FULL KITE >> 2012 West Coast Open and Canadian Nationals Course Racing

[Mark]

Squamish BC Canada

[Mark]

Squamish Windsports Society Announces Dates and Sponsorship for
2012 West Coast Open and
Canadian Kiteboarding National Championships

For Immediate Release April 5, 2012

Squamish, BC--The Squamish Windsports Society (SWS) have confirmed the dates and sponsorship for the 2012 West Coast Open and CKA Canadian Kiteboarding Course Racing National Championships.

This years’ event will be held August 4, 5 and 6, 2012 at the Windsports spit in Squamish, BC, Canada. The title sponsor will be Pacific Pilsner, from Pacific Western Brewery, who return for their second year of support.

The SWS is also pleased to announce that Cabrinha and Ozone are supporting the event. Their support is helping to build the event and ensure continued success.

“We’re thrilled that Pacific Pilsner is back for a second year of enthusiastic and generous support of this important national event,” said Mark Leng, one of two Race Directors for this years’ competition.

“We are holding this event in one of the most beautiful settings in the country in Squamish’s Howe Sound. With the reliable thermal winds, we look forward to some great racing” said Don Campbell, who is also Race Director.

Squamish Windsports Society invites all national and international competitors to register for what promises to be an exciting and important event. The Canadian standings from this event will determine the Canadian Kiteboarding Association course racing rankings and titles for 2012. The event will include IKA points for Course Racing rankings.

Course racing is scheduled to run all three days of the BC Day long weekend: Saturday through Monday. All Course Racing competitors will be racing together in the Open Class division. There will also be sub-rankings for Canadian Males and Canadian Females.

Competitors will be able to register online beginning in May, 2012. Registration fees will include a Saturday Dinner event. Further registration information and the Notice of Race will be posted online on the Squamish Windsports Society Events website.

SCHEDULE
Saturday, August 4th
9:00 – 10:00 Late Registration
10:00 – 11:00 Skippers Meeting at the Spit

12:00 – 17:00 Course Racing at the Spit
21:00 Riders dinner and social event (venue tbd)

Sunday, August 5th
10:00 – 11:00 Skippers Meeting at the Spit

12:00 – 17:00 Course Racing at the Spit
21:00 Party at the Spit

Monday, August 6th

10:00 – 11:00 Skippers Meeting at the Spit

12:00 – 16:00 Course Racing at the Spit
18:00 - Awards Ceremony at the Spit

ACCOMMODATION: - Accommodation options can be found at http://www.tourismsquamish.com/lodging/hotels. Car-camping at the Spit is permitted at no charge. No tent camping is permitted. Howe Sound is an environmentally sensitive area, home to diverse aquatic and wildlife – please be respectful and use waste and sanitary facilities provided.

CONTACT: For further information or media registration, please contact the Race Directors: Mark Leng or Don Campbell (SWS.racing@gmail.com), or visit the Squamish Windsports Society events website at http://www.squamishwindsports.com/events/events.php

[Mark]

There are now 35 riders signed up. The event has reached the maximum number of 35 riders. A wait list has been started.

If you know of other riders that are wanting to participate, please advise them that a wait list has been started. We will not be registering riders at the event site that are not on the entry list.

Entry List: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc ... 3RkE#gid=1

[Mark]

Day 1:
6 races on Day 1 with winds in the 15kt range.

Day 2:
Day 2 wind came up a bit later so the first start wasn't until shortly after 1PM. Kites ranged from 9-13m for the first two races with a number of riders switching down between race 1 and 2. By the end of the second race of the day 2, the wind was solid with a number or racers very powered if they hadn't switched down. After 2 races there was a break for lunch and then 3 more races in the afternoon. Racers were on 7-13m kites for the afternoon.

Similar to yesterday the top 3 finishers were Johnny Heineken, Bryan Lake and Adam Koch. The finishes were starting to mix for the last four races of the day and positions were changing. A kite tangle at the start of the last race of the day made for a tough start for a number of racers in the fleet. Stefano Rista, Adam Vance and Colin Ernst are holding down 4th, 5th and 6th place respectively and are the top finishes for the Canadian men. A grudge match is setting up between Stefano and Adam who are only separated by 2 points after 11 races.

Erika Heinekin is racing very strong and is currently in 1st place for the women and sitting 11th place overall in the fleet. There is a battle going on each race with Erika, Eric Due, Andy Wong and Mark Leng to decide who will round out the top 10 in the fleet.

Jessica Sickinger is holding down the top spot for Canadian women. Catherine Dufour and Rainbow Monds are separated by only one point for 2nd and 3rd place Canadian Women. Day 3 will be the deciding day for these two.

The forecast is again good for Day 3. The awards ceremony will be at 5:30 on the Spit.

Day 3:
Day 3 wind gave the competitors lots to consider. The forecast was favorable for higher winds, maybe in the 25kt range. The inflow was on as the competitors assembled for the the 10:30am riders meeting. However, the wind didn't build quickly and racers were wondering if a large kite would leave them overpowered if the wind came up quickly. With 11 races completed over the first 2 days, there was little separating the top spots. It would come down to conisistent good finishes on Day 3. Two two lappers were run before the wind dropped, so the riders came in for a lunch break while the RC contemplated how to get off 3 more races. After a short break, the wind stepped back in and the racers went back out for 3 single lap races. The starts were critical on these shorter races.

There were a number of battles on the course of note. Kyle Touhey and Paolo Rista traded places through the day, with Kyle showing his strategy and endurance to dig deep into the top six. Eric Due, Andy Wong and Erika Heineken were having a race within the race as they settled in to determine who would rond out the top 10 for the fleet. At the top of the fleet Johnny Heineken, Bryan Lake and Adam Koch swapped out the lead at the windward and leeward marks making good decisions race by race to play the shifts, find the strongest wind, and sail the shortest distance to the marks. Stefano Rista and Adam Vance had thier eye on each other all day as they fought for the top Canadian spot. Local legend Colin Ernst kept the top 6 on edge as he used his skill and local knowledge trading places through the day with the top three riders.

With just a couple protests to deal with, the results ceremony got going as a light drizzle set in. After the baking sun of Saturday and Sunday, the cooler weather was a reprieve.

Results:

Mens West Coast Open:
1) Johnny Heinekin
2) Bryan Lake
3) Stefano Rista

Womens West Coast Open
1) Erika Heinekin
2) Jessica Sickinger
3) Catherine Dufour

Mens Canadian Champion
1) Stefano Rista
2) Adam Vance
3) Colin Ernst

Womens Canadian Champion
1) Jessica Sickinger
2) Catherine Dufour
3) Rainbow Monds

Non Production Equipment 1st Place: Adam Koch

Full Results:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/pub ... utput=html

Photos:
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set= ... 592&type=1

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jhegan/set ... 933189370/