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By Kevin on March 3rd, 2011
 Comments are closedWow! A dream finally come true! I finally made it to Salt Lake City for some SnowKiting in the Mountains and to participated in the SnowKite Masters Event! Something on my bucket list since I heard of it a number of years ago. I had been out to Salt Lake skiing in 1983 with my brother Andy and Friend Jerry Kiesow form work. We had an awesome time, skied 9 different mountains with the last being Jackson Hole. I always wanted to go back there but with my new addiction to windsurfing I was spending all my vacation time on the beaches.
We satisfied our addiction in the winter by sailing of some form on the lakes. Voila! Along comes Kiting! With the advent of kiting we were soon satisfying our new addiction in the winter again kiting on the lakes and sometimes on land given the right conditions. Soon the magazines were featuring articles on SnowKiting. As soon as I saw that I my desire to return to Utah started to re-flame. 4 years ago Bob LeGault, one of my friends a windsurfing/Kiting student of mine was relocated to Salt Lake City for his job. We have stayed in touch and he would tell me stories of him kiting in the mountains with some of the best SnowKiters in the USA. Of course he invited me and friends to come out and join him. Last year Mark Grienert one of my better traveling buddies were trying to make the trip happen. Sad to say, too many things got in the way. I told myself next year it would be my most important trip. I made it happen this year but sad to say none of my other kiting friends could make it.
Bob picked me up at the airport Tuesday and we stopped at his house and quickly loaded up and headed to Strawberry Reservoir, where he was in a competition, placing 2nd in the amateurs 2 weeks ago. After sending an e-mail to Bob to find out what kite sizes to bring, I was surprised with his reply that his most used kite was a 17m. So I packed my 16, 12 and 9 all in a Naish Golf bag. Arriving at Strawberry Tues. afternoon there was absolutely no wind. I took some pictures and was amazed to see snow over my head. Awesome terrain for both Kiting and snowmobiling. Upon returning to Bob”s house I needed rest after getting up @ 3:30 and picking up a bug at the Milwaukee airport and suffering a little altitude sickness. Dehydration in the higher altitudes gives me bad headaches. Coffee and alcohol don’t help at all. Once I drink enough water (about a gallon a day) I’m fine. I need to start at home for my next trip. Wednesday morning I woke-up feeling much better and we packed up and headed to the Event Site for the SnowKite Masters.
Check the Event out at www.snowkitemasters.com On the way up the mountain we checked out many of the sailing and summer kiting spots on Utah Lake which is just south of Salt Lake. We also stopped at the Skyline Motel we’ll be staying in tonight after attending the pre-registration Party! Up the mountain pass we continued, the wind was pretty much non-existent. At about 90% to the top we finally saw a little wind. Wow when we got to the top it was blowing snow. I got my trusty wind meter out and it peaked at 30mph, average of 25 mph. Bob gets his wind report from Kenny at www.forum@utahwindriders.org I must say Kenny was dead on with his report, but it didn’t look good on the way up. We pulled in the parking lot to find a two other vehicles and they were just starting to setup. You wouldn’t believe but the little mini-camper next to us were from Chicago. Amanda and Steven, with a friend from Germany. We pumped up our 9′s and headed out on the mountain terrain. It didn’t take me long to appreciate Bob’s local knowledge. Before I went far he warned me I was headed for a cliff. Visibility was not the best with angle of the light and blowing snow. I told Bob I would follow him and we went downwind and up a large hill. Something I had never done before with a kite. After getting to the top Bob told me to de-power the kite and we’d go down the hill. Well being cautious I de-powered my kite to the max and it would hardly fly. After finally putting it back to full power I could fly the kite and go down the hill. Did I say really haul ASS down the hill. The more we did it the more comfortable it was. Bob had his GPS on and topped at about 38mph. We then decided to go upwind to the top of another cornice. I followed Bob and watched him adeptly maneuver through a ravine. I was checking it out and positioning myself when he hollered that there was a wind hole there. I decided to pass on ride, not wanting to get stuck in the ravine with no wind.
Did I say getting around in all that snow was exhausting at that altitude. After riding till we were beat, we took a break before a second session. Summary: Coming from the lakes to the mountains is like going from the lakes to Maui waves windsurfing. My former student Bob became my instructor in the mountains. I was very fortunate to have him in Salt Lake City.
