THE WINDSURFING NEWSLETTER
– February ’03 edition –
2003 IWA INDUSTRY MEETING
Industry members met with IWA delegates on Thursday January 23rd at BOOT Dusseldorf,
Germany to review the aims and objectives of the association; receive the results
of a study commissioned by the IWA; and meet Rich Jeffries (USA) who is the
chairman of the ISAF Windsurfing Evaluation Trials Team.
The key message from the classes to the industry is one of co-operation. Now
is the time for the stakeholders in the sport of windsurfing to join together
to develop and implement a global communications strategy that positions the
sport relative to other so called extreme sports; unites the racing fraternity
behind one flag carrier by recognising that the sport’s association with
the Olympic Games as an incredible asset; and identifies ways of introducing
the sport to new participants.
Rich Jeffries made it plain that the e-team has an open mind on the equipment
or format to be selected for the 2008 Olympic Regatta in China. He is looking
to the IWA to come forward with proposals for consideration by ISAF on the international
class to manage the Olympic process, the class rules, and format to be raced.
Further he intimated that there is likely to be only one trials event, probably
in July, in Europe and is looking forward to evaluating boards from existing
brands, well known shapers and anyone else who wished to put prototypes forward.
ISAF will probably announce the official criteria and conditions for participation
at the end of February.
The meeting report is at http://www.internationalwindsurfing.com/default.asp?menu=241&parent=181&grandparent=2
NOTES FROM IWA JANUARY BOARD MEETING
Immediately following the IWA industry meeting, the IWA board met to confirm
the main agenda points for 2003 (see below); establish working groups made up
of representatives from the classes; review the key messages from the marketing
study commissioned from Aristeia Sport Communications and set the 2003 budget.
The classes established working groups to give in-put to the ISAF e-team on
evaluation methodology; marketing; and Olympic format & rules
Key messages from the marketing study are that the sport’s involvement
in the Olympic Regatta is an asset and should be prized; that the sport needs
to identify and promote a ‘flag carrier’; that windsurfing industry
involvement in the Olympic format must be optimised; and that the classes have
a key role to play.
A follow up study has subsequently been commissioned in order to maximise the
industry’s input and to enable as many views as possible to be taken into
account. This will be reviewed at the next meeting to be held at the end of
March. A further meeting with the Industry at the end of May is being considered.
NEW IWA PRESIDENT ELECTED
Ceri Williams, chairman of the IFWC, was elected as the IWA President for 2003.
This post rotates on an annual basis. Ceri is relatively new on the international
scene having only been on the FW Committee since 2001; elected to the chair
of the FW Committee in 2002; and is now elected to the Presidency of the IWA
Board. He is passionate about the sport as are his two sons who are both racing
at high level. He is closely involved in the racing scene in the UK as the Race
Director of the UKWA. On being elected, Ceri said “ I would like to thank
Bruno de Wannemaeker for the excellent job he did as the 2002 President. His
tenure in office brought stability and enabled the classes to turn their attention
to the real issues challenging our sport. I only hope that I can achieve as
much in my year at the helm!”
NEW INDUSTRY REPRESENTATIVE ON THE IWA BOARD
Michel Quistinic (Neil Pryde Europe) was elected by the industry brands present
at BOOT to replace Guy Chilvers (BIC) as the Industry Representative on the
IWA Board. Guy stepped down after completing his two-year term, which saw the
foundation of the IWA and it’s transformation from a dream into an effective
administration supporting all the classes.
On election, Michel said, “I am proud to be the elected representative
of the industry on the IWA Board. I will do my best to circulate information
to all of my colleagues and put forward their views in an impartial manner.
In the meantime, my priorities are firstly, to encourage each brand to join
the IWA (I will be in touch shortly with suggested membership proposals) and
secondly to encourage my IWA board colleagues to rationalize the competition
structure in windsurfing.”
KEY IWA OBJECTIVES FOR 2003
ISAF Evaluation Trials
§ To give input into the methodology and analysis of the trials
§ To develop a marketing & communications strategy for the Olympic
format
§ To make proposals concerning the Olympic Class, Format, Rules &
Structure
Amendment to Appendix B
§ This is now a top priority
§ To review the FRRS and RRS Appendix B with a view
§ To make a joint submission to the ISAF by July 31st ’03
IWA Industry membership
§ To encourage windsurfing brands to join
§ To work with them to promote the sport
§ To establish a strong central administration
Global Marketing Strategy
§ To attract new participants
§ To promote a ‘flag carrier’
§ To rationalize existing competition structures
Production Board Registration & Measurement
§ To review/amend the board registration procedure
§ To facilitate simple and effective regatta measurement
Existing Championships
§ To deliver high standards of execution and integrity
§ To attract the maximum number of entries
Education
§ To gather data on existing education systems
§ And windsurfing schools worldwide
§ In light of other objectives, this project is not high priority
NATIONAL CLASS MEMBERSHIP FEES
The classes have empowered the IWA to collect national class association fees
on their behalf. These fees contribute to the funding of a professional administration
for the sport. Invoices for Annual National Class Membership Fees for 2003 were
sent out on December 3rd 2002. It would be much appreciated, now that the Christmas
and New Year festivities are well behind us, if national associations could
take the necessary action to pay their class fees by return. Thirteen Associations
have already done so for which we thank them very much!
