The Trishas direct from Austin Texas, and we're excited that... they're headed to the Deep South of Minnesota!
Musicians of UnCommon Merit... The Trishas will provide you with a sensory and musical overload that will touch your heart..and echo off the bays and bayou's of Lake Okabena.

Besides the windsurfing and music you will also see some amazing art along the shoreline. The Art Festival has been a part of this event every year and people keep coming back to check out what's new. Make sure you stop and look at the Art Festival to take in the full gamut of activities!
Register Now!

Bill:
Thanks for visiting this afternoon, Can you give us an idea of what the has Nationals done for Worthington?

Lisa:
"I've enjoyed the aspect that Worthington offers is sense of community to the sailors. Few places do you see families sailing/racing with their kids, it happens in Worthington. I think of the Johnson family....they all sail and race together, its great!"

Bill:
Lisa, you're the youngest Regional Director that U.S. Windsurfing has ever had. What do you envision the role of USWA and how has it effected Worthington?

Lisa:
"U.S. Windsurfing has been of great benefit to the North Central Region, it has brought awareness to the windsurfers throughout the U.S. and beyond. Just take a look at the sailors that attended the Nationals this year, They were from Florida, Calif., Texas, Oregon, Ohio, Mass, Great Britain, Canada, Argentina, Malta, Finland, Germany, Russia." hmmm... I bet I've forgotten a few?

"This doesn't happen by accident, it happens by the concerted effort of the organization, the windsurfers & the communities involved." "Worthington offers a great place for all caliber of sailors to socialize......and socialize they do!" "...the caliber of sailor that showed up this year was astounding, Beth Williamson and Allison Shreeves went head to head with the best men (Fernado Martinez and others) in (Miami) & the nation ...and gave them all a run for their money!"
A week of incredible sailing, music, food, friends, misc. entertainment, shoreline jams, great winds.....

Lisa: "This is a great place to call home!"

I have had the good fortune to visit with two of the most charming windsurfing belles....in the deep south of Minnesota. Beth Williamson of Great Britain is in Wgtn.(left side-photo) to attend the 2008 National Championships and also train with her friend Lisa Kremer (right side). For those of you that haven't been paying attention to the Olympic Windsurfing Scene......these two gals are serious contenders for the next Olympics, Weymouth, England 2012.

I quiz Beth about her travels, including this first trip to the U.S. Her sailing sojourn has taken South Korea, Poland, Germany, Holland, France, Spain, Italy, Belgium, Portugal, Sicily, Italy, Cyprus, Canada, Bulgaria.....hmmmm....have we forgotten some? Its understood that Beth is a well traveled sailor, her time in Worthington is spent training with Lisa Kremer another Olympic hopeful. These good natured gals are unassuming and have left there ego's at the door. The idea is to have fun and also work at this curious quest......we call the Olympics.

Beth is from Liverpool and has been spending the last five weeks ......mainly sailing! Her academic studies and the University of Liverpool have steered her into Pharmacology and she will finish up in the next year, that not being sufficient......as an achiever ....she'll be pursuing her PHD. after graduation.

Her immediate goals in windsurfing, to improve her high wind skills & make the Great Britain Olympic Squad. The River Mersey is her river! It has a more constant wind than Lake Okabena, especially when it is out of the SouthWest. Her 2nd favorite sailing spot is the River Dee just south of Mersey.

RXS is currently the board being used in the Olympics. Their friend Allison Sheeves from Australia has shown up in Wgtn. to lobby for a Formula board, a board she hopes the Olympic committee will consider. U.S. Windsurfing has a small voice in this decision, (it will be a world wide decision). I quiz Beth on the consideration. "If the board is changed it will jeopardize the legitimacy of Olympic sailing, considering the short period of time this RXS board has been in use. It will also signal to the Olympic Committee that windsurfers are not serious sticking with one kit" says Ms. Williamson. Though they differ in views, they appreciate each others efforts within the sport and industry.

The sun is setting as I ask one last question.......where else could you possibly want to go? Beth replies, "someday I want to go to the Gorge, I've heard nothing but great reports about this special spot. However, day after tomorrow I'm headed to Dreyden,Ontario, Canada. Friends we met at the Nationals in Wgtn. invited us to Canada......and we're off!