Checkout www.kitesites.com for awesome video of kiting in Utah.
By Kevin on February 8th, 2011
Comments are closed I can think of many reasons to attend a Regatta, a Windsurfing, Kiting, or sailing event.
No.1 It’s a party! A get-together with friends that enjoy the same sports you do. Everyone likes to have others around them to kite, windsurf or sail with when they are enjoying their sport. You have to admit it’s more fun when there are others to watch and hoot, holler and encourage when doing your sport. Most people find the social aspect of the sport a big part of the sport and a boost to the fun factor. You meet new friends that enjoy the same thrills you do. At work your fellow workers are probably sick of listening to you babble about how much fun you had in the wind. Why, they hate the wind, for it makes their sports harder or impossible. They don’t understand your psych, nor do they want to. When you get to the beach it’s a whole different story. Everyone wants to hear you story and share theirs. So go and party with those who enjoy those who enjoy your sport.
No. 2 It’s a great way to learn and improve! For those new to the sport, they can hang with those experienced and learn from them. Most of the those I have meet are more than willing to share and HELP those who are learning. Remember all of us were Beginners at one time and we don’t forget those days. We want to help beginners get through the tough times as fast as possible and enjoy the sport at a higher level. I have personally watch and experienced everyone who competes improve a much greater rate than those who fine every excuse to not compete. How many have said they are not competitive but when you see them on the water they are trying to out do others. Jumping higher, going faster, or doing harder or more tricks. Those sailors should be honest to themselves and join the FUN.
No.3 It’s Fun Competition! It’s fun to compare yourself to others. Getting the jitters on the starting line is exciting. Where else do you get a rush like that? It’s great fun to be next to your friends pushing eachother to do your best. You will find you push yourself harder than when you are alone. I enjoy cheering others on and hooting it up. It will promote you to pay more attention to techniques, equipment setup and tuning, tactics and weather.
No.4 Help Promote your great sport! Having a Competition bring a bigger group than normal and showcases our sport. It entices and creates interest in those who watch to join the fun. How can one not help wanting to participate in a sport where everyone is having so much fun.We all want to share our enjoyment of our great sport and help it grow. So we have more friends to Party with!
No.5 Don’t be a Party Pooper! If you enjoy Competitions and would like to see more of them as well as see the existing ones grow to higher levels, you must attend. Not attending an event because of lack of wind is the most common excuse. Forecast are often wrong, weather always changes. Wind can come out of no-where.
That mentality is the quickest and sure way to kill a Competition or Event. Think of the big picture of the makings of an Event. You must have a race organizer, support personnel and sponsorship of some kind. A lot of behind the scene work goes on. Not attending because the forecast does not look good puts all their work in vain. The sponsors do not see a return for their investment, therefore they pull out. Soon the event is history.
So remember instead of contacting your friends and telling them you are not going to make the Event because of a poor forecast. Contact all you’re friends and tell them to come and join you at the Party!
By Kevin on January 25th, 2011
Comments are closed The annual Sturgeon Stampede Winter Kiteboarding Classic will be held Feb. 11-13, 2011 on the ice off Fisherman’s Road Landing on lake Winnebago, Fond du Lac, WI. The event is organized by WAK (Winnebago Association of Kiteboarding) with support from Wind Power Windsurfing & Kiting Center.
Click here for the Notice of Event flyer. | Click here for the WAK web site.
 2011 WAK Sturgeon Stampede Event flyer
By Kevin on October 17th, 2010
- (Comments are closed) Wind Power has upgraded the Photo Gallery on the web site. The new Gallery has many features such as ratings, comments, search, upload, download and has full HD images (high-definition 1920x1080px). You can read more about the features at the Gallery Help page. It’s pretty easy to use, but there are some nice tips on the help page. There are a bunch of 2010 events posted and new content will be added as events occur. Wind Power may post events from prior years too. The upload, ratings and comments part of the Gallery are a great place to participate. So, we encourage you to check out the Gallery and get involved.
Check out the New Gallery here!
The site navigation menu can take you to the Gallery top level or using the drop-down menu to a specific area of the Gallery (windsurf, kitesurf, open-bic, & upload). Enjoy it! Your comments / feedback are welcome.
