AKA FIASCO

I want to go on the record and say it's a sad day when the AKA invites a young competitor to fly 2000 miles all the way to Florida and then have them stripped of their trophy because of some obscure ruling about a Novice not being able to fly as a Pair or on a Team.

My true identity withheld due the nature of the post. Let the FLAMING begin.

sure you were expecting this, but if you were pissed off, why not tell us with your true identity?? yadda yadda yadda

here ends my contribution to this thread

Absolutely NO Flames here. And kudos for you for saying something. After some discussion with a few interested parties I would like to know if Danielle, bless her heart, got to keep her team trophy in the end. Which trophy was disqualified?

I understand that Chuck Sigel had the final word, after the flyers advocate was alerted. Ironically this rule won't matter next year with the new classifications. Would that the AKA erred with too much wood rather than to take one away. Is the AKA that inflexible that we can't stretch an unusual circumstance, AND mistake on the part of knowledgable AKA sport kite judges, in favor of the sport. This only serves to put a bad taste in our mouths, not elevate the sport.

But the burning question of the day is how could this have happened? Certainly someone along the way, what with Danielle successfully qualifying to compete at Nationals, along the way earning points not only in SoCal but at Berkeley, a renowned Nationally recognized AKA sanctioned competition, was this not caught by those experienced judges, scorekeepers or event organizers that have been doing this for years prior to her invitation to the Nationals.

Frankly, I hope that both Danielle and her daddy receive a formal apology from the AKA and from those members at large who feel that an injustice was done. We need to encourage her, as well as set an example of tolerance when appropriate, so she, as well as others entering competition for the first time, will continue to excel, increase her skills and show us all what can be achieved with the high degree of dedication this fine young woman has exemplified over the past year.

Dad, Mom, Danielle.....I personally thank you for your participation and hope that you realize just how many friends you have out here who have followed your success with great admiration and respect!

Ellen Smith

I resemble that! Maybe old but 'tisn't tainted. Now that I am 56 I am respecting myself more than I did respect 'grumpy, pissy old <people>' when I was in my teens. Wise old people don't make the rules they just heed the rules. It is the responsiblity of the yougees to know the rules, if they don't like them, they should change them. It is how society works. We were all young and rowdy at one time and through maturity (aging gracefully and learning how to get things accomplished through practicing RESPONSIBLITY) got things changed. Get involved if you want to change things instead of calling people names. Read some history if you want to know how to do it. It can be done all you need to do is use your energy and step up and do it! All the 'oldies' have worked to encourage kids to fly. We aren't stupid, we know who gets in the press, the young and the buff. Just Do It!! Kathy Goodwind

Indeed, it was a sad day.... Speaking as one of the event coordinators, perhaps I can shed some light on this issue. This whole situation should have *never* come up at the Grand Nationals. It was one of those rare instances that fell through the cracks at all of the regional levels. The local event organizers, her local conference commissioner, and even the people who flew against her & her father in EPB all should have caught the fact that she was competing as a Novice and also flying pairs. That she was on the list to receive an invitation the the Nationals in EPB, NIP & NIB should have been enough to raise a red flag. That being said, the fact remains that a valid protest was filed. Once filed, we had to act on it. If we, as event organizers, would have ignored or denied the protest, WE would have been in violation of the rulesbook. The specific rule states (ref. #3, AKA Appendix of the International Sport Kite Handbook): '...One who competes as a member of a pair or team cannot be classified as a Novice.' Since the protest specifically referenced her participation in EPB, NIP, and NIB, we had no other option but to rule that her Novice status was invalid. Danielle was disqualified from the Novice disciplines [yes, and lost her 2nd place Novice trophy]. The EPB standings remained valid and Danielle & her father were awarded the 2nd place EPB trophy. This really was one of the hardest things we've ever had to face as event officials. What we did learn from this, however, is that our AKA ranking system is not fail proof and steps need to be taken so that this situation never happens again. We are looking at ways to add filters to the program that will red flag a competitor's name if they are competing in classes that may be contradictory or inappropriate. Danielle and her father were given our most humble apologies, and we wish them nothing but the best in their future endeavors. I think it is also important to point out that you, as fliers, are responsible for educating yourselves about the rules. If you know of someone who is a 'newbie' to competition, it is not enough to merely offer support and encouragement. Make it your duty to help them along through the maze of rules & regulations, as well.

