OK, I havent seen any post related to the Mid-Winters, but here's what happened, THE WIND SUCKED! That said, I had a really good time. There were alot of people from the Atlanta, Augusta and Columbia areas and the locals were great as usual. The Non-Racers meal plan was quite a bargain; beer, meals, T-shirt, raffle (I won a prize), music, etc.
But about the wind, it didnt blow much and when it did, it didnt last long. Finally, Sunday afternoon, it did blow but alot of people had to drive back home Sunday. Also, they ran the Freestyle event sunday afternoon, but alot of us sailed instead of watching because we were so desperate to sail. And, it did rain some, and we did have some storms come thru. At least it was warm.
There was alot of just hanging out. The camping was fun, with everyone getting together and shooting the breeze around breakfast and in the late evening. We even discussed other topics besides windsurfing, (politics and religion), but dont get me started. And at the site we saw the latest gear, and correctly rigged sails, and free Red Bull (event sponser deserves mentioning.) And THANKS to Whitecap Windsurfing (Chuck) and Danny Johnson for providing a keg of beer.
It was fun!
Gene
Gene Mathis
One question - what's Red Bull taste like?
Randy
What happens in a black hole stays in a black hole.
Red Bull tastes like carbonated gatorade and has the kick of about 4-5 cups of coffee, plus a ton of vitamins. They now have a sugar-free version which doesn't taste as good but more friendlier to the mid-section, for those of us who's harness tends to shrink. Rumor has it its great with Vodka. I had a great time myself, and I still owe Gene a dollar.
Plop
Danny Johnson
Gene buy yourself a wide board instead complaining about the wind.
Well, this being my first trip to the Midwinters, all I can say is that I had a BLAST!!! I wasn't really sure if it was going to be worth driving 8 hours. But once I stepped out of my truck and saw all the windsurfing gear laying around, I knew it was going to be a good time. The wind wasn't great but Chuck Hardin made sure we were all taken care... Thanks Chuck/Danny for the BEER!!!
I really enoyed meeting everybody from the Atlanta club and all the guys from ACWA. It was a great time and I can't wait till next year!
Thanks again for everything and I hope to see everybody soon on the water,
Brooks Gant
Montgomery, AL
Oh, Gene, thanks for all the laughs!!!!
Brooks Gant
Montgomery, AL
About all I can say about this year's CMW is that it is probably about the best windsurfing event in the country at which to get skunked. That is no small claim and not just an attempt to put a positive spin on a skunkeroo weekend. But, about 23 ABC and ACWA-affiliated attendees made the best of it and everyone had a great time. What else can you do with such comraderie, HOT weather in Feb., tons and tons of gear to look at, rub shoulders with the big name pros, a chance to try racing along side world champions on the water at the same time, and, personally, I had my first really successful wave surfing sessions at Cocoa Beach. At the Saturday night banquet, Whitecap had reserved 3 big tables -- the only reserved seating in a standing-room-only crowd. After fighting off people who wanted our seats, we had 3 extra seats once all our group had arrived. Up steps Kevin Pritchard and Phil McGain asking for a seat. Of course we had a seat for them "with the little people". That was fun till they snubbed us to sit elsewhere after going through the foodline. Willis Keefe (ACWA member form Columbia, SC) had a clear understanding with the world champion what he, and the rest of us, thought of that sort of behavior. We may be the "little people" but we ain't that little, damn-it. Anyway, speaking of racing, in my first real attempt (Sport Fleet limited longboard 7.5) many felt that I actually won! Officially, I got a "F.A.L." -- first at lunch. To me, that was winning in the pitiful no-wind conditions. The race was called; I realized it first, and beat everybody - a huge crowd -- to the food line.
Reminds me of my last race (before I retired from racing). I was the first (and maybe only) guy to realize that you could use your centerboard as a pretty effective paddle. I think I made it back first to lunch also. (But only becuase all the good guys were able to keep sailing upwind much farther than I until it shut down completely. I was a lot closer to the shore.)
Randy
What happens in a black hole stays in a black hole.
Randy,
Good show! Yet another reason to have a centerboard...
Bill
Beleive it or not, a mast (upper or lower half) makes a usable paddle as well. I had a sail cap break once in the middle of the lake. After derigging my sail, I used the lower half of the mast to paddle back. Probably a little bit of tape or rope and I could have made a real paddle out of it with my harness, or maybe a fin.
Randy
What happens in a black hole stays in a black hole.