It's that time of year again!
Can you believe it's been 12 months since we watched Ben Winding and Martyn Bone fight it out for the biggest upset in SA Kiteboarding in a long time, to see Marty take out the title.
Well now, 4th/5th February at the Grange Sailing Club, we'll see Ben return to the water to try to take back his crown from Martyn Bone in his final year of competition! But it's hardly a two man race this year as we've been watching Will Smallacombe, Jordan Grimes, Pearce Reichelt and a whole host of other hot-shot riders throwing down some BIG tricks in the lead up to the competition. This will be the most hotly contested State Titles we've seen yet! It's gonna be on like Nike at a Centipede Shoe Convention!
As usual, it's a great weekend for all kiters! Whether you're spectating or competing, there's prizes, food, drink and good times for all!
We'll be running:
Open Men
Open Women
Juniors (under 18)
Amateurs (no unhooked/kiteloop tricks)
Masters (35+)
Grand Masters (45+)
Big Air / Expression Session (if the wind picks up)
Never competed before? Not sure if you've got what it takes? Seriously, sign up and just have a go in Amateurs! All you need is a current SAKSA Membership (AKSA Affiliate) and you can enter the event! Last year we saw the biggest first timer turn out ever and they're ALL back for another go this year!
Briefing is at 11am SHARP on the Saturday 4th Feb! Stay tuned on the days before the even as we may bring this time forward if the wind looks like being up early.
Register online at:
www.saksa.com.au
$50 entry gets you entry to the comp, a free T-Shirt, BBQ lunch both days and Pizza at the presentation night! That's awesome value!
PLUS! You get to hear the sweet, sweet voices of Chopsy and Jordo talking crap from the commentary tower all weekend! It's like being live at a Muppet's rehearsal! Seriously, it's ridiculous.
Get involved! See you there for the best kiteboarding competition in the country! Yes, SA's State Titles have a National reputation because you guys keep turning up and making it awesome!
Cheers
SAKSA
Cant wait for this. Its always such a good weekend with great people.
If your debating on wether to enter or not make sure u come down and have a crack. Even if your only just starting to jump or learn tricks come down and enter the Ams. Its a great way to get involved and the Ams division is more aimed at getting people on the water to have some fun.
The prize table is looking even bigger and better this year too with some sweet prizes up for grabs. As usual all entrants will get a pick of the table so ur bound to walk away with something cool.
Lets get together and get behind the event and make it the best state titles in Aus. C u all there.
Less than 2 weeks to go boys and girls. Getting excited. Hope ur all getting some practice in while u can. Will be great to hang out with some new and old crew. Always a great weekend.
Will lawn mowing be rewarded highly this year?-I been practising, got a new move 'The Victa'
Ha ha, u never know mate. Come down and join the fun and you could walk away with a nice little prize at the end of it. Amateurs is designed at getting out there and just having fun, with the overall aim of the event being to get everyone involved no matter what your level of experience and riding ability.
Hope to see you there.
Bring ya VICTA Phil ...i'm out of the Masters this year, will be busy in Whyalla teaching Kids with cancer so you may have a chance since you are in good form and fitness after your long overseas trip !!! Don't forget your pump !
And thanks for the great kite repairs , good to see you are back doing what you do best. Heres a PIMP for Phil - Support the original kite business in Adelaide with his A1 repairs - 0407602363. Turn around under a week.
See you on the Sunday for a Cougar guys and look after me kite babe on the saturday while i'm working !
ps-great photo on your profile Phil and yes a cup off cement with Cougar ...
Looks like Sunday could be the day, with the wind here early looks like we might have to get out of bed early too....
This comp is looking the goods crew! Get along and have a go!! There's stacks of great prizes up for grabs and of course action a plenty from the state's best riders! But you don't have to be the best to ride, just come down, enter, get a free tee (enter online to guarantee your size) and have a go at the comp. it's great fun and all about participation.
There's even a kite up for grabs for the most deserving amateur rider! This is your chance to show you're out there giving it your best shot, that's what it'll be decided upon!
See you there!!
Sign up from 10:00am Saturday/Sunday
Briefing from 11:00am (competitors MUST be there for this!!)
Competition from "when the wind kicks in"... That's why you have to be there for the briefing!! :)
Get involved!!
Tried to register on-line, but failed...
"Event registration is not available for (my_email_address) due to event settings."
Could be the reason only 9 have registered?
Hi Mick,
Are you a SAKSA member or AKFA?
All competitors must be an AKSA affiliated member (so SAKSA for instance) to enter the competition. You can sign up as a SAKSA member on the SAKSA site too if you need to and that should allow you to then enter the comp.
Hope this helps. I know having one lot of insurance already is probably a prohibiting factor in then joining up with SAKSA... let me know how you go mate.
Cheers
Jordan
SAKSA VP
Some further information about the comp this weekend kids!
Firstly, as above... you MUST be an AKSA affiliated member to participate in the comp. SAKSA is obviously your SA affiliated association here in Adelaide.
If you need to sign up, go to www.saksa.com.au. If you've signed up recently and don't have your tag yet, don't stress, you can still sign up to the comp, the system WILL let you!
Signup is at 10am
Briefing is from 11am (you have to be at this if you're competing! Rain, hail, shine or hangover - yes you Ben Winding! Haha)
Comp starts when the wind kicks in.
Judging will be a PKRA format. We have a briefing document which will be released shortly, but ultimately, it's the same rules as the PKRA which you can download online.
We'll run the same flag system as previous years...
