We wanted to provoke you when we launched the online survey asking if you agreed that foil kiting should enter the Olympic medal program, instead of Finn, starting in 2020. An old and glorious class (an unbroken Olympic discipline since 1952) versus a very young, flying, hyperfast class, to the point of really “getting it right” with traditional sailing. We thought it would not be long before insults would fly, but instead the poll was very well attended, with over a thousand votes.
More importantly, it indicated a clear majority preference in favor of class change. Motivation? A need for sail renewal, lower costs, and the undoubtedly greater spread. Opponents for their part argue that kiting has nothing to do with sailing, and that if anything, it should be included in the Olympic program as a “beach sport” like beach volleyball. Although, with the introduction of foils, kiters are flying at 25 knots and tightening the wind to 40°. Don’t stop letting us know what you think, meanwhile we continue to provoke you and compare them for you (leaving out really inappropriate parameters such as, for example, speed) below…
FINN “VERSUS” KITE: AN IMPOSSIBLE COMPARISON?
WHEN WAS HE BORN?
Finn: The Finn was born in 1949 at the hands of Sweden’s Rickard Sarby and has been an Olympic class since 1952, continuously.
Kite: Officially in 1999, but as early as ’92 there were French “pioneers” living in Hawaii experimenting with these “kites. Hydrofoils on kites arrived around 2005.
COSTS?
Finn: To be competitive, between new hull mast and sails you will exceed 10-11,000 euros. For an Olympic campaign Finn, prices go up, ranging above 20,000 euros.
Kite: Complete, new equipment for a “flying” kite (appendages, board and sail) starts at about 4,000 euros. For a top set you can go as far as spending nearly 10,000 euros.
DIFFUSION (IN ITALY)?
Finn: The 2016 Finn National Ranking List has 106 racers. Total associates are about twice as large.
Kite: According to estimates (the landscape is heterogeneous and not perfectly quantifiable, including freestylers and hydrofoilers) there are about 18,000 kiters in Italy.
THE ITALIAN OUTFIELDER?
Finn: Definitely Luca Devoti, silver at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
Kite: In the hydrofoil discipline, Andrea Beverino, one of the best athletes in the world. Among the freestylers, Gianmaria Coccoluto, Mario Calbucci and Francesca Bagnoli are strong.
THE INTERNATIONAL OUTFIELDER?
Finn: Ben Ainslie, Russell Coutts, Paul Elvström, Jochen Schumann. And the list could go on…
Kite: Aaron Hadlow among freestylers and 18-year-old Alex Mazzella in hydrofoil.
