The American Windsurfing Tour is helping focus a national spotlight on competitive windsurfing in North America. Their helping hands reached out and saved the annual US Windsurfing National Championship event which had been cancelled at the last minute. With broad industry support, the AWT has now truly defined itself as a show case for all the unique disciplines of windsurfing: wave sailing, racing and freestyle. I've always liked the the name of this organization and with the recent success of the Nationals in Hood River, their name makes even more sense. The umbrella has been opened. They are now a truly American Windsurfing Tour.
US Windsurfing National Championship Rewind· Event Site, Hood River, Oregon - Phil McGain won the 2012 US National Championship in Course Racing (Formula) and Slalom. Wyatt Miller won the Freestyle Title. Photos from every day are found here. Daily reports below include videos.
If you visit the AWT website wanting to catch up on a multiple day event, go to the RSS Feed to find what you're missing. Event reporting and ultimately its promotional impact for the sport and the Tour is what makes the AWT so outstanding as an organization. Just as the PWA has learned, reporting your event is massively important for nurturing the success of future events.
The Formula North American Championship was held in San Francisco with 23 competitors who finished the competition just the day before the US Nationals began. Brazilian Wilhelm Shurmann won the Championship. This event shared the stage with the Kite Racing North American Championship. For most of the reporting, including daily video summaries go to thispage. And for more day by day detailed race reports, go to Steve Bodner's Blog here.
The Maui Race Series wrapped up for the year with the Neil Pryde Hawaii State Championship. Buzianis won the final contest of the 5 race series. And yes, Phil McGain, after winning the US Nationals, made the starting line on Saturday, July 28 at Kanaha Beach Park. Seems covering ground is a McGain speciality in more ways than one. Maui Newsreported: "McGain also was a little tired from a week of racing and airline travel. He won national titles in Formula racing and slalom at the U.S. Windsurfing National Championships in Hood River, Ore., that ended on Thursday. 'I was pretty pleased, I sailed well all week,' McGain said. 'I made very few mistakes.' In 12 races at the nationals, McGain didn't fall once. But he crashed in that third heat of the Pro A division. 'It was a lapse of concentration,' McGain said. 'My mind and body are a little bit tired. I was so focused on the nationals, it was hard to focus today. Micah sailed very well. But I like to think I gave him a run for his money.' " Harry Wiewel Photos ~ Jimmie Hepp Photos
With the US Nationals out of the way, the AWT is now down in Punta San Carlos, Baja at Solo Sports running the Quatro Desert Showdown.
Olympic Live Streaming is available from NBC. Yes, they are covering RS:X racing which starts on Tuesday, July 31, 7:00 am EDT (noon UK time - 5 hours earlier than the US east coast). I watched the first part of the Finn Class Race 1 Monday night. The quality of the broadcast is stunning, just as you'd expect if it was on TV. There is no commentary. Now the hard part. Go here http://www.nbcolympics.com/liveextra/ and answer their questions about your account with your cable provider. If you want to watch the live broadcast or the replays, you will have to prove it is your account by submitting your account name and password. Yikes, kinda scary, huh?
Sarah Quita Offringa is the reigning PWA Women's Freestyle and Slalom World Champion. She plans to compete in only 2 events this year which means there is no chance she can defend her World Titles. (However, if she wins the freestyle event at Fuerte and they can't consummate the event in Vietnam, she could win the World Freestyle Title because this year there are only 2 events left to determine the world champion.) SQ said, "I'm doing freestyle in Fuerte and slalom in Turkey. I needed to make a choice between studies and windsurfing. Next year will probably be the same story...I think studying was the right one to choose since I now have only one and a half years to go !!"
DaNews: Why only 2? Were your sponsors good with only 2 events?
SQ: These 2 are the only events that don’t collide with my studies. Besides that many events were cancelled as well. Yes my sponsors have been very supportive and I really am very grateful to Starboard and Maui Ultra Fins for understanding my situation and even encouraging me to pursue my studies.
Did you compete in the Aruba Hi Winds?
No I didn’t. I decided to stay in Europe this year. My semester ended on the 29th of June. I would’ve been able to make it on time, it's just that I wouldn’t be able to spend more than 10 days in Aruba as I would have to leave for competition soon after. So I wouldn’t be able to enjoy it long enough.
When does the school year end and how long is summer vacation? When do classes start in the Fall?
My last semester ended on the 29th of June. And I think I start again around the 9th of September. So a bit more than 2 months. Nice time to recover from the studies and go into my third year fully motivated again.
What university are you attending? What are you studying? When will you graduate?
I study science and innovation management at the University of Utrecht. I just completed my 2nd year of my bachelor and technically have one more year to go. But last year I decided to skip my last semester so I could compete on tour so automatically I failed my classes. This means I need at least 6 months extra to finish. If all goes well then I’ll be done by January 2014. I am planning to pursue a master’s degree after that though.
Have you added any new linguistic skills to your impressive list of languages?
Hahaha no I haven’t…. I’m getting more and more fluent in Spanish and French though so I’m happy about that. It’s definitely my goal to become fluent in these two languages besides Dutch, English and Papiamento. After that I want to pursue Portuguese and Italian and German eventually.
You chose studies over windsurfing. Was that hard to do and was it a good decision?
It wasn’t hard to make the decision. I already knew that windsurfing isn’t everything for me in the sense that I get bored really fast if I only do one thing. So by doing studies on the side I stay motivated to get on the water and because of windsurfing I can get things off my mind and relax so that afterwards I am motivated to study again.
Sticking to the decision is harder. I really enjoy what I’m studying at the moment… What’s hard is that I moved to Holland to pursue my studies. So the change of environment and having to adapt to it accordingly is the biggest challenge. No matter what I think it was a good decision as I have learned so much already which I can use in everyday life. Windsurfing has been put a little bit on a hold because of it though and to be honest… That sucks. But it’s temporary and as soon as I finish I can get on the water again!
Did you go home to Aruba after the school year ended? When will you arrive in Fuerte?
No I stayed in Europe because I wouldn’t be able to stay long enough. If I’m going back home I want to stay at least a month !! I’m currently in Fuerte. I love sailing here but every year I forget how hard the conditions actually are so the first day always requires you to get used to the strong winds in super choppy water. Once you get the hang of it, you have a lot of fun :)
As a college student in a cold country, do you get much time to windsurf?
No I don’t. I’ve tried to come to an agreement with my university where I’d be able to combine windsurfing and studies but I haven’t succeeded..So I don’t get any extra time off to pursue my windsurfing career on the side which was a tough pill to swallow. So far this year I’ve sailed twice in Holland.
After every semester I usually have a 10 day break and I have used those breaks to go to Tenerife in January and Dahab in April for a week. Those were very windy trips and I’m still excited I was able to make it to those spots.
What's it like being away from the tropical paradise of Aruba?
