CEO and GKA-GWA family urges support for Maui victims

The CEO of the GKA and the GWA, Dr Jörgen Vogt, has expressed deep concern and sadness for the victims of the Maui wildfires’ tragedy and urged the industry and the wider watersports’ community to pledge their support to help.

Dr Vogt and the GKA-GWA family called on the whole community to offer any assistance it could to ease the burden for the bereaved and the untold numbers of others who lost homes and livelihoods in Lahaina.

The Hawaiian island is the spiritual home of surfing, windsurfing, kitesurfing and wingfoiling. It has been used as a stunning backdrop for countless shoots to promote the sports for generations. Now, in its hour of need, it is time for the watersports’ community to recognise that debt of gratitude, said Dr Vogt.

“Quite simply, without Maui and the Maui watersports’ scene, our whole community and industry would not be where it is today,” he said. “The watersports’ house is burning down and it’s vital that we all do our bit to help the families of the victims.”

Already a number of the leading kitesurfing brands have made appeals and have used their platforms in Hawaii and worldwide to raise funds to ease the plight of the victims.