One thing I've always felt the FBTF could do and doesn't currently do.
Have a number of competitions and demonstrations throughout the year, that are specifically targeted at tourists and new slingers from the islands themselves.
Whenever we've done the sling demonstrations in Palma, we get a lot of interest from English and German tourists and for the most part it's us visiting slingers who end up showing and explaining the whole sling and slinging culture and competition rules.
Even many of the local Mallorcan residents have no idea how or where to see or take part in slinging.
It's also worth bearing in mind that not all tourists are there to drink themselves into oblivion every day
Setup some tennis ball target ranges on the beaches and you'd be surprised how many people would have a go (and buy a sling,).
Many tourists would happily make the effort to go and see a slinging competition.
And many would also buy a souvenir sling !
And any local food or drink that was also being sold.
There is a whole untapped market for sling sales to tourists, that I'm always amazed nobody on the islands does anything about.
Include a free tennis ball with each sling so they can go practice on the beach.
You would also be far more likely to get new club members from the people who live in the islands.
I'm sure the tourist office would be able to help.
It's just something I've always noticed when I've been there and never really understood why the competition's weren't advertised as tourist events.
Everyone would benefit.
I'm sure a lot of the problems with decreasing numbers of club members has a lot to do with the almost secret aspect of slinging on the islands.
People don't join clubs, in part, because they have no idea the club's even exist.
I've done a few sling teaching sessions in schools in Mallorca, and that's a great way recruit new slingers, so I hope you'll be keeping that side of things going.
But the big thing for me, would be to promote the sport to the tourists.
If just to sell souvenir slings.
But also so that they could go home and take up slinging in their own country.
The Balearic Islands has the potential to become a real centre of European slinging.
Anything I can do to help this happen, I will do.