2003 MISTRAL WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP, Cadiz, Spain
Training Arrangements
Those intending to train in Cadiz over the coming months, please take note.
So many people wish to train that it has been necessary to set up a system to
cope. The FAV has allocated one of the car parks near the harbour in Puerto
Sherry for visiting foreign crews to put their material. Unfortunately, there
is no covered area in this car park and so the FAV have agreed to allow Mistral
sailors to keep their sails and boards in the sail locker, at a charge of €uros18
per sailor per month (or part of month). This is less than the price that the
local sailors pay to keep their material here. Further details on coach boat
launching, parking, camping and the ability to provide official documentation
can be found at
http://www.internationalwindsurfing.com/Default.asp?newsid=130
Allocation/Qualification Systems
The ISAF system for ALLOCATING the maximum number of places on the world championship
start line has been posted on the IMCO website at http://www.imco.org/regatta/03ISAFqualisys.pdf.
The actual system by which a country selects athletes to compete is in the hands
of each national authority. Some of these may have an existing method. Others
may not. This is why IMCO decided at their 2002 AGM to publish their own annual
world championship qualification system for 2003 as normal at www.imco/regatta/03MwcQualiSys.htm
The list of those qualified through the IMCO system will be regularly updated
and posted on the website as usual. This is a service to MNAs, which they are
welcome to use or ignore according to their own wishes.
FORMULA WINDSURFING YOUTH & JUNIOR RACING POLICY
In a recent statement published on the IFWC website, Ceri Williams, class chairman
stated that, “to ensure the continued development of the class it is vital
that the IFWC publish a clear youth and junior racing policy that will remain
unchanged for a number of years.” The published system will allow any brand
to be involved from next year as long as they have an ASA skinned FW board registered
on the ISAF FW Production Board List. For more details go to http://www.internationalwindsurfing.com/Default.asp?newsid=128
IMCO E-mail ADDRESS NOW CHANGED
Please change your contact e-mail address for the IMCO to [email protected]
The old CompuServe address has been discontinued.
2003 IFCA & IFWC SAIL NUMBER POLICY
Following the IWA Board meeting at BOOT and discussions between the IFWC and
the IFCA, the classes agreed that the current racing rules as regards sail identification
(3 letter country code & numbers) as specified in FRS Appendix G will be
strictly applied. You have been warned!
2003 MAJOR EVENTS
– Mistral & Raceboard South American Championship
Buenos Aires, Argentina – Feb 25th > March 1st
NoR at: http://imco.org/regatta/03SAnor.pdf
Contact the LOA on e-mail: [email protected]
– Mistral Oceania Championship
Whangaparoa, New Zealand – March 1st > 4th
NoR at: http://imco.org/regatta/03OCEnor.htm
– Mistral & Raceboard Asian Championship
Penang, Malaysia – March 8th > 14th
20 kg. Free excess baggage and 50% discount on any additional excess baggage.
To be eligible, competitors must confirm their date and point of departure with
the Penang Swimming Club who will then reconfirm with Malaysia Airlines.
See the NoR at: http://imco.org/regatta/03AsianNoR.pdf for contact details
– Mistral & Raceboard North American Championship
Merida, Yucatan, Mexico – March 11th > 16th
NoR at: http://www.multired.net.mx/silcer2003
– Formula Europeans & Formula Youth Europeans
Douarnenez, France – May 3rd > 8th
NoR at: http://www.formulawindsurfing.org/read.php?type=nor&id=3
FWEC enter on line: http://www.internationalwindsurfing.com/default.asp?menu=245&parent=94&grandparent=3
FWYEC enter on line: http://www.internationalwindsurfing.com/default.asp?menu=247&parent=94&grandparent=0
Supported by PETIT NAVIRE and with Euro 20,000 prize money, conditions off
Douarnenez are likely to be ideal for FW racing. For the first time Youth European
Championship titles are up for grabs so if you are a young FW racer and want
to prove yourself in front of the major stars on the circuit, this is your chance.
All registered competitors are eligible to win a major lottery prize which will
be drawn at the closing ceremony dinner at the end of the event. The grand prize
will be substantial… you may even have to drive it away!
