September update
We hope this finds you all making the most of these beautiful September days! There is still plenty of action around GLSS, here are the updates:
High School Sailing
We are excited to see high school sailing off and running. With months of limitations, it is a sight for sore eyes to see the growing Brainerd Lakes Sailing Team making the best of it all. So far there are 16 sailors! With an altered regatta schedule it is the perfect fall for new participants to join and learn the fundamentals and our veterans to fine tune their racing skills. It is just wonderful that GLSS has provided and supported this great opportunity for area youth. Many thanks to our coaches, Josh Sullivan and Chris Holmes, and our loyal
donors!
MC Fleet
Kate and Gene Driessen Sportsmanship Award - Dr. Tyler Dunphy
The MC Fleet awarded the 2020 Kate and Gene Driessen Sportsmanship award to Tyler Dunphy who has been working hard for our community in the midst of a challenging year. Giving to others. Tyler's excellent competition has been missed on the race course this season. Tyler, we all thank you for your dedication and commitment to your community. We look forward to seeing you on the starting and finish line in 2021!
Good luck to our MC sailors, Dave Anderson, Katie Arveson and Vince Driessen attending the 2020 MCSA Masters Championships this weekend in Clear Lake, Iowa. (Vince won the event in 2018!) Go GLYC!!
Donate Today!
We have been able to support our operations and our programming through the summer thanks to the support of our 2020 donors and our summer fundraiser. With our summer class revenues reduced due to Covid and increased professional cleaning and supply expenses we will still need more donations to cover us through the winter. If you have not yet made your sustaining donation you can do so by clicking here! We are proud of the progress we have made and the quality of our programming and have plans to grow our sailing school in order to become more reliant on our school revenues in the future. However, for today, we need your support!
Planning for the Future
We held a brainstorming session August 24th where there were wonderful ideas shared about the sailing school and future events. Watch for further updates. Thanks to everyone who joined us! If you too have a love for sailing and creating community on Gull Lake and you would like to be a part of planning our future, please contact us at school@glyc.com
Be sure to get out on the water and soak up these last weeks of the boating season!
Hole in one!!! |
Grete Eliassen Skogen celebrating her closest to the pin win with a hole in one!
Making Memories!
Well, what started as a very simple, casual GLSS golf outing, turned into a very fun celebration on Saturday at the Pines! There were four foursomes and the duo of Margaret Lord Anderson and Mark Anderson hitting double. First off the tee was the foursome of Tom Spicola and Kari Eliassen and Grete Eliassen Skogen and Josh Skogen. As they finished the third hole on The Woods the cheers and celebration could be heard. More on that in a minute.
The nine hole scramble finished in a tie at 4 under between the above foursome and the team of Chuck Arvesen, John Sumner and Tom and Nancy Lundeen. Adding to the excitement, to determine the winner, scores on the lowest handicapped holes were compared and it took until the eighth lowest handicap hole to award the overall prize of Pines gift cards to the Arvesen, Sumner Lundeen team. Tom Spicola did win the men's longest drive.
Also competing were Geno, Kim, Kristofer and Abby Hagen, who took home longest drive for the women with a complete bomb on the fourth hole, and Jim, Mary and Joe Jetland with his fiancee Lauren Charpentier, who took home her bottle of bubbly for the longest putt.
So, about that hole in one:
They say there is such a thing as an athlete gene, it would appear Grete Eliassen might have that gene. As Grete stepped up to the red tees, her partners had already hit their balls to within 10 and 5 feet from the hole. At 98 yards Grete used her pitching wedge, made an easy swing and the ball took one hop and rolled right in the hole!! She also birdied number 5, the other par three!
What is more astonishing is that this is not Grete's first hole in one, it is her THIRD! Her first two were a week apart when she was 18. When asked the question, "I'm guessing you must play a lot of golf? Grete answered, "Well, not really, some. I used to hit balls a lot in Norway after ski season when the snow melted."
So back to that athlete gene. Grete's talents on the golf course pale in comparison to her success on the slopes. Her accomplishments are so many and significant they can't all be covered here and have justice be done to them. Some highlights include, winning back to back gold medals in 2005 and 2006 at the Aspen Winter X Games. Grete also has 6 other silver and bronze medals in slopestyle and halfpipe events at the Winter X Games and FIS Freestyle World Ski Championships. From fall of 2008 until spring of 2010, Grete produced and was featured in the ski film "Say My Name" with one of her sponsors, Red Bull. She won ESPN Best Performance in a Leading Role and IF3 Montreal Best Female Performance for her role in the film. Her other hobbies include waterskiing, wakeboarding, golf, tennis, rock climbing, skateboarding and biking.
