Pro tour status for kite comp

Manureva – the Cook Islands’ annual kiteboarding competition – could possibly be a stop on the KTA Asia-Pacific Tour.

The KTA (Kiteboard Tour Asia) is one of three main international kiteboarding tours, the other two being the Kitesurf Tour Europe (KTE) and the PKRA (Professional Kiteboard Riders Association) world pro-tour.

Officially sanctioned by kiteboarding’s world governing body the International Kiteboarding association (IKA), KTA is into its third season.

This year it comprises competitions in Taiwan, China, Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand, the Philippines and Australia.

The tour has international television broadcast agreements with channels in Asia, New Zealand, Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom and Europe. It also has agreements with online television channels – online videos of last year’s tour reached 80,000 hits – and international magazines.

Last year the KTA Asia Tour consisted of five rounds in Turkey, China, Vietnam, Thailand and the Philippines. The tour involved 292 riders of 36 different nationalities, 216 of them being male and 76 female.

The oldest competitor to take part was 68 years old, and the youngest 12 years old.

The Cook Islands Kitesurfing Association has received confirmation from KTA founding director Neil Godbold that the Cook Islands qualifies to be a stop on the professional tour, but is awaiting a meeting of the Cook Islands Tourism Board next week for word of whether the supporting budget allocation has been approved.

KTA management has offered a $1000 reduction in the entry fee for the Cook Islands.

If the Cook Islands becomes a stop on the KTA Asia-Pacific tour, it can expect over 100 riders to fly to Aitutaki at the end of June to compete.