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Imco vann över FW…Aten 2004=Mistral One Design!
ISAF CONFERENCE REPORTS NOVEMBER 2000.
CHOICE OF EQUIPMENT FOR WINDSURFING DISCIPLINE. ATHENS 2004.Dear Friends,
Four years ago, a debate started on how we could reinvigorate competition
windsurfing worldwide. Out of it came the Formula Windsurfing Class and we
started to campaign for the 2004 Olympics.
That campaign culminated at the Edinburgh Conference of ISAF, this week.
Here are the high lights of that week as it affected us.
OLYMPIC BOARD WORKING PARTY Chaired by Rich Jeffries.USA. They were
charged 12 months ago with reviewing the two contenders, FW and IMCO.
IBSA and IMCO were asked to provide information and Rich asked if he could
attend both FW and IMCO championships. IMCO invited him to attend one in
Argentina, IBSA did not invite him. No detailed reports of the FW
championships were presented to the Working Party.SATURDAY 4th NOVEMBER
The Council of ISAF were circulated with an e mail from the board of Boards
and More, owners of the board brands, Mistral, F2, and Fanatic. It stated
that the company ’Supported a switch to FW for the Olympics’ . They went
into detail on how this should be done. They also stated that they would
produce the Mistral One Design as long as it was Olympic.
The one and only working party meeting was called for Saturday. The
original idea was only to produce an agreed report, but WSC chairman,
Aaron Botzer, asked them to also vote on which board should be selected.
Only two members of the six attended. No IBSA or IFCA officials were on the
committee, but it did include the IMCO chairman.
Written votes, I gather, were received and the committee voted 4 to 2 forIMCO.
The International Classes Committee met in the afternoon and Luc Rogiers
was re- elected to represent the ICC on the Windsurfing Committee.
SUNDAY 5th NOVEMBER
The Windsurfing Committee (WSC), chaired by Aaron Botzer, ISR, met.
Working Party hard copy report was given to committee during the morning
session. Only the working party chairman had read it. They only had the
lunch break to look at it.
Early in the afternoon session, the submissions/bids from IBSA and IMCO
were considered and voted on without detailed discussion although the
committee was well ahead of schedule and not short of time. Donald
Sutherland endeavoured to start a discussion. Felipe Bellini wanted a delay
of the decision. Luc Rogiers and Walter Mielke were the only other members
of the 16 strong committee who have real Funboarding experience. The IBSA
and IMCO were never shown the report or asked to comment on it. We were
only told afterwards that the IMCO bid contradicted statements about FW in
the IBSA bid.
The issue of Mistral unpaid building fees was raised. The company had paid
nothing for two and a half years. Many observers wondered how an Olympic
Class could get into such a situation.The vote was a forgone conclusion
Voting demonstrated clearly to all that the committee is totally polarised
between Mistral and Formula Windsurfing/Funboarding camps. No other ISAF
Committee has this type of problem.
As Formula Windsurfing members were always outnumbered two to one and the
committee chairman also voted for imco, the result was foregone and known
almost a year ago when the IMCO yearbook was printed and the new members of
the various IMCOI committees were known.
The WSC were fully aware of the statement by Boards and More , but the
chairman did not see fit to debate it.
The Mistral brand representative, Ivor Hopkins explained that the new
company had reserved a sum of money for the 1999/2000 building fees but no
payment has been made despite his frequent requests to the company to doso.
Our Funboard Class rules are approved. Maximum board width..1005mm.
Footstraps maybe moved but the number not increased. TUESDAY 7th NOVEMBER
Events Committee, chaired by Neils Erhardt, DEN, which studies the
recommendation of lower committees and then makes recommendations about all
the Olympic boats and boards, met.
WSC chairman, Aaron Botzer, presents the committee’s vote result with the
added comment that there appeared to be a problem over payments and there
maybe technical and/or legal problems.
The Boards and More statement supporting Formula Windsurfing, was then
circulated to the committee.
