Western Australia to Host the KPWT Perth Kiteboard World Cup
For the second consecutive year, Western Australia will play host to the ultimate international action sports and music festival, Gravity Games H20, presented by Vodafone, to be staged in Perth from October 6 to 9, 2005.
A dynamic field of more than 110 elite action sport athletes from across the globe will compete for up to AUD $170,000 in prize money across three medal events of Kiteboarding, Wakeboarding and for the first time, freestyle Thundercats. Non-medal events will include Freestyle Moto X, BMX, Skate and In-line Vert Ramp exhibitions. The 2005 Gravity Games H20, presented by Vodafone, is expected to draw the majority of the world’s top-ranked male and female competitors in Kiteboarding and Wakeboarding medal events.
Action will be intense, with all sports to be staged at one central location on Perth’s famous Swan River. Spectators will witness the dramatic scene of thrills, spills and red-hot competition from a vibrant Gravity village at McCallum Park, Victoria Park. The event will also feature the Gravity Soundwave concert series, featuring live performances by Australian and international acts.
The Kiteboarding event boasts international sanctioning with valuable competition points and rankings as part of the Kiteboard Pro World Tour (KPWT) World Cup. It will feature 32 male and 16 female riders in a relentless freestyle competition, vying for their chance to share in the AUD $38,500 Kiteboarding prize money on offer.
The event provides the platform for the KPWT to launch its first Kiteboarding event in Australia. The first three rounds of the World Tour are set to take place in Italy, Turkey and then Brazil. The Perth Kiteboard World Cup will follow, as part of Gravity Games H2O presented by Vodafone, marking the first Pacific stop on the World Tour.
Western Australia’s Minister for Tourism and Youth Mark McGowan welcomed the event back to Western Australia, saying Perth’s deal to host Gravity Games H20 for three years was a major coup for the State. "Last year’s Gravity Games in Perth was the first time the event had ever been held outside of the United States,” Mr McGowan said. “The significant worldwide television exposure for Western Australia, with our fantastic Swan River and city skyline as a backdrop, was invaluable, and I expect the coverage to be even bigger and better this year. The event reinforces our State as a great destination for youth and adventure travellers in key international markets, and I congratulate EventsCorp for their work in securing this fantastic event for WA.”
Presenting partner Vodafone was a major catalyst in securing the event for Western Australia, through its valuable sponsorship support. Darren Hayes, Vodafone State Manager WA, said Gravity Games H20 enabled Vodafone to demonstrate its commitment to action sports in Western Australia. “Our partnership with Gravity Games H20 brings to life what we live and breathe at Vodafone – bringing the community something different and fun,” Mr Hayes said. “Vodafone is thrilled to continue its support of Gravity Games H20, and we are looking forward to another exciting year of big action sports and international music acts.”
KPWT Promoter Frédéric Gravoille said the inclusion of Australia in the World Tour represented a positive evolution for the sport. “Bringing the KPWT to Australia is a great opportunity not only for the KPWT, but for kiteboarding as a whole,” he said. “In terms of sport possibilities, riding conditions, media and associated activities, it couldn’t be better.
“We’re excited to be aligned with Gravity Games H20, which represents truly world-class competition for both athletes and spectators. This fantastic outcome is the result of a long and successful collaboration with Octagon Australia, whose members have shown real dynamism to ensure the event’s success.”
According to Sean Nicholls, Managing Director of event organiser Octagon, the 2005 Gravity Games H20, presented by Vodafone, will attract tens of thousands of spectators in Perth and millions of television viewers worldwide. “Vision from the event will be distributed to national and international broadcasters throughout Europe, Asia, United Kingdom, North America, South America, Middle East, South Africa and Australia, and will be seen by more than 400 million people worldwide,” Mr Nicholls said. “Last year was an awesome start for Gravity in Australia. It drew fantastic crowds and some of the world’s best action sports athletes, who revelled in the conditions. This year, with a new medal event, more international athletes and an expanded entertainment program, we expect to set new benchmarks and deliver an action-packed four-day event.”
The Gravity Games is the world’s premier action sports, music and lifestyle franchise, celebrating elite action sports athletes and fans, youth culture, individual style, music and passion.
Internationally, 2005 marks the Gravity Games’ seventh year. The series is 100% owned by US Broadcaster Outdoor Life Network and is managed by Octagon. Gravity Games (Summer) is held in Cleveland, Ohio; Gravity Games (Winter) in Copper Mountain, USA; and now Gravity Games H20, presented by Vodafone, in Perth, Australia.
In the US, Outdoor Life Network will televise between two and four hours of original 2005 Gravity Games H2O coverage, in addition to 20 hours of live footage captured at the Summer Gravity Games in Cleveland, Ohio in September 2005.
Gravity Games H2O, presented by Vodafone, will be free to spectators. In addition to Vodafone as the presenting partner, EventsCorp is a major supporter of the event. Further information is available online at www.olntv.com/action_sports
KPWT Background Information – Kiteboarding Medal Event
A dynamic field of more than 110 elite action sport athletes from across the globe will compete for up to AUD $170,000 in prize money across three medal events of Kiteboarding, Wakeboarding and for the first time, freestyle Thundercats. Non-medal events will include Freestyle Moto X, BMX, Skate and In-line Vert Ramp exhibitions. The 2005 Gravity Games H20, presented by Vodafone, is expected to draw the majority of the world’s top-ranked male and female competitors in Kiteboarding and Wakeboarding medal events.
