Lydia Kluge joined us at the 2010 Summer Games and afterward put together this great article that was just published in the Park Record newspaper.

Wind, Wisdom, and Winning!

Utah Summer Games, Deer Creek Reservoir

Last Saturday, at Deer Creek Reservoir in Provo Canyon, twenty dinghy and catamaran sail boats competed alongside kiteboarders, windsurfers, and stand-up paddle boarders, in the final events of the annual Utah Summer Games. Initially scheduled for 12th June, but postponed due to inclement weather, the deferred proceedings went without a hitch. Bright blue skies patterned with feathery white clouds, rolling green shoreline, mostly steady winds, and a backdrop of the snow-capped Timpanagos mountain range, made for a great day’s racing. The conditions were also a welcome relief for those who participated at Deer Creek last year and told stories of a squall rushing in, flipping boats, and capsizing crew. Despite these difficulties, the majority of participants were back this year, eager to pit their skills against other athletes.

In total the sailors were on the water for about five hours, with four races each for both the dinghies and catamarans. The boats followed either an out-and-back or diamond shape course marked by buoys, with sailors testing their skills at quick jibes and tacks, and knowledge of wind speed, direction, and shifts, to choose their line, and nudge ahead their neighbors across the finish line. Brett Bingham, Social Chairman of the Utah Sailing Association, along with support from Geoff Hurwitch, President of the Park City Sailing Association, organized the sailing aspect of the games, and are hoping to see sailing in Utah continue to grow. They have seen a correlation in mindset and skill set of people who enjoy other competitive, high-adrenalin sports served by Utah, and those who sail, and are pleased to see increasing numbers of sailors on Utah’s lakes and reservoirs each year.

Whether sailing is your sport, or something else, The Utah Summer Games has a niche for everyone. It is an Olympic-style sports festival for athletes of all ages and abilities open to residents of the state of Utah. Started in 1986 by public figure of Cedar City, Gerald R. Sherratt, the games celebrated its quarter-century this year. It draws nearly 10,000 athletes and 50,000 spectators annually, and with over 45 sporting disciplines from running and horse riding, to soccer and swimming, and most everything in between, the games cater for all. The organizers describe it as “a statewide playground for athletes of any age, be it… (a) 90-year-old throwing the shot put, or tiny arm wrestlers straining their little muscles for a chance at the gold.” The games occur in June each year with most events taking place in the vicinity of Cedar City and some in the Salt Lake City area. If you want to find out more about the games or start planning for your entry next year visit their website at: www.utahsummergames.org.

By Lydia Kluge
Park City

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