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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”
By Kevin on September 15th, 2010
Comments are closed If you haven’t heard or did not receive the Wind Power Official Flyer via e-mail. Here’s the scoop on the upcoming event. If you want to sign-up for newsletter, click here.
The 2010 Winnebago Supercrossing (sponsored by A-A Exteriors, Jeff Knutson) & Wind Power Championships are being held September 24-26, 2010 at Roosevelt County Park, Lake Winnebago, Fond du Lac, WI. Wind Power Windsurfing & Kiting Center is across the street and is celebrating it’s 27th Year! Please see the attached flyer for more information and registration form.
The weekend begins on Friday with the Lake Winnebago Supercrossing. Typically we leave from Roosevelt County Park (Wind Power) and we sail north to a destination determined at the skipper’s meeting based on conditions & forecast. With ideal conditions (west wind), it is possible to sail full length of Lake Winnebago (28 miles). We will have kite racing if the winds allow for it (west to north for Wind Power launch). This has occurred once in history of the Supercrossing. Please contact Jeff or Kevin for more details if you are new to the Supercrossing. Saturday & Sunday are the Wind Power Championships.
You can view the Official Notice of Race Flyer here (or click the image below).
see you there!
By Kevin on August 31st, 2010
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Local Windsurfers Win in Canada
Dryden, ONTARIO – August 12th, 2010
Race Results: A-Fleet (.pdf) | Sport-Fleet (.pdf) | CMWA Winners (.pdf)
This past weekend, 65 Canadian and American competitors traveled to the waters of Lake Wabigoon near Dryden, Ontario, to compete in the 2010 Canadian Masters, a national windsurfing regatta. With winds consisting from light to none, the racers competed in 9 races with nearly 3,000 spectators watching from shore. The weekend was a hit with great entertainment and fun parties allowing locals and competitors to mix it up a bit at the “No shirt, no shoes, no problem dude” Surfers’ Dance.
“All of the competitors were very impressed with Dryden as a host community. Dryden should be extremely proud of how it was able to coordinate its volunteers, sponsors and City departments”, stated Brad Woodworth, the busiest man at the regatta who organized and competed in Dryden.
The competitors received awards in both their age divisions as well as an overall scoring system with local windsurf shop owner Kevin Gratton winning Grand Master in his division while his brother Andy Gratton of Oshkosh placed first in the Masters’ division. Andy also placed first in the entire regatta after a close tie with Nick Cox of Ottawa (Canada) allowing him to bring home his first National Windsurfing title.
Congratulations goes out to TEAM USA who won the CAN-AM competition by a mere 16 points; USA 1,070 versus CANADA 1,054 points. The winner was determined by combining points awarded to the top five competitors of each country; Andy Gratton of Oshkosh (1st), Tim Cleary of Pewaukee (4th), Jeff Adamski of Minnesota (6th), Kevin Gratton of Fond du lac (7th), and young Magnus Zaunmueller of Beaver Dam (8th) got to split the cash prize of $2010.
Other notables from the area were Don Altmeyer and Jennifer Wettstein of Fond du lac, the Barhouse Family of Oshkosh, and the Magnuson family of Beaver Dam; from other states were the Johnson Family, Randy Moon, Larry Miller, and Peter Hartwich of Minnesota; Steve Callaway, Barry Tofteland, Delburn Carpenter, Randy Howell, Larry Reed, and Igor Tereshchenko of Iowa; Mike Reed of Illinois; and Niles Book of Michigan.
Photos by Wind Power
By Kevin on May 20th, 2010
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The Walleye Wagatta has been around since 1987. Originally it was run in conjunction with Fond du Lac’s Walleye Weekend (hence the name). Walleye Weekend is a fun Family festival tied in with Mercury’s National walleye tournament held at Lakeside Park in Fond du Lac. Since 1997 the Walleye Wagatta has been held at Roosevelt County Park across the street from Wind Power. Back in the Walleye Weekend days there were up to 100 racers with 3 race courses. Olympic members from the US and Canada competed along with the US Olympic Windsurfing Coach Major Hall.
This year we were happy to have 27 competitors from Ohio, Michigan, Illinois, Missouri, and of course Wisconsin. We were also blessed with the appearance of Tara and Ted Schweitzer, the children of Hoyle Schweitzer the co-inventor of windsurfing.
Ted was ripping the course up on a vintage original Windsurfer. Andy and Kevin Gratton joined him on the Waylers they learned how to sail on in the early 80’s.
Check out Ted’s web site the original windsurfer. Thanks to Ted you can now buy a brand new original windsurfer! Check out his really cool Original Windsurfer website: http://www.originalwindsurfer.com/ there are some really nice pictures and stories about the birth and growth of our great sport.
