International Windsurfing Body Reinforces Structure

The structure of the International Windsurfing Association has now been reinforced at its first official meeting for 2002 at Boot, Dusseldorf, in Germany.

For the first time all international windsurfing classes and associations were represented in one room, all speaking the same language about the future of windsurfing.

A full agenda was followed in a smooth non political manner and solid decisions made enabling a clear vision for the sport of windsurfing. Bruno De Wannemaeker from Belgium was elected the President for the year 2002.

Various sub committees’ were formed to ensure a clear path for objective decision making. Representing their Classes on the IWA were: Ceri Williams, (Aloha), Bruno de Wannemaeker (IFCA), Felipe Bellini (Raceboard), Marc Cardon (FW), Diederik Bakker (IMCO), Peter Krimbacher (MJOD) and Phil McGain (PWA). The Windsurfing Industry was represented by Guy Chilvers (BIC Sport).

Also in attendance were honouree treasurer (and director) John Ellis and Steven Schrier (ex IFCA) and current Honorary Secretary.

This was to be Steven’s last meeting and Ceri Williams was appointed the new Honorary Secretary for the IWA. New elected President Bruno De Wanamaker says, ‘we now have a good base for our future, we can start to organize the sport to be more reognisable to the public and sailing community’.

Goals for the IWA are to represent and promote the sport of windsurfing through:
 Competition at National and International level.
 Help the ISAF make decisions that will benefit the sport.
Knowledge sharing with competitors, manufacturers, press and media.
 Provide a central administration for the classes.
 Establish a corporate identity for Windsurfing World-wide.
 Co-ordination of International class events.
 Keeping an IWA diary of events.
 Establish a new website ( www.internationalwindsurfing.com ) with updates/links on all windsurfing matters
 Promoting the activities of member classes
 Maintaining IWA database, class databases, membership logs and ranking lists
 Representing the Member class interests to Associated bodies (including the ISAF).

An IWA Office will be based on Hayling Island in the UK, – Annie Smith has been appointed Administrative Officer. She can be contacted at: IWA Mengham Cottage, Mengham Lane, Hayling Island, UK, PO11 9JX. Tel/Fax + 23 9246 8831. Mobile: 07860 142 704. E-mail: iwaoffice@cs.com or info@internationalwindsurfing.com