WISSA::World Ice and Snow Sailing Association: March 2014

Friday, March 21, 2014

Friday, March 14, 2014

WISSA 2014: President's Memorandum

WISSA 2014 was one for the record books. As the longest running international competition in the history of Windsurfing, Wing and Kite sailing, WISSA has seen its share of difficulties. All along we have maintained the following principles:

Be open and welcoming to all competitors and new technologies.
Maintain the highest possible standard of racing
Racing takes place on prevailing conditions. Snow, or ice, skis or blades - it is the competitor's choice.
At least 5 countries are required to make a World Championships
Course racing is top priority, speed trials, and marathon are secondary (in case of no wind)
Encourage innovation in design, sportsmanship in competition, and friendship over all

The WISSA Ice and Snow Sailing World Championships have witnessed many things:

The first international competition for ice and snow sailing sleds powered by windsurfing rigs
The earliest communication between "Eastern" and "Western" countries on the subject of snow sailing
In 1991, at Kabli, Estonia, "Western" sailors from Europe and North America met "Eastern" sailors from Russia, Estonia, Ukraine, Poland, Latvia, Lithuania for the first time in history
In 1992 the Hand Held Sail Class [later to become wing] was accepted into WISSA. "Eastern" sailors made the improbable trip to Canada.
In 1993 in Choinice, Poland, Kites were on the start line for the first time. U.S and Canadian teams came to Poland.
In 1995, the USA hosted the WC in Madison, Wisconsin. Russian mono skis dominated course racing in the sled class. Kite and Wing Classes had large numbers. A team from New Zealand took part.
In 2002, sleds, wings, and kites were present in equal numbers on black ice on Lago de Recia in Italy
In 2005 WISSA celebrated 25 years of racing at Sakyla, Finland. Russian kite sailors dominated. Polish sled sailors shared the podium with the Finns.
In 2008 a proposal to incorporate Short Track Slalom [STS] into the Sled Class was accepted at Val Brilliant, Quebec
In 2013 at Kalajoki, Finland, - one of the best WISSA races ever - a proposal to host WISSA 2014 in Temmascouatta, Quebec, was accepted.

The organizer in Quebec pulled out unexpectedly,leaving WISSA without a venue for 2014.
Then came our loyal friends from Russia with an offer to host an event in Pereslavl. They had their own set of troubles, but managed not just to recover, but to create a hugely successful event which was relocated to Saint Petersburg.

Congratulations to:

The organizers and sponsors
All competitors who took part
The champions, and their sponsors

The success of WISSA, the fact that it (WE!) have outlasted all other international competitions in each of the disciplines stands testament to our commitment, flexibility, and respect for one another.

May the WISSA family continue and prosper!

William Tuthill, Rhode Island, March 2014

Thursday, March 13, 2014

WISSA 2014: STS is Exciting!

Wednesday, March 12, 2014

WISSA 2014: POV Video

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Tuesday, March 11, 2014

WISSA 2014: Show Must Go On!

Awaiting for WISSA 2015 information.

Sunday, March 09, 2014

WISSA 2014: Final Results

Registered racers counts:

Champions 2014

Course Race Kite Boards

Overall: Ryazanov Ilya, Miass
Youth: Garashchenko Artem, Ekaterinburg
Veterans: Zyrin Pavel, Ekaterinburg
Women: Sysoeva Tatiana, Chelyabinsk
B15: Sokolov Nikita, St.Petersburg

Course Race Open Class

Overall: Leontev Aleksandrs, Latvia
Women: Moiseeva Anastasiya, Mytishi
Veterans: Ilukhin Vasiliy, Solnechnogorsk
Youth: Vostryakov Roman, Arhangelsk
Junior: Morozov Daniil, Monchegorsk

Course Race Kite Skis

Overall: Shaidakov Maksim, Yaroslavl'
Women: Kalinina Elena, St.Petersburg
Grand Masters: Lezinov Igor, Yaroslavl'
D8: Gladyshev Victor, Moscow
Veterans: Raynal Pierre-Alain, Switzerland Lausanne
B15: Kodanev Nikita, St.Petersburg

Course Race Wings

Salo Rainer, Finland

Freesyle Kite Boards

Overall: Garashchenko Artem, Ekaterinburg
Women: Ponomaryva Natali, Orenburg
Masters: Shelyganov Gena, Kolomna
Juniors: Sokolov Nikita, St.Petersburg

Freesyle Kite Skis

Overall: Kosolapov Lev, Moscow
Women: Nabieva Elena
Junior: Zhukov Andrey, Zapolarny

Short Trek Open Class

Overall: Leontev Aleksandrs, Latvia
Women: Zubkova Elena
Grand Master: Allikveer Kalev, Estonia
Junior: Zhilin Egor

Short Trek Wings

Salo Rainer, Finland

Final Protocols

Congratulations to all Champions and the whole WISSA community with successful event that happened despite all odds!

