For the first time of the 5 years of holding “Zhigulevskoe More” I decided not to compete. From one side, this decision is quite logical – it’s difficult to fall between two stools. From the other side, as every true rider can see, watching races “from the bank” is a sheer torture. But then “from the bank” one can see a lot of things that are usually overlooked by the competitors on the distance.
The kiting community now considers “Zhigulevskoe More” an event which goes without saying. If earlier one could ask “Are you going to run the Marathon once again?”, now nobody does. It stands to reason that it will happen in any case. Of course, it’s nice to hear that. But sometimes you want to go on leave…

Partners and sponsors now mark ZhigMore in their calendars on their own. Participants spend precious days of short vacation to go to the Marathon. As for us, organizers, we endeavour to make Marathons better than earlier. But it takes us a lot of effort, to tell the truth.
First disappointment we got from the Kiting Centre of Togliatti. In November KCT refused to take part in organizing ZhigMore-010 concerning about their not finding sponsors. Eleventh-hour Moscow government refused financing. Decapitation in “Zhara” restaurant all but turned a big trouble. Contestants felt this time they were not given a hearty welcome as it was in 2009. Yaroslav Kuchera just left his position (“gone”) and went home to Czech Republic.

Hotel “Sadko”  was about to close down.
Zhenya Rakusheva in summer got a very  considerable work for a big company and couldn’t take a big part in organizing. We had to be satisfied with her one-week holiday during the Marathon.
So, we’ve got enough trouble. Let’s stop with the bad.
All the rest teammates and joining Vlad Dudka did their best: Elena Kocheva and Olga Vakhrusheva (press centre), Julia and Andrei Khalizov (design and site www.zhigmore.ru), Leonid Bubnov (yacht club “Himik”, SAF), Natasha Milyukova and Natasha Kozyreva (secretariate), Misha Kolosovsky (transport), Olga Shiryaeva (translator) and others. Thank you very much!
Together with Lesha Okhotnikov we arranged Michael Kaspar’s coming. Lesha was in correspondence with him, and I was responsible for the paperwork and invitation. Michael promptly got a visa, bought tickets, and enlisted his wife’s support for the journey to Russia. It’s a pity Lesha wasn’t able to come… From hearsay, Kaspar is going to race in Saint-Petersburg in the beginning of March. So they could meet.

It’s nice that more and more contestants are coming by car. It’s not only a convenience but also a big help to the organizers. Even so guys from Murmansk and Zapolyarniy covered 3000 km!
On the 1st of February many contestants went training racing. The main aim of these races was to show and work out a new starting procedure in course race. The necessity in it appeared because of growing number of contestants in kite-skis class than it was previous times. Moreover, the “Swiss Start” (SS), as it was called by kiters, allowed to avoid blockage at the start as much as possible which is of extreme importance. Long forum discussion of SS project was very questionable for potential contestants, and the main concern was that the new in Russian course race starting procedure will be unwise applied for the first time straight off at the Championship of Russia. Three pre-races dispelled a doubt – start can be more safe and interesting. Seven event starts in the next two days strengthened SS hand as the most optimum alternative for the big number of contestants. Nobody tumbled down!!!

To my mind, very good variant (by A. Khalizov) of justificative action after Rules violation was applied exactly at ZhM-010. Rounding of special guy sign is realizable with any distance configuration, and the violator will not hinder other contestants, and the justification is easily fixed by referees. The new distance scheme was tested where sportsmen in three different classes competed simultaneously not hindering each other. Owing to this scheme intervals between starts were hardly possible, and all wind in course race was used.
Watching races from the panel of judges makes you understand how to improve the Rules. That is what kiting Committee of SAF of Russia doing now. Updated variant will have come out by the next winter season.
The two marathons were full of interesting struggle and advenrures, as usual at ZhigMore. And by tradition we have new winners!
Unusually big number of contestants in freestyle gladdens, and from the other hand it complicated holding the discipline. The final snowboard heat needed just 10-15 minutes more to be done. Nevertheless even in this case winner and prize winners could be detected. But situation in the standings was unprecedented even in world experience. Kiting committee is actively trying to solve the situation consulting PKRA, but there’s still no official decision. It’s pleasant to note the appearance of new names in freestyle who keeps the favourites from going limp. For the first time, thanks to V. Voroshilov, A. Sedyshev, and M. Kolosovsky, ZhigMore freestyle was equipped with specially made slider and railing.

The lack of evening entertainments roused censure of contestants. I consider that it’s not an organizers’ duty but a desirable addition to the sportive part of the event. My speech on the Rules was brought to naught by the long protests examination, and speaker Lesha Okhotnikov just couldn’t come. We suggested to manufacturers and salesmen holding seminars but they didn’t react actively. But then kite-party-concert was a success. Within my recollection kite-party with live music was held only in St-Petersburg in 2007. And mass going to the bathhouse for drinking beer I consider unwise at the official event.

The prize money of 400 000 rubles was divided into the most mass kinds of programme. The most weighty victory was, of course, that in ski course race. Precious prizes granted by our distinguished sponsors, medals for the Championship of Russia, diplomas for qualifying standard of Master of sport and Candidate in masters of sport, lots of kind words to organizers, photoflashes…
I want to make special mention of very high competition at these contests. That was the time when the best representatives of all country kite centers met. I wish M. Kaspar showed his worth better. He must have been under the impression of his first visit to Russia and have gone limp. I’m sure at ZhigMore-011 we’ll see the special mission of western racers, and our guys won’t have a tedious time on the distance.

As supposed, winter windsurfing was represented quite modestly. There were only 14 contestants on the distance. There weren’t any new names. Only one sportsmen was equipped in tune with the times. The time seemed to stop…

But then winter windsurfers chose the venue for their next Championship of Russia in 2011. It will be in the nice town Severodvinsk on the coast of the White Sea 40 km far from Archangelsk.
Championship of Russia 2011 in kite disciplines is supposed to be held in other place. Most likely it will run in Saint-Petersburg traditionally in the beginning of March. The final choice hasn’t been made yet. Sail-skiers still have time to change their mind and join kiters for having fun together!

And the fans of the Marathon “Zhigulevskoe More” needn’t worry and can plan right now their participation in ZhM next year. We’ll return to the traditional marathons format and do our best in preparing an interesting programme fro contestants.

In conclusion I’d like to say a lot of warm words to those who took part in preparations and holding the project.

A. Razhev