The debate opened up and soon, Boards and More legal representative,
Dieter Neupert, steps up to explain manufacturers position. They support a
switch to Formula Windsurfing but will continue making Mistral One Design
board as long as it is Olympic.(and not a day longer?!)
Jerome Pels of ISAF, explains that they have sent Boards and More
invoices/reminders and the debt is on the councils list of bad debts.
Arve Sundheim, the ISAF Secretary General reads out part of fax just
received from Boards and More concerning payments and renegotiation of
contract. Committee votes 10 to 9 in favour of IMCO for the 2004 Olympics.
WEDNESDAY 8th NOVEMBER
The Sailing Committee meets, under the chairmanship of Cliff Norbury, GBR.
Aaron Botzer announces wsc decision.
Donald Sutherland, sitting beside him, explains deficiencies of working
party, including fact that three of the 6 members were directly connected
with imco and its events organisation while only Donald had any connection
with Formula Windsurfing, and that was not an association or organisation
connection.
Aaron contradicted everything Donald stated and it was very evident to
everyone that the WSC is split. Cliff Norbury stated that as the working
party report contains more contradictions than evidence, and one of the
bids attacks the facts stated in the other, the committee needed more
information before it can make a recommendation.
Cliff explains that this is not a simple decision between two classes.
Because Olympic boardsailing has only one class, the decision pre-decides
who can participate with a chance of winning a medal , by their weight and
height. When one committee member said Formula Windsurfing was new, Cliff almost
reprimanded him, saying ’he should have done some homework’ and Formula
Windsurfing had been around for years in its Funboard Class format, and it
was not the fault of the Formula Windsurfing promoters that ISAF did not
have sufficient information as they (IFCA/IBSA/PWA) had been in contact
with ISAF for two years.
Cliff’s finally suggested that the decision should be delayed until after
an evaluation and a report to the mid year council meeting.
The Committee accepts his recommendation without a vote. THURSDAY 9TH NOVEMBER
The ISAF Council meets,
This is the decision making body of ISAF. 37 members, representing 120
countries, vote while the ISAF Executive can only sit, comment and prey!
The ISAF Accounts are reviewed. The TV rights from the Olympics are $4.4
million. We also learn that the total income from Funboard building fees
and PWA advertising fees to ISAF amount to about 20% of what ISAF receives
from all its many Classes.
At the beginning of the meeting, there was considerable manoeuvring by the
Israeli and Spanish delegates to change the executive’s suggested way the
meeting would be progressed. Electronic secret voting was introduced for
the first time., as recommended by the IOC. This at least gives a chance
for a mandated delegate to vote according to his or her own conscience
rather than as instructed by his national authority. To the amusement of
the audience, it took 20 minutes and much practice before the council
members got the hang of it, as they practised voting for a coca or Pepsi
cola, bru-iron or tonic (with gin). Much to our surprise, the Pepsi won thevote!
The first item was the 2004 Olympic regatta. First they agreed not to
adhere to some of last year’s decisions, clearing the decks for change.
Such items as to match race or not to match race and how many keelboats or
dinghy classes could be accommodated in the Olympic Regatta. The IOC have
warned ISAF that the number of classes(disciplines) may be reduced from 11
to 10 and number of competitors may be reduced from 400 to 380 as part of
the IOC program of cutting down. They want to reduce the number of
competitors from 11,000 to 10,000. I assume they want to make room for
another 1000 media men!
Having decided that, it was time to deal with the choice of Classes
starting with Windsurfing. As you know, it was a straight choice of FW or
IMCO. Our friends soon revealed themselves, as one by one they asked ISAF
to move Windsurfing forward. The Council members from the Dominican
Republic, The Netherlands, the Nordic group, Switzerland, United Kingdom,
and USA were on our side. On the other hand we had the all powerful and
dominating Eurosaf group against any change until 2005. Argentina, France,
Spain, and Israel were the most active opponents. The Germans wavered. How
they voted we shall never know. The Argentinian delegate actually said that
there was no FW racing in his country. We have visited Buenos Airies, where
he lives, twice and visited several clubs where 100 competitors over the
last twelve months have taken part in some 50 races. The problem is that
the FW/Funboarding group are not affiliated to the National Authority and
therefore officially, simply do not exist! There is a lesson for all
Funboarding national associations to learn there. You may see a windsurfer
on the beach, but if he is not accredited to an MNA, he is not part of
their statistics.
