2009 CGKA BLOWOUT - SAT JULY 25

Bettyboarder · Tue Jul 14, 09 4:27 pm **2009 CGKA BLOWOUT - SAT JULY 25**

Race the river!
CGKA’s third annual blow out.
Join 150 others while you race from Stevenson downwind to Hood River.
Enter early as this fills up fast.

The 2009 Blowout is scheduled for Saturday July 25th with an alternate (no wind) date of Sunday July 26th. The 17 mile down wind kiteboarding race/fun run will start in Stevenson (Washington) and ends in Hood River (Oregon).

• Race is only open to experienced kiteboarders (if you plan on mowing the lawn this race is not for you and you will not have race support)
• All racers must be able to proficiently self rescue (there is minimal jetski support)
• All equipment must be in safe, working order

There is limited space available for this event so don’t delay sign up today!
Sign up/ registration fee is as follows:
$70 Day of race
$60 Pre Registration (sign up before July 21st)
$40 with current CGKA membership (must of renewed between Jan 1, 2009 – July 20, 2009)

Payment will be cash only (due the day of race at the registration table, correct change is appreciated)

Sign up here http://cgka.net/2009-blowout-july-25th/

Must be at least 18 years old to participate.

Skippers meeting will be at 11 AM at the Stevenson East Point Launch. Each Blowout participant must attend this meeting. Instructions for where and when to rig up will be given out at this meeting. In order to minimize confusion and get all of the race participants on the water at the correct time it is important that everyone be on time for this meeting.

We are hoping for a start between noon and 1:00 p.m., depending on wind conditions and pre-race launch organization.

The start will be a rabbit style start. Racers must cross the wake behind the committee boat. The committee boat will be upwind next to the Oregon shore line during the 10 minute start countdown and then at the start, will motor Northeast away from the Oregon shore line opening up the starting line between the Oregon shore line and the boat. Racers must cross astern of the committee boat!!!
- 5 minute warning – red flags – one air horn blast
- 1 minute warning – yellow flag – one air horn blast
- Start – committee boat opens the starting line gap by motoring northeast , green flag one prolonged airhorn blast sounds.

The finish line will be marked by two flag poles (slingshot flags) located on the east end of the sandbar in Hood River, OR. All riders will cross the finish line, land your kite and then, check in with beach safety officer (where a drink will be waiting for them). This is very important as all competitors who start the race must be accounted for.

If you do not wish to participate in the race but want to be part of the event please PM me. I need support staff /help with registration check in, launching kites, jet ski support, finish lines timekeeping, and BBQ action.

There will be an after race BBQ at the eastern side of the Event Site for sponsors, participants and volunteers (wrist bands will be required for the BBQ). It will start at 4:00pm (depending on race start time).

We will post all participants finish times on a board for viewing and it will be posted on nwkite.com.

Thank you for your support.

Pepi · Tue Jul 14, 09 10:45 pm

Game on!!!!!

Mark · Fri Jul 17, 09 9:34 am

I am signed up!

This year we are sticking to 150 contestants only. Sign up early (get a discount) and make sure you are part of the fun. Once the limit is reached no one else will be allowed to race.

You also get a very cool tshirt this year. You will wear a separate jersey for the event.

See ya on the water!

pkh · Since 27 Feb 2005 6549 Posts Couve / Hood Honored Founder

Just want to emphasize the fact that jetski support (if you want to call it that) is for RACERS.

The jetskis will be keeping up with the bulk of the pack this year, not the trailing edge of the downwinders. This is so all participants get their fair share of support. Even the most experienced kiter will have issues with gear failure and the point is to support them.

If this is your first ever downwinder and you are doing it because you think you will be saved by a jetski if anything goes wrong, do not enter! This is an advanced event.

Sorry to be harsh about it but there is just no way you can support 150 people with 1-2 jetskis over a 16 mile course. Last year we tried to do it cleanup style but that gave the racers no support, while Pat stuck around for 4 hours supporting the handful of people slogging downwind, most of which didn't even make it to Home Valley.

/rant off Very Happy

Chooch · Fri Jul 17, 09 10:39 am **Strapless!!!**

I wanted to bring this up at the last meeting but spaced it.