Red Flag Up = Heat Stopped/No Heat Running
Green Flag Up = Heat In Progress
Yellow Flag Up = 1 Minute To Go
The idea is to make the judging clear and simplistic for all riders concerned, whether you're Open Mens or Amateurs... you get scored the same way which means consistency.
If you enter Open categories, you can't enter any other category, but if you're a master or junior, you can enter Ams as well.
If you're a shop rider, instructor or the judges deem you as "overqualified" for Amateurs, and you've entered amateurs, you WILL be bumped up to Open categories (or Juniors in the event that you're a grom!). This is to keep it fair.
Last but not least... don't forget crew, this really is a participation event. Our sponsors have kicked in some sick gear for prizes and really got behind us this year. Get on board, have a go and you're gonna walk away with SOMETHING!
There's also a BRAND NEW kite up for grabs thanks to Danny James at Blade, for the Amateur rider who is out there giving it their all! This will be decided by the judges... so you could be a first time competitor, even a first year rider and you could be walking away with a new rig! Man, that's good value!
Entry is $50 and you get a T-Shirt, drinks, BBQ and Pizza at the presentations!
Righto, that's enough from me!
See you out there on the weekend! Get your mates down, it's a cracker day with some seriously good riding and some serious LOLs!
Jordo
SAKSA VP
Do we still have to register at 10am Saturday seeing how it doesnt look like there is going to be any wind?
If we do have to be there how about organising some Beach volleyball or a soccer comp 
I dont mind helping out with volleyball if you need a hand.
How about a 6am start on Sunday!!
Ha Ha all you guys with hangovers. I have a toddler that wakes me up at that time every day
Hey seasquirrel1, there will be an update on times soon. As we work it all out, we will let you know on the usual outlets.
Get pumped crew, the weekend is shaping up well with Sunday looking like a smoker. Saturday arvo seabreeze isnt out of the question either. We are hoping for more grand masters this year to . With reigning champ out injured, the title is up for grabs.
Croc :-)
Still thinking of not entering? Thinking your not good enough? It not about how good you are its more about how much fun u have! U never know by just participating and paying your $50 entry fee could result in u walking away with a brand new Blade kite (worth approx $1,700) courtesy of Danny James at Blade.
This is an encouragement award for an Amateur rider who gets out there and has a real crack and gives it their all, it not necessarily for the winner of the amateurs but for someone who embraces the spirit of the event. Do you really need anymore incentive than that?
if the wind on the weekend is as good as what i just had today. will there be a best face plant division? i'll be good at that
UPDATE for STATE TITLES!!!
Ok crew, because the wind is looking pretty darn average for Saturday, we're pushing sign-up back to 12noon with a 1pm briefing. From there, we'll know within a couple of hours whether there is wind on the way and we can make the decision as to whether to run heats that eve or push it back to a 9am start on Sunday morning (looking like the goods anyway!).
No doubt a bunch of us will hang out at the club for a beer anyway on Saturday so come along and catch up!
So to recap:
SATURDAY 12pm Signup, 1pm Briefing!
See ya there!
Jordo
SAKSA VP
Yea I'm a SAKSA member, just had the email address wrong.
AKFA insurance doesn't cover kitesurfing anymore, just buggying, land boards, stunt kites and single-lines.
Kitesurfing insurance is too expensive, thanks to all the recent claims.
one more sleep
so looking forward to another awesome weekend with the SA kiteboarding community
bring it on
come down even if your not going to compete sunday is going to produce some great finals which will be awesome to watch SO PUMPED
I can only be down there for a few hours since I have a whole heap to do at home. When is going to be the best time so we can catch all the best bits?
Ok guys and girls, it looks like the wind gods are going to deliver. We all know Sunday is going to deliver, but tomorrow forecast has come in at 15 to 20 knots YEEEEEEOOOOOOOWWWW. So get ya game on crew its ON.
Hey Crew, if your still thinking of entering but are not sure. Here is a massive reason to enter. The sponsors of our event have come up with a tonne of great prizes. We have kites, boards, harnesses, sunnies, head phones, fine wine and heaps more prizes up for grabs across all divisions. If you are good enough to stay up wind, you are more than qualified to enter the comp. So no matter how young or old you are, sign up and come have a great weekend with all the South Oz kiting community.
Cheers Croc
Good luck to all that can get down there tomorrow. We might get down to see the finals on Sunday but have prior commitments saturday.
Rip it up out there!
Hi All,
Same!!, prior family stuff Saturday, good luck to all and hope for 20 knots on Sat for you all.
Looking forward to seeing the action on Sunday it is looking great.
Thanks to saksa and all the sponsers.
By the way if anyone has any kite mags I am keen to get some.
Jim 0438 558 887
State Titles Update: Due to lack of wind the State Titles have been called off for today. With a sick forecast set for all day Sunday, the decision has been made to get on it early tomorrow morning (5th Feb) with briefing set for an 8:30am start with heats to begin at 9am.
With awesome conditions forecast it's going to be a great spectacle, so make sure you get on down with your family and friends to watch all the thrills and spills. The Grange Sailing Club club-rooms will be open to the public which gives a great vantage point to watch all the action on the water.
If you haven't signed up yet you still have time. Online registration is still available and you can also sign up in the morning between 8 and 8:30am, however sign up cut off is 8:30am on the dot, no exceptions! If you know of anyone who's still “umm-ing and arrrr-ing” get in their ear, tomorrow is looking all time with some amazing prizes up for grabs! Get on down for what's going to be a great day on and off the water.
