In Denmark, Olsen and I sat in front of the fireplace after a sensational day at the water. I don't even know if we had a whiskey in hand, but it was more of a simple beer, but whiskey would create a better picture. We talked about which project we will tackle next. After the return trip we had time to do something. The outcome was a complete success - All Waters Austria (AWA) 2019.
What is the AWA?
Thinking a little differently and outside the box is something we keep reminding us over and over again. Not being restricted in one's thinking is not always easy to implement, but very important.
The AWA focuses on connecting different (water) sports and invites experts from different areas to give lectures to the end customer. A kind of "knowledge transfer". A glimpse behind the curtain for customers, getting to know other water sports and collecting real expertise.
Kitesurfing, windsurfing, wing surfing, (hydro) foiling, snow kiting and sailing towards Olympia - all sports that found their place at the first AWA. A networking event and a meeting of the different areas to move a little closer together.
So it is not like a classic testival, there is no 'please buy my products' nor sales at trade fair prices. No, there is not even a free pen available. Just knowledge and exchange but free and plentiful. We compare the AWA with the TEDx conference. In our opinion, that is the best way to describe it.
Most importantly, the AWA is one thing above all, namely a recurring event that can and should grow.
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It was quick - the name
In September we actually had no plans so far - so that's how we got the idea of All Waters Austria (AWA). It was almost three weeks from the idea to the date of the first AWA.
First of course we took care of the name. Here's a big thank you to Susanne, who, during her yoga session in Denmark with the third gong of the singing bowl, called us with her eyes closed while doing the splits, shortly after a sip of yogi tea: “AWA - All Waters Austria. Sounds good and leaves a lot of room for more. ”Then the fourth gong… that was the end of it. Logo - here we do not know whether Vicky did yoga to get to the idea, but this decision was also made relatively quickly. Thanks Vicky!
Short-term decisions based on gut feeling are the best and if we have learned something when founding LakeUnited: the brand or a reputation is not made by a long and well-considered name, but by the actions behind it.
And it felt somehow powerful every time and cheered up our day when we could say to everyone: “Are you coming to AWA? What you don't know what the AWA is? Well listen, the AWA - All Waters Austria! You should know it? There is the traditional premiere on September 28th. There are still a few places available, otherwise you just have to stand ”.
OeSV - the perfect location
When looking for the AWA event location, we looked for something on the lake. It's no use if you hold All Waters Austria in any seminar room of a motorway service area. A bit authentic, close to the water. Since we were invited this year to teach foilkiting at the Federal Management Center of the Austrian Sailing Association (OeSV) in Neusiedl am See at the "Water Sports Challenge", we had good contact.
Stefan Glanz, head of infrastructure, was immediately won over by the idea and made the premises of the OeSV's federal service center available to us. And yes, actually there is hardly a more suitable location for the AWA than these premises. Right in the lido, right on the lake - everything designed for competitive sports in the water sports area. Thank you Stefan for your commitment and the premises, as well as the prospect of sustainable cooperation.
The rest was then only a matter of form. We would have liked to make the buffet a little more lavish, with a pennant from a strong bank in the country with "This food was sponsored and provided by the force in the country ..". But only because it would be so beautifully worn out. So there were a few apples, bread and fresh spreads. At this point: should anyone want the recipe for the pumpkin spread, this praise goes to Vanessa, who also did the spread.
Definitely a surprise
When we had the first commitments from lecturers, we started with intensive promotion. And the feedback was enormous and the feedback from every single one was particularly positive. Many did not even know what the AWA actually is (we thought we communicated it well) and came. Maybe it was because people trust us, or simply because it was offered for free. We don't know, but thanks for your trust in LakeUnited.
After 3 days of promotion, we discussed for the first time whether we should mark the event as "fully booked". But then we went back to the location and counted chairs. And then came to a decision: some guests would have to stand. And as a precaution we hired two perfect bouncers, who awaited our guests friendly, courteous and with a charming smile. Thanks Kathi and Penny .. and if someone wasn't on the guest list, they would still be able to participate.
The end result surprised us: eight experts from different fields or sports and a fabulous 80 participants, even participants from Germany made it to the event. So we were confirmed that the format of the AWA has potential and we will continue.
The first AWA - All Waters Austria exceeded our expectations by far and was a complete success. Yes, we were surprised, a little proud, and already have some ideas for AWA 2020.
The AWA was also one more thing: the first event on our part at which we were happy to have no wind.
Overview of lecturers / content 2019
In this context, of course, a thank you to the spontaneity, flexibility and presentation of the interesting content. The entries are made in the order in which they were presented at AWA.
Wingsurfing: the new trend of the future? - by Dieter Raditsch
A journey through time: the beginnings and development of kitesurfing on Lake Neusiedl - by Jo Kuenburg (photo) and Tom Böhm
Kiteboards: Interesting facts from behind the scenes from a board manufacturer - from Manfred Kernstock
Long Distance Race: Snowkiting with Vake! Through the wilderness in Norway - by Ronald Rotter
Sailing: The way towards Olympia - from Lorena Abicht
Sports medicine: Injury prevention and youth promotion in water sports - by Dr. Karl-Heinz Kristen
Hydrofoils: current developments and trends in the foil area - by Alexander Schwab
Marketing: Thriller with a name change and future visions - by Tommy Kaiser
Here are a few impressions of important people from this event. Without these people, the AWA would not have gone so smoothly, no one would have been greeted, the guests of the AWA would have had a dry mouth and deaf participants would not have understood anything. The lecturers should have drawn their lecture on overhead transparencies and shouted out loud to be understood. We would have neither evidence photos nor moving images.
And respect to our interpreters Marietta and Anna - it was an incredibly outstanding achievement to translate the lectures into sign language. Looked like real work, but above all it made the AWA attractive for deaf kitesurfers as well.
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