There was a move, strongly recommended by Sailing Committee chairman, Cliff
Norbury, that the decision be delayed until the FW facts presented and
challenged by IMCO could be checked. Aaron Botzer, Windsurfing Committee
stated that his working party had ’worked for a year’ before making their
recommendation. Cliff Norbury stated that the Windsurfing Committee were
biased due to their composition.
It needed a ’relaxation’ of the ISAF regulations to delay the decision to
May. If it were agreed, other classes, and the ladies committee would be
asking for the same treatment.
The Council voted by a considerable majority to make the decision
immediately and the vote was taken. We all held our breath and crossed our
fingers as we stared at the screen. IMCO 22 FW 15. No abstentions.
FRIDAY 10th NOVEMBER
The Council Meeting continues and the reports of other committees are
reviewed. When they got back to the Sailing Committee, the Israeli Council
member asks Cliff Norbury to apologise for his remarks about the make up of
the Windsurfing Committee and the way it operated. Cliff gave his
apologies for any offence anyone may have suffered, saying that his only
intention was to point out a problem. He asked the Council if he could
make a study of the composition of the WSC and report back to Council.
President Henderson agreed and the meeting went on to other business.
AFTER THOUGHTS
We fought a hard and always honest battle over the last 2 years, which is
more than can be said of IMCO. We had to change ISAF’s whole view of
Olympic one design into a much more flexible multi manufacturer, multi
design Class. We had to also persuade them that short boards were better
than long boards.
It was never the simple battle that other Classes have had in the past,
namely which One Design is better suited than another for the nextOlympics.
Conservatism won the day. But we have gained considerably through thecampaign.
1. We have created a new Class which has had far more course racing than
any other windsurfing Class in the last 12 months. We know that IMCO as a
national racing class is all but dead.
2. The Funboard Class has elected to use the same rules in its course
racing from 2001 onwards, which means that shortboard racing will increase
very significantly.
3. Major national authorities such as the FFV and the RYA have started or
will be shortly be starting large youth training programs on shortboards.
The smaller MNA’s will be left behind if they too do not start the switch
to short boarding.
4. IBSA, IFCA and the PWA have learned to work very closely together.
5. Everyone is now aware that Formula Windsurfing is the moving force in
our sport. 6. We have made many new friends. Don Sutherland, retiring Windsurf
Committee vice-chairman and chairman of the FW Campaign Committee gets our
undying thanks for the work he did for us. There are those within the
centre of ISAF who gave everything they could and will be remembered, as
will those in the MNA’s who gave us their support.
7. On the otherhand IMCO and ISAF are going to have to live with a
manufacturer who has indicated that he does not want to build the board,
who does not pay building fees readily and wants to renegotiate the ISAF
contract. Not a very good start to the next four years. 2001 PROJECTS
1. The formation and running of the IWA is the first priority.
2. Agree and establish a new ISAF recognised short board youth
class like the FFV Fun Kids which is up and running.
3. Re-establish good relations with IMCO. 4. Prepare the 2008 campaign.
Finally, some personal notes.
This has been a long crusade which actually started in 1996. I hope my
personal disappointment has not coloured this report. FW is a worldwide
success and that is wonderful.
This was an exciting conference. I did not sleep at all during the last two
nights. During every lunch break and evening function, one kept one’s eyes
out for ’movers and shakers’, those who have votes, to talk to (lobby), to
explain our cause. We attended about five functions. I was the only
non-Scotsman to dress in a kilt and sporran for the evening of Scottish
dancingit did get a lot of laughs and the women wanted to know what a
Sporran was!!! The men wanted to know what I was wearing, if anything,
underneath!! ISAF President, Canadian Paul Henderson has a Scottish
background and together with Donald Sutherland, they too ’wore the kilt’.
