Once again I've walked away from the Worthington Windsurf Regatta and Unvarnished Music Festival with new understandings. Every year I put the whole riding thing at the forefront of my thoughts about what might take place during the weekend. Every year the winds aren't quite as raging as I had hoped, and each year I leave the event really feeling good. I've come to realize that the water time during the Worthington event is only part of the collage of experiences for me. Meeting new people, sharing stories, ecoing laughter, catching smiles and enjoying the sun and the music. Feeling at home in a town where I know only a few. Albert's contageous smile and embodiment of pure happiness. The willingness of the community to give out even when we couldn't always give them a show on the water. The perfect weather. The laughter of children. That amazing kettle corn! These are the things that define the event for me.
The event would be quite different if it blew 20-30 each day and into the night. Everyone would sail till it hurt and most likely crash by sunset. I'm not sure how the music would work in such a wind and I know the teaki torches would be history. It definitely would be a different event.
Thank you Worthington, thank you Jeff and Bill, thank you Ride, Randy, Christina, Noah, thank you all who came and shared the day and night. The memories will linger until next year.
Worthington
Moderator: MK
I have to emphatically echo Tighe's sentiments.. this is my first time
to Worthington, and I had the best time.. the people of the town
are awesome! And I still having harmonicas ringing in my ears
And I'm convinced I now need a band playing on shore while sailing
1 2 3 Jibe!
Actually, the light winds I think really gave the racers a chance
to showcase their skill.. I'm amazed how early these guys
can get planing, and remarkable how fast the top guys are..
Equally impressive was the junior competitors, who not only
had terrific skill, but enthusiasm to match..
Too bad the event only rolls around once a year.
to Worthington, and I had the best time.. the people of the town
are awesome! And I still having harmonicas ringing in my ears
And I'm convinced I now need a band playing on shore while sailing
1 2 3 Jibe!
Actually, the light winds I think really gave the racers a chance
to showcase their skill.. I'm amazed how early these guys
can get planing, and remarkable how fast the top guys are..
Equally impressive was the junior competitors, who not only
had terrific skill, but enthusiasm to match..
Too bad the event only rolls around once a year.
Hey everyone! I'm going to have to aggree with tighe and mike. this also was my first time in worthington and i had a blast!!! i'm glad to see that so many of the formiliar faces showed up for the event, even with the lack wind. thank you everyone for making it a great experiance. i look forward to next year with even more memories.
-
steveb
- Posts: 2146
- Joined: Wed Nov 27, 2002 3:31 pm
- Location: sblain@frontiernet.net
wow = waw. ( what a week )
I wanted to agree with you guys I just did'nt think you enthused enough. The past 5 days were glorious. Light wind ... who cares!.
The atmosphere of the event , the boardheads, the townspeople, musicians the only possible thing I could bitch about is I could not find any free beer.
If you did'nt go... boy did you screw up, you just missed one of the best run, most fun events ever!!.
The atmosphere of the event , the boardheads, the townspeople, musicians the only possible thing I could bitch about is I could not find any free beer.
If you did'nt go... boy did you screw up, you just missed one of the best run, most fun events ever!!.
Tremendous Response to Worthington
I'm copying a post from the president of the US Windsurfing Assoc. that captures some of the beauty of this year's event. It really was an experience we won't forget as the host state and our visitors won't forget given their taste of Minnesota hospitality and a well run event. For those that "showed up", a huge thanks. I know Bill and Jeff greatly appreciated the support after a full year of preparation and a budget exceeding over $60,000. It was absolutely on the frontier of where this sport can go.
Dear Bill,
I want to take this opportunity to thank you, WOW, and Worthington for hosting the 2003 USW Nationals. You have a great group of volunteers and trades-people who take pride in their town and their AWESOME MUSIC FESTIVAL. I would especially thank you, Jeff, Randy, Mike, and Darren for a smoothly run EVENT. Having the "live" radio and television coverage was great for US Windsurfing PR. Additionally, the GLOBE provided the best newspaper coverage we have ever experienced in the history of the USW Nationals. Everywhere we shopped in Worthington people greeted us with "Welcome US Windsurfing;" even the grocery stores.
I know that you were a bit disappointed with the light winds this past week but such is nature of NATURE. At least we were able to get the required number of races in and National Champions were declared. You will remember that just the week before the Nationals, the races at Cape Cod were abandoned and NOT even one Formula Race was run for lack of wind. This will help you keep "light winds" in perspective as Cape Cod is known to be one of the windiest places for these events.
I was happy to see such a large showing from the Midwest and all seemed to be having a great time with your beautiful venue. You are indeed fortunate to live so close to one of the most beautiful lakes in the world. US Windsurfing was fortunate to have your enthusiasm for windsurfing and music working toward our eventual visit to your lovely town.
