New Olympic events.

I watch almost as much YouTube as normal TV, watched nearly all Star racing last year and will watch it again this year and take part in the chat that goes with it, I think there were others on here who did the same, can't see a problem with it for myself or sailing.

Originally posted by Chris 249 But how can we say that we can't have kiting because so few people do it, and then also say we can't have yacht racing when so many people do it?

Exactly.

As to kite racing I doubt many kiters are even remotely interested in the Olympics nor I recall were snowboarders when their turn came, I don't recall even when BMX got the call, but if there is one bell weather as to the sort of audience all these sports need and that is the disinterested Eastenders (Neighbours down under)watching morons like my Mrs, (don't worry she doesn't read this forum either) she picked up on BMX then watched it avidly, then pointed it out to all the girls. Not that anything came of it, but possibly up and down the country others did take it up. So in one instance it works.

So what is it we'd all like from the Olympics? Increased participation? Then maybe cross over? Well it took a while, but lots of windsurfers eventually crossed over into dinghies, myself included. Kiting is a lot more accessible than Finn sailing, who knows maybe tomorrows kitefoil racers will age, get fat and fall into a Finn or some other lead mine, maybe they'll even stay fit and agile enough to ride a Farr, and troll dinghy forums you never know.

Edited by iGRF - 05 Nov 18 at 10:10am

I'm pretty sure the equipment will end up being SMOD, supplied equipment for the games, and possibly even embargoed so that no one can get access to the specific games boats for unlimited training, optimisation, etc.

There will still be advantages for the big sailing nations, but no more so than in the Finn (or any other Olympic class in recent times, probably ever)

Qualification is another question, but I'm sure a plan will emerge...

There will be no SMODs at Paris 2014.

As a result (probably) of the EU investigation, the documentation from the AGM showed that WS will enter in to negotiations by Q1 2020 with the License holders for Laser, 49er, N17 and RS;X to open up building to multiple manufacturers. All new equipment will manufactured by multiple license holders.

Bearing in mind the $millions Laser have just spent on protecting their IP, how do you think that is going to go?

The sky is falling in!

For heavens sake, get a grip.   Change happens, it ain’t all bad.