Finally, the conference was an excuse for me to buy a couple of new suits
so Sheila will have a smart man to escort her in the next year. ..
And that is Windsurfing!!!!?????Steven at IFCA. 11th November 2000. -
10 Svar
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Jahaapp nu blev det bra mycket enklare ingen mer surfresa till
– Argentina,
– Frankrike,
– Spanien,
– Israel.
för mig. Dom ska inte tro att dom kommer undan med det här utan att det svider
svårt.
Fast OS handlar ju bara om en sak: ”smarta” droger och nördsponsring och
varför besudla en så ädel sport som FW med sån skit.Karpathos here I come
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det är ju för fan helt sanslöst
vem fan kommer att satsa på mistral?nej det var riktigt synd tycker jag!
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Håller med men å andra sidan öppnar sig också möjligheter å det är dom man nu ska hålla sig till för OS är kört. Se speciellt texsnutten om Argentina, viket j-a surf-fmörker.
Om dom ”vettiga” nu går samman så kan man bygga upp ett FW på ”OS-nivå”. Det finns ju ingen konkurrens inom de närmaste åren iaf. -
Fy fan vad värdelösa dom är.
Idioterna fattade inte vilken enorm genomslagskraft det hade varit om det blivit formula. Folk hade tränat som tokiga.
MISTRAL = More International Suckers To Race All Longboards.
Fuck em all. BIG Fuck em all. -
Dear Sailors, Industry,
I have just returned from the International Sailing Federation AGM
(Edinburgh, Scotland).It saddens me greatly to write this email but I must inform you that on the
issue of Olympic equipment for Athens in 2004, the ISAF Council have voted
as follows:Windsurfer (men)
Mistral One Design 22
Formula Windsurfing 15Windsurfer (women)
Mistral One Design 24
Formula Windsurfing 13Therefore the Mistral OD has been selected as the Olympic Equipment in
Athens 2004, for both men and women.Best regards,
Dan Atkins
PWA Manager and Member of the Formula Windsurfing Campaign Committee -
Antagligen var det ett vettig beslut, med tanke på att det blåste dåligt på förra OS så hade nog formula blivigt en flopp.vad som är synd är att tunga seglare aldrig kommer att placera sig i os.
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Nyheder – Tilbage
Formula Windsurfing bliver ikke Olympics
12-11-2000
Jeg kan kun sige, jeg fatter intet og så øv øv øv og tilsidst vil jeg sige at sejle OneDesign er som at spille badminton med en træketcher eller som at dyrke sex med et af de der heavyduty kondomer som eksisteret under krigen – dvs. ingen gør det mere fordi der findes et bedre alternativ nu!!!
ja, Fuck alle de aber der sidder i ISAF eller hvor fanden det nu var det blev besluttet at One Design igen skal på programmet i 2004, sgu fandme. Heldigvis er Athen også et ikke så fedt sted hahaha….
Nå okay, godt ord igen! På et eller andet måde er der blevet stemt om hvorvidt Funboard med sit Formula koncept skulle på banen eller om det igen skulle være One-Design. 22 stemte for One_design og 15 for FW – surt show.
Det skal blive spændene at se hvad der nu sker. Også i Danmark hvor man for en uge siden havde besluttet er der skulle sejles efter Formula konceptet i kurssejladserne i den danske rangliste. Nå tiden giver svarene?!?!Hvad siger folket, meninger kan gives i vores forum….
NB: Fedt med et vredes udbryd – det trængte jeg til….
Lars D-6 -
vem bryr sig om OS när vi har Aloha classic?
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Med den største fw utrustningen planer man i dag ned mot 7-8 knop.
Utviklingen går svært raskt innen 2004 vil man se fw prylar som planer på 5-6 knop, det er ingen ting. FW hadde inte blitt en flopp, mr. anonymous -
OS kommer gå i ATEN!!! och seglingen där på sommarhalvåret är GRYMT BRA…man skulle kunna genomföra tävlingar med g:a 295:or där om man ville!!!!!! Så kom inte och säg att FW inte skulle fungera i det kommande OS!
/Besservisser
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