The 2010 Midwest Speed Quest on Lake Okabena, Worthington Minnesota is over. This was a great year, with many new racers participating. It is time to announce the Final Results.
We follow the rules and methods of International Speed Sailing. Our GPS units are the most precise hand held units available. Our speeds can be compared to other Speed Sailors around the World. And the Prize Money remains the best in North American Speed Sailing.
The racers competed in this event by wearing a LOCOSYS GT-31 GPS. The speeds were calculated using Doppler positional measurements, and are based on the “Best Ten Second Run”. The GPS data was entered into a computer, and the data was carefully analyzed. Speeds were calculated to .01 knots with great precision. The tools and methods used were consistent with International Speed Sailing Events, and GPS Speed Surfing.
And The Final Results are:
First Place: Andrew Anderson, Oakland CA 35.4 knots (40.71 mph)
Second Place David Knight, Fridley Minnesota 32.8 knots (37.72 mph)
Third Place Arden Anderson, Fon du Lac, Wisconsin 32.73 knots (37.64 mph)
Fourth Place Adam Anderson, Eagen Minnesota 31.2 knots (35.88 mph)
Fifth Place Ed Melechson, Papillion, Nebraska 30.08 knots (34.59 mph)
Congratulations to the winners, Andrew has the fastest speeds ever recorded on Lake Okabena. Andrew will receive $1000. David will receive $500, Arden $250, Adam $125, and Ed $75. Certified Checks will be issued this week.
6th Place Magnus Zaunmueller, Beaver Dam, Wisconsin 27.12 knots (31.19 mph)
7th Place Ken Gacke, Brandon, South Dakota 26.88 knots (30.91 mph)
8th Place Jeff Hegwer, Mason City, Iowa 26.75 knots (30.76 mph)
9th Place Jason Swanson, Bigelow, Minnesota 26.45 knots (30.42mph)
10th Place Wayne Anderson Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin 24.68 knots (28.38 mph)
These races will receive their choice of a LOCOSYS GT31 GPS, a Gath Safety Helmet, or a Windtronic 2 Wind Meter!
Youth Category:
1st Place Magnus Zanmueller, Beaver Dam, Wisconsin 27.12 knots (31.19 mph)
2nd Place Niels Zaunmueller, Beaver Dam, Wisconsin 19.36 knots (22.26 mph)
Magnus is 15 years old, and Niels is 11. Each will receive their choice of a LOCOSYS GT-31 GPS, a Gath Safety Helmet, or a Windtronic 2 Wind Meter!
New for 2010, we created an Alpha Racing Category. This is a competition based on the best average speed through jibe (complete turn) over a 500 meter distance. This Category was designed to reward those racers with superior technical skills. Alpha Racing is somewhat new in the USA, but is very popular in other Countries.
Ed Melechson was the early leader with a speed of 20.65 knots (23.75 mph).
However, on Aug 27-28-29-30. we had record high winds and new Alpha Speed Records were set:
1st Place Andrew Anderson 21.11 knots (24.28 mph) ($500 Cash)
2nd Place Arden Anderson 20.97 knots (24.12 mph) ($250 CASH)
3rd Place Ed Melechson 20.65 knots (23.75 mph) ($125 CASH)
4th Place Adam Anderson 19.83 knots (22.80 mph) ($75 CASH)
5th Place Ken Crosson Okabena MN 16.86 knots (19.38 mph) ($50 CASH)
Each year, we recognize the sailor with the greatest passion for Speed Sailing, and for the Sport of Windsurfing. For 2010, Award goes to Ed Melechson of Papillion, Nebraska. Ed is a great competitor; and a great technical sailor with an interest of being the fastest Alpha Racer. Congratulations Ed!!! Â Â
A Special Thanks to the Crew at GPS Speed Surfing. Thank you Martin van Meurs, Dylan de Jong, Onno Pierik, Roger van Tongeren, Frank Heinen and the rest of the crew. Thank you for creating and expanding your support of Speed Surfing around the world!!!
And I really want to thank the Sailors. It is a pleasure to put on a event for competitors like the ones we have year after year. Our home will always be open to all visiting Windsurfers. We will see you all again in 2011!
The Midwest Speed Quest was designed to be different. This event is free to all participants, and yet pays the highest Prize Money in North America. The purpose is to promote the new Sport of Speed Sailing, and the City of Worthington. Our goal was to bring Sailors of all skill levels together, and introduce them to the new Sport of Speed Sailing. The schedule was open 7 days a week, for a 6 month period. Any visiting sailors was assured of the chance to participate anytime he/she was in the area. We provide free or discounted motel rooms at the AmericInn of Worthington, free refreshments on the Beach, and free hot meals at the end of the day.
And we had the best Speed Sailing gear available for visiting sailors to try out.
We also provided free on-site Child Care and Pet Care. We even provided Spousal Care (care of the Windsurfing Widow)!
