December Windsurfing News!

 

Thanksgiving is behind us already and Christmas is just around the corner, so don’t forget to take a moment and be thankful for all the great days on the water over the past year.  I know I have had some fabulous days windsurfing – and the days that I remember most are the days when I was lucky enough to have some wind and great friends on the water.  I hope you all had as many great days as I did!

 

Winter Gear Specials:

 

Board Deals:

Exocet Nano 125 liter $899

Exocet Nano 150 liter $899

Starboard Carve 101 $1049

Starboard Carve 161 $1049

Exocet Speed Slider 267 $899

Bic Blast 62 (110 liter slalom board) $699

 

Sail Deals:

World Sails!!!

Get any size Surge (4.2, 4.7, 5.0, 5.2 or 5.7) for only $425!

Get any size Blast (6.5, 7.5, 8.5) for only $475!

 

Harness Special:

Mention this e-mail for $10 off any Da Kine harness (seat or waist, kite or windsurf!)

 

Call 303-423-0654 with any questions!

 

Coming in the Spring!

 

I know, winter has just begun…but I’m already thinking of spring!  And this spring you will be able to find Exocet stand up paddle boards, the new Kona Link, the Aerotech Dagger long board sail (in 7.5, 8.5 and 9.5!), Starboard Futuras (carve replacement) and more.  If you are thinking of getting new gear before you head to South Texas in the spring, let me know now!  If we have extra time, we can make sure we get the gear you want at the best possible price, in time for your trip!

 

Larson’s Windsurfing Trips!

 

Have you been thinking about traveling to Corpus Christi or the Gorge, but aren’t sure if you want to go alone?  Would you like to travel to one of these windsurfing destinations with someone who has been there before and can help you be at the right launch site with the right gear?  If so, we just might be able to help!  We are in the early stages of planning a spring trip to Corpus Christi, Texas and a summer trip to Hood River, Oregon just for people like you – so if you think you might be interested let me know now so we can have some idea of how many people might want to join us.

 

What’s Going on in the World of Windsurfing?

 

The Formula class world championships are currently being held in Brazil and there are lots of big name sailors duking it out for the title.  See how the US sailors are doing and check out the gorgeous photos at www.formulawindsurfing.com

 

The following article appeared on www.sailinganarchy.com (see my comments further down the page –Karen)

US Olympics

Cover Up?

We've already heard a few tales from the U.S. Olympic Trials that cast some real doubt on the selection process, as well the ethical makeup of some of the sailors. We posted Michael Miller's complaints of a top sailor lying in the protest room in the 470 class, as well as Nancy Rios' strange redress hearing that clinched the Olympic spot for her in the RS-X sailboard. Rios received questionable redress for a small tear in her mainsail, and the Jury's two-point award gave her the Trials win. We've now learned that the same Jury heard another case, and it looks like they bungled that one, too - so much so, that a Rule 69 protest has been filed with U.S. Sailing.

In the Men's RS-X, Ben Barger, (USA-1), crashed into Bob Willis (USA-78) in a clear port/starboard incident. Ben went into the room and said that he did his penalty turn, and Willis withdrew his protest. Routine stuff, right? Wrong. After Willis withdrew his protest, the story got juicier. Ten different witnesses in three different boats saw the incident and its aftermath, and they all said that Barger did not do any penalty turns.

With this new evidence, a group of sailors, including second place Mike Gebhardt, tried to re-open the protest hearing so that the witnesses could be heard. The Trials Jury rejected every attempt made to have the hearing reopened - and this included two requests for redress, two protests (including one filed by a member of the RC on a mark-set boat) and a report presented to the jury from 6 people who had witnessed the incident and Barger's lack of penalty turns.

The Jury swept it all under the rug. The Olympic Sailing Committee ("OSC") representatives knew about it, and swept it all under the rug. It seems that US Sailing and OSC have their team picked out, and they're standing behind them - even if one of them might just be a blatant cheater. Is this what it takes to become an Olympic sailor?

Gebhardt filed a Rule 69 protest with U.S. Sailing about the incident over a month ago. We called him to find out the status of the protest - he's heard nothing from either them or the OSC. Will they try to sweep that under the rug, too?

Update: At 8:00 p.m., we learned that the hearing against Ben Barger is going to happen. When we learn more, you'll hear it.

11/27/07

In addition to the above, Farrah Hall who finished second in the trials for women’s boardsailing has filed an appeal with the US Olympic Committee and enlisted the help of some big names in the world of sailing and legal aid to get her side of the story heard. 

 

You can get more details on all of these issues at www.farrah-hall.com (look under news and check out the daily reports from the Olympic Trials, especially the last day) and at www.windsurfingmag.com and then check out the forums for Olympic Trials coverage.

 

The last day of the Olympic Trials was drama filled and overly emotional for all of us.  I think all of us girls who were racing would call each other friends – and that made it all the more difficult when there was controversy over who won.  I have never been so happy to have not finished in the top two and I still feel that way.  I wish both Nancy and Farrah nothing but the best and they both sailed great at the trials.  I believe that they are both planning to race at the RS:X world championships in New Zealand in January and I hope they somehow manage to have at least a little bit of fun amongst all this drama.

 

You can see a more lighthearted look at the US Olympic Windsurfing Trials in the next issue of Windsport Magazine.

 

Warm winds and Happy Holidays!

Karen

 

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