Outside of athletics Grete is the mother of two young boys ages 4 and 2 and still finds time to serve as the 16th president of the Women's Sports Foundation, established by Billie Jean King. She is passionate about the community of female athletes and providing them equal opportunities. Her humble style was on full display Saturday as she wanted to point out the success of overcoming her last place finish in the Fun Regatta last summer in an MC with her mother Kari. You've gotta love this woman!
So, what started as a "should we even do the golf tournament question" this year turned into a super fun celebration, socially distanced of course. Thanks to everyone who came out on Saturday. What better way to celebrate your third hole in one than with your Gull Lake buddies. Thanks for the cocktails Grete and thanks for making a highlight memory for all of us! You're a bright light for girls and women everywhere!
Below left to right, Chuck Arvesen representing the Arvesen, Lundeen, Sumner team with his first place prize. Grete celebrating with husband, Josh and mom Kari on hole #3 at The Woods, Sunday August 15th
Making Memories!
Well, what started as a very simple, casual GLSS golf outing, turned into a very fun celebration on Saturday at the Pines! There were four foursomes and the duo of Margaret Lord Anderson and Mark Anderson hitting double. First off the tee was the foursome of Tom Spicola and Kari Eliassen and Grete Eliassen Skogen and Josh Skogen. As they finished the third hole on The Woods the cheers and celebration could be heard. More on that in a minute.
The nine hole scramble finished in a tie at 4 under between the above foursome and the team of Chuck Arvesen, John Sumner and Tom and Nancy Lundeen. Adding to the excitement, to determine the winner, scores on the lowest handicapped holes were compared and it took until the eighth lowest handicap hole to award the overall prize of Pines gift cards to the Arvesen, Sumner Lundeen team. Tom Spicola did win the men's longest drive.
Also competing were Geno, Kim, Kristofer and Abby Hagen, who took home longest drive for the women with a complete bomb on the fourth hole, and Jim, Mary and Joe Jetland with his fiancee Lauren Charpentier, who took home her bottle of bubbly for the longest putt.
So, about that hole in one:
They say there is such a thing as an athlete gene, it would appear Grete Eliassen might have that gene. As Grete stepped up to the red tees, her partners had already hit their balls to within 10 and 5 feet from the hole. At 98 yards Grete used her pitching wedge, made an easy swing and the ball took one hop and rolled right in the hole!! She also birdied number 5, the other par three!
What is more astonishing is that this is not Grete's first hole in one, it is her THIRD! Her first two were a week apart when she was 18. When asked the question, "I'm guessing you must play a lot of golf? Grete answered, "Well, not really, some. I used to hit balls a lot in Norway after ski season when the snow melted."
So back to that athlete gene. Grete's talents on the golf course pale in comparison to her success on the slopes. Her accomplishments are so many and significant they can't all be covered here and have justice be done to them. Some highlights include, winning back to back gold medals in 2005 and 2006 at the Aspen Winter X Games. Grete also has 6 other silver and bronze medals in slopestyle and halfpipe events at the Winter X Games and FIS Freestyle World Ski Championships. From fall of 2008 until spring of 2010, Grete produced and was featured in the ski film "Say My Name" with one of her sponsors, Red Bull. She won ESPN Best Performance in a Leading Role and IF3 Montreal Best Female Performance for her role in the film. Her other hobbies include waterskiing, wakeboarding, golf, tennis, rock climbing, skateboarding and biking.
Outside of athletics Grete is the mother of two young boys ages 4 and 2 and still finds time to serve as the 16th president of the Women's Sports Foundation, established by Billie Jean King. She is passionate about the community of female athletes and providing them equal opportunities. Her humble style was on full display Saturday as she wanted to point out the success of overcoming her last place finish in the Fun Regatta last summer in an MC with her mother Kari. You've gotta love this woman!
So, what started as a "should we even do the golf tournament question" this year turned into a super fun celebration, socially distanced of course. Thanks to everyone who came out on Saturday. What better way to celebrate your third hole in one than with your Gull Lake buddies. Thanks for the cocktails Grete and thanks for making a highlight memory for all of us! You're a bright light for girls and women everywhere!
Below left to right, Chuck Arvesen representing the Arvesen, Lundeen, Sumner team with his first place prize. Grete celebrating with husband, Josh and mom Kari on hole #3 at The Woods, Sunday August 15th
August update
Even In A Pandemic, Summer Flies By In A Blink At Gull Lake Sailing School So,here we are, mid August! We hope this finds you all healthy. Thanks to so many of you, we continue to make lemonade out of lemons this summer and we are grateful for all we have accomplished and are able to continue with going in to fall.