By Kevin on October 3rd, 2010
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Race Results (.pdf): A-Fleet results | Sport-Fleet results | Workshop Fleet results | All Fleet results
This was the 25th Annual Wind Power Championships on the south end of Windy Lake Winnebago. The weather forecast had light wind for Sat. afternoon and Sunday, but the wind Gods were with us and we had great conditions.
Regattas are a fun time when Windsurfers get together, attendance based on wind conditions can often leave one wishing they had attended as was the case at this event. Go to a regatta to hang with a great bunch of sailors, get out of the rut, improve your abilities, have fun while learning from others. Racers always get the most out of the wind.
Wind Power was honored to have racers attend from out of state: TBay Ray from Thunder Bay Canada, ,Joe Boersma and his son Mark from Mich., Jeff Deganor Mich,, Niles Book from the UP, Tom Stokes from Ind., Larry Reed, Randy Howell. Friedehlm and Steve Calloway from Ia., Robin Shaw brought his Monster Van all the way from Ia., The Johnson family of 4, Adam Anderson, Jerry B and Peter H from Mn., The Mike Reed family, Mic Igoe and his mother Jean, Steve Willits, Alex Monroe and his new wife all from IL. And not least, all those fun racers from Wisconsin.
 
54 racers in all, 27 in the A-Fleet, 18 in the Sport Fleet and 9 in the Workshop Fleet were treated to the wind left over from Friday. Figure 8 Slalom racing was setup right off the beach for Sat. morning. The wind was forecasted to become light in the afternoon and hold for the rest of the weekend. Some tried using shortboards or Formula boards others used their longboards and there was very exciting racing with a lot of action at the jibes. Every race Saturday had a different winner in the A-Fleet, Jim Magnuson won 2 slalom races in the Sport Fleet and Andrea Gratton dominated the Workshop Fleet. After 3 races of slalom and a short lunch break the racers were treated to the World Famous M Course (see image below). The M Course has 5 jibes in a row and that can be challenging. A Course race should be a test of sailing in all points of sail and the M course does it the best. The A-Fleet did an extra windward/leeward. The afternoon course race had the wind die as predicted and the second race was cancelled. Everyone got ready for the evening meal and MoWind Year End Awards at the Sunset Supper Club next door to the race site. After a free drink on the SunSet Supper Club a great meal of pasta, chicken, salmon or prime rib followed. Arden Anderson and Don Altmeyer handed out this years MoWind Awards. Don picked out a nice navy blue windbreaker with the MoWind logo and 2010 Race Series printed on it. Go to the MoWind web site; www.mowind.org. to see the 2010 year end results and class winners. The famous bonfire followed and as the evening got late the wind started to build. Those who were last at the fire were hoping the wind would hold for Sunday racing.
Click to Image Start Slideshow
Sunday mornings 9:30skippers meeting had light wind. Again the World Famous M Course was set. Racing was fun with the A-Fleet and Sport Fleet starting together. A total of 45 at the start meant for some interesting jocking for position especially in the last minuet to the start. A good position at the start was important to get clean wind for the upwind race to the first buoy. During the first race the wind started to build. By the start of the second race you could almost plane and smiles were everywhere on the race course. Races 6, 7, 8 and 9 had planning conditions which lead to a lot of excitement on the course. Some racers were jibing out of control, either from the challenge of their equipment or their ability for the wind strength. Carnage at the jibe marks can attest to that. A few of the starts had some big crashes with 5 or 6 racers in a pile. There was even a high speed collision at the windward mark on the last race resulting in a big hole in the bottom of a sail. Even with all the action and crashing everyone had a blast. Everyone was smiling and tired when they returned to the beach after 5 races. Sunday was some of the best conditions for course racing at any MoWind event this year. A footlong Sub for lunch was followed with the Year End MoWind raffle that Peter Hartwitch so graciously ran. Neils Zaunmueller won the grand prize a KA Sail, Tom Stokes, Del Carpenter and Phil Barhouse each won a GPS, and the Windtronics Wind Meter went to Jeff Adamski.