Thank you again,
Sincerely,
Renee Linskens
President
US Windsurfing
Dear Bill,
I want to take this opportunity to thank you, WOW, and Worthington for hosting the 2003 USW Nationals. You have a great group of volunteers and trades-people who take pride in their town and their AWESOME MUSIC FESTIVAL. I would especially thank you, Jeff, Randy, Mike, and Darren for a smoothly run EVENT. Having the "live" radio and television coverage was great for US Windsurfing PR. Additionally, the GLOBE provided the best newspaper coverage we have ever experienced in the history of the USW Nationals. Everywhere we shopped in Worthington people greeted us with "Welcome US Windsurfing;" even the grocery stores.
I know that you were a bit disappointed with the light winds this past week but such is nature of NATURE. At least we were able to get the required number of races in and National Champions were declared. You will remember that just the week before the Nationals, the races at Cape Cod were abandoned and NOT even one Formula Race was run for lack of wind. This will help you keep "light winds" in perspective as Cape Cod is known to be one of the windiest places for these events.
I was happy to see such a large showing from the Midwest and all seemed to be having a great time with your beautiful venue. You are indeed fortunate to live so close to one of the most beautiful lakes in the world. US Windsurfing was fortunate to have your enthusiasm for windsurfing and music working toward our eventual visit to your lovely town.
Thank you again,
Sincerely,
Renee Linskens
President
US Windsurfing
Ride...just be it!
www.just-be-it.com
www.just-be-it.com
-
Dave Schneider
- Posts: 33
- Joined: Wed Nov 27, 2002 8:36 am
- Location: Minneapolis, MN
Posted by Charles Ivey of usenet group rec.windsurfing. http://groups.google.com/groups?dq=&hl= ... al.cox.net
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Charles Ivey (charlesivey@cox.net)
Subject: Kudo's to Worthington & Nationals
Newsgroups: rec.windsurfing
Date: 2003-06-16 21:53:05 PST
Just got back from Nationals and even though the wind never lived up to
expectations, the little town of Worthington and its fine people went all
out for a week of windsurfing and windsurfers. The organizers, the local
paper and TV folks, the townspeople, and all the contestants and their
families -- everyone involved -- all deserve a big thank you for coming
together to make windsurfers the featured attraction during the event.
Imagine driving into the town to welcome signs and proud notices of the
event. Heck, the lumber yard had "Welcome Windsurfers" on their sign, as
did most of the businesses in town. Everywhere you went, people welcomed
you with smiles. If you were a windsurfer in Worthington this past week,
you were the center of lots of attention.
This whole attitude was summed up well by an invitation from a local family
extended to the junior team windsurfers to come out one evening to their
home for a marshmallow roast and campfire get-together. The kids were
welcomed by a bunch of local Worthington teenagers just as if they were
members of the family.
So while there was fine competition and Devon, Zach, The Simmons, and a host
of others all won trophies winning their classes, for me the real story was
seeing a small town embrace our sport in such a complete and wholesome way.
It was a unique regatta and worth the trip. Plus, I got to meet some people
in person for the first time, including some electronic friends like Dan
Weiss, Jeff H., Jeff Adamski, and many others who would come up and say
hello...aren't you the guy on rec.windsurfing that said whatever...
As always, the highlight for me was seeing so much new blood windsurfing.
There was clearly a bunch of quality youthful sailors competing (along with
the normal contingent of grey hairs like me) and an even larger group
itching to learn to windsurf. This Nationals had something for just about
anyone.
Thanks Worthington,
CI
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Charles Ivey (charlesivey@cox.net)
Subject: Kudo's to Worthington & Nationals
Newsgroups: rec.windsurfing
Date: 2003-06-16 21:53:05 PST
Just got back from Nationals and even though the wind never lived up to
expectations, the little town of Worthington and its fine people went all
out for a week of windsurfing and windsurfers. The organizers, the local
paper and TV folks, the townspeople, and all the contestants and their
families -- everyone involved -- all deserve a big thank you for coming
together to make windsurfers the featured attraction during the event.
Imagine driving into the town to welcome signs and proud notices of the
event. Heck, the lumber yard had "Welcome Windsurfers" on their sign, as
did most of the businesses in town. Everywhere you went, people welcomed
you with smiles. If you were a windsurfer in Worthington this past week,
you were the center of lots of attention.
This whole attitude was summed up well by an invitation from a local family
extended to the junior team windsurfers to come out one evening to their
home for a marshmallow roast and campfire get-together. The kids were
welcomed by a bunch of local Worthington teenagers just as if they were
members of the family.
So while there was fine competition and Devon, Zach, The Simmons, and a host
of others all won trophies winning their classes, for me the real story was
seeing a small town embrace our sport in such a complete and wholesome way.
It was a unique regatta and worth the trip. Plus, I got to meet some people
in person for the first time, including some electronic friends like Dan
Weiss, Jeff H., Jeff Adamski, and many others who would come up and say
hello...aren't you the guy on rec.windsurfing that said whatever...
As always, the highlight for me was seeing so much new blood windsurfing.
There was clearly a bunch of quality youthful sailors competing (along with
the normal contingent of grey hairs like me) and an even larger group
itching to learn to windsurf. This Nationals had something for just about
anyone.
Thanks Worthington,
CI