We are happy to welcome our assistant high school coach, Chris Holmes to our Board of Directors. Chris grew up sailing at Camp Lincoln and went on to become a professional wakeboarder in Florida. Today Chris spends his time on the water sailing his Nacra 52 catamaran and the 420, he also owns his own business, Graphic Element. Chris is always one to step up and volunteer for what ever we need, as well as assist us with our safety and Covid signage at the club. Welcome Chris!
Here are the updates on our events and activities, note the open house and planning meeting outlined below on August 24, all are welcome to help us plan what's next for GLSS.
Sailing School
We were able to complete sailing school without one cancellation due to weather or Covid! We received a number of very nice comments from both parents and grandparents about the safety and the fun of our program this summer. Best of all we also have a new and improved crew of sailors in the area! Thank you Josh Sullivan, and your instructor team, Ethan Stohr, Kailey Namenuik, and Baden Bastian for your diligence and work this summer!
60th Fun Regatta
Thank you to everyone for a wonderful day of sailing on August 1, 2020, as we enjoyed the 60th Annual Fun Regatta on beautiful Gull Lake. We had a fleet of 420s, Open Class and MCs sailing on a beautiful Minnesota summer day. The wind was a fresh steady breeze of 10-12 mph straight out of the north. Frequent gusts to 16-17mph challenged the fleet’s boat handling skills. There were several two person crews handling the breeze. Those who went solo felt the challenge to keep their boat flat. The sail back home after the races was a wild ride. We all made it. Thank you Wind Gods!
Thank you to all the friends and family members who were out on the water spectating and keeping an eye out for the sailor’s safety. Vince Driessen was our Principal Race Officer for the event this year. He had FUN as a primary objective as well as a great sailing course (W2) and smoothly executed starts (3 minute sequence). Five W2 races of about 20 minutes each in length were sailed. Thanks, Vince!
The GLSS/GLYC 60th Annual Fun Regatta logo gear was a super cool white camo hat and a white tech hoodie to boot! Rumor has it that a couple small sizes remain available for those collecting Fun Regatta garb.
The racing competition was close. Everyone sailed fast with the steady winds gusting upwards into the high teens mph. Some notable highlights included the return of the Keller Klan from their international sailing travels to share with us their boat handling skill in the 420s. In the 16 boat MC fleet, the racing was tight with the final scores being decided literally by a 6” margin settling the top three places of Alex Driessen, Josh Sullivan, and Dave Anderson. In the Open Class, Fun Regatta stalwarts Jim and Ginger Anderson returned to the race course once again this year, proudly proclaiming as they rounded the leeward mark in race 3 that they prefer gin ‘n tonics over margaritas! See results below. Trophies were available for all three classes. Thank you to Mary Jetland for organizing the cool trophies.
New to the Fun Regatta history were the COVID protocols! Of course, we were very careful to physically distance on the starting line and around the marks. We also did not have breakfast, lunch or social following our sailing. Many participants remarked how they missed the onshore commeraderie, including the post race discussions about tactics and strategies. That is such a great part of our sport, the camaraderie and trying new maneuvers. We look forward to the 61st Fun Regatta in 2021, and focusing in on the social component of a healthy regatta next year!
The MC fleet plans on continuing weekend competitions through August and September with volunteer race officials and hopefully great winds. See you out there!
Planning Meeting
We have come a long way since our last strategic planning session and it is time again to think of our future. There will be a planning meeting August 24th at 1:00 open to everyone. Please email us at school@glyc.com if you would like to participate. It will most likely be via Zoom.
High School Sailing
We are happy to be offering sailing this fall with so many sports cancelled. We have been able to fine tune our Covid protocols and hope we can attract a few new sailors. There will be an Open House on August 24 at 6:00pm. Come learn about the Brainerd High School sailing program for grades 7-12. Our head coach Josh Sullivan and assistant coach and board member Chris Holmes will be available to answer any of your questions. Come spend the fall on the water!
Again, we are grateful for everyone's support, contributions and participation! Soak up the last of summer everyone!
We are happy to welcome our assistant high school coach, Chris Holmes to our Board of Directors. Chris grew up sailing at Camp Lincoln and went on to become a professional wakeboarder in Florida. Today Chris spends his time on the water sailing his Nacra 52 catamaran and the 420, he also owns his own business, Graphic Element. Chris is always one to step up and volunteer for what ever we need, as well as assist us with our safety and Covid signage at the club. Welcome Chris!
