International Kiteboarding Association (IKA) Hits Reset: Governance Shifts, Olympic Confidence, and a Clear Line to Los Angeles 2028 and beyond.
This isn’t a crisis update. It’s a recalibration.
The International Kiteboarding Association (IKA) is changing how it governs the sport — not why it believes in it. After the resignation of its Secretary General, following growing internal differences over direction and priorities, the class is signaling a strategic reset aimed squarely at long-term stability and Olympic relevance.
Translation: less noise, more structure, and a sharper focus on what makes kiteboarding matter — to athletes, fans, and the Olympic movement.
International Kiteboarding Association – official class authority
Quick Hull Check
- IKA updates its governance model following leadership changes.
- Core objective: stability, fairness, and long-term class health.
- Strong belief in Formula Kite as a standout Olympic discipline.
- Equipment reliability process underway with World Sailing.
- Eyes firmly on LA28, with Brisbane 2032 already on the horizon.
The Setup
The backdrop matters.
The 2024 Olympic Regatta in Marseille was defined by ultra-light wind conditions — not exactly a highlight reel for sailing as a whole. But kiteboarding told a different story.
Even in marginal breeze, Formula Kite delivered speed, movement, and visual clarity. Riders launched from the beach, raced close to shore, and returned in full view of spectators.
Foil 101: A kitefoiling board can reach up to five times the true wind speed. In just six knots of breeze, that’s not incremental speed — that’s spectacle.
For the IKA, Marseille didn’t expose a weakness. It reinforced a strength.
The Moment
IKA President Mirco Babini didn’t frame the governance changes as damage control.
He framed them as listening.
The emphasis is clear: learn from past mistakes, bring athletes and coaches into the conversation, and present kiteboarding in a way that resonates beyond the hardcore sailing audience.
This is about trust — internally and externally.
And it’s about positioning Formula Kite not as a niche add-on, but as a solo sailing class with unique athletic and media value.
Foil Nerd Corner
Formula Kite’s technical appeal is simple — and brutal.
- Extreme speed in light wind.
- Solo decision-making at closing speeds most sailors never experience.
- High cognitive load: tactics, balance, wind reading, and foil control at once.
Foil 101: In kitefoiling, apparent wind builds so fast that riders are effectively racing inside their own weather system.
That’s why athletes from this discipline are increasingly being pulled into SailGP and America’s Cup programs. The skill set transfers. The pressure tolerance transfers.
Ellie Aldridge’s post-Olympic trajectory isn’t an exception. It’s a signal.
How We Got Here
Kiteboarding’s Olympic journey has never been linear.
From late inclusion debates to equipment standardisation challenges, the class has had to fight for legitimacy inside traditional sailing structures.
What’s changed is perception.
World Sailing’s Annual Conference in Dublin delivered broad support for kitefoil racing — not just as an Olympic discipline, but as a gateway to younger audiences and modern sports consumption.
Telegenic. Fast. Understandable.
Those boxes matter more than ever.
Dock Talk: The Debate
Can kiteboarding balance innovation with fairness?
This question sits at the center of the ongoing equipment discussion, particularly around foil reliability.
The IKA, World Sailing, and the manufacturer have now aligned on a structured testing pathway. Chubanga foils have been approved for a monthly testing and evaluation program aimed at correcting structural issues and improving reliability.
Any updated equipment will be distributed through a class-defined protocol, finalized well ahead of the 2027 Fortaleza World Championships — the first Olympic qualifier.
Translation: no surprises, no last-minute chaos.
What Happens Next
The roadmap is busy — and deliberate.
2026 will see:
- Formula Kite World Championships – Viana do Castelo, May.
- Youth Worlds – Çeşme, August.
- European Championships – Akyaka, September.
- Additional venues in development, including China and Sardinia.
Media strategy is also getting a hard reset. A dedicated team is being assembled to push coverage beyond the sailing bubble, building momentum toward Los Angeles 2028.
The AGM will move to Palma, held in person during the Trofeo Princesa Sofía — a clear attempt to bring athletes and coaches physically into the room.
The Last Wake
This update isn’t about survival.
It’s about confidence.
The IKA is betting that kiteboarding’s mix of speed, accessibility, and visual drama aligns perfectly with where the Olympic movement wants to go.
LA28 is the target. Brisbane 2032 is already in the frame.
And with clearer governance, structured equipment oversight, and a sharper media lens, kiteboarding isn’t asking for a seat at the table anymore.
It’s making a case to lead.
cover photo: © IKA media/Robert Hajduk
