Crossing?

[scottman]

So for us that could not make it this year how did it go? I don't see any posts on peoples experiences, good or bad, any pictures, was there any wind?

[Tighe]

Another great Crossing weekend. Great seeing everyone. Incredible weather all weekend. Perfect blue on Saturday and white out conditions yesterday. Rode a bit on Friday, putzied too long yesterday to get the good wind, and rode quite a bit Sunday.

Rode the new SS Turbine 17m. I didn't think I would like this kite as much as I did. I like the 12 and 14 Rallys and have flow them in almost no wind. Couldn't imagine what the extra cloth would provide cept drag....I was wrong. The thing pulls like a truck in 6-8mph of wind. This morning I was the only one out, the winds were so minimal flags were close to limp, and I could carve all over the place, toeside, unhooked, whatever. Nice. Peter Hill had it out in 12-14mph on Saturday and was getting really nice boosts that lasted forever.

I was convinced to do the Blue Goose experience on Saturday night. OMG what a night. I gotta get out more. that was a new one, for sure. What an interesting scene.

Denis and Todd coordinated a great short course race yesterday. I like the format. Fast and fun.

Lakawa treated everyone to a sunset BBQ on Saturday as the long shadows reached across the lake. Thanks Mike.

Congrats to all the winners. Hopefully Mike Fox will post them soon.

Thanks to Mike Fox for putting all the effort into making these events happen.

[krazykatie]

Fun times! We all had a wonderful weekend and Kayla really enjoyed herself at her first event! It was exciting to atleast cross the start line this year, finally! Nice photo(s) Tighe! A big thanks to everyone who makes this event happen!

FYI: the new pizza joint in town is pretty tasty! A group of us stopped in after awards on Sunday. I hope its still there next year!

[Woody]

Great Great times! Thanks Fleet 8 & staff for the organization of this awesome yearly event! Loved the wicked meal provided by the VFW - we have gotta do that again!

Epic Ozone sticker placemant session at the Blue Goose Saturday night. I'll bet the Slingshot rep will bring a bag full of stickers next year! Great bling of beaded necklaces and flashing lights supplied by the always entertaining West Side Boys! Fun times!

We'll see you again this spring in Iowa at the Dam Jam regatta!

[Michael F]

Definitely a great weekend, but like the past few years, the credit has go to those who made the trip. Wind forecasts the week before had never been more inconsistent. Friday’s winds definitely peaked shortly after noon when we were trying to setup the registration tent.

Fortunately, we managed to capture the strongest winds of Saturday to pull off the best BIG race of the past three years. Actually, the wind dropped enough right at the scheduled start of the sequence that we abandoned the race, for less than a minute. Right after the abandonment signal, the wind responded quickly and we re-initiated the start sequence.

We had 29 starters and 19 finishers after we shortened to a single lap of 12.7 miles total distance. Chris Krug from New Hampshire finished first overall with a time of 40 minutes, 51 seconds, managing to pass Eric Oppen and Peter Hill, who finished second and third respectively. Barry Peterson was fourth and Bryce Johnson was fifth.

Todd Hanson was the first snowboard finisher we have had in three years with a time of one hour, seven minutes, followed by Roland Rioux, Jon Stroh, John Dickoff and Denis FooKune. Katie Egle was our only woman starter and managed to make it 6 miles, just short of the turnaround.

A special thanks to Todd Hanson for his groomer and terrain park development, Nathan Borer for rails and terrain park, Kelly French and Jeff Olson for registration and start/finish assisted by Todd Newman, Katie and Kayla Egle, Bill Ernst and Chad Dobson for helping with their snowmobiles, and Mike Kratochwill for donating his machine. Great hospitality from the Harbor Inn and Garrison VFW helped negate the loss of the Y-Club.

And Thanks to our Sponsors:

logosfromposter2.jpg (65.87 KiB) Viewed 6396 times

[Professor Robae']

Big thanks to the Fleet 8 volunteers and everyone that helped out. What a great time once again!

It's pretty special how you make new friends and bump into old ones at events like this. In 1987 and 1998 I raced a C-scow in the Inland lakes regattas. I became pretty good friends with Steve Swift from Clear Lakes, IA who was a fierce competitor. Haven’t seen him for many years and bumped into him and his group last weekend to have some good laughs. Great times indeed!

Love it and see you next time!

The Professor

[MK]

It takes a community to raise a kiter. Fun to spend time with the community. Thanks for spearheading it Mike.

Sounds like fun was had Saturday night and everyone was seeing double... Is there a link to some of those photos?

Friday night was cool. I should have shown up earlier to share the wind. Next year.

[BSMITH]

Here is a postable one Mike

Blue Goose "G" by Woody

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Thanks again to Mike and Fleet 8 for a swell time. Thanks to "Clicker" for the bling, "Woody" for the stickers, and mostly, the Crazy Clear Lake Crew for the hair!

[Bryce]

Put a few pictures up on facebook..


http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2 ... 40862c1171

[Barry P]

I know Peter Hill (#3) was flying the 17M SS Turbine.
I (#4) was on a 14M Mayhem-X.
Does anyone know what Chirs Krug (#1), Eric Oppen (#2), and Bryce Johnson (#5) were flying?

Thanks.

[Tighe]

Chris was on a Peter Lynn
Eric was on a SS Machine 17.5m
Bryce was on a Cabrinha Crossbow 16m