With the growth of strapless riding and more peple wanting to compete in the Blowout strapless I thought it would be cool to have to seperate race divisions. Hauling balls strapped into a board is cool cuz you can go mach 3 and travel 17 miles in 45 min Shocked

, but its also very difficult to do that same race strapless! Maby not this year since it is so close but it would be cool to see in next years race. Anyways just a thought to make the sport more progressive.

Strapless haters feel free to not say anything at all.... Evil or Very Mad

pkh · Since 27 Feb 2005 6549 Posts Couve / Hood Honored Founder

Depending on what the volunteer situation ends up being, I'd say it might be possible to put an * by people who do it strapless, then when we compile times we can have a separate ranking.

The last few years have been troublesome for taking down times though, so it all depends on how much help we get! Its not easy to be mobbed by 20 people shouting out times and numbers to ya.

tonyb · Fri Jul 17, 09 12:04 pm

Carol and I are signed up!

First practice run this week we only made it about 1/2 way and ended up swimming. Hopefully the wind is a little stronger next weekend or it may turn in to a swim fest!

I second the idea of different divisions. Maybe a box on the time keeper sheet that they can check for strapless, directional, or twin tip. You'll still have the best overall but this could help spread the bragging rights around.

I'm going strapped on a directional again this year just to see if I can be anywhere close to Corey and Bison but next year I'm gonna do it strapless.

Tony

Bettyboarder · Fri Jul 17, 09 12:33 pm

I like this idea...umm maybe the finish line people can just write your time on your wristband and then you could go to a check in station where they could mark your name/time/board ridden.

I need volunteers!!!! If your have anyone who isn't riding who wants to help let me know.

tinyE · Since 21 Jan 2006 2004 Posts not really an XTreme Poster

If timing is really important....
it's a little late to do it this year, but
I will volunteer next year to investigate
the rental of timing chips like we use
in triathlons. We could use them to
mark finish times (we'd just have to
mark a difference between the
starting gun and elapsed time
using 1 control chip). I think
we could make it work.

I don't think the
rentals are that much, could be
included in the entry fees I'd guess.
All entrants would have to cross
an electronic finish line.

Chooch · Fri Jul 17, 09 1:04 pm

Cool idea Brett!

Sella · Fri Jul 17, 09 1:24 pm

Timing chips are a great idea because in past Blowouts the finish line can be a mad house of tracking the right time and rider shouting out names and numbers plus landing their kites etc..etc plus some people are going to come in WAYYY LIT!!!

What about filming the finish line so we have someway to reference any confusion of who finished strapped or strapless?? Just a thought.

Come on people......if you're not speed racer try and volunteer because this race is epic to be involved in.

tinyE · Since 21 Jan 2006 2004 Posts not really an XTreme Poster

i went ahead and sent the local company that does event timing an email... we'll see what he says about being too late vs not...

the summer is the peak for triathlons around here...so i'll be surprised if we could get a system set up this fast at this late of notice.

pkh · Since 27 Feb 2005 6549 Posts Couve / Hood Honored Founder

I really like the filiming idea.... hmmm anyone want to help with that? need tripod and camera with 2hrs run time at least.. you could start when first guy comes in, then just count time after that

Sella · Fri Jul 17, 09 3:34 pm

carolb · Sat Jul 18, 09 8:32 am **Blowout Tiki Party - Friday July 24th**

The Blowout tiki party is starting to shape up for Friday 24th. I'll check on camping at the fairgrounds so lots of people can spend the night.

Pepi · Sat Jul 18, 09 5:28 pm

Just finished the Windsurf Blowout race today and am now looking for downwind practice partners for either Viento down or Stevenson down to the Sandbar.

Carol : I'll give you guys a shout if the winds look right on Tues or Wed!

Pepi

blancoh2o · Since 15 Mar 2005 1154 Posts Oregon Phishy

I agree with you Wally. No kiteboarder will ever beat Corey and Jim on their Jump skis, unless one of them has an equipment failure.

That being said, I have had talks with Corey about the very same topic. He says all he wants to do is improve his times from previous years. He doesn't make a big deal about beating all of the rider on boards. He knows that he is an uneven match.

Just come down and race to get your personal record and have a good time hanging out with the crew. Everyone that finishes is a winner in the Blowout.