It’s definitely hard since I just picked up and left everything behind there. My family, the beach, the relaxed lifestyle etc. But if you hold on to all of that you won’t succeed abroad. I’ve been in Holland for almost 2 years now and I miss my island everyday, but The Netherlands definitely has its upsides and has so much to offer that I definitely don’t regret going there.
Have you done any interviews for any windsurf magazines this year? Were many surprised you wouldn't defend your world titles?
No I haven’t done any interviews I think… I never really announced I wasn’t going to defend my titles since I was convinced I could still compete and study like I did last year, but it wasn’t until February that I realized that it just was not possible. If I keep on skipping classes I would fail them and be even more delayed and right now I just want to get my studies over with as soon as possible. Besides that they’ve introduced a new rule in Holland. Every student gets one more year than needed to finish their studies. In my case I would have 4 years to finish a 3 year bachelor. As soon as it takes longer than this you get a 3000 euro fine. Sooo for the people wondering why I haven’t competed in any competitions this is why…
Anything you want to share about life and things you've learned since starting University?
Oeeff…I’ve learned so much. Don’t even know where to start. The most important thing I’ve learned is to appreciate everything I have or had, so much more. My friends and family around me who I can always count on. In February I was the happiest person on earth when the temperature went from -5 to +5 degrees Celsius. Guys like Thijs and Hugo who take me windsurfing since I don’t have a car and otherwise wouldn’t be able to get on the water. I’ve learned to be more organized (still need to be way more organized but I’m getting there!!). The list goes on and on. Really.
Also that there was no right or wrong when I decided to go to Holland. It really feels like I’m on an adventure wherein I have so many possibilities and options and I get to decide how it turns out. I have good and bad days, but it isn’t until after some time when I look back that I realize how my decisions and the people I’ve met along the way have had their influence on how my life is turning out. I don’t know how to explain it! but I am truly excited for what the future holds. :-)
Thank you, Sarah Quita for taking the time. The last 3 photos in the interview were from Texel Island, Holland. And yes that's SQ wavesailing...she said it was a lot of fun.
Catch her live from Sotavento, Fuerteventura | July 20 - 30. In fact, the PWA is planning to Live Webcast all of the remaining World Tour events.
Go Yachting's July 2012 Episode 10 featured the Olympic sailing kerfuffle: Windsurfs vs. Kiteboards. The narrative from the Neil Pryde interview:
"As the London 2012 Olympics draw near, Go Yachting sits down with Neil Pryde to talk about the recent sailing decisions made for the 2016 Olympics, and the ramifications. Sailing as an Olympic sport is undergoing change. Recent decisions within ISAF have caused both concern and debate. As sports around the world compete for limited medal slots, what does the future hold for sailing in the Olympics?
Neil Pryde have been supporting and investing in the Olympics for many years, providing windsurfing equipment for Barcelona 1992, Beijing 2008 and also for the current edition, London 2012, as well as supporting youth windsurfing through the ISAF Youth Sailing World Championships. Producing windsurfing equipment under the NeilPryde brand and Kitesurfing equipment under the Cabrinha brand, Neil Pryde is in a unique position to comment on the recent 'Windsurfs are out and Kiteboards are in' Olympic decision by ISAF.
For Rio 2016 Windsurfs will be replaced by Kiteboards, which will be making their Olympic debut. The decision has proven to be contentious.With a strong youth development programme, windsurfing has been responsible for bringing many developing countries into the sport of sailing. The decision to replace them in the Olympics has surprised many. Since the decision was made, a number of stories have surfaced of representatives voting against national association orders, and some even saying they were confused by the voting system. With so much on the line, how can such an important decision be made this way? What happens next? What is the future for sailing as an Olympic sport?"
Some excerpted quotes from the interview by Neil Pryde:
"Windsurfing was sacrificed to maintain the traditional yachting classes in the Olympics. That is not a very good way to make important decisions, particularly when windsurfing has done so much to bring developing countries into international yachting".
"I am not against kitesurfing - it is my most important business - but I don't think it yet belongs in the Olympics. It's premature".
"It's a tragic decision for developing countries that have started international sailing through windsurfing. China, the biggest Olympic country, came to sailing through windsurfing and this is a slap in the face."
"It was a politically engineered decision".
The 7 minute Neil Pryde interview is the first segment of the following video report.
US Windsurfing's website, Save Olympic Windsurfing, in their first week of operation, had 4,000+ views from 51 countries. The site grabbed the attention of the German based International Kiteboarding Association. Their detailed 13 page reply countered the US Windsurfing's assertions about why the ISAF decision was wrong. I thought the most interesting and funniest (obviously, something was lost in translation) counterpoint of the kite rebuttal: 7. Fiction: There is no youth pathway to kiteboarding
Would you breed your kids in a AC 45 or even in a skiff ? No, you wouldn’t…
Kite Raceboards are probably the most high performance vessels out there, and surely not something you learn to sail on. Therefore, the pathway is learning to sail and to windsurf.
If you're shaking your head with disbelief, yes, the IKA plan for introducing young, future Kite Racers is to teach them windsurfing first and then when they're older...
A reminder: The Petition continues to collect names for the protest to return windsurfing to the Olympics. If you haven't signed, please consider doing so.
Windsurfer International Done· Brian McDowell announced Thursday, July 12: Windsurfer International will cease production and that he will join Windsurf Magazine to become Editor and lead a new digital project for the largest English language title in the sport. Brian wrote: "We'd like to say a special and huge thanks to all the readers, advertising supporters and awesome contributors to the magazine and Beach Telegraph over the past 4 years. Without your backing there would've been no progress to this point. There will now be a wider range of content and upcoming digital formats available under the Windsurf masthead from a much bigger team - you're all in for a massive treat!"
Windsurf, the UK’s Number 1 Windsurfing Magazine and highest-circulation English language title in the sport is pleased to announce that Brian McDowell will become Editor, kicking-off with the August 2012 Edition.
As of now Windsurfer International will cease to publish and, once complete, the world’s most exciting digital resource for windsurfers will appear at Windsurf.co.uk
According to McDowell, who brings an audience of over 180,000 Absolute Unique Readers from 185+countries making more than 2.5 Million page views annually, the partnership will bring significant benefits to readers and advertisers alike.
Windsurf is published 10-times annually (Monthly March–October, Nov/Dec and Jan/Feb).
Kai Lenny· After a failed first attempt 2 years ago, watersport master Kai Lenny attempts to windsurf 56 miles across Lake Michigan. Better equipment, a better forecast, and a different location set the stage for his second attempt, and it all falls onto Kai to power through hours of constant focus and bitter cold to pull it off. After 2 hours and 50 minutes of windsurfing through endless choppy waves, Kai emerges triumphant on the other side of the lake. Connect with Kai on Facebook.
CGWA Windfest Video Reports by Adam Wojtkowiak (thanks Windsport for posting these videos). Windfest Photos by Gorge Windsurfing.
MNA (Member National Authority) is the fancy name for a country in ISAF vernacular.
