First I want to say that I think that Mike Rossberg, Grant McAllister, Dimitri, Sarah and all the other officers/nonofficers that have been involved over the years have nothing but my approval, appreciation, and respect for the time they've dedicated to the sport(s)... Last night at the UWA meeting I got suckered I mean, appointed and voted as being the new UWA president...I don't know exactly what that means yet. But I'm appreciative of the trust.
Please let me share a little experience with you, while in college I got myself cornered into a position where the president of my fraternity put me on the ballot of four other candidates... He told me he did this 10 minutes before our traditional monday night meeting... I do not like politics ... In fact, politics gives me hairballs... How could I be on the ballot and not step up! I gave him the most evil eye I can remember. However, I threw some ideas down on a paper and gave my speech to a room of 150 testosterone filled, young college students and friends... Well, I ended up winning that election, fortunately and unfortunately... It was a great experience but at the end of the year I swore I'd never be president of something again... HUH?! Thank heavens we're Windriders and not a fraternity!
Whatever the case, Josh Shirley was appointed and voted in as Windsurfing VP and Les as Kiteboarding VP. Actually no officers were technically removed... I think that we are all motivated to make some fun things happen...
HOWEVER, please know that to me, this is about doing a mini cut back on the steep side of that next chocolate swell at Utah Lake or kiting the next pow pow day at Skyline (I am liking the snowkiting) or landsailing over the overpass at the Ecenter!... I don't want anything "political" ever to taint that or give it any bit of a bad flavor... My point is exactly that... All those involved are laid back and have it in perspective what this is all about... So, really, this is just to give Mike a much deserved break. That's my reason for stepping up and accepting to carry on that torch if I can... I'm not the type to get an ego boost out of things like this... (for those that don't know me)... Over the next few months Mike and the others will be walking us through what we need to know to carry on what a great organization this is...
I have kited, love it, will do more of it. I have snowkited, love it even more I think... I ski, rollerblade, bike, golf, hike, climb, backpack etc... But I have Windsurfed since I was nine years old (1978)... The day I turned 16, I bought my $1200 car w/hard earned $$$, I cruised over to my friend's house and bought one of their Bic Dufor Wings that I had explored Lake Powell and Deer Creek on for the previous 6 years w/their family...LONG BOARD, TRIANGLE SAIL... It helped keep me out of trouble and became a great love ... I sailed that till 1985 and I replaced it w/an equally massive Bic Barge! In the late 90's I learned my coworker (Godfathers Pizza, we were "Home Food Distributors", Pizza Guys) Layne Petersen sailed, we finally got out on the water... He helped me see the light with the more "modern" gear... Windsurfing/riding is in my blood to stay for some crazy reason...
My history with the Wind, makes me enjoy watching anybody out there catching big airs or just sailing acrossed the lake in peace... It means something different to every person... I love that about it... Some might not think this organization is all that necessary. But push may come to shove sometime on launching sites and we'll all be happy we've got it...
What sucks is I have to tone down some of my goofy posts a little, maybe... uh, that's about it... I'm sure Mike will post the minutes from the meeting...I just wanted to pass that on... Hopefully not TMI.
Thanks again Mike...
Rick Heninger.