-Robyne Gardner, Grand Nationals Event Co-Coordinator

Well said Kathy!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I saw Danielle fly and she is not a novice! If it were in the rule book for the season they ought to follow it, or work to have it changed!

Sounds as though someone along the way was slacking ... competitor, judges, event organizers, whomever! Maybe a combination of all, don't know, but someone was slackin'.

just couldn't resist this ...

I'm sorry if that came out as a blanket statement, it wasn't intended that way. I have a lot of respect for my elders, I was raised that way and in no way meant that to be aimed at anyone but the people who made this decision. this situation was just plain stupid... the organizers should have stopped at the beginning and said, hey, this is messed up... or even before that, every event that happened up and down the western sea board, they should have all stopped and said, hey, this isn't legal. She should have been given a chance up front to say, ok, I want to do either this event, or that event, the fact that according to the rules of the AKA she shouldn't even have been invited to compete in both events is a monument to, 'what the hell were they thinking?' Honestly, they made a serious mistake in sending an invitation for her to compete in an event that she was not qualified to fly in. They should have accepted that they made a mistake and lived with it. But they didn't do that, they waited till the flying was over,Removing her from the competition after the fact is not the right course. If they weren't organized enough to stop and think, hey, this can't happen according to the rules, then they shouldn't be allowed to say, hey, we messed up, and because of it, we're taking your trophy! it's just ridiculous...

When Danielle began competing at the beginning of the 99-00 season she was certainly a Novice. It was her first year, and from what I understand she had only recently begun flying.

Do you suppose that she may have 'learned' over that year? Or should she have moved up voluntarily, mid-season, to Intermediate since she progressed past what some assume Novice class should fly like?

IF pairs existed at Novice level there is no doubt in my mind that her dad and she would have begun there. That catagory did not exist, so they competed at the only entry level available to them.

Is it unimaginable that during the course of a season a competitor or competitors can up the learning curve with hard work and practice. In my experience from coaching kids her age in hockey, a year can make a HUGE difference in skill level. Are we so jaded in the AKA that this sort of dedication is one to be scorned, not applauded?

Indeed, as Robyn pointed out, this situation could have and should have been averted at the regional level. But when an invitation by the AKA is sent out, isn't a contract being made? And didn't Danielle fulfull her end of the contract by coming to Treasure Island, at her family's expense, to compete as invited?

Whatever the reasoning behind that rule was originally, and I'm sure there was once a valid reason, that might never have intended for something like this to happen...it is indefensible for the AKA to be so rigid that exceptions cannot be made in extreme circumstances, which I doubt anyone would disagree that this was.

Does this mean that with the new integration of Novice/Intermediate classes to one class, Novice, that the same rule will apply? Will the new Novice class be prohibited from flying pairs/teams unless they are in Experienced class?

I apologize for being so disagreeable about this situation, but goodness gracious, she's only 11 yrs old, her family has only been involved in kiting for the past year or so. It's not like she's a sandbagger unlike some I won't mention that have 30 years on her. She's just a bright kid with skill and determination. Gimme a break already.

hi folks,

wow sorry to hear that went down like that. if she was invited to fly in this event then she can win it.... give it back to her she flew for it , she won it . they asked her to fly for it, she worked hard to be there. good luck Bwell all Rocco

Yea! What she said!!! I don't know much about the situation, But if I was invited to fly, spent my own money, on good faith; then the AKA should have also stood by their 'invitation' and not changed horses in the middle of the stream... Who knows, maybe she would have gone to T.I. anyway, but somehow, I don't see an 11 yr. old having the cash to do that just to watch (and learn, of course) On another note - There are a number of sporting activities that are divided into categories, i.e. novice, intermediate, masters, pro, god... ect. and most allow Anyone, Anytime, to compete in a higher class than they are rated, in fact, are encouraged to do so. Not always hopping around mind you, but just to be able to compete. I guess surf ski racing in Hawaii comes to mind.... you can always go up a class, but not down for any particular race... 'your' class is determined by prior finishes.. Keeps the sandbaggers honest... but then that was a loooong time ago.

Now *this* reply is short, lucid, and to the point. Admittedly, I'm not really supposed to comment on a purely local event such as the AKA meet, it seems that it wasn't the young lady's intention to fly in the wrong class - rather the AKA put her in the wrong one. Not *her* fault, surely? So why penalise her? If this particular ruling will be changed next year then there's obviously been a rethink. Bad rule - change it. So why not now?

Aik. (just my provincial viewpoint, of course)