Action will be intense, with all sports to be staged at one central location on Perth’s famous Swan River. Spectators will witness the dramatic scene of thrills, spills and red-hot competition from a vibrant Gravity village at McCallum Park, Victoria Park. The event will also feature the Gravity Soundwave concert series, featuring live performances by Australian and international acts.
The Kiteboarding event boasts international sanctioning with valuable competition points and rankings as part of the Kiteboard Pro World Tour (KPWT) World Cup. It will feature 32 male and 16 female riders in a relentless freestyle competition, vying for their chance to share in the AUD $38,500 Kiteboarding prize money on offer.
The event provides the platform for the KPWT to launch its first Kiteboarding event in Australia. The first three rounds of the World Tour are set to take place in Italy, Turkey and then Brazil. The Perth Kiteboard World Cup will follow, as part of Gravity Games H2O presented by Vodafone, marking the first Pacific stop on the World Tour.
Western Australia’s Minister for Tourism and Youth Mark McGowan welcomed the event back to Western Australia, saying Perth’s deal to host Gravity Games H20 for three years was a major coup for the State. "Last year’s Gravity Games in Perth was the first time the event had ever been held outside of the United States,” Mr McGowan said. “The significant worldwide television exposure for Western Australia, with our fantastic Swan River and city skyline as a backdrop, was invaluable, and I expect the coverage to be even bigger and better this year. The event reinforces our State as a great destination for youth and adventure travellers in key international markets, and I congratulate EventsCorp for their work in securing this fantastic event for WA.”
Presenting partner Vodafone was a major catalyst in securing the event for Western Australia, through its valuable sponsorship support. Darren Hayes, Vodafone State Manager WA, said Gravity Games H20 enabled Vodafone to demonstrate its commitment to action sports in Western Australia. “Our partnership with Gravity Games H20 brings to life what we live and breathe at Vodafone – bringing the community something different and fun,” Mr Hayes said. “Vodafone is thrilled to continue its support of Gravity Games H20, and we are looking forward to another exciting year of big action sports and international music acts.”
KPWT Promoter Frédéric Gravoille said the inclusion of Australia in the World Tour represented a positive evolution for the sport. “Bringing the KPWT to Australia is a great opportunity not only for the KPWT, but for kiteboarding as a whole,” he said. “In terms of sport possibilities, riding conditions, media and associated activities, it couldn’t be better.
“We’re excited to be aligned with Gravity Games H20, which represents truly world-class competition for both athletes and spectators. This fantastic outcome is the result of a long and successful collaboration with Octagon Australia, whose members have shown real dynamism to ensure the event’s success.”
According to Sean Nicholls, Managing Director of event organiser Octagon, the 2005 Gravity Games H20, presented by Vodafone, will attract tens of thousands of spectators in Perth and millions of television viewers worldwide. “Vision from the event will be distributed to national and international broadcasters throughout Europe, Asia, United Kingdom, North America, South America, Middle East, South Africa and Australia, and will be seen by more than 400 million people worldwide,” Mr Nicholls said. “Last year was an awesome start for Gravity in Australia. It drew fantastic crowds and some of the world’s best action sports athletes, who revelled in the conditions. This year, with a new medal event, more international athletes and an expanded entertainment program, we expect to set new benchmarks and deliver an action-packed four-day event.”
The Gravity Games is the world’s premier action sports, music and lifestyle franchise, celebrating elite action sports athletes and fans, youth culture, individual style, music and passion.
Internationally, 2005 marks the Gravity Games’ seventh year. The series is 100% owned by US Broadcaster Outdoor Life Network and is managed by Octagon. Gravity Games (Summer) is held in Cleveland, Ohio; Gravity Games (Winter) in Copper Mountain, USA; and now Gravity Games H20, presented by Vodafone, in Perth, Australia.
In the US, Outdoor Life Network will televise between two and four hours of original 2005 Gravity Games H2O coverage, in addition to 20 hours of live footage captured at the Summer Gravity Games in Cleveland, Ohio in September 2005.
Gravity Games H2O, presented by Vodafone, will be free to spectators. In addition to Vodafone as the presenting partner, EventsCorp is a major supporter of the event. Further information is available online at www.olntv.com/action_sports
KPWT Background Information – Kiteboarding Medal Event
▪ Both male and female entrants will qualify to compete in Gravity Games H20 and KPWT Perth Kiteboard World Cup.
▪ 16 riders will be selected from the KPWT circuit.
▪ 8 Wildcard entrants will qualify – 4 drawn from Australia Kitesurfing Association (AKSA) and 4 from Western Australian Kitesurfing Association (WAKSA). Qualified Wildcard competitors to be announced shortly.
▪ 8 positions are available to entrants who apply and qualify via the 'Gravity Games H20' section of the KPWT website. Visit http://www.kiteboardpro.com/ to apply.
For further information on the Perth Kiteboard World Cup and KPWT circuit, please contact :
Frédéric Gravoille, Promoter of the KPWT – kiteboarding@wanadoo.fr
Bénédicte Samzun, event manager – kpwt@wanadoo.fr
http://www.kiteboardpro.com/
For interviews, photography and all media enquiries, please contact event publicist Jewels PR:
Julie Cameron Sonia McKenzie
T +61 8 9245 458 T +61 8 9244 7288
M +61 401 325 800 M +61 417 733 357
E julie@jewelspr.com.au E sonia@jewelspr.com.au