 Front row: Kevin Gratton, Jennifer Wettstein, Tara Schweitzer, Andy Gratton, Phil Sage (MoWind President)
Back row: Ted Schweitzer, Tim Cleary Arden Anderson E-11 the Race Director of the 2010 Walleye Wagatta hasa synopsis of the race from his perspective posted on the MoWind site. Arden Anderson took over as Race Director the last 2 years and has done a great job.
Look for his race by race commentary on the MoWind web site: http://www.mowind.org/wp/?p=864
He has also posted some pictures & videos which are also on youtube. Check them out!. One of Arden’s goals is to make it a really affordable regatta and pass any profits to the MoWind Association. I believe this year he donated $100 to Mowind! I would like to thank Arden and his family for running the great event, making everyone feel comfortable including those whom it’s their first time. He raced everyone hard yet maintained the huge fun factor. I’m looking forward to working with them next year!
 There was also a MoWind raffle which brought another $63 to MoWind. Tom Stokes from Indiana is the raffle winner and he will be a finalist for the Final Raffle in Sept. at the Wind Power Champs held again in Fond du Lac, WI.
The forecast was for light winds Sat. & Sun. but the wind Gods looked in our favor. We had decent wind for the 3 course races before lunch at which time the wind died to a vacuum. After lunch the wind picked up enough to do some figure 8 slalom in front of the beach. I finally was caught up with my shop duties and had a chance to get out myself. My brother Andy had rigged up a Wayler One-Design (the board we both learned on in the early 80’s) for me and himself. It was the first time on the race course for me in several years after having shoulder problems. Last Dec. I finally bit the bullet and had shoulder replacement surgery. So after months of great therapy at Back-In-Action I was ready to test my new shoulder out. I have to say it works much better and I really enjoyed getting back on the race course. Now sailing on ancient equipment was a relearning experience. The sails don’t pump the same, but needless to say I still had a blast. Ted, Andy and I had a great time in the Vintage Class. For the Slalom races a Bald Eagle sat in a near by tree and watched intently. What an awesome sight for the Eagle and us.
Saturday night after supper (many went across the street to the Sunset Supper Club) everyone enjoyed the typical bonfire. Due to late night partying the night before, most packed it in earlier than usual. Fires are important to keep the Wind Gods happy!
Adding Fuel to the Fire - See more images in the photo gallery
Sunday racing started around 11:00 am with 10 -12 from the southeast. Arden ran 4 races with the wind building through all 4 races. After starting the 3rd race I was struggling with the Wayler 6.8 sail on 9 foot booms. The gust were getting stronger and more pronounced. Once I got to the upwind buoy the beach was right in front of me and calling. So in I went to rest my shoulder and get out of the starfish stance I perfected when I first learned how to windsurf. (I didn’t want to starfish stance to develop into a habit). In the last 2 races I saw the guys on the bigger sails planning through most of the slalom type course Arden wisely set as an option. So the moral of Sunday was we had great wind from the bonfire, and don’t pay attention to the forecast when a regatta is being held.
JUST SHOW UP and HAVE FUN!
By Kevin on December 6th, 2009
- (Comments are closed) Wintertime at Wind Power Windsurfing & Kiting Center is a busy time once Lake Winnebago freezes and the Ice is safe. Windsurfing & Kiteboarding in the winter can be better than the summer for a lot of sailors & kiters.
The Winter ice has many advantages:
- you can get more sailing/kiting days as winds tend to be stronger in the winter and the wind requirements on the ice are much less.
- you can use your smaller kits (sails or kites) since less wind is required. This is a great time to get more use of your smaller sizes that don’t get used much in the water season.
- Wind Direction is not as critical with sailing/launch spot. You can sail in front of Wind Power all winter long on all wind directions.
- Learning to sail or kite in the winter is easier and the preferred method. See this post by Kevin – Learn to Kitesurf in the Winter at Wind Power (this is especially true for kiting, but applies to windsurfing too!)
- No dealing with cold water. Yes, the temperature is lower, but dressed appropiately (Ski or Snowboard clothing) with proper protective gear (helment and pads) you stay toasty warm.
- You probably have most of the gear if you windsurf or kitesurf. You may get a different board or use your snowboard for snow kiting.
- See the 09/10 Winter Flyer for pictures of the freeskate, snowfer, winterboard and iceboard.
Here is a Video of Kevin on the Freeskate with a windsurfing rig. The freeskate is similar to a large skateboard with blades instead of wheels. It has larger trucks, and the board is very manuverable. You need pretty clean ice for the freeskate. The snowfer offers a more ‘all-terrain’ board and it works good on ice and snow. And the kiters use mostly skis or a snowboard.
Snow Kiting Jumping sequence on Lake Winnebago
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