Information For Builders

Since 2012, only registered production equipment is eligible for any Formula Kite course racing events.

Formula Kite is the equipment selected for the kiteboarding event in the 2024 (and following) Olympic Games but also for Regional Games (like the Panamerican and Asian Games), World and Continental Beach Games, the World Sailing World Championships, World Sailing Youth World Championships, and the Youth Olympic Games.

The class rules governing the production and use of equipment can be found here.

General Timelines

• Intention to register equipment: 15 February 2024, 1200 (noon) UTC
  A generic intention to produce equipment with basic dimensions must be submitted
• Application submission: 15 March 2024, 1200 (noon) UTC
  Detailed information for each equipment item must be submitted, payment of the application fee received, and factory inspection schedule agreed
• Application approval (or rejection): 16 March 2024 - 1 June 2024, 1200 (noon) UTC
  Factory inspections and assessment
  Note: kites will be inspected at the place of manufacturing, hydrofoil systems have an inspection of the place of manufacturing, plus centralised 3D scanning of the hydrofoil parts at a central place in Europe.
• Evaluation period: 12 August 2024 - licensing date end of 2025
• Licensed period: licensing date end of 2025 - day after the 2028 Olympic Sailing Competition

The registration process for the 2028 Los Angeles Quadrennium will be separated in three stages:

(For reference: 2020-2024 registration scheme for RAM-Air kites and hydrofoil systems)

• Stage 1

  Submission of intention to register equipment.

  Note: Manufacturers that wish to continue building previously registered models also need to complete the relevant sections of the application to enable the equipment to be used during the evaluation period, and qualify the equipment for possible licensing.
  Period closing date: 15 February 2024, 1200 (noon) UTC
  
  Requirements:
  • Submission of basic information per equipment item
  • Submission of basic 2D dimensioned drawings per equipment item

The IKA office will then raise an invoice for the initial registration administration fee based on the number of equipment items. This includes the fees for the initial factory inspection but excludes fees for 3D scanning (in the case of hydrofoil systems, conducted and invoiced for by World Sailing), and the manufacturers shall cover transport and accommodation as required. For hydrofoil systems, the manufacturers are also required to bring the equipment to be inspected (10 of each model) to a central place in Europe (most likely London) for 3D scanning.

Before submitting your intention to register equipment, please note the following information papers:
- Olympic Licensing Policy
- General Requirements
- How to determine maximum kite size
- Kite measurements
- Hydrofoil System measurement
- Registered Equipment Plaque application

         -> Registration for the LA 2028 Quad is closed

• Stage 2

  Submission of detailed registration application

  Builders shall submit all required documentation by the period closing date in structured format (template will be provided after initial intent to register equipment)
  Period closing date: 15 March 2024, 1200 (noon) UTC
  
  Requirements (this list list not exhaustive):
  
  • registration administration fee invoice paid
  • factory inspection scheduled
  • 10 pieces per item built and available for inspection in the factory (for kites), 10 pieces per item ready for 3D scanning (for hydrofoil systems - fees directly payable to World Sailing)
    Equipment is expected to be available for inspection from 16 March 2024
    • World Sailing intends to conduct the 3D scanning of Hydrofoil Systems between 18 and 29 of March, 2024
    • IKA intends to conduct the factory inspections for kite manufacturers between 01 and 15 April, 2024
    • IKA intends to conduct the factory inspections for hudrofoil manufacturers between 28 April and 10 May, 2024
  • Complete submission of required information:
    • Information concerning the builder/organization responsible for the production of the equipment item
    • Information defining the equipment item (registered design)
    • Information concerning the traceability of the equipment and its information
    • Information concerning the building process and tooling used
    • Information concerning the management of non-conformities
    • Information concerning auditing
  • This information includes, amongst others
    • submission of full 2D drawings with all required measurements
    • submission of full 3D drawings / cutting files
    • submission of complete Red Book, detailed building specifications (including full layup details for foils)
    • submission of complete material list with datasheets (bill of materials)
      note: any materials used in the building process must have a datasheet. If no datasheet exists (for auxiliary items), the manufacturer shall conduct own tests to determine the physical properties
    • description of inhouse quality control systems, documentation, and inhouse certification staff
    • description of inhouse training and documentation
  • Registration conditions include (amongst others):
    
