Calendar of Events:

While some dates are subject to wind and locations are yet to be advised, we’ve narrowed down the times for the major events in the 08 cool season.
Event Date Location

Milang Madness

DUE TO THE LIKELIHOOD OF HAVING SOME WESTERLY WINDS AROUND, WE’RE DOING A DOWNWINDER THIS WEEKEND INSTEAD FROM CHICKEN SHOP TO HENLEY AT 12PM ON SUNDAY. SNAGS ETC AFTER.

WE HAD PENCILLED IN A DOWNWINDER ON JULY 6 SO WE MAY LOOK TO HEAD DOWN TO MILANG THAT WEEKEND. KEEP AN EYE ON THE SITE FOR AN UPDATE…

Downwinder

AS PER ABOVE, WE’LL BE DOING THE DOWNWINDER THIS WEEKEND AS CONDITIONS ARE MORE FAVOURABLE.

STILL KEEP JULY 6 FREE AS WE MAY HEAD DOWN TO MILANG THAT WEEKEND…

Wave Event

August (TBC)

There has been significant discussion about and focus on kiters at Henley over the summer. In fact, we can confirm that in recent months Transport SA, the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) plus the Port Adelaide Enfield and Charles Sturt Councils have all placed substantial scrutiny on kiteboarding along the metro coastline. All have the legal means to place restrictions on the sport and luckily, for the most part we’ve been involved with these authorities to avoid this course of action. One of the most potent penalties for kiting on our metro coast is from CASA and many members new to the sport may not even be aware that it’s been in place even prior to kiteboarding in Australia. The rule is very black and white: if you fly a kite (or any other flying object) within 4000 metres of an aerodrome without the appropriate level of written authority, you are deemed in beach of the Civil Aviation Act and can potentially be subject to Federal Criminal Court. Fortunately, SAKSA has been working with CASA over many months to find a suitable resolution to this which has now been achieved. CASA has issued a permit to SAKSA and its members to fly a kite between the Torrens Mouth and Gilmore Street at Henley Beach South. All other areas within a 4000 metre radius of Adelaide Airport are out of bounds. Of particular concern is the area south of the Torrens mouth, closer to the airport. As a current member, there is little change. You are already covered under the permit and can continue to utilise the beach near the Torrens mouth on the northern side. Full details of the permit will be on the SAKSA website shortly. However, it’s imperative that you wear your AKSA tag. If you have fellow riders who aren’t members but ride at Henley, the sooner they join the better. Aside form the practical aspect, the permit also puts us in better standing with the Councils and local community by ensuring that we comply with the necessary rules. I want to thank the original crew who established the rapport with CASA a few years back as it certainly assisted in this process and especially to Phillip Allen and Travis Murphy for their help. On a separate note. we are also in discussions with Transport SA to have information about the sport available to the public via their website and newsletter, to not only boost the profile of the sport, but to give the public some awareness of kite safety. Again, we feel that this will be another passive step in the right direction to secure our long term access to the metro beaches and we’ll advise further as discussions develop.

The freestyle ripped!

The State Freestyle Kitesurfing Championships was held last Saturday at The West Beach Surf Lifesaving Club. It was a great location for spectators with over a 50 spectators at any one time and hundreds throughout the day to watch the action. The wind was pretty gusty, but that’s been the story all summer. The juniors were sent out in less than ideal conditions and they did a great job to entertain the crowd lined up a long the road. No one’s going to forget the first heat of the men’s open with some of the guys pulling off some amazing manoeuvres.
SAKSA managed to get results in the Juniors, Amateurs, Masters and Open sections. Well done!
A special mention goes out to Ben Edwards for ripping the hardest all day, great stuff Ben.
We even made the Channel 7 and 9 News that night, great exposure for the sport.
On Sunday the ‘expression session’ was held at ‘The Chicken Shop’ and ‘The Biggest Air’ went to Andy Cass.
At 6pm many of the competitors ended up back at The West Beach Surf Lifesaving Club (one of Adelaide’s best kept secrets) for a refreshing drink and a meal on the balcony.

Results

Junior mens-

Jacob- Slingshot

Amateur mens-

1st Evan Higham- North
2nd Ross Arthur- North
3rd Paul Bradley- Cabrinha

Masters-

1st Andrew Ratajewski- Naish
2nd Peter Morgan- North
3rd Martin Coulthurst- Best

Mens Open-

1st Rhys Gardner- Liquid Force
2nd Jarrad Morgan- Liquid Force
3rd Martyn Bone- JN

Big Air-

Andy Cassingham- Best

Best Stack-

Ben Edwards- Blade

The 2008 state wave titles were held at Goolwa beach on the weekend of 12th and 13th Jan 2008. About 25 competitors registered for the competition. A large crowd of spectators and supporters were present,
The event was the first since the reformation of SAKSA and was intended as a “come and have some fun” titles with some Wind and Waves.
Format was agreed to be run as a Mambo style comp,

The Saturday ended up as a non event with 8 to 10 knots onshore, but most people made the most of the day with a bit of surfing and socialising and catching up with old mates.
A few attempted to go land boarding up and down the beach. The decision was made to postpone the event to the next day with a 9:00 am start booked.
So with everybody still having fun on the beach for some it was pack up and a few headed home, for the rest the local Goolwa pubs was the order of the night.
That story will come later when the people that were there can remember what they did.

On Sunday the wind was still on shore but had built to about 15 to 18 knots. The waves were getting the heads knocked off and were very ordinary, however a decision was made by all the riders wanting to get out there. The session was announced that it would run as a Mambo style and run from 10:00 am to 12:00.
For the enjoyment of the many passers-by, most of the competitors chose to try and show off their style close inshore in the washing machine of waves.
There were a few that made the move to the waves ‘out-the-back’ and started to show their style and impressed the judges with their free riding wave skills. It looked very hairy out there with some large uncontrollable waves but a few managed to tame them and put on some good examples of how it should be done.
At 12:00 it was confirmed that a winner could be selected.

Men’s Opens was awarded to.

1st Russel Curtin Cabrina Onboard
2nd Martyin Bone JN Kites
3rd Shaun Crocker Nobile Onboard

Ladies Open

1st Inge Giil Liquid force Element kite boarding school

Special thanks to the judges who gave up their weekend to support this event. Thank you to the Alexandrina District Council and thank you also to all the competitors of today’s event. We look forward to seeing you all at the SAKSA presentation night which is anticipated to be held at West Beach Surf Life Saving Club at a date to be finalised after the Freestyle Titles.

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the organisers and sponsors of today’s event. ONBOARD, GLASCRAFT, KITESHOP, EXTREMEKITES. As without them it would not have been possible, and we look forward to their continued and valuable support in our future events.

If you have any photos, stories or info about today that you wish to share, and you can actually remember them (Geoff) send them in and we will put them on the site. (No responsibility will be taken regarding defamation and vicious rumours regarding the Saturday night behaviours)
Don’t forget the State Freestyle titles are on the weekend of the 9th 10th February 2008. Check out www.saksa.com.au for updates and info