Great thanks to organizers, judges and sponsors of the Championship. We are awaiting on the results of the vote for the next venue of WISSA 2015.

WISSA 2014: The Final Day

On the final day there was so much wind that the ice shield had shifted and multiple cracks made it unsafe. Representatives of the Ministry of Emergency Situations forbid to sail, no races were run. Here is the clip showing wind conditions on that day:

Saturday, March 08, 2014

WISSA 2014: Faces 8

Nikulichev Dmitriy

Photo by Kirill Korabelnikov

WISSA 2014: Faces 7

Polyakova Lydmila

Photo by Kirill Korabelnikov

WISSA 2014: Faces 6

Kulagin Evgeny

Photo by Kirill Korabelnikov

WISSA 2014: Faces 5

Shevelev Alexey and Raynal Pierre-Alain

Photo by Kirill Korabelnikov

WISSA 2014: Faces 4

Elena Kalinina

Photo by Kirill Korabelnikov

WISSA 2014: Faces 3

Feudoroff Max
Photo by Kirill Korabelnikov

WISSA 2014: Faces 2

Sayfulin Farid and Lyubimtsev Roman

Photo by Kirill Korabelnikov

WISSA 2014: Faces 1

Minaev Anton
Photo by Kirill Korabelnikov

WISSA 2014: Particulars

Photos by Inna Klementievs RUS-22

WISSA 2014: Freestyle

The ice is hard... to fall :)

WISSA 2014: Short Track

Watch how ideal are conditions for these guys!

WISSA 2014: Wings

WISSA 2014 Day 4: Sun, Wind, Competition

Today the wind had increase, the sky is clear, everyone is up for a good fight.
"It is going to be fun!" says the kite-skiing course-race leader Dmitriy Nikulichev of Petrozavodsk. He is looking forward to competing with the top five - anyone has a chance to win at this moment.

Iliya Ryazanov from Miass is a leader in kite snowboards course race. His luck is challenged by Igor Danilov, Gennadiy Shelyganov and Alexander Melkozerov.

The leader of Open class is Arthur Gross from Estonia. His adversaries are Alexander Leontiev from Latvia, Vadim Volotskiy from Arkhangelsk and Slava Maltsev of Murmansk. "I shall try winning but with higher wind I need to watch out and not end up somewhere unexpected" - laughs Artur.

Preliminary results of 2014-03-06:

«Kites with ski, Course Race».

1. Nikulichev Dmitriy 8,50.
2. Shaidakov Maksim 9,25.
3. Ignatov Maksim 12,75.

«Kites with snowboards, Course Race».

1. Ryazanov Ilya 5,5.
2. Shelyganov Gena 7,75.
3. Danilov Igor 9,5.

«Windsurfing rigs, Course Race».

1. Gross Artur 5,5.
2. Maltsev Viacheslav 9,00.
3. Volotskoy Vadim 12,00.

«Windsurfing rigs, Short Track Slalom».

1. Leontev Aleksandrs 3,75.
2. Gurvits Feodor 12,00.
3. Korzhikov Vladamir 17,00.

Friday, March 07, 2014

WISSA 2014 Day 2: Short Video

Two minutes at the start of the race.

Thursday, March 06, 2014

WISSA 2014 Day 3 Update: Wind is Light

Preliminary results after as of 2014.03.05:

«Kites with ski, Course Race»

1. Shaidakov Maksim 9,50.
2. Nikulichev Dmitriy 11,75.
3. Lezinov Igor 12,75.

«Kites with snowboards, Course Race»

1. Shelyganov Gena 5,75.
2. Ryazanov Ilya 6,75.
3. Danilov Igor 8,75.

«Windsurfing rigs, Course Race»

1. Leontev Aleksandrs 0,75.
2. Volotskoy Vadim 2,00.
3. Maltsev Viacheslav 3,00.

«Windsurfing rigs, Short Track Slalom»

1. Leontev Aleksandrs 2,25.
2. Gurvits Feodor 6,00.
3. Korzhikov Vladamir 10,00.

Photos by Nikita Nikryt

Wednesday, March 05, 2014

WISSA 2014 Day 2 Update: Leader is unclear

Nikolai Nikolaev (Murmansk, Russia) reports:
"
We had 4 races, the wind was 1.5-3m/s. Could have more runs but judges are slow.

There is no clear advantage of any kite model seen yet. The leader is changing from Elf to Paraavis, Maks Ignatov is always near by with his Sergeant, Farid wth Chrono-18 also looks very good. The most popular kite is Elf-10.

I must say that we need to exercise more and come to compete fresh few days in advance but not tired and just an hour before start.

Leaders are playing leapfrog game, who wins is unknown at the moment. I have not seen any results protocols yet. Tomorrow they forecast better wind, we shall see.
"