Today Sunday May 13th wind 25 with gusts to 40 mph. Having celebrated my 55th.....(including 15 or 20 yrs of windsurfing bumps and bruises.& perhaps cracked rib) ...I wait until the urge passes.


Conditions during the Worthington Windsurfing Regatta and Unvarnished Music Festival may vary but the enthusiasm of the community and W.O.W is geared for its 8th annual event. We invite sailors that are within 4 times of Worthington to stop what they are doing and head to the deep south of Minnesota. June 8,9 & 10.

We have in great things in store for those that attend, alot of which we aren't even going to tell you about! Instead, we encourage you to show up and enjoy the weekend.

Race directors Jeff Hegwer/Kevin Gratton have assured the public and all sailors that this will be an event of uncommon merit, a U.S. Windsurfing National Race Tour Event. See the N.O.R at http://www.worthingtonwindsurfing.com

Cyndi Morrison (past music committee member ) is heading up the Unvarnished Music Fest side of the event and they have been working tirelessly finalizing schedules,music, stage, contracts, tech riders and a myriad of other details far to boring (or entertaining) to mention here.
This weekend in Worthington, a place where street music is not only tolerated...but encouraged.!

The weekend will be filled with sailing, Tavern on the Beach,food, music, fun and frolication, also Arts & crafts on the Beach.

The point of all this is to let you know that after 10 yrs of preparation & seven years of experimenting with this event......we think this year we'll get it right!

Book your hotel rooms and camp sites early to avoid disappointment! (Travelodge is our sponsor hotel- with windsurfer-special rates! 507-372-2991)

We are looking forward to reaquainting ourselves with past sailing friends and also meeting new sailors and musicians.

latcho drom/safe journey

bill keitel for
Worthington Windsurfers and U.S. Windsurfing

I've been asked to also make mention;

last year there was some question regarding registering kiters. Upon checking our insurance policy, it doesn't insure kiters, so...we regrettably will abide by this understanding.
bk

Bill.
For clarification, are you saying you would prefer kiters not register? I am assuming we can still do a rogue ride, when the lake is free of windsurfers. If we want to ride elsewhere during the day and enjoy the evening activities how would we support those efforts?

thanks

For those that enjoy both kiting and windsurfing it would be great to see more windsurfing participation at this event, racing or not. It is a bummer to see a lot of windsurfing talent leave Worthington for the day for better kiting conditions. Nothing against kiting, just wanting to show as much support as possible for all the work they put into this great windsurfing and music event.

Tighe and Steve,

In response to your question.

We appreciate and invite kiters to register as non-racers as it will help support the event.

Our insurance won't cover kiters on the water.

Your registering will allow you a prime locale on the four blocks of Sailboard Beach, reserved exclusively for sailors only!

We have great respect for kiters and have enjoyed exceedingly,the demo's that have been seen in past years.

The rouge rides after racing are at your own risk.

We have appreciated LAKAWA's support and encouragement over the years and would like to take time and thank Tighe B. for his continuing efforts in making this website a place of windborne information!

billkeitel

for W.O.W. and USW

some new Wgtn. footage on youtube and the website


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w__YHVZ9P7A

There are so many new additions to our great community this year who may be reading about this event and, specially if they only kite, wondering whether or not it is for them. For me, this event isn't about the kiting or the windsurfing or the music, (all of which are usually stellar) it's about the people, the riders, the people they convinced to come along, and the wonderful people of Worthington. The energy is great.
It's also quite a bit different than most other things I do. Rarely do I get a chance to hang out outside and hear great music and talent, or to stroll along a lake and catch Jam sessions that wonder whereever the wave takes them. Who remembers the fire tamers?

If you are a kiter, we do sneak away to a great lake about 30 minutes away in Iowa, Spirit Lake during the day. It is a large clean lake that offers sweet conditions for kiting. We return in the late afternoon to rejoin the festivities in Worthington.

If you have someone who is interested in learning windsurfing, this is the event. The instruction is from some of the best in the area. Obviously those experienced riders will enjoy becoming rock stars for a day as the town of worthington lines the shore to watch you zipping about.

Anyway, if any of this sounds like something you'ld want to be a part of, come on down. You'll be welcomed by the entire town and the rest of the wind stricken community from around the Midwest and afar...and there is a really good chance you'll score an epic session or two.

Aargh. I'm still not clear on this. Can I, as a kiter, kiteboard on that lake, during that weekend?? please clarify.

I think that the answer is "yes", but after the windsurfers are off the lake. You can also register. That gets you a good parking spot and the peace of mind that you supported the event, but no insurance.

I went here: http://www.worthingtonwindsurfing.com/windsurfing_registration_information.php But I couldn't find where and how much it will cost to register.

Kiting on the lake in Worthington is not ideal and as Denis mentioned can only be considered when windsurfing is not taking place, early morn or evening.

It is safer for all, and a great spot to ride Spirit lake just over the border in Iowa. Here are a few shots from last year.

http://www.lakawa.com/lakawaphoto/?showpic=1101
http://www.lakawa.com/lakawaphoto/?showpic=1123
http://www.lakawa.com/lakawaphoto/?showpic=1117

If you come down and take in any of the event, please registering. It supports many peoples efforts to put on a great event.

