The duties and responisbilities of the executive committee are to supervise the day to day business of the association as conducted by the Executive Office (Executive Secretary / General Manager)
The Excutive committee implements decisions and policy guidance of the General Assembly and working parties.
The current members of the Executive Committee are:
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President |
Mirco Babini (ITA) Term: Until General Assembly 2025 |
Mirco has been a windsurfer of the early days, including winning several italian championships, competing on the international pro circuit and campaigning in the Olympic windsurfing class. He has been involved with kiteboarding from the very beginning, as marketing and sales specialist for various brands, competitor and later event organiser. Mirco has professional experience in professional sailing including the Italian Americas Cup Challenger "Luna Rossa" and is always looking for future opportunities for the sport. He has been also involved in the development of the World Sailing "Learn to Kiteboard" syllabus and is leading the IKA since 2014. |
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Vice President Formula Kite |
Spyros Krotsis Term: Until Formula Kite AGM 2023 |
Founding member and the President of the Hellenic Kiteboarding Association. Spyros is actively involved in event organization and management for over 2 decades. Currently focusing in green event and sustainability management. Holds an MSc in Environmental Protection & Waste Management, BMath & BEng. Spyros is kiteboarding since 2000 and has been involved with international events since the early stages of kiteboarding. |
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Vice President KiteFoil Open |
Hwee Keng Maeder Term: Until KiteFoil Open AGM 2023 |
With over a decade and a half in Private Banking looking after Asian clients out of Zurich and Geneva, Switzerand, Hwee Keng, has always bridged the west and east. After starting a family, her focus shifted to their family business, Wakatobi, a world class reef conservation destination where she also serves a board member since 2019. Passionate to water sports, she was a swimmer, wakeboarder and of course since early 2000 a kiter. She has been following kiteboarding for years and hopes to represent the women’s interest in the sports in a mature and balanced fashion. |
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Vice President Youth Racing |
Flavio Stragiotti Term: Until A's Youth Foil Class AGM 2023 |
Flavio has been traveling the world for watersports, starting with windsurfing and then moved into kiteboarding in the early days in 2000. Today, besides his engagement as Oomnichannel director in the medical device industry, he dedicates time and effort in sports development. This starts in his own family supporting his three kids, and for the Swiss Kitesailing Association where he is heading the youth development. His ambition is to contribute to the momentum FoilRacing is experiencing with engaging young athletes to join this amazing sport. |
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Vice President Training and Development |
Marcelo Gervini Term: Until General Assembly 2023 |
Marcelo grew up close to the water doing water sports like sailing, windsurfing, wakeboarding and kitesurfing as soon as it arrived around early 2000´s. He sas worked on most windy and busy places like Fuerteventura, Sotavento, Paros, Naxos, Cumbuco, Jericoacoara, Barra Grande and many others. From the beginning he feels the necessity of more information and better risk management in the sport. In 2006 he create the South Brazilian Kite Federation and developed standards in his state for kiters, instructors and schools. From 2014 he was in charge as Technical Director of the Brazilian Kitesurf Association, developing the first certification for Instructors and schools in Brasil recognised by the Brazilian Sailing Confederation. Competition wise, he was South Brazilian Champion Overall 2019 and has a long history competing from 2003 until today. |
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Secretary General |
Markus Schwendtner (GER) Term: Until General Assembly 2024 |
Markus was one of the founding members of the IKA in 2006 and has been responsible for the day to day business of the association since then. He has a professional career as IT and business consultant before focussing on sports management. Markus is World Sailing International Race Officer, International Judge, International Measurer and International Technical Delegate and has recently be appointed as Chairman of the World Sailing Olympic Classes Sub-Committee. As the IKA's competition manager he is dedicated to bring the best possible conditions on and off the water to the riders and to highlight their skills in media world wide. |
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Athlete's Representative | Denis Taradin (CYP) Term: Until Formula Kite Worlds 2023 |
Denis is an active professional kite-foiler. He joined the Formula Kite class in 2013 and has been one of the leading riders since 2017. Alongside kitesurfing competition and training, Denis is also a full-time student at Pepperdine University, located in Malibu, California. In 2019 Denis Taradin became 1st rider representative with the intention to elevate the racing by increasing the impact of the rider's opinion on the change in rules and regulations. |
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Athlete's Representative | Maddy Anderson (GBR) Term: Until Formula Kite Worlds 2024 |
Maddy has been competing for Great Britain on the Formula Kite circuit since 2019. Hailing from a sailing background, she has raced internationally since a young age. Aside from kiting full time, she attained a BA in French and Portuguese from the University of Southampton; during her degree, she spent a year studying (and kiting) in Brazil. As riders rep, Maddy is keen to maintain the great working relationship the IKA currently has with the athletes, in order for the sport to carry on growing and remain accessible and on the cutting edge of the world of sailing, a world she has loved since she learnt to walk! |
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Chief Measurer |
Hendrik Plate Term: Until change in Technical Committee |
Hendrik joined the IKA as an International Measurer in 2018. He has been involved in competitive sailing for over 25 years, competing in a range of classes from Optimists to Offshore Racing Yachts and winning both German National and Global titles. With his professional experience in Boatbuilding, Naval Architecture and Composite Research, Hendrik supports the Technical Committee with specialist knowledge of end-to-end manufacturing processes, materials development and measurement procedures. Hendrik spent three years in World Sailing’s Technical Department, where his overarching remit was to ensure safe and fair competition through the control and regulation of equipment and its use at events worldwide. He was extensively involved in the management and support of key decision-making committees, the development of the Equipment Rules of Sailing, the conducting of Olympic Equipment evaluations and manufacturing inspections, the creation of new Certification Schemes for sailmakers and new Quality Control Systems for Olympic Equipment in the build-up to the Tokyo Games. Hendrik is now working for a Sustainable Composite Specialist in Bremen, Germany |