 The 'M' Race Course Awards and door prizes were handed out for the wrap up of another great Wind Power Championships.
  the group picture image is linked to a full resolution (1500×2100) .jpg image if you want to print a 5″x7″. Just click the image to view or right-click and save target as..(or save link as depending on browser/os)
Kevin would like to thank all of those who took time from their busy schedules to attend. Most importantly he would like to thank those who helped make the event run smoothly. Ann Gratton race director, Greg Liefer and Leah Altmeyer race committee, Peggy Wing for her excellent photography all weekend (next year she is racing), Mary Davies for registration and running the shop, Jennifer Wettstein assisting in the planning and organizing, Mike Bierworth for computer and web site support, My mother, brother Andy, niece Andrea and nephews Rob and Blaise for help in so many ways. Many Kudos to the gracious prize sponsors: NAISH, Maui Sails, Chinook, Aerotech Sails.
See you next year, bring your friends and family!
 Thanks to our sponsors for their support of this event.
By Kevin on October 2nd, 2010
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Race Results: 2010 Winnebago Super Crossing Results (.pdf)
Friday Sept.24th was a day to remember with near perfect conditions for a Winnebago Lake Crossing from the south end to the north end, a distance of 26 miles. The wind direction was WSW so getting to High Cliff State Park meant sailing on a broad reach. With winds in the upper 30’s gusting into the 40’s it would be challenging to say the least. 4 kiters: Don Altmeyer, Ed Schneider, Jeff Ross and Matt Schmitz left around 10:30 all on 8m kites except for Ed on an 11m. At around 11:00 Jeff Knutson who sponsored the race had the 14 Windsurfers line up on the 1st sand bar off Roosevelt County Park and take off after the 3rd horn in the high winds for High Cliff.
With the kiters gone from the horizon I beach started my Naish Super Cross 114 with Naish Force 5.0. I immediately accelerated to a high speed. Getting comfortable in the footstraps I started to bear off to the ledge by Stockbridge that looked like a far away island from the beach. I noticed most of the fleet was down wind of me making for Deadwood Point. I could clearly see Andy’s 6.2 sail screaming for the point along with Zack and Jacob. I wondered how Andy could hold down that 6.2 so well, for I had my hands full with the 5.0 and I wasn’t even bearing off enough to make High Cliff. I noticed Magnus just downwind of me and both of us needed to bear off a lot. I reached back on the boom and over-sheet at the same time bearing off towards the island of land in the far distance. Immediately accelerating to an uncomfortable speed charging down the face of the wave trying not to plow into the back of the wave I was about to overtake. I’m working and breathing hard, going way faster than I’m comfortable and I need to go 25 more miles like that! I also know from experience that the north end of the lake has bigger waves and often the wind is stronger. After crashing twice, I admit defeat. I know I can not make it with the equipment I choose. Rather than beat my beaten body some more I’d jibe and come back to the stairs. On the way back I see Magnus trying to bear off, Andy and Jacob sailing past Deadwood Point. The rest of the group seemed to be between the Point and the south end of the lake, all struggling. I could see Mark Schmitz struggling on my 4.2 after I pressured him into giving the Crossing a try with the 4.2 because his smallest sail is a 6.5. I wanted to go and trade sails with Mark so I could continue on the Crossing but decided it would only make getting back worse for Mark.
Click to Image Start Slideshow
tip: watch the slideshow full-screen for best quality image (click the ‘square’ at right end of slideshow controls)
Once back on the Beach I saw Arden finish rigging his 5.3. He was leaving the water when we started the race because he was overpowered on his 6.2 and went home to get a smaller sail. I watched him sail north with the 5.3 and could see he was still too over powered to make 26 miles. Racers were returning to the beach and I decided the best thing I could do was go up the east side of the lake and try to find racers who abandoned the race. While I was leaving Neils Zaunmueller was dropped off by a Sandy Beach resident who saw he needed assistance and brought him and his gear back. I called Jeff Knutson and he was already at High Cliff getting ready to cook brats and serve beer to the finishers. I found Magnus just coming at Club Altmeyer, he was wore out. We loaded his equipment and headed north to Fisherman’s Road. We saw a lone sailor sitting on his board drifting in. Low and behold it was my brother Andy. He has broken his mast with his face after his 3rd wipeout. (He got a black eye) Tom Stokes called me and gave me an update of the sailors back at the shop. All sailors were accounted for except Jacob. I called Jeff and he could see 4 kiters in the horizon. After loading Andy’s gear we headed north again to Columbia County Park in Pipe. There we found Jacob’s gear on the lawn in tack but no Jacob anywhere. We let Jeff know and by then the kiters were in, enjoying the great picnic Jeff brought for them. We headed back to Wind Power not happy about Lake Winnebago kicking our butts.
