Got this email from Chris Wessels. Great that they are using the IWCA Rules as well. And Rod Waterhouse is getting involved.., GO WAVES
RIck
Hobie Wave Program in Australia
David Brooks sent me this link because he knows I am interested in the Wave as a starting point for getting new people into our sport. http://sailingsite.com.au/
This is a really neat thing they are doing and being this organized is incredible. This is really where WE should be leading the way with programs like this.
Please surf this site a bit and talk to your fleets and find out if there is possibilities of doing something similar in your respective divisions. Even here in Iowa, we have a place we can go and rent 5-10 Hobie Waves and hold a Youth event annually without much cost or too much work and attract 20+ kids (mostly never before sailed/sailed Hobie). Most of the kids we saw at our Youth event last weekend were in the 10-12 year old range and I have had 2 people ask me where to buy boats for their kids (they say its cheaper than Hockey.....)
Lets get some discussion going on growth and figure ways to attract new youth/parents to the sport. With the new Jr. Youth Class (Wave racing), we have the opportunity to plant the seeds with some young kids and we have the people and resoursces to make things happen.