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NEWS |
| US Windsurfing Nationals in Worthington |
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For more information and complete results visit the MoWind website. Also, read Josh's report on uglyjiber.blogspot.com.
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| East Coast Champs |
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The Third Annual East Coast Junior Champs will be hosted by the Vineyard Haven Yacht Club on Martha’s Vineyard, MA. July 16-18, 2008. This is also a U.S. Sailing Junior Olympic event, and is broken down into Under 19, Under 17, Under 15, and Under 12 age groups.
July 16 will kick off the action with an optional windsurf/racing clinic to improve your skills. July 17-18 will be the Junior Championship held on beautiful Vineyard Haven Harbor. Vineyard Haven is the breeding ground of such prominent windsurfers as Seth Besse, the Douglas Brothers, and Nevin Sayre. On July 19 there is also a separate Long Distance Race open to all ages and all equipment as part of the Vineyard Cup (www.VineyardCup.com). Junior competition will be held on Techno 293 One Designs with charter boards available on a reservation basis. Per USWA guidelines, there are maximum sail sizes for the different age groups. Limited housing is also available. More information is available at www.vhyc.org.
According to event organizer Nevin Sayre, “What’s great about this windsurfing regatta is that all ability levels are welcome. There are kids who’s main goal is to make it around the course for the first time, and other kids who are eager to strut their stuff. Anyone who can make it to the windward mark is qualified. This will likely be the largest group of junior windsurfers in the U.S. in one place at one time, and there is a pioneering spirit that makes it super fun for all the kids.”
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| JP Raffle...Help Coyote Point |
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Your help is urgently needed! The Coyote Point (SF) windsurf access is in dangerous disrepair. Completion of the County funded beachfront and promenade restoration is a few years away. The interim solution of temporary sandbag ramps has been approved by the County and the necessary permits have been obtained. We need to fund the final $10,000 of the $35,000 project. There is a limited window of opportunity for installation of these ramps due to restrictions by the Regional Water Quality Control Board. Your help is urgently needed to maintain safe windsurfing access at Coyote Point!
To sweeten the deal the SFBA is holding a raffle for a really cool JP Slalom III board generously donated by Adventure Sports, Inc., the North American distributor for JP Australia, Neil Pryde Waterwear, NPX Waterwear and Cabrinha Kiteboarding.
Click here to enter>>
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48 Hours on the Causeway |
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A great weekend of racing finished out on Sunday with winds that were way down from the 25 knot peaks of Saturday. There was enough wind though for 2 races to be run ( a total of 7!). The two days of racing in challenging and shifty winds allowed for many changes in the lead of each heat. Making it to the top mark in the top group did not mean you would be there at the bottom, as timing your rounding with an approaching gust was crucial. Avoiding the 'weed mats' was important as well if you did not want to be sailing backwards after taking the lead!
The top racers at the event were all close in each race, making the total scoring very close amongst the top 4 (sorry Peter, Simona gave me too much San Fernando!) Fernando eventually came out on top (starting line antics aside), Ron Kern was as always Mr Consistent, and the Windsurfer of the Year Alex Morales was neck and neck with him, and the tie breaker gave him third! Peter Ifju showed that all the time he put in over the last year was worth it with some great sailing, taking one bullet as well.
It was great to have a group of sailors from far away come and join us for the race as well! Thanks to Team Texas: John Jay Ernst and Kirk Simmons for trekking down after the Midwinters, and to Rick Whidden from Maui Sails for sticking around to join the fun on Saturday before heading back North. The Kona crew was there as well with John in the lead, team captain Mike in second and Jim (better late than never) rounding it out. Also making the race fun to watch on and off the water were the Formula hotties err uh women, ladies or girls (whatever the PC word is): Dominique, Natalie and Nancy out there doing battle and having fun. The Junior fleet was the biggest we have ever had in Miami with 6 coming to race this event, Alex Stahnkie from Calema came out on top.
Special thanks to all the sponsors: Miami Windsurfing, SteaZ, San Fernando, Catch a Wave, and Next Sports. Also thanks to Brian Barr the founder of the 48 Hours for being the race committee, and to Angelo for the incredible pictures! Simona as always made sure everything was in order on the shore side (what would we do without you?) Thanks especially go out to the US Sailing Center Miami for hosting the event at the final hour (dredge that channel a bit though!). Keep tuned for more excitement from Miami Windsurfing soon!