It was still blowing hard when we got back. Most everyone rigged smaller sails (4.2 – 3.8) and sailed till dark. Jeff Knutson and the kiters returned from High Cliff and we all shared our experiences. Matt and Trip joined me for a sunset kiting session on our 8m kites. I think I could have been on a 5m.
Again thanks to Jeff Knutson of A-A Exteriors.com for another great job running the Winnebago Super Crossing. Lesson learned, get out on the water and tune, and don’t rig too big when your heading north to the other end of our great Lake. Either way it was a very fun and windy day. I am already looking forward to next years crossing! Hoping to get conditions like we had to give it another try. Problem is we get conditions like that about once in 8 – 10 years. We’ll see what next year brings.
Kevin Gratton – USA 8
By Kevin on September 22nd, 2010
Comments are closed Background Info:Kevin Gratton, owner & lead instructor of Wind Power Windsurfing & Kiting Center, had shoulder replacement (right) in December of 2009. For years Kevin had shoulder problems that kept him off the water and with significant physical limitation and pain. After the surgery, during Kevin’s therapy he teamed up with the ‘Back in Action Rehabilitation Center’. Kevin is back on the water and windsurfing again. Kevin had offered the ‘back-in-action’ team to a one day Windsurf Clinic and it was help on Sunday September 12, 2010 at Roosevelt County Park in Fond du Lac (across from Wind Power). Following is a summary of the clinic/picnic and back-in-action comments. You can find more info and a link to ‘Back in Action Rehab’ below.
Those of you who missed the Windsurfing Picnic, you should put it on the top of their to-do list for next year. It was such a success we are going to do it again. Windsurfing, Sailing and Fun on the Beach: Back-in-Action by Popular Demand!
Back-in Action therapist John, Jennifer, Erik, Mike and assistant therapist Lynn along with Hailey (John’s daughter and Lexis, Mike’s girl friend) spent the afternoon learning how to enjoy the water and wind with a surfboard and sail. Kevin Gratton, a past and future product of Back-in-Action’s therapy, put on an afternoon of fun for those who helped him so graciously return to Windsurfing after his shoulder replacement. Kevin was so happy with the his many hours spent at Back-in Action doing therapy he felt it was the least he could do to introduce the sport of Windsurfing to everyone at Back-in Action.
Kevin is looking forward to the second annual Wind Power/Back-in–Action Watersports picnic this coming spring. Kevin feels confident some of this years participants can help me teach the ones that were not fortunate to make it this year. He also thinks they can probably incorporate some of the techniques they learned into their everyday therapy, LOL
Everyone had a great time with many laughs. The water was refreshing with the 80 degree temps. Images of the event can be seen in the windsurf gallery or click the image below.
 2010 Wind Power & 'Back in Action' Clinic/Picnic
We don’t have pictures of Mike because he is a diehard Packer fan. Hailey gets the award for the most effort, she was always going somewhere, she sailed till she was exhausted. John went out the farthest, Jennifer stayed warm in her wetsuit. She didn’t really need it as she was never in the water. Lynn was playing Helga and getting in everyone’s way. Erik did well with his red-eye handicap. A few dips in the lake help clear the cobwebs.
After sailing the group enjoyed brats and hot dogs from John’s grill, and a few well deserved beverages.
Kevin had a great time and is looking forward to next year’s party as well as more time doing Therapy with the great gang at Back-in-Action. Next year Kevin plans to include Kids Sailing and Stand Up paddling…
Comments from the ‘Back-in-Action’ Clinic/Picnic participants
“Awesome Stuff!! Lot’s of Fun….” John
“Keep up the good work…You do a great job at instructing, very comfortable and supportive. “ Jennifer
“I had a blast, getting to see John in a bathing suit was added bonus…
….See ya next year”
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