This year' Kite Racing Nationals will be the first National Racing Comp' in Australia, I hope you've booked your flights and registered for this years' comp in Alva beach (QLD)!?

We are going to try to make the Racing Competition as accessible and as fun as possible:

- we will most likely run 2 categories: 1 for Twin-Tips, and the other one for Race-& Surf-boards (if numbers are really high >50 riders, we'll split riders in more categories)

- we want to run as many races as possible in order to get all the riders entering the comp' to run as many races as they can. So, we will make everyone starting at the same time, per category. This is good for the riders to improve their skills during the comp' and get hooked into racing :0) having 20+ riders starting at the same time will for sure be a pretty intense moment for the riders, and also great to watch from the beach!

- the course shapes will be decided closer to the competition dates, but we will most likely have a starting line away from the beach, and a first upwind mark close (-ish) to the beach, then the other marks will depend on tides, riders numbers, and wind. A Windward/Leeward with Offset?Mark will probably be the best option.

- the target time for the first finisher will be around 15 minutes, with the last ones expected to be done in 30 minutes

- the Notice of Race, Sailing Instructions & scoring system will be available on-line, on the website: www.KiteboardingNationals.com in a few days, in the Event Info page

- get yourself comfortable with right of ways and starting procedures by downloading the IKA pdfs on the Nationals website on the Event Info page at: http://www.kiteboardingnationals.com/2011-aknt#!__2011-aknt/event-info

(don't forget to get yourself a watch with chrono for the start!)

- Finally, as many riders will get to Alva before the 22nd of April, we'll try to run a few training races (maybe on the 21st, nothing sure yet though), to get the starting boat crew, the racing committee and a few riders used to racing before the big day :0)

Tell us what you think, and see you all very soon in Alva!!!