Is Kitelandboarding part of Class 7?

[ventosus]

I know a lot of people (including me) that like racing on kitelandboards.
It's becoming more and more common and its the landsailing discipline with the most compact rig, everything (including several kites and a board) fits on the carrier of my bycicle!

The class 7 specifications reads as follows:
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Any sand or land yacht which is sailed by a pilot standing upright, the rig of which will not remain upright
unless the pilot is holding it, is considered to be a class 7.
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The specification is quite vague and holds true for Kitelandboards, too, as if you let go the kite (rig) it will fall from the sky (as long as you are not hooked in).

We are definitely not part of class 8, as it is strictly for seated sailing in buggies. But class 8 is the only class specifically mentioning propulsion with means of kites.

So, my question, are we (kitelandboarders) part of class 7 and are we allowed to race with the landwindsurfers at a given race event?

If we're not part of class 7, are there plans to introduce a new class (e.g class 9) for stand-up kitesailing or to include us explicitly as a subcategory in class 7?

greetings from Switzerland
ventosus

[Alan]

Good Question but I dont have the answer !
I have never seen kite landboard racing anywhere yet.
Does anyone know what countries do this ?

I suggest that your get your national governing association to bring it up at a FISLY meeting.

Good luck.

[ventosus]

The Germans have a whole tour with several (4-5) tour stops (now in the 5th year) where they do racing (and freestyle).
http://www.kitelandboarding.eu/, they're part of the german parakart association (GPA)

[Alan]

That looks good , it also does looks like it falls under the national Class 8 Associations remit so perhaps that where you should start - with your Class 8 association.

[ventosus]

The British Federation of Sand & Land Yacht Clubs (a full member of FISLY)
state kite powered landboards to be officially part of class 7
(http://www.bfslyc.org.uk/pages/fed_welcome.aspx)

The French have an own class for kite powered landboards and allow them to race at national competitions of classes 7 and 8
(http://www.ffcv.org/view.php?node=152)

As FISLY wants to renew itself in the next few years (attract more young members, combine land and ice sailing),
(http://www.ffcv.org/usercontent/4/AG_FISLY_2010.pdf)
elaborating on class 7 specifications seems to be a good start.

Stand-up land sailing is the most sportive and least expensive one, the ideal entry level for young individuals.

Why not define three subclasses in class 7 (or just state them all to be part of it officially), like the World Ice and Snow Sailing Association (WISSA) does?
(http://www.wissa.org/2004/03/wissa-rules.html)
This would cover all stand-up land-sailing as known as of today.
- Joint Sail Subclass: The sail is attached via a joint to the landboard (Windsurfing rig, etc.)
- Free Sail Subclass: The sail is held in the hands and not attached mechanically to the landboard (Kitewing, Skatesail, etc.)
- Kite Subclass: Landboard powered by a kite