Save Olympic Windsurfing· With only weeks before the start of the 2012 Olympics, US Windsurfing's President, Karen Marriott, sent US Sailing a letter which said, in part: "As you know, the windsurfing community here in the United States (and around the world) has been quite upset by the May ISAF vote that replaced windsurfing with kiteboard racing in the 2016 Olympic Games...We feel this vote was taken with faulty information and, in fact, the vote itself is invalid and a new vote should be taken at the November ISAF meeting, if not before...We look forward to answering any further questions at our upcoming (still to be scheduled) conference call. On behalf of all windsurfers in the United States, the US Windsurfing Association would like to thank you for the opportunity to provide you with this information and for your thoughtful consideration of this very important issue."
In the letter, US Windsurfing urges US Sailing to look at their new website: Save Olympic Windsurfing. The website is a tour de force, rebutting the rationale for replacing windsurfing with kite racing at the 2016 Olympics in Brazil. Contributors to the site include Jerome Samson, Nevin Sayre, Platt Johnson, Doug Waldo and Karen Marriott. Adding to the urgency of the protest is this assertion from the website: "We believe that this decision was misguided, and respectfully appeal to US Sailing to examine the facts and reconsider its position. If a formal request can be assembled and submitted by August 1, 2012, the ISAF Council will revisit the issue at its Annual Meeting in Dún Laoghaire in November 2012."
Tenerife· In the waning minutes of the live webcast from Pozo, Ben Proffitt confirmed that the live video coverage would continue at the next PWA event set to run July 12 - 18. Lively commentary and interviews give these webcasts the same feel we expect from mainstream TV sports coverage. My favorite interview moments: I learned that 34 year old multiple World Champion Iballa Moreno started windsurfing at 17 and turned pro three years later. And, Phillip Koster has a secret for his super fast and amazingly consistent double forwards: with your back hand reach all the way back and grip the boom's adjustable tail piece. He warned that he does sometimes cut his hand on the adjustment holes of the tail piece. Congratulations to Ben and the PWA for their outstanding work in bringing the World Tour to all of us diehard fans.
The embedded video player will activate when the broadcast goes live from the Wave Contest in Tenerife. In the meantime you can watch last week's daily video summaries from Pozo by clicking: Newest.
Practice Safe Windsurfing· Equipment failure is rarely anticipated. Spontaneous mast breakage, when it happens on land, is a weird blessing. When your mast breaks offshore, no matter how far off, it's a freak out. That ol' sage advice, don't sail any further offshore than you're willing to swim back, is worth taking to heart. Booms break too. When that happens, you hope the arm that broke is not the one you need to get back to shore. And that's right, you can sail with only one boom arm. You also might hit something in the water and lose a fin. Or worse, while sailing at max speed, run aground. The resulting sudden stop can cause the rider to be violently catapulted which may completely disintegrate the board and some or all of the rig above it. Equipment fails. Booms and masts are hard to survey for imminent trouble. Sometimes you're just going to be unlucky, and no amount of prior, proper planning is going to help.
Just a week ago, 3 of my mast bases failed in a period of 45 minutes. The first one broke about a half mile from shore; I got back without incident. Changed out the broken base with another one, repeated the run a half mile from shore and it also failed mid jibe. Again, I returned to shore without incident, replaced the broken mast base with yet another one and it too broke. What failed? It was the flexible urethane tendon in the mast base assembly. All 3 broke where the tendons had been drilled.
The mast base must be disassembled and the tendon inspected periodically. How often? At least once a year. Chinook's team riders replace their tendons once every year. Why do tendons fail? In short, the tendon loses its ability to flex properly. Sometimes they begin to show fine cracks in the area which you can see, but more commonly, cracks propagate from the drilled holes in the tendon. When you disassemble to inspect and see a crack running away from the drilled hole, replace the tendon. All 3 of the mast base companies (Chinook, Epic Gear, Streamlined ) I contacted talked about reasons that might effect the longevity of a tendon. All 3 mentioned heat and humidity as possible culprits for shortening the life span of your tendon. Humidity, we can't do anything about as windsurfing mostly occurs in water environments. Heat might be something to think about. I store all my gear in a SUV all the time. In Florida and anywhere there is decent solar radiation, temperatures inside a vehicle get pretty dang hot even when outside air temps are modestly cool.
Every mast base manufacturer uses a different formula for their urethane tendon that balances strength, flexibility and UV inhibition (color). They all, as expected, tout their unique product. And most likely, all will work well if you follow some simple regular inspection or replacement on a timed interval of your mast base tendon.
What about rubber hourglass mast bases? They offer a softer feel than the tendon. Chinook suggested that perhaps rubber may last longer than urethane. While they are easier to inspect, they may be too difficult for some to replace worn parts. And over time they may cost more to use since full replacement might be required. On the other hand, tendons are relatively straight forward to replace and cost between $15-20.
Postcript· Had to do a double take when my Caller ID said NY Times. Must be a subscription robo call I thought and almost didn't answer, but what the hell..."This is Daniel Slotnick from the New York Times, do you have a few minutes for an interview about Jim Drake...I saw your blog." Daniel didn't know much about windsurfing or Jim Drake. We talked for about 40 minutes. I later learned that US Windsurfing Prez, Karen Marriott, had given the reporter my name and number. Thanks to Daniel for doing such a good job on the Jim Drake news obit and for spelling my name correctly. It was also a thrill to have DaNewsBlog linked in an article from The Grey Lady. Jim Drake, Creator of the Windsurfer, Dies at 83
July scores some of the most important events of the windsurfing calendar especially in North America and on the PWA World Tour...
The PWA has cancelled 4 scheduled Tour events this year, but they are back on track with 3 events set for their busiest month of the year. Like in years past, the wave event in Pozo was confirmed only weeks ago. And just in the nick of time, the live webcast returns to Pozo, perhaps the Tour's most dramatic venue. The Broadcast is planned for all week, Monday through Saturday June 2 - 7. Just last week, Tenerife was confirmed and is good to go for July 12 - 17. When they're finished with the wave contest there, the last stop will be a slalom and freestlyle competition in Fuerteventura set for July 20 -30.
The Aruba Hi-Winds, originally partnered as an event with the PWA, who cancelled their participation, continues as an annual event. Dates are fromTuesday July 3 until Monday July 9. They have slightly modified the schedule for this year: Tuesday will be registration day, Wednesday will be the first day of competition and Monday, July 9, will be the last day of windsurfing competition. Aruba Hi-Winds.
The Gorge Windfest marks the beginning of the high season for the Columbia Gorge Windsurfing Association. This July 7 - 8 event is a big fund raiser for the association.
