Fleet 8 Snowkiting

Snowkite schedule rings in early for 2008!

Jan. 5-6 Snowkite Rally Swede Lake, Watertown, MN

Jan. 19-20 Kiters Winterfest Green Lake, Spicer MN

Feb. 29- Mar. 2 Kite Crossing Lake Mille Lacs, Garrison, MN

It just seems that every year, shortly after Swede Lake freezes, seeds are planted by Nathan and his cohorts, and by the first snowfall, there is a full-fledged amusement park for snowkiters. Swede Lake has definitely become the metro-area gathering spot for snowkiters. The weekend of the 5th & 6th may just launch the pent-up energy of a flock of snowkiters, worth the experience whether you are into kiting or just still thinking about it and want to observe. More information on this event is available at lakawa

Winterfest, Green Lake, Spicer, MN: It all started with an invitation to Winterfest in Spicer, the promise of ice-castles and fireworks, not to mention, an art exhibit and wine tasting. That might be enough for most, but snowkiters might be looking for something more like say, redemption for a lackluster finish at a recent Kite Crossing. Yes, the weekend is primarily a freeride session for snow kiters, but for those looking for redemption, or just want to train for the Kite Crossing, there will be a Snowkite Enduro. And if the wind don’t blow on Friday, a terrain park may just develop. Our host will be Melvin’s on the Lake and more details will be available shortly.

4th annual Kite Crossing After two years of Mother Nature’s abuse – oops I’m sorry, challenges – it will happen again. But please understand the frustration of the organizers and staff after the past two years of just tying to maintain safety. The Kite Crosssing was the first and longest challenge for snowkiters, and they plan to make sure it remains numero uno. So be prepared! The majority of snowkiters will probably opt for the simple marathon rather than the iron-man, but please don’t blame the organizers. They’ve been frustrated with Mother Nature and they just want the Kite Crossing to remain the premiere snowkite endurance event.

The Crossing Redefines Epic… Again!

It happened once again in Garrison, MN, on the shores of Lake Mille Lacs. The first was 25 years ago when 35 windsurfers gathered to take on the first of Minnesot’s Ultimate Challenge. The wind blew 30 mph and limited visibility kept them close to shore. But the cars lined up for over a mile and a half along Hwy 169 to watch Minnesota’s best windsurfers test their skills on a newly-found, inland ocean.

This time, it was the last weekend in September, and in addition to the windsurfers who had carried the event for 25 years, they had extended an invitation to the kiters. A select group of the top twenty kiters in the region joined 45 windsurfers to make history as the first combined long-distance event in this quarter of the world. The Mille Lacs Crossing had already established itself as the longest running, longest in distance and most attended event in windsurfing history. And even more spectators lined up in amazement, watching extreme wind and waves provide the ultimate thrill ride for those who stepped up to take on the new ultimate challenge.

Once again, Mother Nature said “not so easy”. Winds forecasted for 22 mph gusting to 32 actually blew well over 30 while the race committee tried to set the start lines and course marks. It ended up being a very challenging start venue for both kiters and windsurfers, but talent and perseverance was in the majority. While the end result was not a true crossing, 4 miles out and back, two laps, the 16-mile challenge was more than equal to any previous Crossing. And the safety aspect was able to be maintained at one of the highest levels.

Winds had tapered a little by the start, but wave conditions remained challenging keeping the Sport fleet and many others from making it out onto the lake. Windsurfers on longboards were limited to one lap, with Peter Hill first in on his Imco, followed by Jack Wiley, Wayne Anderson and Don Specht. Margot Woodworth was the first and only woman to finish. Winds faded a little more during the second lap creating a real challenge for those that had rigged for the big winds before the start. Jeff Hotvet was the first of the 16 windsurfers to complete the 16-mile, two lap course, barely edging out Rob Evans and Shannon Hill.

As usual, wind dictated most of the event. Four course races were completed on Friday before gathering at the Y-Club for the Welcome party. While the wind gradually faded at the end of the Crossing on Saturday, it quickly rebounded to provide a post-race session that kept both kiters and windsurfers on the water until darkness took over. While many barely dragged themselves to the Y-Club to catch the last of the buffet, even more were missing in action later at the Blue Goose. Sunday’s morning dousing of rain and inconsistent wind forecasts cancelled races for the day and the Awards Party was held three hours earlier to help accommodate the many long-distance returns to home.

