From Mark Sprungmann:
Hello everyone from
NITINAHT WINDFEST 2007 - CANADA!
We have put together a compilation of weblinks along with photos and write ups re. our event this year. This was our 2nd year running the event. From our feedback we have received nothing but positive comments..... even though the wind was not perfect for us everyday. One of the most exciting things about our event was seeing all the BIG COMPANIES and SPONSORS supporting our event and working together to keep the STOKE all weekend. All of us agreed that seeing 400+ armature/weekend warriors ripping it up was what this event is all about. The opportunity for everyone to demo many different kiteboarding brands was awesome (NORTH, SLINGSHOT, BEST, OCEAN RODEO). These.....(including myself) are the people who support your companies and buy your merchandise. WE CANNOT THANK YOU ENOUGH FOR ALL YOUR DONATIONS/PRIZES! We could not have asked for a better group of people to have joined us for this wonderful event! We had visitors/participants from all over the world...including Europe, USA, Canada and Australia! WOW!
THANK YOU EVERYONE FROM THE NITINAHT WINDFEST CREW!
LIST OF FANTASTIC SPONSORS
Sanuk Sandals
Dakine
Best Kiteboarding
Slingshot Kiteboarding
Ocean Rodeo Kiteboarding
North Kiteboarding
Rockstar Energy Drink
Ryders Eyewear
Trident Sports
Strong Kiteboarding
Leading Edge Productions
Elevation Kiteboarding
Girls4Sport
AirTime Kiteboarding
Skypilot Kiteboarding
MusicMaxx
Vancouver Island Brewery
Airush Kiteboarding
If I missed anyone please accept my appoligies in advance!
THANK YOU EVERYONE ONCE AGAIN! CHEERS FROM JUDI, DALE AND ME (MARK)!
Pics of the Champs!
http://www.nitinaht.ca/NWF%202007%20Champs.htm
Tony B and his Weekend Review!
http://www.nwkite.com/forums/t-5821.html
The Ladies Rippin it up!
http://www.nwkite.com/forums/t-5820.html
The Men Rippin it up!
http://www.nwkite.com/forums/t-5823.html
The Weekend Smiles and Party Scene!
http://www.nwkite.com/forums/t-5834.html
More Photos!
http://kiteboardbc.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=94
Here are the official results of the competitions at Nitinat
(taken from NW kite)
Hey everybody, we're just back in the states from our visit to the Nitinaht Wind Fest in Vancouver, BC. Sounds like everybody had a great time with the blowout! Sorry we missed it but we flipped a coin a few weeks back and Wind Fest won the toss. Hopefully next year we can coordinate BOG, The Blowout and Wind Fest to all be on different weekends. I'll make the effort to get all of the planners in touch with each other to see if these events can be staggered.
A quick recap for the folks who hadn't heard of the event. This was the 2nd Annual Wind Fest kiting / windsurfing event that was held at Nitinaht Lake on the southwest coast of Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada. Go here for the official scoop on the place:
http://www.nitinaht.ca/index.htm Nitinaht is about 3 hours from Victoria or Nanaimo with the last 2 being on a dirt road that seems like it will never end!
First off, the event was great and the organizers did a fantastic job with the sponsors, the schhhwaggg, the prizes and the atmosphere. The location is just incredible with monster trees, rocky beaches, driftwood, and beautiful northwest scenery. The local kite crew up there is awesome and very welcoming - and the parties and hanging out weren't half bad either!!!
You'll all be happy to know the Gorge Gang went international and did a pretty fair job at representin' our neck of the woods! Pics below but here's the recap (still somewhat un-official but I think it's correct):
Upwinder:
Long, long, upwind race course with 2 marks to go around. (~ 4miles? ): Steadiness, endurance and a big board were the keys to this race!
- Women: in 1st Place... Carol B! - She was 7th overall and the first and only girl to finish out of about 20 that started.
- Men:
1st Place: Sam Medysky
I got 6th overall (passed Carol on the downwind leg!), Grom got 9th, Bucky (honorary NW crew) got 11th, Josh came in 12th, all out of about 20+ guys that started.
Boarder X:
Triangle race course with 2 small obstacles to jump over before the final downwind leg. Men's comp had 7 heats, women had 2 heats, 2 semi-finals, one final each. 4 to 5 kiters per heat, top 2 going on to the next round.
Mens:
1st Place: Sam Medysky
2nd place: Paul Porter (NW crew - Seattle!)
3rd place: Tony B (I was in the lead but choked on the last obstacle and had to go around and re-jump!!! ) But still had a blast doing it!
Womens:
1st place: Shannon! - smoked everybody on the course - and would have beaten all of the guys - she had the best run of the day in the finals!
2nd place: Chris the Canadian girl -
3rd place: Chris off the Best Bus - Connecticut, USA rider.
Freestyle / Big Air:
Men's and Women's each had 2 heats and a final, 5 from each heat advancing to the finals.
Women:
1st Place: Meri Leclerc -Canada (always smiling on the water and super smooth to watch!) And she ran the beach faster than the other girls!
2nd Place: Shannon! - She threw down some sick moves, went huge and hung in there for the foot race up the beach as the wind was dying off.
3rd place: Chris off the Best Bus - Connecticut rider with some smooooth moves on the water.
Men:
1st Place: (this after they segragated the Pro from the Amateurs).... Grom! Grom killed it in the first heat then hung on through the dying wind in the final to pull it out. Plus his board shorts were lookin' pretty stylish! Grom also received the BEST WIPEOUT of the day award!
2nd place: Sam Madowski - Sam had some nice moves and he sealed it in the end by going to the skim board as the wind died and pulled of some 720 handle passes and some shov-its!
3rd place: Paul Porter! - Paul went out in the first heat and threw down the first and maybe best pass of the day - goin' HUGE in front of the rest of the crowd. But he suffered a cut foot at the end of his heat that slowed him down for the finals. But he went out a crowd favorite and also won the MOST STOKED award!
And finally the big trophy and award for Best Overall, based on combined score from the upwinder, boader X, and Freestyle:
For the Girls - - ->Shannon!!!
Mens: Sam Medysky
That's all for now... I'll post some pictures of the lake, the campground, and the faces tomorrow. and I'll say thanks again to our friends from the north who put on a fantastic event! Hope to do it again next year!
Tony
WINDFEST 2007 LINK
http://www.nitinaht.ca/NWF2007.htm
VIDEO FROM WINDFEST 2006
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jrT9fLEvb8U
NITINAHT LAKE INFORMATION SITE
http://www.nitinaht.ca/
NITINAHT LAKE ADVENTURES/CAMPSITE INFORMATION
http://www.nitinaht.ca/services.htm
HOW TO GET TO NITINAHT LAKE
http://www.islandnet.com/~rkashino/Nitinat.htm
NITINAHT LAKE WEB CAM
http://www.nitinaht.ca/Webcam.htm
NITINAHT LAKE WEB FORUMS AND ADVERTISING LINKS
http://www.bigwavedave.ca/phpBB2/viewforum.php?f=3
http://www.skypilotkiteboarding.com
