Following the success of kiteboarders in beating all comers from all other forms of sailing in achieving not only the world speed record for a wind powered craft, but also finally passing the ‘holy grail’ mark of 50kts at the same time, the records could not be recognised as kiteboarding itself was not a recognised class of sailing.

This situation was resolved when the International Sailing Federation (ISAF) in early 2008 recognised kiteboarding as a sailing class through the newly founded IKA. The IKA is officially the kiteboard class world governing body as can be seen in the statement below from the IKA website.

	The International Kiteboarding Association is an International Class Association of the International Sailing Federation (ISAF). It is the world wide governing body of kiteboarding, amongst other responsibilities managing the global administration of the sport and combining world events into one united ranking.

" To unite, to assist and to serve "

As such the IKA is working towards unifying kiteboarding competitions under one set of agreed international rules and then to bring everyone under this umbrella as one sport. To date many national country level governing bodies and the worlds two big pro tour the PKRA and the KPWT have joined with the IKA, giving it real strength and backing for its aims.

This in turn has allowed them to introduce a world ranking system so that all riders regardless of which events or tours, at national or international level they compete in to be able to gain a world ranked position.

This along with the support of ISFA which itself works with over 100 nations worldwide, including most of the countries in Asia, to drive World and Olympic events will see a new era beginning for kiteboarding competition, which the KTA is very much part of.