The Kiteboard Pro World Tour (KPWT) has published a full schedule for the 2009 title.

The competition is to kick off in March, in Abu Dhabi.

There are two dates to be confirmed: Canada and the United Kingdom.

The 2009 KPWT is now the official kiteboard world championship, sanctioned by ISAF and IKA.

This is the 2009 KPWT World Tour schedule:

ABU DHABI - March 09
ITALY - May 09
GERMANY - June 09
TURKEY - July 09
GREECE - July 09
PORTUGAL - July 09
FRANCE - August 09
CANADA - August 09 TBC
UK - September 09 TBC
MOROCCO - October 09
BRASIL - November 09

  
For the first time, Al Gharbia will play host to the ultimate international kiteboard World Cup, to be staged in Abu Dhabi, Mirfa, from March 22 to 29, 2009.

The 2009 Al Gharbia World Cup, is expected to draw the majority of the world’s top-ranked male and female competitors in Kiteboarding

Action will be intense, with all the discipline to be staged at one location on Abu Dhabi famous Mirfa. 

The Kiteboarding event boasts international sanctioning with valuable competition points and rankings as part of the Kiteboard Pro World Tour (KPWT) World Cup and IKA world Ranking sanctioned by Isaf (International Sailing Federation).

It will feature 32 male and 12 female riders in a relentless freestyle competition, vying for their chance to share in the 30 000 euros Kiteboarding prize money on offer.

The event, Al Gharbia Kiteboard World Cup provides the platform for the KPWT to launch its first Kiteboarding event in United Arab Emirates (UAE). 

KPWT Promoter Frederic Gravoille said the inclusion of Al Gharbia World Cup in the World Tour represented a positive evolution for the sport.

Bringing the KPWT to Abu Dhabi is a great opportunity not only for the KPWT, but for kiteboarding as a whole, he said. “

In terms of sport possibilities, new riding conditions, and media it couldn't be better.

We're excited to be aligned with Al Gharbia, United Arab Emirates (UAE), which represents truly world-class competition for both athletes and spectators.  This fantastic outcome is the result of a long and successful collaboration.

The Al Gharbia Kiteboard World Cup will attract new water sports visitors and millions of television viewers worldwide.

The 2009 Resolution Langebaan Downwind Dash will be held from Saturday January 17 to Sunday January 19 2009 at Langebaan, South Africa.

The regatta gives points for the annual ranking of the IKA world ranking.

The event will be organised by Saldanha Beach Sailing Club as the LOA, for and on behalf of the IKA.

The event will be based starting from Langebaan Beach.

During January, the weather conditions are usually: average wind of 15 to 25 knotts sout/south west water conditions: average temperature 17 Celsius.

The winner of the event scores 100 points, others are ranked accordingly.

The maximum size of the fleet is 300 competitors, including women and all wildcards.

This event shall be a single discipline event.

Divisions are: Kite, Windsurfer, Catamaran. Only the Kite division counts for the IKA world
ranking.

The registration will take place on the beach at the parking area Langebaan.

The IKA conference with national kite associations is confirmed for the weekend 24./25. of January in Dusseldorf during boot exhibition.

The meeting is mainly intended to constitute the relationship between the IKA and the national associations in a multilateral meeting, as well as negotiating about extending the IKA with the necessary sub-committees, their roles and responsibilities etc.

Depending on further pre-negotiations, the IKA might invite additional private tour operators and organizers to bi-lateral consultations.

The provisional agenda is as follows, amendmends may be made from feedback received and times adjusted after confirmation date of attendance:

TOP 1: Welcome and introduction
TOP 2: Brief overview about IKA history, ISAF actions and decision, responsibility, rights
TOP 3: IKAs idea of integrating national kite associations and other sub-committees (voting and non-voting)
TOP 4: Questions and answers
- break -
TOP 5: Constitution of national class associations sub-committee
TOP 6: Responsibilities of national class associations sub-committee
TOP 7: Election of interim seat toward the IKA committee
TOP 8: Constitution of audit sub-committee (more information to follow as well as nominations)
TOP 9: Responsibilities of audit sub-committee and appointments / election of interim seat
- break - negotiations with manufacturers if necessary
TOP 10: Constitution of manufacturers sub-committee (more information to follow)
TOP 11: Responsibilities of manufacturers sub-committee
- break -
TOP 12: Constitution of expression sub-committee (more information to follow)
TOP 13: Responsibilities of expression sub-committee
TOP 14: Constitution of racing sub-committee (more information to follow)
TOP 15: Responsibilities of racing sub-committee
TOP 16: Constitution of speed sub-committee (more information to follow)
TOP 17: Responsibilities of speed sub-committee
- break -
TOP 18: bi-lateral consultations with tour operators and individual organizers (to be individually invited)

photos, press release etc.
end of conference