US Windsurfing Update

[DanWeiss]

Hi friends of the wind,

After a decade of service as Director of US Windsurfing's Northeast Region covering all of New England and New York, I reach out to thank everyone for their stoke. The time is now to step aside.

My role succeeded Ellen Faller who took the helm after Marc Lefebvre left for Maui. When I began my service, US Windsurfing had initiated a strong youth development and training program and worked with many people across the USA to support their efforts to increase the participation of family and kids.

US Windsurfing recognized then that windsurfers who love racing, high-wind bashing and competition of all sorts required our continued support. US Windsurfing responded by providing a new National Race Tour Championship to leverage the rise of Formula Windsurfing, held its annual US National Championship for an ever-changing set of classes and established a junior racing program called Team USA. Many of the Team USA sailors are now at the top of the windsurfing heap, including our past Men's Olympic windsurfer! One of my most proud roles was as a founding member of US Sailing's Windsurfing Task force. Lasting three years, the WtF successfully channeled thousands of dollars to promote junior windsurfing and brought the Techno 293 World Championship to San Francisco in 2010. This year, the USA hosts the Kona One World Championship!

The NRT still rolls on, as does the US's National Championship, and US Windsurfing continues to work with many other groups to address funding, training and access opportunities.

The legend, the man, and instructor trainer extraordinaire, Ned "Coach" Crossley skillfully takes over the helm in New England. Ned brings his career of coaching at Division One athletic programs, and already knows many of you. Most importantly, Ned trains windsurfing instructors by the dozens each year and coordinates program strategy with colleagues in the UK so bring the best of what's proven across the pond home to our area. Please greet Ned with his trademarked fist bump!

Congratulations, Ned.

[gregnw44]

THANKS Dan... for your energy... and dedication to our cool sport !!!

It was great to meet and get to know you a bit, just over a year ago... Memorial Day weekend 2013, when I drove solo from Seattle to Cape Cod, for the Buzzards Bay race.
You and I had talked a ton before my trip east... and had a great time THAT weekend. The reason I abruptly fell out of communication with you, and all the other cool sailor's I met... after I took off, driving back to the west coast. Was...
The day after I left Cape Cod, I got a horrible infection in my right knee. It was almost impossible to walk, but I could still drive, so I continued. I made it to South Bend, IN and then spent the night in the ER. Then continued driving west, till I ended up in emergency surgery at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. I finally got home 2 1/2 weeks after I was supposed to get home... with, a big open hole in my right leg, which meant no windsurfing till Aug. The hole filled in... and I have been fine and windsurfing since then.
Anyway, Miles B was the only east coast guy that knew what happened to me.
The docs that fixed me, didn't care about me missing windsurfing... they were just trying to save my rt. leg. "This whole thing" could've gone VERY bad.
Anyway, you had been so helpful with me doing this adventure... I always felt bad, that I just dropped out of sight. So, that is the reason why

You ARE an awesome ambassador to windsurfing. And THANKS again for all the time you've put in to US Sailing... and for windsurfing in general.

Hope to see you again,
Greg