Neil Pryde, one of the worlds leading water sports business man, has decided to put his support for the IKA's Olympic Campaign on hold.
We regret this decision, but of course from a commercial point of view we understand that protecting investment in the current Olympic windsurfing board has to take preference for the Neil Pryde company over support of a new Olympic discipline, where equipment and format is still unknown.
We hope that once the format and equipment choices available for kiteboarding in the Olympic Games have become clearer and both kiteboarding and windsurfing have been selected as Olympic events in the upcoming ISAF midyear conference in St. Petersburg, Neil Pryde will return as a full supporter of kiteboarding as an Olympic discipline.
Kiteboarding ticks all the boxes the International Olmypic Committee wants to see for a young and exciting Olympic Sailing Regatta, with affordable and accessible equipment world wide, properly developed rules with an own kiteboarding specific appendix to the Racing Rules of Sailing (just as windsurfing does), ease of travel reducing campaign costs, and a vivid competition scene all around the world.
We thank Neil for his support so far and continue to work towards the goal to get (and keep) both board sports in the Games.