– Mistral European Championship
Palermo Mondello, Sicily, ITALY, May 5th > 14th
NoR at: http://imco.org/regatta/03mecNoR.htm
Enter on line: http://www.internationalwindsurfing.com/default.asp?menu=212&parent=94&grandparent=3
– Formula Festival
Lake Garda, Italy – July 7th > 12th
– includes 2003 IFWC YOUTH WORLDS & Championship Formula Racing for Junior,
Espoir and Master
– Youth & Juniors compete on ASA boards (with limited rig sizes) taken
from the 2003 FW list
See this at: http://www.formulawindsurfing.org/read.php?type=class&name=boardlist&noBounds=1&source=file
– Espoir & Masters equipment according to Class Rules: any board from the
Official list
NoR to be published shortly
– Raceboard Worlds (inc 7.5 & Unlimited)
Greece – July 19th > 26th
NoR at: http://www.raceboard.org/03RcbrdWrldsNoR.htm
Entry Form: http://www.raceboard.org/03RcbrdWrldsFrms.pdf
Enter on Line: http://www.internationalwindsurfing.com/default.asp?menu=242&parent=94&grandparent=3
Come and race in the 2004 Olympic city and enjoy the atmosphere in the run
up to the Pre-Olympic Regatta. The event will be based on the Nautical Club
of Katikon Vouliagmenis and racing will take place on the Saronikos Gulf on
virtually the same water as the Olympic Regatta. ! A chance not to be missed…..
– Aloha U15, Mistral Junior& Youth & Raceboard Masters Europeans
Puck, Poland – August 2nd > 9th
NoR at: http://imco.org/regatta/03JYMeuroNoR.htm
Entry Form at: http://imco.org/regatta/03JYMeuroFrms.pdf
MJOD & Aloha enter on line: http://www.internationalwindsurfing.com/default.asp?menu=243&parent=94&grandparent=0
MYEC & Raceboard enter on line:
http://www.internationalwindsurfing.com/default.asp?menu=244&parent=94&grandparent=0
The first exclusively longboard European Festival of racing takes place in
Puck, Poland at the beginning of August. The Aloha Class will hold its AGM and
elect a new committee. Many will use this as a qualification event for the world
championship which will take place at the end of November in Merida, Yucatan,
Mexico.
– IFCA American Continentals
Freestyle, Formula and Slalom – Magdalen Islands – Canada Week – August
25th > 30th
– Mistral Worlds
Cadiz, Spain – September 11th > 22nd
NoR at: http://imco.org/regatta/03MWCnor.htm
The Spanish Championships for the Olympic Classes will be held here in Cadiz
from the 7th to 10th September 2003. These will be an open event and therefore
ideal for competitors wishing to do some last minute training before the worlds!
– Formula Worlds
Sardinia, Italy – Early October 2003.
– IFCA Worlds – Wave-Freestyle and Racing, Slalom
Hyeres, France in October – week 43
– Aloha, Mistral & Raceboard Junior, Youth & Masters Worlds
Merida, Yucatan, Mexico – November 29th > Dec 6th
Pre-NoR at: http://imco.org/regatta/03Pre-JYMwcNoR.htm
FOR MORE EVENTS, GO TO:
http://www.internationalwindsurfing.com/default.asp?menu=13&parent=3&grandparent=0
or
The new Windsurfing Euro Cup Website is online.
http://www.euro-cup.org/
or
Calema Midwinters 2003
The Original Calema Midwinters – Friday 28 February to 2 March – Merritt Island,
Florida Space Coast
or
New Zealand Racing Nationals
Currently on – news, photos and results: www.racenationals.co.nz
FURTHER INFORMATION SOURCES:
IWA WEBSITE: http://www.internationalwindsurfing.com
Aloha: http://alohaclass.org
Formula Windsurfing: http://www.formulawindsurfing.org
IFCA: http://users.pandora.be/the.webbit.nv1/ifca/
IMCO: http://www.imco.org
MJOD: http://www.imco.org/junior/Junior%20Frameset.htm
PWA: http://www.pwaworldtour.com/
Raceboard: http://www.raceboard.org
ISAF: http://www.sailing.org/
E-mail contact:
[email protected] – Marc Cardon – Aloha Class Chairman
[email protected] – Ceri Williams – IFWC Class Chairman
[email protected] – Bruno de Wannemaeker – IFCA Class Chairman
[email protected] – Rory Ramsden – IMCO Class Secretary
[email protected] – Rory Ramsden – MJOD Class Secretary
[email protected] – Phil McGain – PWA Chairman
[email protected] – Rory Ramsden – Raceboard Class Secretary
[email protected] – Rory Ramsden – IWA Executive Secretary
[email protected] – Annie Smith – IWA Administrative Secretary
[email protected]
To include an article in the next issue of IWA e-news please forward it by
Feb. 28th to: [email protected]
The Windsurfing Newsletter is published by the International Windsurfing Association,
of Hampshire, England Telephone/Fax: +44 23 9246 8831 E-mail: [email protected]
URL: http://www.internationalwindsurfing.com/
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