Mille lacs challenge/crossing

[alf]

Have there been any dates set for the Mille lacs challenge this fall? I'd love to organize my calendar so that I can actually make it there this year.
Alfie

[Michael F]

The Mille Lacs Challenge and Great Lakes Kona Cup will be held on the weekend of September 27-29. More info to follow.

[rookie]

Havent got an e-mail about the crossing. is it on for the kiters?

[alf]

Crossing is only a windsurfer event this year. Mike said kiters are welcome to come and ride and he may set up an informal course if people want to do a long distance race, but there are no formal events for kiters as in years past.
They made a change due to a points issue with the Mowind rules/insurance regs and lack of interest in racing from the kite community.

[Michael F]

Thanks Alfie for your accurate response. Kiters have joined us for this September classic since 2001 and several campaigned to be included in racing across the lake. The sport was still new and lacking many of the safety developments we now have, so it took a while to accommodate kiters within the Challenge.

After completing the 25th windsurfer Crossing, we added kiters for the next year. Like the very first Crossing, we invited 21 of the most established kiters to join the 43 windsurfers on the Garrison beach. Mother Nature cooperated and we have the photos and memories of the most prolific event for our sister sports in North America history. Since that 2007 event, Mother Nature has struggled to give us more than three days of adequate wind for kiters and their numbers gradually diminished.

We didn’t mean to exclude kiters, but just focused on our Kona program. Kiter competitions on the water have definitely struggled, but we do need input and commitment from kiters to establish a competitive format that can grow successfully.

The bottom line is kiters are definitely invited and we will do our best to make it a great time. And we will waive any late registration penalties for kiters. Hope to see many up there.