Windsurfing Africa Newsletter
June 2009
Windsurfing in South Africa: Making it happen for ourselves
There is much on the go in South African windsurfing, and, in preparation for an even more awesome season, the 09/10 Committee present the first monthly newsletter for the upcoming season.
RSA Windsurfing Organisation
We proposed that a new windsurfing organisation, under the name Windsurfing South Africa (WSA), be formed as the official windsurfing federation in South Africa. The organisation will be a self run, self governed, non-profit entity that will look after the health and interests of all aspects of the sport. WSA will represent a general class association, encompassing all windsurfing classes and disciplines. Particular attention will be paid to;
· Establishing an official legal entity, with a constitution and appropriate representation for decision making procedures
· Setting up a bank account in the associations name
· Establishing income sources, funding channels, and the allocation and distribution of those funds to projects that grow the sport
As windsurfing is considered by government to be a sub-division of sailing, we will continue to evaluate the role and relevance of the only recognised sailing federation, SA Sailing (SAS).
Windsurfing Africa
The strategy
The strategy is to use WindsurfingAfrica.org as the central hub of all things windsurfing and African. The name suggests the site includes all of Africa, whose representation may be called into questioned, but the site membership includes countries from all over the continent, and thus, we should continue to promote the site as a continent-wide resource.
Windsurfing South Africa (WSA) will be recognised as the official national windsurfing federation, representing SA windsurfing, and will form a sub-division on the WindsurfingAfrica.org media resource.
Implementation of an organised strategy
Over the past few years, things have started to “happen” (gradually) again in windsurfing. We think probably the principle factors in windsurfing becoming a “happening” sport again are;
1. media presence and,
2. real activity in the sport
Thus, there is a drive to work together and establish an organised strategy. These are some of the areas we think should be focussed on;
Generate media
· Appoint members of the community to “chase” media opportunities and get articles written, whether about travel, trips, equipment, events, industry news, etc, etc.
· Get all of YOU to write articles and submit them!
· Create a web platform for media stories to be published by anyone.
· Depending on funding, get people to write articles for us.
· Create our own web or TV-based documentaries of events
Spread the media
Appoint members of the community whose job it is to spread media stories “out there”. This can be in the form of a newsletter (such as this one), a blog, an editorial, or advert. We will spread relevant news to parties such as;
· WindsurfingAfrica.org (of course)
· Gust
· Stormchasers
· Boardseeker
· Continent Seven
· SAS
· IFCA
· PWA
But we also need help getting news to appear in local;
· TV
· Newspapers
· Magazines
· Etc.
This obviously requires quality content to do so. So if you know about marketing, PR, journalism and photography, step up and help!
Update and Maintain a Database of All the Members
In order to help streamline communication with all the riders we need to maintain an updated rider database. The most important details we need are;
· Your full name,
· E-mail address and,
· Which region/province you live in
Less important, but still necessary are cell phone numbers.
We also strongly suggest getting a sail number! It’s free and really makes our lives a lot easier… check out the WSA Page (going up shortly) for more info.
This newsletter is also being sent out by e-mail… if you have not received it; please check/update your address. Please also note this will hopefully be the last bulk e-mail made directly from our database. All future news and updates will only be sent out via the subscriber news lists;
· Subscribers (for general news)
· EC
· WC
· KZN
· Inland
To subscribe to these roles, login and go to my profile > manage services and select which roles are relevant.
Increase the level of professionalism at events
The plan is, via our own resources and SAS affiliation;
· To provide a qualified and organised race committee, race officer, judges and event crew for regional and national events
· Promote fewer, shorter, “higher quality” events at national and regional level
· Run slalom events more professionally, with more interesting courses and venues
· Run wave events at the best breaks, but not at the expense of safety and poor turnouts
· Improve communication methods and practices in competitions... particularly in the case of roving venues
· Aim is to finish the season dishing out bona fide national colours to winners of the various disciplines
Learning to Windsurf
This is probably the most important element in the health of the industry. The goal is to enable people to learn to windsurf much more easily. This will be for both development sailing, as well as for the paying public wishing to learn. There is currently talk of starting a school in the Western Cape under the under the WSA banner, but we really need a school in every region… those with the energy, resources and expertise should contact their local committee and help them put something together.
Support our local industry
Recent survey evidence shows that South Africa has a relatively high number of professional and semi-professional windsurfers here in the summer, but percentage retail sales are significantly lower than the global average. This is largely because a significant amount foreign business is conducted outside of our local industry (i.e. on the beach). While this is obviously impossible to control, we should be encouraged to support our local industry.
Closing
In closing, be sure to check out the new Windsurfing.Africa.org website. Work on the site will remain ongoing, with several features due to be loaded soon. Prospective reporters should keep tabs on the iReport and uReport noticeboard. Also look out for the upcoming official WSA page, including the new results page, event documentation and the new competition regulations/standards we will be implementing this season.
From the 09/10 WSA crew, cheers.