It was considered an experiment, the first of it’s kind, kiters and windsurfers taking on the ultimate long-distance challenge. The trump card was huge, a returning support staff with over 15 years average experience backed by the continuing sponsorship of the Garrison Commercial Club and everGreene Jewelers, along with Midwest Mountaineering and Extreme Action Sports. And once again, Lake Mille Lacs demonstrated why it is THE venue for world-class events.

Next up: The Kite Crossing, February 29th thru March 2nd.

Results:

Windsurfers – Open Class
1st – Jeff Hotvet (Wayzata, MN)
2nd – Rob Evans (Orono, MN)
3rd – Shannon Hill (Mosier, OR)
4th – Steve Johnson (Shoreview, MN)
5th – Jeff Adamski (Elk River, MN)

Longboard Unlimited
1st – Wayne Anderson (Elkhart Lake, WI)

Longboard Limited
1st – Peter Hill (Minneapolis, MN)
2nd – Jack Wiley (Marshfield, WI)
3rd – Don Specht (Bloomington, MN)

Women
1st – Margot Woodworth (Dryden, Ont)

Kiters
1st – Chris Bargsten (New Brighton, MN)
2nd – Jon Stroh (Prior Lake, MN)
3rd – Eric Paulson (Aitkin, MN)
4th – Tighe Belden (Minneapolis, MN)
5th – Nathan Borer (Mayer, MN)

“The Crossing” is less than 2 weeks away!

The Crossing 2007

The leaves will again be exploding in color, the waves will turn threatening and the spirit and comradery will peak high, but the Crossing will set sail on a new course for 2007. We have closed the door on the monumental 25 years of the Mille Lacs Crossing and abbreviated the name to simply The Crossing. We have a new logo for the sweatshirt, a new format for the course and as if the windsurfers weren’t crazy enough, we have officially added kites to the scenario.

Logistics has forced us to go to an out’n’back, similar to what we sailed last year. It will be a total distance of 16 miles, slightly longer than the average Mille Lacs Crossing. Besides the benefit of being able to square the course better to the wind, the out’n’back eliminates shuttling and certainly promotes the social element after the finish. Kiters will sail a parallel course to the windsurfers 100-150 yards downwind with separate turning marks, yet using the same finish line. We needed to limit the actual Crossing to 20 kiters, so we sent out invitations to a select group of 35, with the first to respond making the final cut.

Course racing on Friday and Sunday will give the windsurfers Mowind points for the 2008 season. On Friday, we will run the kiters with the windsurfers on the same course with a different start. Last year, one of our windsurfers actually kited with the other windsurfers on the same course and equaled the performance of the top windsurfer. On Sunday, we will run a boarder-cross for the kiters and/or possibly some form of jump contest. Kiters who didn’t qualify for the select 20 can register and compete on Friday and Sunday, as well as kite at the start/finish venue.

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Waconia Wind & Wave
The winds on Saturday teased and played with attempts to race. The three races before lunch could have benefited from hitting the water sooner, but the morning started out with laxadazical rigging and socializing. The wind faded shortly after the start of the 3rd race. Of course, it freshened up while the group chowed on lunch, but it took an extra 20 minutes to get the committee boat started and the wind faded again shortly after the start of the only afternoon race. But the spirits remained high as the crew gathered for the evening shrimp boil.

Sunday was a different story. The breeze fluctuated somewhat, but mostly stayed above 20 with gusts up to 30. Two races were sailed before lunch, with four more in the afternoon. The switch to a World Cup course made it a little easier for the sport fleeters and left Jeff Adamski and Steve Johnson smoking around the course so close to each other, you would have thought they were back on a tandem.