Windfest Highlights: Unlimited Gear Demos • Free Clinics Local Pros • Free Beginner Lessons Provided by Big Winds • Live Outdoor Music on Saturday • Raffles and Prizes • Tasty Food, Beer & Wine for Sale • Sunday Morning Swap Meet • Volunteers Eat Free ~ Contact them for more information or if you’d like to get involved: cgwa@gorge.net • 1-541-386-9225
Cabarete, Dominican Republic will be hosting the 7th Annual Pablito Guzman’s Cabarete Classic. This years event is scheduled for July 12th to the 15th, 2012. One can compete in Kiteboarding or Windsurfing or just go and enjoy watching this colorful event. The competitions will include long distance races for all ages plus formula, slalom and free-style competitions.
Pablito Guzman founded the event and brought it to life. He is a Cabarete native and world competitor for the past twenty years holding several national titles. Pablito is dedicated to improving the community through helping disadvantaged children to be able to learn and participate in the great sport of windsurfing. Under his direction, Pablito Guzman’s Watersports Team was formed to offer local students the opportunity to build self-confidence and learn a new sport. Cabarete Classic
Steve Bodner reported: Registration is open
for next months North American Course Racing Championship for the Formula
Windsurfer & Kite boarding fleets hosted by the St. Francis Yacht Club: Notice of Race. 5 days
of races are planned with the starting line just off Crissy Field on the San
Francisco city front from July 18 - 22. Bring you "A game" because this ain't
your normal dog & pony show. Each fleet will be racing with their own
start and a combined 'Round the rock' race will be held at the conclusion of
racing on Sunday where kites & boards will attempt to navigate around San
Francisco Bay's most famous rock.
Karen Marriott said: US Windsurfing is thrilled to announce that Sam Bittner (organizer of the AWT), the Columbia Gorge Windsurfing Association, Big Winds and Sailworks have banded together to rescue the 2012 US Windsurfing National Championships in Hood River this summer. The Slalom, Formula and Freestyle Nationals will take place at the Event Site in Hood River from July 23-26. Registration is open now. Everyone involved is working hard to make sure that the event will be fantastic and we hope to see you all there! Head AWT judge Matt Pritchard says, "The US Nationals are the backbone of racing in the USA! We need to keep the flame alive and do everything we can to save the Nationals for 2012!" Get there early and you can race in the Gorge Cup Series, Race # 4 on July 21. And a sold out ABK rolls into Hood River on July 28.
The AWT will be in Baja to start their event on July 28. SoloSports reports: "We offer a special $1,500.00 price for the week of the contest including all food and beverages (we eat like kings). Drinks include beer, wine, spirits, cocktails and our world famous Baja Fogs. Use of all the toys like surfboards, stand up paddle boards, kayaks, mountain bikes and more will be included. Each guest get’s a deluxe mini cabin tent fully loaded with pads, pillows and freshly laundered sleeping bags. Daily hot showers, internet, and use of the game room, with TV/DVD, pool table, darts, foosball and library are also available. You can add flight from San Diego to camp for $650.00 to those that want the upgrade." Keith Taboul said, "So for me the event in Baja is close to my heart because it is where I learned to wavesail." AWT
Officially, the Olympics, aka the London Games, begin July 27 and end August 12. RS:X racing runs from July 31 - August 7. Sailing will happen at Weymouth and Portland.
Please survey the abundant number of events for July and August on the DaNewsBlog Calendar.
Maui Race Series has 2 events remaining: The Quicksilver Cup - July 16 and The Neil Pryde Hawaii State Championship - July 28.
The Maui News reported, Hot Sails Maui Grand Prix (June 30), "Micah Buzianis defeated his training partner Phil McGain in six of seven races to win titles in the pro A fleet and 40-49 age division..." Photos of the event by Harry Wiewel
Below is Harry Wiewel's Facebook video report of the Maui Race Series second event: The DaKine Classic - June 16. Harry does good work as a videographer and is also an excellent photographer. And just in case you missed it, go to Maui News for the event report. Dakine Classic photo report.
"Every time Jim Drake goes windsurfing, he re-writes the history. The
reason is simple. No one, anywhere, has been windsurfing longer than Jim
Drake."
The Winston-Salem Journalreported: Jim Drake, an aeronautical engineer credited with inventing windsurfing in
the late 1960s, died Tuesday (June 19) at his home in Pfafftown, NC. He was 83.
Drake died of complications of emphysema, said Holly Fleming, his daughter. Drake accomplished many achievements in his life, Fleming and two friends
said Thursday. "He was highly educated, but he could talk to anyone," Fleming said. "He was
an excellent father. He had friends all over the world who share his love of
outdoor sports and sailing."
Drake developed a workable design for attaching a sail to a surfboard in
1967. He built a prototype. On May 15, 1967, he took it to California's Marina
del Rey to test it. Fred Wikner of Bethesda, Md., Drake's friend and colleague, said that Drake
designed the technology behind a windsurfing board, including an attached sail
that could help control the board...
Bill Mai, who teaches screenwriting and film making at the University of North Carolina School of the
Arts, said he has known Drake for 45 years. "He led an incredible, incredible life," Mai said. "He was a generous man. He
never held a grudge against anyone. We are all going to miss Jim."
Drake is survived by his wife, Sam, his daughter, Holly Fleming, and five
other children from his first marriage.
Starboard Windsurfing Academywrote: The very first thoughts and ideas of the original Windsurfer actually relates
back to the early 60's, when Jim Drake discussed the concepts of wind powered
water skis and surfboards with his good friend Fred Payne. However, the thought
at time was to use kites rather than conventional rigs. Still, nothing really
happened until several years later, when Jim Drake and Hoyle Schweitzer got
together and actually built a board in Jim's house in California. It was January
1967, but details such as centerboard, fin and the actual universal joint were
not even close to finalization. In fact, Drake was still trying to figure out
how the sail could be mounted and the board could be controlled. It was months
later during one of Drake's commuting drives to his work place at the Norton Air
force base in Southern California that he clicked on the idea of a moveable
sail.
Jim Drake took his family and the new contraption he called "The
Skate" to the beach on May 23rd. 1967. No one on that beach could have known
that the grey haired gentleman they had watched rigging was about to make
history.
American Windsurfer Magazine(now out of business) 1996interview:Jim tells his story of the earliest days of windsurfing...the evolution. This is how the interview ended:
AW: The sport has really changed hasn't it? JD: Yes it has. Oh
yes. AW: How do you feel about that? JD: I have an
optimistic view about the sport. It certainly, at least, has hit a plateau, and
I think the reason it has reached this plateau is because there are some natural
barriers to participating in the sport. Some are brought on by the media and
some are brought on by nature.
The one that's brought on by the media is the
picture of the sport as being this athletic circus trick of jumping waves and
whirling around this great wide ocean. Well, that's simply not what the sport
is. Just not at all. It has much more broad application and pleasures to it.
Because people who are athletically inclined but not as superbly coordinated as
Robby [Naish] can enjoy the sport in many regards without having to ever get
airborne. I think that's a media created problem for the sport. But it's hard
not to be more energized first with spectacular photos though than it is for
calm lakes and all.
I think that the natural barrier that has come about,
which perhaps technically can be breached, is the wind barrier, on the low side.
