The Kiteboarder received two press releases today from the former Virgin Kitesurf World Championship Tour (VKWC)/Professional Kiteboard Riders Association (PKRA) and the International Kiteboarding Association (IKA). We’re not sure what’s going on but are trying to reach World Sailing (formerly ISAF) to get a response. Below is the release from the former VKWC/PKRA organizers…..
The VKWC Changes Its Name to WKT To Reflect their Special Event Status
February 3, 2016
Effective immediately, the former Professional Kiteboard Riders Association (PKRA) and current Virgin Kitesurf World Championships (VKWC) has changed its name to World Kite Tour (WKT) as part of a new agreement with World Sailing (the former International Sailing Federation ISAF). The decision was made to emphasize that the WKT will operate an official ISAF sanctioned kiteboarding World Tour and therefore crowns the kiteboarding World Tour Champions.
The WKT now has a new Special Event status and is operated under the umbrella of ISAF, similar to other successful series such as the America’s Cup, Volvo Ocean Race or the fantastic windsurfing tour, PWA.
The 2016 tour will consist of well-organized events with focus on delivering great sportive results. Currently the planning is finalised to deliver a variety of new events, like a possible city event in Malmö, Sweden and traditional events, like Tarifa, Spain. Also the event in Fehmarn, Germany (previously held in St. Peter-Ording) and the 2015 postponed tour stop in Cape Town, South Africa are part of the scheduling for 2016.
The current 2016 calendar draft includes:
- April France
- May Venezuela
- June Spain
- July Sweden
- August Canary Islands
- August/September Germany
- December South Africa
More people than ever before followed the tour in 2015. During the off-season the WKT organization worked extremely hard with all parties on developments and improvements to deliver fantastic events in 2016. The tour would like to thank the industry and whole kiteboarding community for their ongoing support and emphasizes that any party who is willing to constructively collaborate is welcome.
On the other hand WKT needs to announce that it has taken steps to defend its interest in the court of law against the International Kiteboarding Association (IKA). The constant ongoing dispute with IKA has led to this decision. Therewith not only the legal rights of WKT will be protected but also the possible running of two world tours in the same disciplines is most likely to be avoided. On several cases all means will be taken to protect the long standing tradition of PKRA/WKT and its historic events as part of the tour.
And now the IKA Press Release….
Registration Opens for the First Round of the 2016 IKA Kiteboarding World Championships
The 2016 IKA Kiteboarding World Championships are underway!
Registration is now open for the first round which will be held in famous El Gouna, Egypt, and offers 50000 Euro overall prize money for freestyle and big air, and 1000 points for the winner in each discipline.
Seven rounds are expected to take place to determine the 2016 World Champions in Freestyle, Big Air, Wave and Slalom.
Together with the registration the new IKA World Championships website went online at https://worldkiteleague.com Also the facebook presence has been launched and will provide always up-to-date information to the community.
The event will be held at the new Elements station in El Gouna which provides perfect conditions for both disciplines. Special accomodation and transportation rates are available for riders and will be published shortly.
The next rounds of the 2016 IKA Kiteboarding World Championships will be confirmed shortly.
Registration for Round 1 – El Gouna Kiteboarding Grand Slam: Click here
Notice of Race for the 2016 IKA World Championships: Click here
2016 IKA Kiteboarding World Championships Website: Click here