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kristin- BEST DAMN PARTY -
Posts from WindSurfing editor Josh Sampiero's blog:
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Quick Post - It's Windy! - Woke up to thunder and lightning here in Worthington - but rain soon abated and the wind is sideshore and strong, but gusty. Was blasting way OP'd on a 6.8, racers are headed out now.
Click to see World Formula Champ Allison Shreeve promoting the Formula One Design concept from Starboard
Windy Windy Worthington - On the first day of the regatta, winds are strong but gusty - I was out on a 6.8 and the Kona 11'5 - winds are probably ranging from 12-28. There's about 30 to 40 sailors out on the water, and a few more on the beach, waiting for conditions to calm down. They've completed about three races, and probably will attempt 2 or 3 more. The gusts are wicked, and there's been a few gear casualties (not mine!) but not too bad.
Click to see pictures of people at the race
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Scotia Bauer - Executive Director of US Windsurfing - I'm sitting in the home office of Bill Keitel, one of the principal organizers of the regatta, with Scotia Bauer, who was recently named Executive of US WindSurfing. Scotia lives in Hood River, and has been instrumental in organizing the Gorge Cup, Gorge Blowout, and numerous other events in Hood River over the past few years. She's agreed to take a few (very candid) questions, so here goes!
Click to read the full interview
Big Scare! - At about six o'clock yesterday, competitors were just coming off the water, when word quickly spread around the beach - there were tornados spotted a few miles southwest of town, heading our way. We were quickly put on a tornado watch, and sailors scurried to derig gear before the estimated arrival - it was moving quickly northeast. Dozens of sails were de-rigged within minutes, and sailors snuck into the basements of many of the homes along Lakefront Drive. Fortunately, the tornadic activity (Sweet word - I wondered if the newscaster made it up!) passed southeast of Lake Okabena, and while we saw some heavy rain and high winds, there was little to no damage. By 7:30, we were walking around in the sunshine, and some of us were even considering re-rigging for another sail. The Daily Globe's report on the tornado. The Globe is also posting plenty about the regatta here. In the meantime, I'm trying to figure out where to head between here and Hood River - who's got suggestions? I don't want to go too far out of the way, but it would be really cool to stop and sail or just meet some windsurfers along the way.
Friday, June 13, 2008
More Pics, Mucho Wind - Peace!
Click for pics
Click for wind
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Last Day of Nationals - More good racing yesterday in lighter winds, with plenty of fun on the water. I goofed and did some lightwind freestyle. I'll try and get the spreadsheet of race leaders and post it here soon - I'm sure it will be available on uswindsurfing.org as well. I believe Fernando Martinez of Miami is leading the Formula Class; I'm not sure who's leading the Open class. Randy Johnson, of The House, and his band, Ride, played a GREAT set last night for us in front of a beautiful sunset. It was really spectacular.
- BEST FLYING FISH -
The hazards of windsurfing at the Hatchery are many – ripping current, heavy winds, big swell, and, for freestyler Nick Allen, giant flying fish. The Kodak Point regular was sailing along when one of the Columbia river's hidden residents came up to say hello. The sturgeon – estimated at about four feet long and over a hundred pounds – jumped over the nose of his board, and collided with his mast, sending him over the bars. *Err, we were just informed that Nick's fish collision didn't happen this summer, but a previous summer - however, this is the first summer the video's been available on Youtube. So we're still callin' it the best of '08. Whoops!*
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