Fractured Axel

I've been taking care of the hosting for VF for past few years, but if we're going to continue beyond this fall
we need a new volunteer - or another option, such as making VF a subdomain of an existing site, kiteclique,
or fracturedaxel or ickytv ... or somesuch. Or we could go to some sort of free Wordpress.com type domain
and videos would only be available by youtube or vimeo.

I question continuing because of the lack of interest in the last few rounds. Despite Adrian's hard work and
abundant prizes we struggle to get 10 entrants in a round. We can hardly ask donors for prizes with so little
interest in the competition and its just not worth the annual cost of hosting the site currently.

I realize that people have lots of other demands on their time and energies and perhaps VF has just run its
course and it might be time to consider ending it ?

I'd be interested in your opinions ... and if somebody should step up and offer to continue hosting then we
can figure out how to rehost the site onto their host of choice. We have about 70 days left of hosting ... so
we need to figure something out sooner rather than later.

-Frazer

Hi Frazer,

I am only a one time entrant to VF and have always struggled to enter because I don't own a video camera (nor the motivation to expose my lack of skill!).

More fundamentally though is the fact that I am struggling to fly at all at the moment with work, family commitments, sailing and the weather getting in the way.

Whilst putting weather at the back of the list, it has probably been the most negative factor, as we seem to have had almost incessant 15+ mph winds since Autumn last year.

I do wonder how many other people are just struggling to get some flying in in conditions that are suitable for making a VF entry.

Even though not a participant, I have always watched the entries with great interest and I for one will be sad if VF does not continue.

Finally, trick flying in the UK seems to be in a steady decline. The two guys who dragged me into trick flying, Mike Fogg and Adam Pollitt, both multiple VF entrants, are no longer flying and this is the case for most of the guys who I flew with in the early years. Even Yan, who did a sterling job running VF for a few years, has moved onto other interests.

I'm sure some of this is conflicting priorities, but I do also wonder whether trick kiting has reached a natural plateau and we as flyers lose motivation when we reach our own personal plateau and can no longer see ourselves improving.

Just some random thoughts which may or may not hit the mark.

Finally, a big thank you to you and Adrian for your hosting and running of VF. You've both done a great job and I don't believe the lack of entries is down to the way VF is being run, just down to the motivation of those that enter.

It would definitely feel a bit of a death knell for trick flying if VF was to not continue.

Jon

sadly to hear that. VF was and will be a great opportunity for pilots around the world to show their skills.I have not too much time to be IN in some great festivals.May be the main reason, that I'm against such kind of competition included mostly classical maneuvers, flying a kite with a funeral music.I am sure some guys will agree with me. The VF is probably the only place where you can see a whole set of tricks in 1 min.In HD.With a modern music.Watch it again on your smart, TV or laptop. Not bad isnt it? How much per year will cost a new domain( or sub). Let's save the VF!

Thanx Frazer for your post.
sure the VF is alive thanx to Yan, Adrian.Hope we do not loose you guys.

I didn't mean to sound like I was complaining about the lack of competitors, sorry if thats how I came across. I understand
that people have other interests, demands on the their time and that they move onto other things over time. I've seen that
locally here in the US - there are barely enough people still flying on the East Coast to warrant a competition these days.

--

Hosting the website costs about $10 a month.

It was cheaper for the first year of course, the providers all offer cheaper rates for new customers - but then their rates
increase for the following year. It might be possible to find a more affordable (in the long term) provider and rehost the site
there. There are certain requirements on the provider, it needs to support certain features and have decent track record
for longevity and reliability - but I've no doubt a better deal can be found.

If VF was moved to a subdomain of an existing site then it could be hosted for free effectively.

eg. http://vf.kiteclique.com/

-Frazer

In case if we do not find a better solution( cheaper, free), I'm agree to be a sponsor for a first year at least. 10 bucks dont kill me.
virtualfreestyleDot is easy to find and remember.Everyone can find the contest and participate with ease.Mainly for new and old(a long time non participating) pilots.

10 bucks x 12 for the full year, Alex.

ok Jon.I have Paypal.Is it ok?.About payment once again: How? 10x12=120 USD in one payment or I must to send 10USD every month.

Waiting for a details about this transaction. Send me plz. Deadline of payment? How much time we have yet? 1-2 months as wrote Frazer before.Whatever, I'm IN!

Regards,
Alex

fourmatic wrote:

Waiting for a details about this transaction. Send me plz. Deadline of payment? How much time we have yet? 1-2 months as wrote Frazer before.Whatever, I'm IN!

Thank you Alex for the gracious offer.

As you point out there is no immediate rush on funds, so before we move ahead I'd like to wait to see what others have to say.

Personally a move to a cheaper (or better yet, free) solution/host would be preferable in the long term, otherwise we'll likely find ourselves looking
for another hosting volunteer at some point in the future.

-Frazer

cool alex

let's change the title of the thread to 2017 and beyond


Krijn

but we do not find the solution about upcoming year,Krijn. Anyway I'm glad to help as soon as needed.Just write me Frazer when will be need to pay.

fourmatic wrote:

Anyway I'm glad to help as soon as needed.Just write me Frazer when will be need to pay.

Top man, Alex.

Hi everyone,

Firstly, thank you for your support of VF over the years -- particularly to Frazer who funded the website hosting far longer than ever intended, and to the prize donors who provided so many great incentives to enter.

For whatever reason, the competition is going through a period of reduced interest. I've considered the options, and here is how I would like to move ahead:

• The competition takes a break for 6 months, at which time we re-evaluate the situation and see if there is sufficient interest to launch VF32. If so, we launch VF32 and see how it goes; if not, we opt for another period of hiatus.
• The website remains online at virtualfreestyle.com for another 12 months. Alex has generously offered to help with the cost of hosting, however I would like to see the costs shared across more than one person, in keeping with the community spirit of the competition. We need to raise $120 for 12 months of hosting; if you can help with monetary donations, please PM me for the Paypal account. More than 12 months worth of funding would be a bonus.
• The ownership of the domain (and associated billing) is transferred from Frazer to me. If, after 12 months, we run out of funds for hosting at virtualfreestyle.com, we forfeit the domain and move the site to shared hosting. One option is vf.kiteclique.com.

VF is not disappearing just yet -- it's just adapting to the ebb and flow of the kiting world.

Cheers,
A.

about donation plz. check Facebook page.Vf31 is closed now.Videos and the latest news also on FB.

Say thank you to Adrian:)

Thats a good idea.

I'd be more than happy to help subsidise the site, as someone who cant find fellow fliers where I live..you take this away..I'm on me lonesome..pm for cash details....hang in there! 120 a year is a bargin