Utah Windriders Association • About Us

Mission

Preserve access to quality, public sailing/riding sites
Promote stoke for windsurfing, kiteboarding, and snowkiting locally through events, video adrenalin, camaraderie, and uninhibited web posting
Help newcomers get started, safely
Keep the windriding community connected and safe mainly with this web site
Save Rush!

Philosophy/Windrider's Creed

Windsport as well as physical exercise in general seems to be a zen/spiritual experience for most people. This is apparent as you listen to people talk about their last great windriding experience or look in their eyes as they come off of the snow or water after a sweet session. The Utah Windrider's Association would like to be a shining example to all windriding communities that any kind of maligned negativity whether political or personal, or elitism is not welcome or necessary within its realms.

Because of this spiritual nature, we would love to see Windsurfing, Kiteboarding, Snowkiting and all other windsports keep that mystical edge by maintaining a positive vibe that the wind brings...

We believe that our individual windsports seed the growth and existence of each other and there should be an unsolicited mutual respect amongst us. That respect should transcend age and ability.

Good natured competition that allows one to push the envelope of their windsport, safely... Bring it on! But don't kite or sail over your head... Be smart... Talk to those experienced at a location before you try it... Learn the rules of EVERY location you kite or sail so that you don't ruin it for the rest of us.

The Board/Elected Officers

Rick Heninger - President Cell 801-635-6699 email
Josh Shirley - VP, Windsurfing Chairman email
Peter Miller - VP, Kiteboarding Chairman/Activities chair, Previously Heather Shenck
Sarah Ranes - Windsurfing Activities Chair
Les Vierra - Kiting Community liaison/Spokesperson
Rick McClain - Membership Chairperson
Bob "Trip" Houk - Secretary/Treasurer
Mark Johnson & Fred Gruendell - Historian/Photographer
Mike Rossberg - Board member/Website Maintenance (former president) Cell 652-0813 email

Recognized Volunteers

Craig Goudie- Utah Weather Guru and Windsurfing Addict- Has given the Utah Windsurfers Association, which became the Utah Windriders Association circa 2005 helpful weather guidance year after year.
Kenny Farnsworth- Utah's Kiteboarding/Snowkiting Session getter Extraordinaire-In 2008 volunteered to forecast the weather during the winter months for snow riding when Craig takes a break
Josh Gubler- Website Maintenance.

Meeting Minutes

Brief History of the UWA

Presidents of the UWA have been: Dimitri Milovich (Founder) 19??-19?? - Grant McAllister 19??-2002 - Mike Rossberg 2002-2007 ~ Rick Heninger 2007-Present
Dimitri Milovich ran Milosport, a small business that built windsurfing in our community. While Rush Lake was 20 feet deep in the middle, hundreds would flock to it cow shores to sail the perfect venturi there in Rush Valley. Thus started the UWA (Utah Windsurfing Association). As the internet emerged, the UWA recognized the great resource it could be for local windsurfers. Radius Engineering allocated a portion of their server for the website. It has grown into an incredible resource for "Utah Windriders" to increase the feasibility of our sports... About the time that Bucky was creating the "Fin Clam", Grant McAllister brought a superb spirit to the UWA. He did a lot to help build the membership of the UWA. His great spirit made that Rocky Mountain Pizza actually seem really good! Mike Rossberg worked for McClean Quality Composites while he was President.The great deals on booms, masts, and other windsurfing gear that Mike helped us acquire will be around for years. Before he left his post, Mike was key in launching the php version of the website that we continue to hone today. Rick Heninger picked up the reigns in 2007 and held a beginner windsurfing clinic for the first couple years. Many of those who learned still show up at the Sulphur Creek Campout.The beginner days are hit and miss due to wind!!! Slow and fast... Rick Heninger had gone to the BANFF Film Festival for a number of years and wanted to bring a flavor of that event to the uwa. This was a desire see video become a part of the UWA meetings and in 2008 held the meeting at Brewvies Pub. This Video Night/Meeting has really helped to foster excitement about the past Snowkite season and for the Water season ahead it has been a great event. But Rick's greatest dream is to one day see a fleet of 50 sailors and 50 kiters in a race acrossed Utah Lake up a tack and them a rip back across. This is about a 14 mile endeavor. We'll see! It was attempted in 2008 but the wind died and most needed to be rescued with the rescue boat he'd supplied. But then the wind picked up with a vengeance. We coulda gone around the lake 3 times! (work in process) Other officers and volunteers can't go unmentioned... The premier weather guru of the UWA, Craig Goudie, has been giving morning forecasts without fail and with great accuracy. His "Where to Sail" early on and that changed to "Where to Ride" after we became the Utah Windriders has saved many a skunk for those wise enough to heed the advice. Kenny Farnsworth began forecasting in the winter of 2009 (?) for the up and coming sport of Snowkiting. They are amazing to consistently analyze the gradients, thermals, and systems for our saftey, fun, and efficiency. Sarah Ranes and assistant Linda Schlappy have been at the Social Chair Reigns for over 10 years. They have produced MANY a great memory up at Sulphur Creek Kingdom, reigning in the Palace on Wheels. This is the Windsurfing community's crown jewel event of the year in August. You will want to make it to this one. Finally there are many names to mention here for their contributions to the UWA over the years, so I'll just start and it'll grow: Josh Gubler, Website maintenance, Josh Shirley Windsurfing Chair who has helped get kiting and windsurfing into the Utah Summer Games on a few occasions. It's always an adventure. He has helped in untold ways with the UWA. Brian and Heather Schenk have single handedly put Utah's Snowkiting on the Global radar. The event down at Skyline Drive Snowkite Masters has a huge following and is super exciting to watch.