If the sport were able to create a board and sail which allows pleasurable fun
for the not very good, in 8 ? 10 knots of wind, two things would happen. First,
the number of sailing spots would go up by a factor of ten. And second, the
number of people who can do this, or the number of people who can now see
themselves as actually participating in the sport would go up by ten thousand.
So for notch reduction, and the lower limit of the wind speed for the board,
you'll create several factors, wind spots and people. That's just
natural. But hey, if I were so smart, I'd be as rich as Hoyle! [Both Laugh]
Eddy and Jim
Eddy Patricelli (former editor of WindSurfing): ...for all the controversy surrounding Jim's role (or non-role) in "inventing" windsurfing, what was lost in the debate were his ongoing contributions to the sport. He was designing boards and fins for Starboard. He was writing articles for me and others. He was out there, at events, on the water, flying to Thailand! He was a member of the windsurfing community. I think everyone can agree he played a role in creating windsurfing, but to what extent shouldn't overshadow his contributions since then, he wasn't that young -- and he was involved! Eddy continues:
My voice trembled the first time I called Jim Drake. I had landed a dream job at WindSurfing Magazine. Only it was more of a nightmare. The editor had quit. I was working alone, under deadline, and in way over my head. And now I was calling Jim Drake, the man who helped invent a sport that had given my life purpose, surrounded me with a tribe of friends, and had me traveling the world.
As the phone rang, I pondered how one starts a conversation with someone their life has been so connected to, so in debt to, but without them knowing. All trepidation vanished in Jim’s “hello.” He sounded humble, friendly, and genuinely happy to be chatting about his, “favorite topic.” Within minutes, he was pitching story ideas. “Don’t pay me,” he insisted. “Let’s just have some fun.” I hung up the phone feeling comforted. The job before me wasn’t so daunting, not with Jim peppering my inbox with articles.
He was passionate about his contributions, yet open to feedback, even when it meant cutting a 200-word intro paragraph that offered – in the first lines – math equations detailing the physics of a planning hull.“Why did you cut it?” he cried over the phone. I told him I cut it to simplify things; to make it easier to get people into the article. Long silence. “Yeah, you’re probably right,” he shrugged. And just like that – poof! “So what are we doing next?”
There was always a “next” with Jim. He hounded me like a teenager when his Starboard Serenity – a 15’ long board – was released. “Well, what’d you think? What can we improve?”
Once he sent me the same email twice over an hour. He was excited to share how he’d used computer software to overlay graphic illustrations onto a photo. Finally, he was able to show the forces at play when a windsurfer planes, minus all the pesky equations. The layout appeared in WindSurfing’s 25th Anniversary issue. It’s one of my favorites, though not for what’s shown on the page. The layout embodies Jim being Jim: driven, focused, relentless in his search for better solutions.
Years later, when I accepted a job on another magazine (Islands), Jim Drake was one of the first people I called. My voice trembled a little. The news I carried meant our collaborations would end. But I had to call him. I was grateful for the sport he helped create, for the help he volunteered to me, but most of all I was grateful for his friendship. I will miss him.
Jim and Svein
Starboard's Svein Rasmussen said: His spirit was always to include everyone and especially women and kids into windsurfing. Jim and his wife Sam spent years with us in Thailand developing designs and strategies to increase the popularity of windsurfing. He was always optimistic and especially happy to challenge the status quo. His view on “one design” versus free choice of windsurfing gear for the Olympics was well known. His designs, like the Formula 175, the world's most winning race board ever took competitive windsurfing to a new level.
Scott McKercher: It is with great sadness to hear of Jim’s passing and reflect on a life that was truly remarkable. It is no secret that he was a man with incredible intelligence and vision. If it wasn’t for this, my life involving and revolving around windsurfing would never have come about, which is a debt that I and every windsurfer carries. I would not be who I am.
Jim and Sam
I mostly saw Jim at the Starboard offices in Bangkok or dealer meetings. But you could see when he brought his lovely wife Sam was when he was at his best. This is where I saw how much of a lover of life they were, in appreciating simple moments together, thus defining love. I loved the passion put into everything he did, as he took so much time to explain everything with thought. And I remember very fondly the energy and thought that went into making sure the “Vodka martini” was made to perfection, thus to be appreciated at it’s highest level, which I’m pretty sure was a consistency that prevailed through everything he did. Those Vodka Martinis were damn fine. I got to hear the way he spoke about Sam and see the way he would dote after her. Bringing breakfast in the morning like it was the morning after someone had first met and he was trying to impress.
US Patent 3847800
Pete Dekay, Windsport: I only got to meet Jim Drake a couple of times but it was always memorable. On each occasion I would leave our conversation somehow more stoked on windsurfing. I proudly display a framed copy of the “windsurfer” patent on my office wall and it will always bring back all my fond memories of this incredible man. We all need to carry on the windsurfing spirit of Jim Drake—it is what windsurfing really is!
Mac Barnhardt: A few years ago not long after getting that license plate (WNDSRFR), while walking out of
a restaurant after a customer lunch meeting, I noticed a torn off piece of paper
under my wiper blades. It said “Do you windsurf? Email me at xxxxxx, Jim
Drake”.
I’m fairly knowledgeable about windsurfing, so I knew who Jim
Drake was. But it couldn’t possibly be him. For those of you reading this who
don’t know who Jim Drake is, he is widely considered to be the “father of
windsurfing”. He invented windsurfing (with Hoyle Schweitzer) in 1967...
But this had to be a joke. I live in North Carolina. Doesn’t Jim Drake live in
California or Hawaii? Whoever it was must have seen my personalized windsurfing
license plate. Someone had to be playing a joke on me. I bit however and sent an
email to that address. I said something to the effect of “If you’re not the real
Jim Drake, stop being cruel and leave me alone. But if you are the real Jim
Drake, by all means...please reply.”
I got a response. He claimed to be the real Jim Drake. We corresponded a couple
of times via email until I was satisfied it was no joke and we finally decided
to meet for lunch, at the same restaurant I found the note. Turns out Jim and
his wife had friends who lived in the area and had convinced them to move there
from California...
If it had not been for that very personalized license plate that I was agonizing
over, I would never have met the father of windsurfing himself. So thank you
Kris for the wonderful gift that kept on giving and...thank you Jim for bringing
us the best sport in the world. My life has been truly enriched by windsurfing
and I know I speak for many people when I say we’re all very grateful. More from Water Turtle.
Clay Feeter, Stand Up Journal: I am so sorry to hear about Jim's passing. I have and often sail the Serenity windsurf board that he designed, and of course we all owe him such a debt of eternal gratitude for teaming up with Hoyle Schweitzer in 1966 to create an accessible universal joint/wishbone system that launched us all on new paths via the sport of WINDSURFING (an industry base that plays such a huge role in today'sSUP explosion).
If not for Jim's engineering mind, who knows how many days of flying solo on our windsurf boards across the water we would have missed... or if the great sport of windsurfing would have even happened at all!! But bottom line about Jim Drake: he was such a gentle, caring man who took the time to look you in the eye and communicate what was on his mind.