All the work associated with this event was done on a volunteer basis. Meals and refreshments were served beach side all season long free of charge. A special thanks to my wife Pamela for the many great meals meals served over the last 6 months to the visiting Sailors.
Each year we search the world for the finest Speed Sailing Gear available. We were proud to offer our visiting racers the finest demo gear anywhere!
The Midwest Speed Quest is made possible by the support of our many Sponsors. These Sponsors allowed us to award $3000 in Prize Money, and the many drawing for Windsurfing Gear and Gift Certificates all season long.
I encourage you to support these Sponsors. Visit their links on the Sponsors Page. Call these Guys, and buy your gear from them. And tell these Sponsors you appreciate their support of the Midwest Speed Quest. This will assure we can do this again in 2011.
I would like to identify and thank our Sponsors at this time. Click HERE for the Sponsors page with links to their sites.
Thank you Carbon Art International of New Zealand for providing a Carbon Art SL75 Slalom Board, and a Carbon Art SP 53 Speed Board. These boards hold speed sailing records around the world. Here in Worthington, the SL75 took First Place and Won Andrew Anderson $1500 in Prize Money. The SP53 won 15 year old Magnus Zaunmuller Sixth Place! These boards are fast!!!
Thank you Windsurf Deal of California for providing a full quiver of KA Sails, including the Koncept, Koyote, Kult, and Kaos models. KA Sails hold speed sailing records around the world. The KA Koncept Sail was used by most of the Prize Winners in the 2010 Midwest Speed Quest!
Thank you Vector Fins of Maui Hawaii for providing a full quiver of Vector EX Speed Fins. These fins were used by almost all the Prize Winners in 2010. These fins are also used by Top Speed Sailors around the world!
Thank you LOCOSYS Technology Taiwan, manufacturers of premium GPS devices. The GT-31 has proven itself as the most precise and durable hand held waterproof GPS unit available. The firmware for this GPS is continually being optimized just for Speed Sailing by an International Team of GPS Experts.
Thank you Aquapac International, manufacturer of the top quality waterproof cases for a wide variety of applications. They provided the all the waterproof cases used in the Midwest Speed Quest. They will protect your GPS unit or cell phone, and they float too. No Aquapac has failed in 6 years of brutal use.
Thank you Chinook Sailing Products for providing the demo Carbon Racing Booms, Racing Harness Lines, and Quick Release Mast Bases. These products were used by visiting racers all season long.
Thank you DAKINE for being a great supporter of The Midwest Speed Quest. Many Dakine Products were given out this year courtesy of Dakine.
Thank you La Azteca Mexican Restaurant of Worthington for your support. Our sailors recommend your Great Food and cold Margaritas.
Thank you Murrays Wind and Sport for supporting this Event. Murray’s is a leading distributor of the finest brands of windsurfing and sailing products including the cool Gath Helmets. Murrays has provided free Gath Helmets to all visiting racers year after year. And many racers have won Gath Helmets in the many gear drawings.
Thank you Enxco Wind Energy Services Inc. Enxco develops and manages Wind Energy Projects throughout North America, including a 130 Wind Generator Project here in the Worthington Area. Wind Energy is the solution to the energy needs of today and tomorrow.
Thank you, AmericInn of Worthington. This is the most comfortable motel in Worthington, offering great rooms, great staff, great pool, and a complimentary breakfast.
Thank you Worthington Area Chamber of Commerce and Convention and Visitors Bureau, who invite you to visit Worthington and “Spend the Night”.
Thank you to Gusts.us and Kaindl Electronic of Rohrbach Germany for supplying the Windtronic 2 Wind Meters. These are the most accurate hand held wind meter available.
Thank you United Prairie Bank of Worthington. A great local bank with locations across SW Minnesota.
Thank you Guidepoint Pharmacy or Worthington. This is a great locally owned and operated Pharmacy serving the Nobles County Area. Thank you Jason and Genny!
Thank you Buffalo Billfold Company of Worthington. Bill and Lauri Keitel hand make the finest Buffalo Leather Good available anywhere, and have a great selection of Windsurfing Clothing for all ages.
Thank you Peter Delay, SBC Media and WINDSPORT Magazine, for the your continuing support of this Event.
Thank you Eric Nordskog of ONIT Pro. Our racers have proved that Xtreme Cream makes you go faster!
Thank you Avera Specialy Clinics of Worthington. This is a leading full service Medical Clinic with locations across SW Minnesota and SE South Dakota.
Thank you to Deb’s Healing Massage and Day Spa. Our visiting racers (and their Spouses) appreciate your professional massage services at the end of a hard day of Speed Sailing.
And thanks again to Jeff Hegwer, Jason Swanson, and to Therapeutic Winds Windsurfing School of Mason City Iowa.
THANKS AGAIN EVERYONE! SEE YOU IN 2011!!!
Craig and Pamela Bergh
The Midwest Speed Quest
133 Lake Avenue
Worthington, MN 56187