« Our final day in Hatteras... | Main | Josh's Summer Job »
Saylorville Dam Jam
Ridin' in style in The Blue Moose
3rd place goes to "Superfreak Paul"
Mmmmm Pizza!
Jeff Adamski from Minnesota
Paul and Margot crossing tacks
Woodette haulin' butt!
2006 US Windsurfer of the year, Kevin Gratton who was also Race Director
Randy trying to catch the blazin' Swede!
Holding down my 9.8m V8 in 20+ knots!
I know it's been a few weeks since my last post, but I've been having computer problems along with a never ending schedule that seems to be keeping me really busy...
So a week and a half ago now, Paul along our whole family travelled to Des Moines, Iowa to attend our good friends regatta 'The Saylorville Dam Jam'. Larry, Uffe, Kevin Gratton and a whole bunch of helpers put on a fantastic event! Great job guys! The Blue Moose survived another 24 hrs on the road without mechanical repair, so we were pretty happy about that. We pay dearly for gas consumption, but the comfort for the kids along with the never ending laughs make it all worth while! Everbody should get a BIG surfmoblie!
I ended up placing first in Formula Class while Paul scooped third in Formula with his new to him Mike Labs ML5. Paul sailed great as he has had some time on his old Starboard formula prior to his ML5. I'm still use to longboard style racing, so it'll take some time on the water to get this Formula style racing down. My laylines need some work and that "I'm Gonna Die" feeling when you go mach 10 downwind will take a bit to overcome!! So much fun though!! Woodette raced very well placing second in Women's A-fleet. The wind was crankin' to 50km/hr gusts and she was hanging on to her 6.4m sail on the Prodigy. She finished every race and only fell once! Now that's an accomplishment all on its own in those conditions. Way to go Schwaby!!!
We had loads of fun (as usual) and look forward to a very active summer on the water!
Stay Cool 
Posted by Brad at May 14, 2007 8:31 PM
Comments
I wish i could return the favor and make it to yours this year, but it just ain't in the cards. We hope you had a great time and look forward to seein you guys back down here to DSM next year
:)Mikey
Posted by: Mikey at May 14, 2007 10:08 PM
Mmm, that pizza looks good. Love Paul's funky shirt.
Great pics bro.
Time to work on your pc problems. 
Posted by: Big Al at May 15, 2007 8:39 AM
Yeah, like where did you get that crappy computer from? ☺ Nice to see some pics up from a great trip!!!
Posted by: pavel at May 15, 2007 10:24 AM
always good photos on yer site Woody, I have sailed my old starboard f-155 in lake superior, a borad which is by no means very wide or extreme, but all the same the feeling going deep downwind in big swells is scary, especially with no chicken strap, most new boards have those now as people got "learned" the hard way
when you dont have one then be scared be very scared.
Posted by: shredulato at May 15, 2007 11:07 AM
Yeah, the road trips are great and way too much fun! Coming back to "rehab" sucks 
Posted by: Woodette at May 15, 2007 11:43 AM
Woody,
Thanks for the hotel info. I am definitely looking forward to the next race!
By the way, Shredulato mentioned something about using a "chicken strap". Is this some sort of harness line quick-release?
If so, I would love to know where to get one. Now that my skills are getting better, I am going much, much faster than before.
Going downwind at close to 25 knots is fun, but scary too! I would love to know how to prevent a major catapult!
Fred
Posted by: Fred at May 15, 2007 12:22 PM
A chicken strap is a foot strap in the middle of the two rear straps on a formula board. If your "chicken" you use the strap downwind, if your "stupid" you dont use it at all...........this way if you do happen to still "go over the handlebars" ...your rear leg will not lift from the back of the board...however if the conditons are that gnarly leg twisting and ligament busting trauma followed with screams and moans is sure to closely follow LOL
Posted by: shredulato at May 15, 2007 12:51 PM
Whatever happened to the 2nd. annual Windsurf regatta in T.Bay???? I'm waiting for an invite for a couple of years now...
Woodette 
Posted by: Woodette at May 15, 2007 2:30 PM
Hmmm, preventing a major catapult? I squish my butt cheeks together and pray to the almighty lord to be easy on me 
As Kevin Gratton would say: "close the gap and don't look back"
No really, a chicken strap helps ALOT! I don't know Fred if there are holes provisioned for a chicken strap on your Bic Techno.
Posted by: Woody at May 15, 2007 9:12 PM
Woodette, Only T bay ray has a course board these days, that kinda limits things right off the start for a regatta here. Years back we had more of a longboard windsurfing crowd and an organized club but it died out. It became alot of work to keep the momentum up, bringing in windsurfing clinics organizing reagattas, over time people had kids, other interests popped up,hard core windsurfers moved away, etc etc. Myself and ray used to reagattas, duluth , minneapolis ,fort frances which had a keen group. Ray still does the Milles lacs crossing. I got tired of travelling keeping up with the jones's with equipment, and gave my coarse board away. Now I find just getting time to sail locally when it blows , and get away on windsurfing vacation keeps me busy enough. It is great to see the windsurfing movement in dryden is strong though!!! We are very impressed , keep up the good work.
Posted by: shredulato at May 16, 2007 7:51 AM
Shred and Woody thanks for the info, and I don't have a chicken strap. So maybe a helmet would be a good idea on those super windy days. 
Posted by: Fred at May 16, 2007 8:30 AM
Shred, you have formula board right? Then why not join us for our Moose Regatta June 29-July 1st? We are planning some fun courses, so everyone without a 'course board' will be able to get around and still be competitive. We'll also be doing a race around an island so it promises to be FUN!!!
Really, try and make the treck dude!
Posted by: Woody at May 16, 2007 8:08 PM
Has the wooden woodie board seen any action yet?
Posted by: Michael at May 18, 2007 6:57 AM
Yes, I did get the 'Woody' out on the weekend (pun intended!) and it was a great ride! It reminded me of a cedar strip canoe how it sounds in the water. Sweet jibing board! I'll get a more in depth report together after a full day on the water this season.
Posted by: Woody at May 18, 2007 7:52 AM
Canada day weekend is a bad weekend for me, as we have cottage up north and its a big family weekend for everyone, but you never know...
Posted by: shredulato at May 21, 2007 1:38 PM
