Hello Fellow Windsurfers,

The 2008 Midwest Speed Quest is over. This was a great year, with 30 racers competing.

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 the LOCOSYS GT-31 GPS. The speeds were calculated using Doppler positional measurements, and are based on the "Average of the 5 Best Ten Second Runs". The GPS data was entered into a computer, and the data was carefully analyzed. Speeds were calculated to 0.01 knots with great precision. The tools and method used were consistent with International Speed Sailing, and with GPS Speed Surfing.

1st Place: David Knight, Fridley MN 31.57 knots (36.31 mph)

2nd Place: Guy Miller, Austin Texas 31.46 knots (36.18 mph)

3rd Place Chris Lock, Plainview, MN 31.06 knots (35.72 mph)

4th Place Arden Anderson, Fon du Lac, WI 30.50 knots (35.08 mph)

5th Place Richard White, Portland Oregon 30.05 knots (34.56 mph)

Congratulations to the winners. David will receive $1000 CASH. Guy will receive $500, Chris $250, Arden $125, and Richard $75.

Also for 2008, the Top Five Racers will receive a LOCOSYS GPS!!!

6th Place Josh Sampiero, Winter Park, FL 28.50 knots (32.78 mph)

7th Place Jason Swanson, Worthington, MN 28.29 knots (32.53 mph)

8th Place Eric Ries, Edina, MN 27.98 knots (32.18 mph)

9th Place Randy Johnson, Forest Lake MN 27.35 knots (31.45 mph)

10th Place Jeff Adamski, Otsego, MN 26.91 knots (30.95 mph)


Womens Category:

1st Place Allison Shreeve Sydney Australia 26.24 knots (31.18 mph)

2nd Place Karen Marriott, Lakewood CO 22.78 knots (26.20 mph)

It is should be noted both Allison and Karen were speed sailing while on Formula Gear. These are great speeds for Formula!.

Allison will receive $250. Karen will receive $125.

Both Allison and Karen will receive a LOCOSYS GPS!!!


Longboard Category:

1st Place Alex Monroe, Iowa City, Iowa        21.70 knots (24.96 mph)

2nd Place Kirk Schneider            21.33 knots (24.53 mph)

3rd Place Arnie Cleveland, Prescott, WI          18.20 knots (20.93 mph)

See the 2008 Ranking Page for complete Race Results. Click on the "Go" Button to display the actual rankings. Click on the name of a racer to see the gear used, or a complete listing of all sessions by that racer. Or click on a drop down menu to filter the results by Country, Gender, Age Class, Weight Class, Board Class, or Sail Class.

Each year, we will recognize that sailor with the greatest passion for Speed Sailing. For 2008, "The Spirit of Speed Quest Award" is awarded to Todd Spence of Coon Rapids MN, and to Arnie Cleveland of Prescott Wisconsin. These guys always bring the highest level of windsurfing enthusiasm everywhere they go! I would also like to thank Todd Spence for his support year after year, and all the great Photos!

I would like to thank Jeff Hegwer and Jason Swanson for all their assistance and support during the 2008 Season.

I would also like to recognize Jeff Hegwer and Jeff Adamski as 2008 Midwest Speed Quest Trophy Sponsors. These Custom Trophies are handcrafted from the finest exotic woods and hand blown glass. A great deal of time and energy went into creating these most unique Windsurfing Trophies. A photo of these Trophies will be posted to The Midwest Speed Quest Web Site very soon.

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 one we had in 2008. Our home remains open to all visiting Windsurfers. We invite you all back again in 2009!

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 Bergh for the many fine meals meals cooked and served over the last 6 months to the visiting Sailors.

We were delighted with the demo gear provided by the Sponsors. Each year we seek out the finest Speed Sailing Gear available anywhere in the world.

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. Tell the Sponsors you appreciate their support of the Midwest Speed Quest. This will assure we can do this again in 2009.

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 hold hold speed sailing records around the world. David Knight took First Place using a Carbon Art Board!

Thank you Windsurf Deal of California for providing a full quiver of KA Sails, including the Koncept, Koyote, Kult, and Kaos models. KA Sails hold speed sailing records around the world. The KA Koncept Sail was used to win 1st, 3rd, 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th Place in 2008!

Thank you Vector Fins of Maui Hawaii for providing a full quiver of Vector EX Speed Fins. David Knight took 1st Place using the Vector EX Fin. These fins are used by Top Speed Sailors around the world!

Thank you LOCOSYS Technology,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 optmized just by Speed Sailors by an International Team of GPS Experts.

Thank you Aquapac International, manufacturer of top quality waterproof cases for a wide variety of applications. These will protect your GPS or cell phone, and they float too. No Aquapac has failed in over 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 year after year. Many Dakine products were given out this year as prizes to visiting racers.

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 your continued support. Murray's is the leading distributor of the finest brands of Windsurfing and Sailing Products including the cool Gath Helmets.

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

Thank you Jace Panebianco and Poor Boyz Productions for the copies of The Windsurfing Movie. This movie would be a great gift for any Windsurfer.

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 Bedford Industries, Worthington. Innovators in Twist Tie Applications, Product Identification, Bendable Components, and Packaging Solution. Bedford Industries is also home to two great Windsurfers!

Thank you Worthington Area Chamber of Commerce and Convention and Visitors Bureau who invite you to visit Worthington and "Spend the Night".

Thank you WINDSPORT Magazine. Our racers enjoyed the complimentary issues provided all season long. And thank you for the "Speed Freaks" article in the Early Spring 2008 Issue!

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

Thank you to Gusts.net 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 Sanford Clinic and Sanford Regional Health Services. This is a leading full service Medical Clinic with locations across SW Minnesota and SW South Dakota.

And thank you to Deb's Healing Massage and Day Spa of Worthington. Our visiting racers appreciate your professional massage services at the end of a hard day of Speed Sailing.

THANKS AGAIN EVERYONE! SEE YOU IN 2009!!!

Craig Bergh
The Midwest Speed Quest
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