Yes, register even if you are a kiter, or a freeride windsurfer, that way you will end up with the event t-shirt, the meal tickets and all the other good stuff, as well as entered in any prize drawings. that's how we did it at the "Dam Jam" this year. We had 35 people registering (pretty good for a 1st year event). Out of these 35 we had 25 people racing in the windsurfing races, some of the other 10 were windsurfers that prefered just to freeride, some were kiters. Everyone was having a good time and at night we all BBQ'ed and participated and hung out. One good way is to give each registered person a ticket for any prize drawing that might take place. (We did and had no problems selling lots of extra tickets for that purpose only)
Can't wait to see everyone at Worthington again.

- Uffe
USWE 22.

The "fire tamers" are longtime kindred friends of this festival and shoreline jam. Niko and his sister spend much of their time in Costa Rica (on the monkey coast). They won't tell you but, they are part of (pretty dam famous!) BURNING MAN. The festival and tribe that creates and makes the five story structure of incendary fame.

Niko and his sister are epitome of firebrand incendarist's. They show up on rare occasion and with little notice. No amount of preplanning assures us of anything. If you are lucky...you will run into them sometime. They enjoy the sailors, music and hometown friendliness! They blow in on the slightest of breezes and dedicate an evening of fire to the unsuspecting public. Their performances usually leave a fire searing image in the back of your brain.
Thanks for your support, Hope to see you all,
bk

Well, after reading all these posts, I decided to join the party! It was somewhat a tough call because I was scheduled to do the ms-150 bike ride from Duluth to White Bear, but priorities have shifted. I feel like it is going to be great windsurfing on those days.

The event sounds like a lot of fun. Just reserved a tent site with the Olson Campground (I think that is where it is). Called in the listed number on the web site, $16/night, not bad!). Even if I cannot make it, I was told I could get a raincheck to be used next year. I will try my best to be there. Thanks for the info, and all the subsequent posts.

Baskin

Baskin...Probably one of the best decisions you ever made, I love to cycle but I have to say WOW is one of those events that you just have to attend. Nancy and I went to the first one and have not missed one yet.
It's one heck of a weekend and for wind junkies with families it's even good for the kids.
THe people of Worthington will blow your mind, I remember the guy working at the gas station apologizing greatly concerned" sorry we usually have much more wind than that" .The whole towns into it. The music is stellar, the jams are a gas, the beer ain't bad, the wind can really rock and hey there's lots of your buddies around for the whole weekend.
Musicians take your instrument of choice, if you don't play get out and buy a tambourine, small drum or some form of rhythm maker and be the rhythm section. I always take my skateboard as it's a fast way to go from my rigging area to the beer, skippers meeting, food or just to see who's around.
See you there.

Thanks, Steve. I am asking my relatively new girl friend to come with too. She is not a windsurfer yet, but she enjoys outdoors. On Mothers' Day, she read a book all day under a tree while we guys were having fun on the water at the WBL! The music aspect of this event adds another dimension. I will be forwarding the event's web site to her. I think she will enjoy the events.

Thanks for the tips and encouragement.

Baskin

Baskin, great girlfriend weekend.
The music usually starts early afternoon, the sailings close enough she'll be able to see her stud kick some butt, usually there's some great sunsets for that romantic moment.
Shit, I've even seen a twinkle in Nancys eye at Worthington.

The 'twinkle' being: from you bringing Nancy another beer!

Keep on dreamin' though

A few years ago Steve was the bartender. He made 5 drinks out of a liter of Malibu and I had 2!!

Woody, you and your crew are emisaries, ambassadors, and sailors that we hold in high esteem. We look forward to team Canada showing up!
We also need to know if you will be bringing your national flag. If so, I will see to it that their is another flag pole in place.....a place of prominence out on the dock.
Noah and Fire - Photographer- PyroNad- Dan Norman (Niko-the burning man photos were his) will be showing up with some serious digital camera equipment that will allow them to do (almost real time) filming of sailing and musica tropicale' on Sailboard Beach. It will be transfered to the worthington website with very little delay.. I don't have the specific's. I've just sent an email trying to coax them into "givin it up" but have yet to get an answer.
Even though the weekend is a blur of activity.. and we seldom get time to visit with everyone.....Nancy...you are one of the Babes of the Universe ! make sure Steve behaves himself. I've got a couple of new tunes that are made for the shoreline jam.
I think the weekend has almost started! We look forward to your arrival!

Hi Everyone!
Just thought I'd stick my head in and say hello. I also wanted to mention what Dan Norman (event photographer) and I (website guy) are up to for this year's regatta. I just did a complete back end rebuild of the http://www.worthingtonwindsurfing.com website in order to be able to make quick updates. This year Dan will have an amazing digital camera with him along with all of his nice big lenses to get close ups of the action. Also we'll have an amateur/pro HD dv camcorder with us. We plan to lug this equipment around with us and do our best to capture the atmosphere. If you see us, we'd love for you to say a few words to the camera, or strike your pose so we can get a picture of you.

The best part is... We plan to be doing daily (and if we're really ambitious, hourly) updates of the website. There might even be a few articles if people have something to talk about. The videos will be pumped to the website via youtube.

So I guess what I'm trying to accomplish in this post is to let you all know that this will be happening, and that it is all happening for you! Have fun with it and show us your stuff on and off the water! And don't forget to check the website during or after the event!

Noah Keitel