THE 2012 KONA NORTH AMERICAN CHAMPIONSHIPS REPORT

The 2012 Kona North American Championships were hosted by Kona Midwest and local windsurfing organization Fleet 8, which was started 40 years ago in 1972. This event was financially supported by many non-windsurfing sponsors. The championship was raced on Lake Waconia, August 23–26, in the western suburbs of Minneapolis, Minnesota. 53 racers registered for the competition. Joachim Larsson, who lives in Sweden and is owner of the Kona One raceboard brand, took top honors in the 10-race regatta.

“Racing Kona is tight since the board speed doesn't vary much with sailor skill, so tactical decisions make more difference than in other classes. This made for interesting racing, especially in the last two races where we had the entire fleet of 50+ on the course,” explained Arden Anderson.

This was how they overcame hurdles and held a successful championship:

“Credit over a dozen sponsors including the title sponsor, Lola’s Lakehouse, who hosted a fantastic Welcome Party on Thursday. The only thing missing on Thursday was the container of 33 charter boards that had been held up for over a week on the U.S. border in North Dakota only because it shared a rail car with another container that was not customs legal... Switch to Plan B. After cleaning up from severe weather Thursday evening, registration was completed and competitors were assigned their designated sail rigs. Between Fleet 8 and Kona Midwest, we had 15 boards. Fortunately, there were another 11 boards from competitors who brought their own and were willing to share. That allowed for splitting everyone into four groups with an equal number of sail/weight groups in each. The plan was to have each pair of groups do two races, then repeat with a different combination of groups. With the later start, four races were completed on Friday with everyone getting to race twice...” Regatta Results

Photos: Kajsa Larsson at Lake Waconia

DAY 1 SHORTIE KONA NA'S from Penalty Box Productions on Vimeo.

The Twin Cities Pioneer Press offered a sobering view of our sport: “Before snowboarding and stand-up paddle boards and obstacle course racing, there was windsurfing, the hot new sport that captured the Twin Cities way back when we had a president named Reagan. Now windsurfer sightings on local lakes are about as common as seeing someone on a pair of inline skates. (Remember those?) But this weekend, a band of die-hard sailboarders from the U.S. and Canada have gathered in the Twin Cities for a championship sailing regatta that they hope will help begin to restore the fortunes of a sport that has faded from public view...” The article goes on to explain that the Kona Class is hoping to help revitalize interest in windsurfing via the easy to use and learn appeal of a longboard.

The StarTribune interviewed the event organizer: “To Michael Fox the 1980s weren't defined by hair bands or President Reagan. Fox, who lives on Lake Minnetonka, remembers the decade as the golden age of windsurfing, with the Twin Cities home to one of the most vibrant windsurfing scenes around. 'In the '80s, windsurfing just exploded here,' he said. Now Fox is determined to help the sport regain its edge...” The Sun Patriot added more coverage of the event by getting a perspective on the sport, racing, and the Kona longboard from Rob Evans, a local 36-year windsurfing veteran.