Open Class
1st-Jeff Adamski (Elk River, MN)
2nd-Larry Miller (Brainerd, MN)
3rd-Steve Johnson (Shoreview, MN)

Limited Class
1st-Peter Hartwich (Excelsior, MN)
2nd-Dave Chizek (Excelsior, MN)
3rd-Arnie Cleveland (Prescott, WI)

Women
1st-Kris Diller (Mound, MN)
2nd-Kelly Johnson (Shoreview, MN)

Sport Class
1st-Deb Ukura (Golden Valley, MN)
2nd-Piotr Waszczuk (Shoreview, MN)
3rd-Rutger Van Huber (Eden Prairie, MN)

REMAINING 2007 EVENTS

Sept 22-23 – Windpower Championships – Kevin Gratton – 920-922-2550 – Fond-du-lac, WI

Sept. 28-30 – The Crossing for 2007 – Michael Fox – 612-508-8083 – Lake Mille Lacs, Garrison, MN

Fleet 8 Update: Sept. 24

Within a Week!
We are within a week of the Crossing. Anyone having problems with finding lodging or camping should feel free to contact us. Remember, the last deadline for advanced registration is Monday. Hopefully, everyone received the Official Program. If you don’t get it shortly, please update us with your physical mailing address.

We are happy to announce that the 25th Mille Lacs Crossing will be recorded as a milestone. It has been confirmed that an independent cinematographer and a Twin Cities TV station will each be filming the action, on-the-water and off. We look forward to adding some of this coverage to our website at fleet8.com.

Category Clarification. In addendum to the Notice of Race, Formula class is for equipment that falls within the parameters of the International Formula Class, length 216-281 cm, width 67-100.5 cm and no daggerboard. At check-in, unlimited/open class will be recorded for the purpose of Mowind and/or national scoring. It encompasses Formula and unlimited longboard equipment. Awards for the Crossing will be for the equipment sailed during the Crossing. Hybrids will be scored in the Prodigy class. We hope this clarifies the categories. If you have any questions, please contact us.

Kiters Invited to Compete, but not Cross.
A sincere effort was put forward over the past year to include kiting in the Mille Lacs Crossing format. It has been discussed over by kiters who have windsurfed the Crossing and the more we looked at it, the more the logistics that challenge the windsurfer format create even more of a problem for kiting. With the success of the two winter Kite Crossings, we want kiters to be a part of the 25th Crossing. Not exhibition like in recent years, but actually competing on the water. This will be the first kite competition on water for the kite community that has set the bar for winter contests. Depending on the conditions, kite-cross or world-cup course will allow local talent to display their kite-handling skills. Needless to say, kite competition will not be held during the time of the actual crossing.

The fee for kiters to compete will be $60 which includes the breakfast and banquet on Saturday, and a sweatshirt. The social package for those not competing will be $40 or $18 for just the banquet. These fees are for those electronically registered by Wednesday, with a $15 penalty for those who wait until later.

Lodging

EconoLodge Reasonable rooms, jacuzzi suites, whirlpool, sauna, continental breakfast. 800-839-7006

Garrison Inn & Suites Jacuzzi suites, indoor pool & spa, kids under 18 free with adult. 320-692-4050*

Grand Casino Mille Lacs Hotel with indoor pool, hot-tub & sauna. 800-468-3517

Lake Mille Lacs Resort Motel with spa, indoor pool, restaurant & lounge. 800-657-4704

Pike Point Resort Modern, housekeeping cabins, RV hookups. Kathy & Troy 800-249-1686*

Ray?s Boat Dock Cabins, camping, RV hookups boat ramp & launch. Ray & Ginger 218-678-4129

Rolling Hills Secluded family resort, modern cabins, beach, 1.5 mi. behind Headquarters. 320-692-4348

Twin Pines Resort Lodging, restaurant, bar, wet bike rentals. Linda & Bill Eno 320-692-4413*

The Red Door Clean, spacious rooms with color TV. Fred & Debbie 218-678-2660

Camping

Barnacles RV hookups, tent camping, protected harbor, bar & restaurant. 218-678-3122

Mille Lacs Kathio State Park Self-guided nature trails, hiking trails. Park permit required. 320-532-3523

Wilderness Campground Tent camping, showers. 320-692-4347*

* Within 5 minutes of social and race meeting sites.