and Vietnam (Group K) for full member status.

http://www.sailing.org/38281.php