    • Correct application of Registration Plaques
    • Provide quarterly reporting of all measurements matched to serial numbers in continuos form
    • Provide quarterly reporting of pass / no pass production per equipment item
    • Provide quarterly reporting of warranty cases
    • Quarterly pay within 14 days the World Sailing Builder Fee as per World Sailing Regulations (currently 0.40% of the retail price)
    • Immediately report the intention to change suppliers / materials to IKA and seek approval prior to application of changes and production.
    • For kites: provide detailed bridle and mixer/speedsystem measurements
    • Continue to work with World Sailing and IKA on the development of tools and procedures for event equipment inspection.
    • Continue to work with World Sailing and IKA on the implementation of any additional quality control values.
    • Consign one of each equipment item from the initial built series for future reference free of charge to IKA.
  • submission of order workflow
  • submission of warranty workflow
  • commitment to average delivery times
  • commitment to production capacities
  • commitment to achieve target 2 of World Sailing's Sustainability Agenda 2030 to ensure 90% of the equipment item by weight is recyclable.
  • commitment to achieve target 3 of World Sailing's Sustainability Agenda 2030 to ensure building waste does not exceed 20% of the equipment item's finished weight.
  • commitment to carry out and submit to World Sailing an impact assessment (LCA/carbon footprint) of your manufacturing processes?
  • submission of all other required supporting documentation (see separate document provided after registration intention for details)
  • agreement to registration conditions and Olympic Licensing Policy (available at this link here)

• Stage 3

  Registration application approval

  Period closing date;1 June 2024, 1200 (noon) UTC
  Note: the registration approval must be issued by this date, meaning all registration requirements must be fully complied with
  
  Requirements:
  
  • Stage 2 complete including successful factory inspection and revision of all open issues
    • Final public measurements based on the average of the first 10 series production manufacturered items
    • Final additional/confidential measurements based on the average of the first 10 series production manufactured items
  • No equipment shall be sold or leave the factory before registration approval has been given
  • Consignment items (one piece per equipment item) provided or shipped free of costs to IKA
  • Equipment worldwide available for purchase within agreed lead times after registration approval

• The factory and equipment inspection consists of two parts:

  • inspection and measurement of 10 pieces of each equipment item (in factory for kites, through World Sailing for hydrofoil systems)
  • factory audit
    
    
  • Attention is drawn to two specific areas:
    • the true area of kites in the L-range (max. 21m2 for men, max. 19m2 for women) is determined by photogrammetry (see this document). This area is a maximum value and there is no "+" tolerance, designs therefore shall average the maximum size minus the building tolerance.
    • manufacturers of hydrofoil systems are expected to demonstrate flex and torsion tests for each model. These may vary between equipment items and manufacturers but are an expected part of the additional measurements of hydrofoil systems.
    • Manufacturers shall demonstrate during the factory inspection to the satisfaction of the inspectors
      • internal quality control mechanisms
      • how consistent manufacturing inside the agreed tolerances is ensured and controlled

• Licensing

  At the end of the evaluation period (Class Rule B.1.3.2(b)), World Sailing may offer Olympic Licensing to some or all approved builders in accordance with the Olympic Licensing Policy (see this link) and subject to a commercial undertakings agreement between World Sailing and a builder. This will include the requirement to comply with World Sailing's Certification System (for details please contact World Sailing).

Protection of Intellectual Property and Builder Information Access Policy

The International Kiteboarding Association takes protection of intellectual property serious. As a leading principle, information is only available to those who need it.

This policy lays out which information provided by manufacturers of Formula Kite equipment is available to which audience.

In addition, confidential information may be protected by non-disclosure agreements as agreed between manufacturer and class.

X* - information will be disclosed to this audience on decision of the Technical Committee, if required to fulfill specific duties and responsibilities.