FW Men: 1st Fernando Martinez, 2nd Ron Kern, 3rd Alex Morales
FW Women: 1st Dominique Vallee, 2nd Natalie Luczyuka, 3rd Nancy Rios
FW Juniors: 1st Alex Stankie, 2nd James Crumley, 3rd Sebastian Lehner
Rick Randall
US 089 reporting - for results and more infomation go to www.miamiwindsurfing.com/48.html
Left to right - Fernando Martinez, Peter Ifju, Alex Morales
Left to right - Nancy Rios, Dominique Vallee, Natalie Luczyuka |
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Calema Midwinters |
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With just 4 races completed in the 2008 Formula North
American Championships, it's still a bit early to draw
conclusions about the new equipment, but one thing is
for sure- Gonzalo cleaned up, taking 4 bullets over
the reigning world champion Antoin Albeau and the rest
of the 52 board formula fleet.
The visiting fleet - from South America and Europe
-sailed at the top of their game taking 9 out of the
top 10 spots but the overall North American
Championship was won by Jimmi Diaz from the US Virgin
Islands, followed by myself Steve Bodner from San Francisco
and Fernando Martinez-from Miami.
The 3 day championship was sailed as part of the
Calema midwinters windsurfing festival on the Banana
river in Cocoa Beach Florida. Other classes included
the kona longboard class, hybrid class, formula sport
and traditional longboard class.
All 4 races were sailed in a light to marginal breeze.
As usual starts were at the utmost importance. Most of
the fleet choose 11.8 or 12m2 rigs, 70 cm xs or cut
down fins and either the new F2 or starboard formula
boards. There were a few gaastra boards making their
initial US appearance as well as 2 ML8's form the Bay
area. Whatever sailors choose to race with it was
important to have their gear tuned up for light air
performance.
So far the F2 board looks like the front runner of the
2008 new boards. The kashy fins continue to dominate
but the new finworks fins looks like they have plenty
of potential with Fernando showing some good results
with the hybrid carbon fin. The Melo brothers from
Brazil also showed the gaastra sails also have plenty
of speed with their great performance. I also learned
a few more things about the north formula warp. I
sailed the 11.8 in all 4 races with good results and
finally finding the golden touch with the right
downhaul setting.
For a complete race report and photos check out www.stevebodner.blogspot.com Steve Bodner reporting
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Miami ProAm |
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Team North dominated the Miami Pro-Am windsurfing
regatta last weekend taking the podium with Miami
lightweight local Fernando Martinez ARG 3 taking the
top spot.
Up next were San Francisco sailors Steve Sylvester, S3
in 2nd and Steve Bodner, USA 4 in 3rd, all on North
sails.
North sails R&D guru Jimmi Diaz was present to test
the new line up of 2008 Formula sails and 2008 F2
Formula board.
Over 40 competitors in the Formula and Kona classes
battled 2 days light wind on the Biscane Bay for 6
races.
Ron Kern of Fort Lauderdale, Florida was also awarded
a new 2008 F2 Formula board for winning the 2007 F2
Southeast Formula Series presented by Next Sport, of
Miami.
Despite the challenging conditions, sailors were
treated to great social events at the regatta site at
US Sailing Center.
On Friday, Saturday and Sunday sailors were treated
to bottles of San Fernando Chile wine, one of the main
sponsors of the event.
The event was organized by and run by Alex Moralas, US
WIndsurfing 2007 Windsurfing of the Year, and his
girlfriend Simona Madam.
Josh Sampiero from windsurfing magaizine acted as PRO -
calling the shots from the RC boat.
More info about the Pro Am regatta @
http://www.miamiwindsurfing.com/proam.html
Additional regatta report & photos @
http://stevebodner.blogspot.com
Steve Bodner reporting
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Alex Morales - Windsurfer of the Year |
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Many great contributors to the sport have gone before, but how many have truly exemplified this more than this year's recipient? None.
Many have escaped the clutches of Fidel's Communism, but Alex the "Movie Star" Morales did it in style, by windsurfing to freedom. Along with friends, he sailed over 60 miles to start his journey towards a new life. And after arriving here in America, he pursued his hopes and dreams of success. It was not long afterward that he began to give back to the sport which was not only his love, but his salvation. By organizing events, and bringing new people to the sport, as well as bringing back some who had given up. Some may say his voice was too loud, but that is what sets patriots apart. Alex has steadfastly spoken his mind through his website, and through his actions on and off the water. He is now recognized as a leading voice in the world-wide windsurfing community. His efforts have brought new life to windsurfing in the South Florida area, and he has traveled to support the sport nation wide. Hopefully, there will be more sailors who will step forward and offer their strong opinions as Alex has courageously done so that windsurfing will continue to come back. Without conviction, all good thoughts fail to materialize. Stand up and be heard as Alex has, then we will flourish again!
Rick Randall reporting
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