Thanks to Jack for reinforcing the point with another example.

I'll have to correct Jack here a bit as in 1994 the Nationals were
held in Lorain Ohio. Though admittingly east Ohio probably is
considered on the fringes of the mid-west. The local organizer
there Doug Wilford had been hosting a very successful windsurfing
event at Lorain's Lake Front park for several years when he bid on
the Nats and got it.

Unfortunately the event went with the traditional mid-August date
which increases chances for no wind greatly and that scared off a lot
of people. Part of the reason for the August date was that in those
days the windsurfer elitetism movement was in full swing and the
Nationals only wanted the best of the best to show up. You were
suppose to place high in one or more regional events to qualify thus
having the event early in the season wouldn't work as there would be
no qualifiers. Believe it or not needing to get accepted to an
event was not so uncommon in the early 90's. For the US Open in
Corpus Christi Texas in 1990 which I attended you had to send your
windsurfer resume with your registration as the event limited entries
to 200 and it sold out early.

Unfortunately as predicted for the 1994 Nationals there were light
August winds the first 3 days with some good wind the last day as
some summer storms passed by. I remember about 85 showed up which
was a very disappointing number. Original estimates were perhaps as
many as 200 entries would show up. I think the 1994 Nationals may
have marked the down turn point of competitive windsurfing. There
were plenty of mid-west windsurfers but as I mentioned many had been
turned off by the best of the best talk and a five day event was not
something people had seen before in this area. Unless you could plan
a year a head of time and schedule time off work it was not something
most could do especially with the qualifying system.

For the title spot it was a close battle in the Open Class between
Alf Imperato from NY and Mike Gebhart Olympic IMCO longboard champ.
Alf was on a longboard using an 11.0 sail. The last race on Sunday
the wind was up and Mike Gebhart chased Alf on a short board catching
him on the reaches but fell behind on the upwind giving Alf the title
that year. If I remember right I think the organizing group was so
disappointed with the turnout verses all the effort they put into
hosting the Nationals that no windsurfing event has happened in
Lorain since then.


Scott - #H


--- In mowind@yahoogroups.com, "Jack" <drjacksonwiley@...> wrote:
>
> This is a valid issue, especially for those who travel long
distances
> to events.
>
> I remember the Nationals at Worthington in 2003. There were only
four
> races that year. On other days there was some wind (3-5mph) just
not
> enough for the formula sailors. The RC at the time would not race
> anyone if the formula sailors couldn't race. Imposing a wind
minimum
> took away from all of the other competitors that could have raced.
>
> There isn't a whole lot we can do for races in Florida or
California.
> What we can do is concentrate on what is important to us here in
the
> Midwest. As Mowind becomes larger and more successful we will
become
> a model for how to run a race series. In particular we will do this
> by listening to and discussing issues with our members and race
> directors. We make changes based on what works for us here in the
> Midwest rather than what works on the coast or in Europe.
>
> This year we are fortunate to have the US Nationals back at
> Worthington, and the plan is to run the races as a midwest
> competition. There should be no favoritism toward the Formula
> sailors. Everyone will race the same course. If there are enough
> Formula sailors they may get a separate start, however if they elect
> to impose a wind minimum, then they will sit while everyone else
races
> in whatever wind there is.
>
> I encourage everyone from Mowind who can to get to the US Nationals
> this year. With a large Midwest turnout we have a better chance of
> maintaining a spot on the rotation. For those who don't know, 2003
> was the first year for the Nationals to be in the midwest. This
year
> will be the second time.
>
> We can also make a large showing for the Open and Hybrid classes at
> our own event.
>
> Finally, For those of us interested in the Mowind Regional Points
> Series, The US Nationals will offer more points than the usual race.
>