Our thoughts go out to his family, loved ones and all those touched by his time on this Earth... which is more than even Jim could imagine.
Ellen Faller: In reality, I can't begin to pick ONE remembrance of Jim Drake that would mean anything to anyone other than myself. He was one of the most intelligent, okay...brilliant people I have ever met, with most interesting "take" on life, thoughtful, observant, and amusing. In many ways the most modest but forceful person I've ever met. I am truly grateful to have met him, enjoyed his company, his martinis, his views on windsurfing, and his stories. I have been windsurfing since 1980, and am windsurfing and teaching even now, but it meant so much more after I met him. One little story: on my first day at Starboard HQ, at Lake Taco in 2003, lunch was being served and Jim was across the table from me. I'd been in Thailand all of 12 hours, jet-lagged to the extreme, and hungry. I found him looking at me. Then he said "Ellen, the orange things are NOT carrots and I think you will find them rather hot." I don't eat "hot" food, at all, period, end of story, and was apparently in need of a warning to his observation. Good thing! Jim could eat the hottest food imaginable to me, and loved it. I could not. I don't know how he knew, but I really appreciated the warning. I'd still be up on the ceiling, flames coming out my ears, without his warning.
In all, Jim Drake was a man I will never forget, and will always appreciate in so many ways.
Roger Jackson: How was the "uphaul" invented? Well, Jim had designed the mechanical U joint for his first sail powered surf board (it was not called a Windsurfer yet..... just a sailboard). He sewed up a sail, got a mast that looked about right and made up a wishbone boom. He assembled it all and "tested" in the back yard on the grass... he picked up the sail and stepped up on the board......no problema.... it all works! He and his wife and another couple carted the new board and rig down to the beach in Marina Del Rey Harbor. He set it all up on the sand, and yeah..... everything worked just fine. You pick up the sail that's laying on the sand beside the board and step on the board! Put the board in the water and attached the sail....all is good. His friend picked up the sail and handed it to him as he was standing on the board.....wow, this is getting better all the time, it's all going to work. He sailed a little ways and went to tack. Somehow he dropped the rig in the water....hmmmmm.... no helpful friend to hand him the rig, also no sand like on the beach or grass like in the yard. It seems there is a problem here. So, he paddles back to shore and has his friend hand the rig to him again and sails around a little more being super careful not to drop the rig. So they pack it all up and head for home. Sometime between when they arrived at Jim's home, and the next day, the "Uphaul" was tried out and officially invented. Jim was always a little embarrassed when he told this story as he felt a man with his ability to design things should have seen the flaw in his original plan.
Karen Marriott, US Windsurfing: I was lucky enough to run into Jim and his wife Sam at a number of windsurfing events over the years. As excited as he was to talk about his latest refinements of windsurfing gear, he was just as excited to talk about (or to) the person who just got into windsurfing and was experiencing the sport for the first time. Over all the years of developing high tech gear and working with the superstars of windsurfing, he never got jaded or lost sight of the fun and freedom that windsurfing brings to the average folks on small bays and lakes around the world. With a twinkle in his eye, he would tell tales of the first times he windsurfed, when there was no one to tell him how to use his new creation! He will be missed.
Allen Parducci: Jim was a remarkably intelligent humorist. I think he had a particular fondness for Mark Twain. He occasionally, for parties, dressed like Mark Twain, and very much looked the part. One incident that I remember was his response when I explained to him why the occasional top speeds one experienced on the windsurfer diminished the sense of speed afforded by the much more common lesser speeds. Without pause for reflection, he responded: "Allen, always carry a bucket on a line when you windsurf; as soon as you feel yourself speeding up, throw the bucket in the water; its drag will act as a governor, keeping you from accelerating!"
Tor Bakke: Jim was a dream to work with at the time of the "scatter gun approach" with ideas and bold designs flying in all directions. Always inspirational and optimistic in his own soft spoken way. He calmed us all down. What I found most remarkable for a guy of his magnitude, was that he had all the time in the world listening to others, including my (at that time) 16 year old son, sweeping the floors in the work shop. Although Svein came up with the idea of a wide board, Jim refined it to perfection, and the Starboard Formula 175 just killed it, as the most successful race board to date. He followed up with the Serenity, which is no doubt the most extreme light wind design around - so from one extreme to another, and with a finger in most of the "between stuff" Jim hugely contributed to Starboards success. "Tor, the speed record will be broken by a kite, and it will probable soon be an Olympic sport." I was politely agreeing. His visions, and his ability to simplify seemingly impossible tasks were unique.
We had to custom make a desk for Jim, because he was always working, standing up - and usually with his trade mark hat on. I was extremely proud when I managed to talk Jim into copying his original and bellowed hat (It meant he had to part from it for a while) to mass produce them as Jim Drake hats. Not sure how many we sold - but heaps.
Starboard was throwing lots of parties at the time, and still is of course, but Jim always distinguished himself from the crowd with those nuclear Dry Martini's. Looks stylish Jim, what's actually in them.? "Go and buy a 100 proof Stolichnaya Vodka, a Tangueray Gin, a Vermouth and some olives - and make sure you have a mixer and those deep Champagne goblets. They are larger, ah - and don't forget to put them in the freezer the day before..Need crushed ice too, and I'll come over and shake some delights."
I knew the shopping list had to be followed to perfection, so it took me one day solid to get it all organized, including getting hold of a proper mixer and the glasses.
Svein came along too, so lets say we were three well travelled gentlemen looking forward to enjoy that sunset delight. After some shaking and measuring going on in the kitchen, Jim came serving the ice cold projectiles. Holy cow,- "well for those of you that like Vermouth" and he just nodded towards the kitchen.
Jim was commuting between the US and Thailand regularly, and asked me one day if he could park his car in my yard while he was away. Sure no problem. When my car broke down one day, I sent him a mail asking to borrow his, for a trip to a windsurfing event some good distance away. "Just use it, put as much mileage on it as you possibly can." In reality he had just given me his car, as long as he could "borrow" it when he was here. Quite novel, and understandably his visits became more scarce as time went by. I later traded the car in for a new one with the blessing from Jim, but as you all know - he will never be using it again. "I'm so happy you and your wife are taking good care of "Charlie" - which was his name for the car.
Glad I had the opportunity to meet this gentleman as he truly was. Controversial, innovative, gracious, generous and extremely talented and influential.
