BOPwindsurfers

Saturday, June 8, 2013

2013 Tauranga Spring Windsurf Racing - 28th & 29th September.

Peter has checked his calendar, and it is on!

facebook.com/ElementsWatersports

More pics by Devcich here - Cheers Brent

Sunday, May 26, 2013

Speed Creek 26th May

Gooch, Darryl, Brent and Roger making the most of a fairly gusty WSW.

Darryl - Avg 25.66 Run 26.4 2sec 27.17 500m 24.3 Alpha 16.46
Rob - Avg 27.58 Run 29.38 2sec 30.32 500m 26.51 Alpha 18.34

Friday, May 24, 2013

Windsurfing New Zealand Club News May 2013

Its that time of the year again when we ask you to pay your affiliation fee and start thinking about next season. This modest fee helps pay for the event insurance we offer clubs, our membership fees with ISAF, and the costs of advocacy and promotion of the sport.

The most significant issue in the past year would have been the dropping (in favour of kiteboard racing) and subsequent reinstatement of windsurfing from the Olympics. While this may not have been important for many windsurfers, its impact on perhaps our most important segment, the young windsurfers coming through the Techno 293 and RS:X classes was significant. The reinstatement should not be seen as the end of the issue, but rather the start - as the ISAF is still classifying windsurfer and kiteboard as an equipment choice in the boardsailing class, and this needs to be corrected.

There has been a positive spinoff from all this. The issue has raised the level of awareness and activity in youth windsurfing and development and we need to keep this momentum going. There will hopefully be more overlap between the Techno/RS:X classes and the other windsurfing disciplines at combined events, and clubs should be ready to promote the Techno class in particular with local yacht clubs if they see (or make) the opportunity to do so.

Windsurfing does seem to be making a cautious come back, partly due to the growing popularity of stand up paddling a kite surfing which are both getting more people on the water. Stand up paddling is demonstrating how important the social aspect of any activity is in promoting growth of numbers, and windsurfing needs to do more in this area.

Yachting NZ are promoting windsurfing more through the efforts of Bruce Kendall and we hope this will continue, and that they will include windsurfers in their Learn to Sail program soon.

To this end here are a number of recommendations for the coming 12 months.

Schedule your events now - particularly the major events in your area, because people who travel need time to plan, and it helps to coordinate major events so those who do travel can take in a number of events in the same trip. Windsurfing NZ wants to get the national calendar published as early as possible - so have a quick meeting to pencil in your dates for next season before you head for the slopes (and let us know). Fill in the gaps with fun / social activities, BBQs, weekend trips, fun days, fun racing, clinics and buy/sell/swap meets. It doesn’t matter if some of these do not go ahead or shift dates later, get those stakes in the ground soon.

Get kids involved - the sport needs young people so make the effort to get young people involved when you get the chance. Contact local yacht clubs and see if they are interested in joint events.

Let people know - its not enough to just run an event, if you want participation then you need to spread the word, the earlier the better. Get your events on community calendars, create a story and pictures, preferably with a local theme, for the local press. Send your event details and story to Windsurfing NZ, we’ll put it up on the web and help circulate it. It will help you find sponsors, speaking of which, it’s a bad habit for events to die a quiet death minutes after they have finished (it’s often hard to even get the results), but the job has only just started. Immediately after the event, while its still fresh, write a story with any results and photos and get it out there. Thank your sponsors and send them the story, tell them if it appears in the local press, thats the payoff for them and will keep them coming back. Write notes on the event to make it easier / better next time.

Plan your event early - your clubs affiliation with Windsurfing NZ includes access to insurance cover for events in return for planning it properly, particularly in the area of risk management - and we have a range of forms and plans you can use to base yours on. This makes everything smoother and less stressful to run.
http://windsurfingnz.org/content/notice-race-and-race-instructions-and-e...

Membership - by affiliating with Windsurfing NZ all your financial members get automatic membership of WNZ which has class association status with Yachting NZ. WNZ encourages windsurfers to join their local club where practical. The insurance scheme we offer requires all sailors to be members of WNZ, and the membership also entitles windsurfers to a WNZ sail number which can be checked here http://windsurfingnz.org/content/sail-numbers

Insurance and kitesurfing - as already mentioned we carry this insurance cover on behalf of our clubs. The insurance cover has an additional (not cheap) premium to cover kite events, however this has not been taken up by anyone so far and WNZ will not renew this feature in September 2013 unless something changes. Kitesurfers need to indicate they want the cover, and we also need someone with kitesurfing event knowledge/experience to evaluate risk plans for us. If your club is interested in taking this up let us know.

There is not additional charge for club events, and the insurance cover is provided upon receipt and acceptance of the event documents, so get them in early. Remember all the work done by WNZ is voluntary so help us by getting things in early, not at the last minute.

For national events such as the national wave, slalom, freestyle and other events there is an additional levy applied which must be paid before or at the time the documents are submitted, otherwise the event will not be approved.

$100 for predicted participants under 20 participants and $200 for larger events.

Banner and flags - some clubs have banners and flags which are a great way to highlight evenst while they are running. WNZ is looking at purchasing some of these with WNZ branding to provide to clubs and use at national events. If your club is interested in being part of this order with your own club logo let us know.

