Hello Everyone,

The 2009 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: Arden Anderson, Fon du Lac, Wisconsin 33.55 knots (38.58 mph)

Second Place Andrew Anderson, Oakland California 32.19 knots (37.02 mph)

Third Place David Knight, Fridley Minnesota 32.00 knots (36.80 mph)

Fourth Place Chris Lock, Plainview, MInnesota 31.63 knots (36.34 mph)

Fifth Place Adam Anderson, Eagen, MInnesota 29.63 knots (34.04 mph)

Congratulations to the winners, Arden has the fastest speeds ever recorded on Lake Okabena. Arden will receive $1000. Andrew will receive $500, David $250, Chris $125, and Adam $75.  Certified Checks will be issued this week!

On top of these cash prizes, the Top 5 Racers will also receive their choice of a LOCOSYS GT31 GPS, a Gath Safety Helmet, or a Windtronic 2 Wind Meter!



6th Place Ed Melechson, Papillion, Nebraska 29.33 knots (33.73 mph)

7th Place Jason Swanson, Worthington, Minnesota 28.20 knots (32.43 mph)

8th Place Erick Ries, Edina, Minnesota 26.62 knots (30.61 mph)

9th Place Eric Rahnenfuerher, Brecksville, Ohio 24.77 knots (29.49 mph)

10th Place Craig Bergh, Worthington, Minnesota 24.72 knots (28.43 mph)

These races will receive heir 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 16.00 knots (18.40 mph)

Magnus is 14 years old, and will receive his choice of a LOCOSYS GT31 GPS, a Gath Safety Helmet, or a Windtronic 2 Wind Meter!

Each year, we recognize the sailor with the greatest passion for Speed Sailing, and for the Sport of Windsurfing. For 2009, this is awarded to Jeff Hegwer, or Worthington. Jeff has contributed so much time and energy to the Midwest Speed Quest over the last 5 years. He is a fine person, and a good friend. Thank you Jeff!!!   

A Special Thanks to the Crew at <>GPS Speed Surfing. Thank you Martin, Dylan, Onno, Roger, Frank 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 2010!

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, 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 $2500 is 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 2010.

I would like to identify and thank our Sponsors at this time.

Thank you Carbon Art International of New Zealand for providing a Carbon Art SL 62 Slalom Board, and a Carbon Art SP 50 Speed Board. These boards hold speed sailing records around the world.

Thank you Windsurf Deal of California for providing a full quiver of KA Sails, including the Koncept, Koyote, Kult, and Kaos models, and for the Select Hydrofoils.  KA Sails hold speed sailing records around the world. The KA Koncept Sail was used to win 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th Place in 2009!

Thank you Vector Fins of Maui Hawaii for providing a full quiver of Vector EX Speed Fins. These fins were used to win 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th Places in 2009. 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 handheld 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 2 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 Restaurant of Worthington for your support. Our sailors recommend your Great Food and cold Margaritas.

Thank you Murray's 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.

Thank you Enxco Wind Energy Services Inc., developing and managing Wind Energy Projects throughout North America.

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 Red Bull North America and to Holinka Distributing of Fulda Minnesota for your support. Our racers enjoyed the free beverages all season long.

Thank you to Gusts.us and Kaindle Electronic 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 Peter Delay, SBC Media, and to WINDSPORT Magazine, for the your continuning support of this Event.

Thank you Erick Nordskog of Onit Pro. The Anderson Brothers have proved that Xtreme Cream makes you go faster!

Thank you Peter Hart and to Acrobat TV, creators of the MasterClass DVDs, and the Worldwide Windsurfing Clinics.

Thank you Sanford Health, and Sanford Regional Health Services. 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 of Worthington. 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 and to Therapeutic Winds Windsurfing School of Worthington.

THANKS AGAIN EVERYONE! SEE YOU IN 2010!!!

Craig Bergh
The Midwest Speed Quest
133 Lake Avenue
Worthington, MN 56187

web: http://www.midwestspeedquest.com

email: cbergh@iw.net

Cell: 1-507-360-4801

GPS Coordinates: Lat  43.62208
Long -95.61218