As Minnesotans get chided about their "Lake Wobegone/ Minnesotan accent, Beth Williamson has the charming demeanor and accent of the Liverpool people....as your mind conjures images, her thoughtfulness,her enthusiasm, her politeness, her wit, her spirit,... a genuine ambassador from Great Britain.

The Worthington Windsurfing Regatta & Unvarnished Music Festival, 2008 US Windsurfing National Championships is in full swing. It's Thursday today and I have just arrived on site to see an amazing array of sails, boards and people. One of the first words that I heard after arriving was "Tornado." On Wednesday the racers were out in blustery winds with gusts up to 40 knots and from what I heard, everyone got beat up pretty good out there. Today however, it is sunny and in the 70's with winds around 18-20 knots and absolutely gorgeous! I've overheard conversations and have been excited to hear multiple languages and accents. Worthington would like to welcome the windsurfers that have come from all around to enjoy and support this event. See you on the water!

As of this writing Lisa is competing in the Olympic trials and is currently holding 1st or 2nd place. Worthington Windsurfers, sailors throughout the North Central Region of the USWA. and residents of Worthington are exceedingly proud of Lisa and her willingness to "Enter The Arena". Win, lose or draw..she has made her mark ..below is a favored quote that encapsulates our thoughts and wishes for Lisa.

View Lisa's Race Results!
(RS:X Womens Fleet)

"The credit belongs to those people who are actually in the arena... who know the great enthusiasms, the great devotions to a worthy cause; who at best, know the triumph of high achievement; and who, at worst, fail while daring greatly... so that their place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat." - Theodore Roosevelt

Staking its claim to "The best wind in the midwest" Worthington Okabena Windsurfers (WOW) will play host to the 8th annual windsurfing regatta. Worthington has the geographic good fortune of being located betwixt two of the largest wind generator fields in the world. Millions of dollars have been invested to capture this resource, on the weekend of June 8 through 10. We intend to play with it! On these dates any and all windsurfers showing up in Worthington, Mn will be treated as "Exhalted Rulers of the Universe." Many activities both on and off the water will be for their enjoyment. Lake Okabena sits "high" on the landscape, its banks are low and obstructions that block the wind are few. This aspect is recognized by windsurfers who know the prairie breezes that sweep the region year around. Main events will occur early each afternoon. They will include the regatta, beginning instruction and advanced clinics plus fun surf activities. Morning events will include a swap meet, so clean out your garage of extra windsurfing gear and also see lots of the latest equipment. Numerous "food events" will also assure the surfers that nobody will go hungry. We will be blocking off 5 to 6 city blocks of lake shore access. Only people with roof racks and sailboard equipment will be allowed free, privileged, on site parking. The center of activity will be located at Sailboard Beach sound stage (two blocks from city center). Late afternoon and evening events will include live music. As the evening progresses our attention will turn to music. After the daily winds subside, we will focus on music of all sorts. Besides the traditional rock and roll stuff on stage (late afternoon, early evening) we will be hosting the seventh annual "Unvarnished Music Festival" to commence after the loud stuff has been turned off. This currently occurs with our group of surfers and plays itself out in the evenings around campfires all over the midwest. A number of the windsurfers are seasoned musicians, they do a good job of "sharing" when it comes to jamming. There are few places in the world that "street corner" music is tolerated but for this weekend in Worthington it will not only be tolerated, but encouraged! It should have a magnetic effect on musicians throughout the region. ..The point.... If any of you folks like to windsurf or jam, this is the place to be!

Head over to LAKAWA to read and chat about this years Worthington Windsurfing Regatta. You'll probably be able to find some answers for any questions you may have as well. We can't wait to see you all this year!

W.O.W.

www.lakawa.com

"Worthington, Minnesota, is a wind-crazy hot spot worthy of the name Windsurfingville, USA" says Windsurfing Magazine!! The popular Worthington Windusrfing Regatta & Unvarnished Music Festival has just come into focus under the eye of the nation. Windsurfing Magazine raves about the festive atmosphere and the excellent sailing. Worthington is a must stop place for any windsurfer.