Bruce Matlack, One of the first "dirty dozen" windsurfers-1969, First American and World Windsurfer Champion '72-73: As far as the Windsurfer, Jim Drake had the vision to patent the free sail system and adopt a more appropriate, modern sail rig to a sexy, California surf board platform. Whether or not he was exposed to the prior art of Newman Darby, whom the Smithsonian later credited with the invention, may never be known. The modifications that Drake innovated were definitely the tipping point that spurred the sport on to the "mainline" scene everywhere in the world.The sport took off like wildfire in Europe, and to a lesser extent in the US. A huge textile manufacturer in Holland, Ten Cate, was licensed to manufacture the Windsurfer by Drake's patent partner, Hoyle Schweitzer, and virtually overnight Europeans were "surfing" (that's what they called it) "everywhere there was wind and water" (a marketing phrase of Windsurfing International). During this time period Drake had gone back to working in the engineering, science and/or think-tank industry. Schweitzer on the other hand had decided to ditch his boring past and jump headlong into making a business of this new sailing novelty.
Aside from windsurfing, Drake had amazing soft-sell persuasion skills that I witnessed first hand at a presentation he gave on the grassy knoll known as, "The Event Site" in Hood River, Oregon about 2005. Jim presented his involvement in the history of the sport, framed in relation to the "other inventors" that had recently been exposed. I remembered him for this amazing skill that I call, plausable deniability- a phrase I heard recently on NPR. He left us all spellbound with his oratory. He claimed to be "at best" only the "re-inventor" of windsurfing, giving all others credit before his big epiphany; his "Ah Ha!" moment one day in 1967 while driving on the Santa Monica freeway. Freakin' incredible talent I mumbled to myself. I had a number of questions to ask Jim about his particular innovations, but he disappeared, smartly taking no questions. In that 20 minute speech I had witnessed Jim explain that he was at best, only the 3rd guy to come up with the windsurf idea, yet he accepted the "Father of Windsurfing" moniker just the same. I had just heard him deny himself the role of inventor, yet envisioned the hand clapping crowd picking him up on their collective shoulders and carrying him about town anyway, as the sole, true inventor of their sport. I asked myself, "How did he do that? Did he just hood-wink me as well?" He was or could have been a master statesman. He had that power- a master of plausable deniability.
When I notified Guy Le Roux, one-time editor of WINDSURF Magazine (the original windsurfing magazine owned by Hoyle Schweitzer), of Jim's passing, he wrote the following in a return email to me: "I liked Drake. I met him around 1982 at Cabrillo Beach. At the time he was testing a bizarre slab-sided, triangular planform longboard windsurfer with a centerboard at the tail and a canard up front under the mast base. The board didn't look right or work well in my eye. I thought he was a mad scientist. I was not impressed. Around 2004 (or 05) I had a nice chat with him at South Padre Island. He was exasperated at the time by the ISAF having selected the RS:X over the Formula board for the Olympics. It was visibly eating at him. By this time I had developed a new respect for him after following how his NASA-like expertise had helped Starboard refine the Formula Board concept. I asked him for a tip or two on inventing board stuff. His answer: "Modify something that is sort of like your idea--it's a lot faster and cheaper to prototype." His wisdom has stuck in my head..."
The reason I quote Le Roux's email is because of the Drake quote at the end, "Modify something that is sort of like your idea--it's a lot faster and cheaper to prototype". I believe this may summarize Drake's modus operandi when he "re-invented" the Windsurfer. Refine or add to someone else's ideas. We will never really know if this is what he did, since we don't know what Drake really knew of Darby or the others. But I find the quote interesting given my other impressions.
My view: "Re-inventor?" Definitely. "Father of Windsurfing?" I wouldn't go that far. The man? Incredible statesman, listener, visionary. Really a nice guy who will be missed by all.
Day One· Pete Dekay reported: " The AWT was once again blessed with wind and waves as the 2012 Pistol River Wave Bash presented by Naish got off to a stylish start. The junior heats got underway at 11 am and the conditions just seemed to build, and were truly blasting by the time it came to run the pros!
Morgan Noireaux was ripping from the first heat on as he took the youth single elimination against some stiff competition. Despite challenging wave riding conditions he was still able to get incredibly vertical lip-hits that always impress the judges. Ingrid Larouche was back defending her Women's title from last year and really put on a show, but now she really has to look back over her shoulder with 15-year-old Fiona Wylde charging the way she is. One sailor everyone noticed on the water was Attila Tivadar. This guy was always on the best set waves and making the most of them with "bucket-throwing" slashes and impressive airs. Tivadar took the Amateur single elimination and was narrowly beaten by Brian Caserio and Jeff Albright in the Masters.
The rider of the day in the Pro division has to be Sean Aiken (pictured left). His silky smooth style and plan on where to go to get the best waves have taken him all the way into the final, which will run first thing today. Joining Sean in the Pro final are Levi Siver, Kai Katchadourian and Bernd Roediger... it will be quite a show. Other highlights included Kevin Pritchard's impressive Wave 360 in difficult conditions and Graham Ezzy losing half a tooth (OUCH!) to his boom in a heat! " Chris "Muzza" Murray added: "Great first day of the contest here at the AWT Pistol River Wave Bash, with
loads of action! It’s full power windy with some decent chunky waves, brilliant
moves being thrown down including some massive jumps, one footed backies and
super big forwards from Levi. KP pulled off a sweet wave 360 in his heat."
Graham Ezzy (photo right) reported: "I’m at the Pistol River Wave Bash in Oregon. In the second round of competition, I started my heat with a big crash and busted up my face. The bones are fine– just some bruises. The flesh, aside from being tender, is a bit cut but nothing requiring stitches. My front teeth, however, were not so lucky– I lost most of my top left front tooth. The blood everywhere and the intermittent pain weren’t so bad, but my vanity took a hit. Unfortunately, I lost my head a bit (not just literally) for the rest of the heat and ended up with neither intact front teeth nor a win. Well, the double elimination is coming up this weekend, and I’ll put in my contest time before attending to fixing my face."
Chris Freeman added: "Pistol River is a wild and rugged place which initially shakes you to the core before you start to warm up and get into the action. Arriving late Tuesday afternoon to calm winds and sun we had to wait until Wednesday for our initiation Pistol style. Being maxed on 4.0m on inhospitable and cold waters really does wake you out of the Ho'okipa dream. This is real windsurfing and reminds me just what I miss while insulated by our tropical cocoon. After day one I must admit I was a little shell shocked, not just the cold but the extreme conditions on tap."
Day 2· Pete Dekay wrote: "It was another great day with plenty of wind at the 2012 Pistol River Wave Bash presented by Naish! Due to slightly smaller and less consistent waves the call for most of the day was to run the Amateur and Masters double elimination along with a few more women and youth heats.
Morgan Noireaux continued to dominate the Youth with his huge jumps and smooth riding style. But the rider of the day may have been Zane Schweitzer who Push Looped his way passed Casey Rehrer into second. Both of these guys are sailing insanely well and will likely be putting pressure on Noireaux as the year progresses. Chris "Muzza" Murray added: "Here in America they are starting them young, standing out in the ladies was Fiona, and in the pro’s Bernd, who are both 15 year old! In the pros single final Bernd narrowly lost to Levi Siver by just a few points pulling a sick one handed backie, beating all the season pros easily to get second place. Fiona was pushing the ladies going for some crazy forwards, brilliant stuff!
