World Sailing signed an agreement with the Int'l Kiteboarding Association and the Global Kitesports Association to "unite the kiteboarding community and provide clarity of kiteboarding's governance structure" according to SAILING SCUTTLEBUTT. World Sailing, the IKA and the GKA aim to promote and expand interest worldwide in the sport of competitive kiteboarding and to "regulate the management and responsibilities for kiteboarding." The parties have been in "close consultation" following the signing of a memorandum of understanding in November. Under the new agreement, the GKA has the right to "run expression events" internationally for wave, strapless freestyle, big air (twin tip), freestyle (twin tip), and slider/obstacle and the IKA will continue to be responsible for the "racing disciplines." The GKA will be responsible for the development of "pathways for expression events" but will work exclusively with the IKA and its national kiteboarding associations. The parties will work together exclusively on expression events below the int'l level and development of event officials (SAILING SCUTTLEBUTT, 2/13). SURFER TODAY reported IKA President Mirco Babini said, "This agreement will surely grow our disciplines and increase activity in the world, for the benefit of the whole community. The contract will finally give peace to the sport, and it is the base for a prosperous development and for the advantage of professional riders of all disciplines." As a result, the '17 kiteboarding season will feature several racing circuits by IKA and the GKA World Tour (SURFER TODAY, 2/13).