Club gear - many clubs have learner equipment for loan/hire. This is a good time to check, repair and update this for the new season. Its probably a good idea to clearly label the gear as well, with contact details. WWA had a learner board fly off a roof recently and was last seen being picked up by a member of the public - unrecovered to date.

Thanks to all the volunteers who help keep Windsurfing NZ going, and those in the clubs - your efforts are appreciated.

Sponsorship - we are still looking for sponsorship, either general or specific projects (and we have a few), so if you have any ideas, or know of someone who is skilled in this area please get in touch.

Feedback - got ideas, comments? Contact us below

WNZ Contacts:

President - news, web, media - president@windsurfingnz.org (Bruce Spedding)
Secretary - secretary@windsurfingnz.org
Treasurer - treasurer@windsurfingnz.org - Tony Limburg
Membership, calendar and sail numbers - membership@windsurfingnz.org - Laurence Carey
Racing / Event docs - racing1@windsurfingnz.org - Anton Blijlevens
Instruction - instruction1@windsurfingnz.org - Peter Head
all contacts can be messaged here: http://windsurfingnz.org/contact
http://windsurfingnz.org/content/agm-minutes-2013
Best wishes for the season to come.
Bruce Spedding

Saturday, February 2, 2013

North Island Cup Slalom Champs 2013 - Feb 16-17

North Island Cup Slalom Champs 2013

NOR @ http://windsurfingnz.org/content/north-island-cup-slalom-champs-2013

The AWA together with the Manly Yacht Club and Windsurfing New Zealand are pleased to bring you the North Island Cup for Slalom.

This will be a one-event competition held on Saturday 16 and Sunday 17 February 2013 at Manly Beach Whangaparaoa Auckland.

This event will be held together with the RXS and Techno Nationals and Formula racing, also competing on Friday 15 February.

Barfoot & Thompsom ,Whangaparaoa Branch is sponsoring the whole event with over $4000 in prizes to RSX/Techno, $1800 in prizes to Slalom, and $1000 in prizes to Formula. Prizes are in the form of cash and local windsurf shops vouchers. This is huge for the sport and a weekend you will not want to miss.

The beach will be full of windsurfers of all ages and abilities competing in their respective classes with Gold and Silver fleets catered for in the North Island Slalom Cup.

The event race schedule on Saturday and Sunday will allow competitors to compete in Slalom and in one other class. In the likely event that the wind in the mornings will be lighter, RSX and Techno sailors will be commencing racing around 10.30am and be completed by 2.30pm when the slalom schedule will commence. Of course there is a change that the wind gods have other ideas so slalom racing could be on earlier or later if the wind is particularly strong when we are least expecting it.

It's that time of the year when sea breezes can provide for a slalom sailors dream ride so don't miss out and mark your diaries now to come and enjoy the fun and competition in the beautiful location of Manly Beach.

The Slalom Event details

The earliest possible start time for slalom racing on Saturday and Sunday is 12 Noon.

The slalom entry fee is $50 for both days. This also gives you entry to the two social events (including food and some drinks) on Friday and Saturday nights at the Manly Yacht Club. Knowing how much my kids eat, I think I'll enter them just to feed them for the two nights.

Entry forms must be in and paid by Wednesday 13 February so that we know the numbers for catering. The entry form will be out soon.

You can choose to race on only one day but in order to be eligible for a placing, you must compete on both days, assuming racing is held.

The registration desk will be open from 10 to 11 am on each day to confirm your registration for the day s racing. No entry forms will be accepted on the day.

Gold and silver fleets will be catered. The silver fleet is dedicated to those competitors racing for the first time, those on non-dedicated slalom gear or based on ability level. Women will be racing in the silver fleet and compete for the Women s North Island Cup 1st, 2nd and 3rd placing.

Prizes/titles up for grabs are:

Gold fleet Men 1st $350 voucher and North Island Cup Men s Trophy, 2nd $150 voucher, 3rd $100 voucher

Women 1st women $350 voucher and North Island Cup Women s Trophy 2nd women $150 voucher, 3rd women $100 voucher.

Silver Fleet Men 1st men $150 voucher, 2nd men $100 voucher, 3rd men $50 voucher.

No wind entertainment will include SUP races, rigging races, Slalom clinics and a windsurfing general knowledge pub quiz. Start swatting up on your windsurf general knowledge.

Come on up to the event and be part of the spectacle at the spectacular Manly beach. It s a great place to bring your families with a large grass area and a beautiful and safe beach.

The Notice of Race and Sailing instructions will be out next week. Accommodation can be arranged for those coming from out of town.

Anton

AWA @ Facebook

Monday, December 17, 2012

North Island Windsurf Champs - Tauranga Results

Race report via;

http://www.sunlive.co.nz

Detailed Results @
http://windsurfingnz.org

More photos @
http://www.facebook.com/RSXandTechnoNZ

Competition results are:

Class:	Winner:	Runner-up:
RS:X 9.5	Sven Pedersen	Laurence Carey
RS:X 8.5	Natalia Kosinska	Alex Hart
Techno 7.8	Patrick Haybittle	Finn Croft
Techno 6.8	Coral Headey	Fenella Bowater
Techno Green	Dean Strydom	Ethan Butler
Formula	Marcus Hansen	Ian Young
Kiteboard	Torrin Bright	Dave Robertson