The Women's fleet continued to impress with Ingrid Larouche holding off Fiona Wylde for the lead. These ladies may be serious competitors on the water but it's great to see their camaraderie on the beach as they show how much fun a wavesailing competition can be. The Masters division displayed some amazing sailing from local host Dana Miller who climbed all the way from 10th place to 4th on day two. The final came down to a close heat with Brian Caserio edging out Attila Tivadar, with Jeff Albright bringing up the final podium spot. The events biggest fleet is the Amateurs with 26 entrants. Sailors like Rob Dies, Brett Greene and Dan O'Sullivan made the most of the double elimination to move multiple places up in the standings. The final came down to a battle between Attila Tivadar and Ingrid Larouche with Tivadar getting the final nod for the top podium spot.
By days end the waves improved just enough to run the final of the Pro Single Elimination. There was plenty of wind and shoulder high waves gving these four final competitors plenty of spots to showcase their skills. Bernd Roediger started strong with a stylish one-handed Back Loop right in front of the judges. Sailing slightly upwind for the entire heat was Sean Aiken who also landed and early Back Loop and racked up some nice wave rides. Kai Katchadourian started slowly but heated up as time went on scoring some of the best waves late and also sticking a solid Back Loop. But not to be outdone, Levi Siver (pictured right) took the final with a nice Back Loop and a tweaked-out waveriding style that none of the others could match. But everyone will have another go at these boys with two days left to run the Double Elimination."
Chris Freeman revealed: "Today (Friday) after a slow start the wind turned on but the ankle high waves made heats especially challenging for the riders and the judges. The waves did improve slightly during the day as the doubles ran through and late in the day it was time to defend and attempt to move up. Not much to say but I sailed a bad heat and deservedly lost out and had to settle for third."
Day 3· Pete Dekay reported: "After two long days at the beach, head judge Matt Pritchard gave all the competitors a chance to sleep in by calling for a 1 pm skippers meeting on day 3. It was the perfect call with the wind and waves showing up a little later then previously… but it was time to rip into the Pro double elimination. Early heats saw Casey Hauser sailing very well, but our sailor of the day pick goes to Morgan Noireaux. Not only did he win the youth competition but he is still alive with only three riders left in the Pros. Can he take out Bernd Roediger and Levi Siver? We’ll find out on day four of the Pistol River Wave Bash presented by Naish!
The Womens division was decided on day 3 with Ingrid Larouche taking the title. The competition for second place ended up tied so Fiona Wylde and Sam Bittner were sent out for a battle royale. Wylde narrowly defeated Bittner but all were left smiling after a super fun event."
Day 4· Pete Dekay reported: "The AWT saved the best for last at the 2012 Pistol River Wave Bash presented by Naish. A west swell hit pumping the waves up to logo high for a day that would showcase the final two heats as well as an expression session for a Chinook Carbon Boom.
The first heat saw Morgan Noireaux taking on Bernd Roediger in clash of two of the worlds top young pros. Noireaux started off strong but it was not enough to take down Roediger who was sailing incredibly well. The final came down to Roediger against Levi Siver and it started seeing both riders hitting some big jumps and solid rides... until Siver landed a perfect Wave 360 right in Roediger's face. The battle was definitely on. Roediger tried to match Siver with a Goiter but crashed. The heat was over and Siver claimed victory. What a final heat!
The final session of the event was the Expression Session for a Chinook Carbon Boom. Competitors took the water to see who could land the biggest and most impressive move for the judges. Russ Faurot stuck a massive Back Loop taking and early lead... until Graham Ezzy's Upwind 360 on the wave gave him the lead... but Kevin Pritchard was not to be denied landing his signature one-handed one-footed Back Loop. It was an all Ezzy team podium for the expression session!"
Levi Siver (photo right) said everyone had a blast. He was stoked with his back to back victories and looks forward to the next stop in Baja.
The next AWT event is the US Windsurfing Nationals.
Hood River, Oregon: The Event Site
July 23-26
Slalom, Formula, Freestyle Nationals
Presented by the American Windsurfing Tour Monday, July 23: Check in and Freestyle Event at Event Site Tuesday, July 24-July 26th: Racing begins and Freestyle continues
*I will post new material to this report when it's available*
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The American Windsurfing Tour is helping focus a national spotlight on competitive windsurfing in North America. Their helping hands reached out and saved the annual US Windsurfing National Championship event which had been cancelled at the last minute. With broad industry support, the AWT has now truly defined itself as a show case for all the unique disciplines of windsurfing: wave sailing, racing and freestyle. I've always liked the the name of this organization and with the recent success of the Nationals in Hood River, their name makes even more sense. The umbrella has been opened. They are now a truly American Windsurfing Tour.
US Windsurfing National Championship Rewind · Event Site, Hood River, Oregon - Phil McGain won the 2012 US National Championship in Course Racing (Formula) and Slalom. Wyatt Miller won the Freestyle Title. Photos from every day are found here. Daily reports below include videos. 
The Formula North American Championship was held in San Francisco with 23 competitors who finished the competition just the day before the US Nationals began. Brazilian Wilhelm Shurmann won the Championship. This event shared the stage with the Kite Racing North American Championship. For most of the reporting, including daily video summaries go to this page. And for more day by day detailed race reports, go to Steve Bodner's Blog here.
The Maui Race Series wrapped up for the year with the Neil Pryde Hawaii State Championship. Buzianis won the final contest of the 5 race series. And yes, Phil McGain, after winning the US Nationals, made the starting line on Saturday, July 28 at Kanaha Beach Park. Seems covering ground is a McGain speciality in more ways than one. Maui News reported: "McGain also was a little tired from a week of racing and airline travel. He won national titles in Formula racing and slalom at the U.S. Windsurfing National Championships in Hood River, Ore., that ended on Thursday. 'I was pretty pleased, I sailed well all week,' McGain said. 'I made very few mistakes.' In 12 races at the nationals, McGain didn't fall once. But he crashed in that third heat of the Pro A division. 'It was a lapse of concentration,' McGain said. 'My mind and body are a little bit tired. I was so focused on the nationals, it was hard to focus today. Micah sailed very well. But I like to think I gave him a run for his money.' " Harry Wiewel Photos ~ Jimmie Hepp Photos
With the US Nationals out of the way, the AWT is now down in Punta San Carlos, Baja at Solo Sports running the Quatro Desert Showdown. 
Olympic Live Streaming is available from NBC. Yes, they are covering RS:X racing which starts on Tuesday, July 31, 7:00 am EDT (noon UK time - 5 hours earlier than the US east coast). I watched the first part of the Finn Class Race 1 Monday night. The quality of the broadcast is stunning, just as you'd expect if it was on TV. There is no commentary. Now the hard part. Go here http://www.nbcolympics.com/liveextra/ and answer their questions about your account with your cable provider. If you want to watch the live broadcast or the replays, you will have to prove it is your account by submitting your account name and password. Yikes, kinda scary, huh?