Here are the updates on our events and activities, note the open house and planning meeting outlined below on August 24, all are welcome to help us plan what's next for GLSS.
Sailing School
We were able to complete sailing school without one cancellation due to weather or Covid! We received a number of very nice comments from both parents and grandparents about the safety and the fun of our program this summer. Best of all we also have a new and improved crew of sailors in the area! Thank you Josh Sullivan, and your instructor team, Ethan Stohr, Kailey Namenuik, and Baden Bastian for your diligence and work this summer!
60th Fun Regatta
Thank you to everyone for a wonderful day of sailing on August 1, 2020, as we enjoyed the 60th Annual Fun Regatta on beautiful Gull Lake. We had a fleet of 420s, Open Class and MCs sailing on a beautiful Minnesota summer day. The wind was a fresh steady breeze of 10-12 mph straight out of the north. Frequent gusts to 16-17mph challenged the fleet’s boat handling skills. There were several two person crews handling the breeze. Those who went solo felt the challenge to keep their boat flat. The sail back home after the races was a wild ride. We all made it. Thank you Wind Gods!
Thank you to all the friends and family members who were out on the water spectating and keeping an eye out for the sailor’s safety. Vince Driessen was our Principal Race Officer for the event this year. He had FUN as a primary objective as well as a great sailing course (W2) and smoothly executed starts (3 minute sequence). Five W2 races of about 20 minutes each in length were sailed. Thanks, Vince!
The GLSS/GLYC 60th Annual Fun Regatta logo gear was a super cool white camo hat and a white tech hoodie to boot! Rumor has it that a couple small sizes remain available for those collecting Fun Regatta garb.
The racing competition was close. Everyone sailed fast with the steady winds gusting upwards into the high teens mph. Some notable highlights included the return of the Keller Klan from their international sailing travels to share with us their boat handling skill in the 420s. In the 16 boat MC fleet, the racing was tight with the final scores being decided literally by a 6” margin settling the top three places of Alex Driessen, Josh Sullivan, and Dave Anderson. In the Open Class, Fun Regatta stalwarts Jim and Ginger Anderson returned to the race course once again this year, proudly proclaiming as they rounded the leeward mark in race 3 that they prefer gin ‘n tonics over margaritas! See results below. Trophies were available for all three classes. Thank you to Mary Jetland for organizing the cool trophies.
New to the Fun Regatta history were the COVID protocols! Of course, we were very careful to physically distance on the starting line and around the marks. We also did not have breakfast, lunch or social following our sailing. Many participants remarked how they missed the onshore commeraderie, including the post race discussions about tactics and strategies. That is such a great part of our sport, the camaraderie and trying new maneuvers. We look forward to the 61st Fun Regatta in 2021, and focusing in on the social component of a healthy regatta next year!
The MC fleet plans on continuing weekend competitions through August and September with volunteer race officials and hopefully great winds. See you out there!
Planning Meeting
We have come a long way since our last strategic planning session and it is time again to think of our future. There will be a planning meeting August 24th at 1:00 open to everyone. Please email us at school@glyc.com if you would like to participate. It will most likely be via Zoom.
High School Sailing
We are happy to be offering sailing this fall with so many sports cancelled. We have been able to fine tune our Covid protocols and hope we can attract a few new sailors. There will be an Open House on August 24 at 6:00pm. Come learn about the Brainerd High School sailing program for grades 7-12. Our head coach Josh Sullivan and assistant coach and board member Chris Holmes will be available to answer any of your questions. Come spend the fall on the water!
Again, we are grateful for everyone's support, contributions and participation! Soak up the last of summer everyone!
July Update
We hope this finds you all healthy and enjoying summer. We are so grateful for all we are able to do this summer at Gull Lake Sailing School! Here are the updates for July.
Sailing School
Classes started this week and we are receiving great reviews for all the safety precautions put in place to keep our sailors and instructors all healthy. We have just a few openings left for classes this summer with our reduced schedule. Sign up today to get on the lake!
Many thanks to Josh Sullivan and our waterfront team for all their hard work! Follow us on Instagram @gulllakesailingschool and Facebook, Gull Lake Yacht Club & Sailing School to see our set up for COVID safe sailing. Below you can see our individual launch docks. We thank our partner Bradow Dock for saving us some used sections to make this happen!
Hot Fun on the Waterfront is Almost Here!
The early forecast is gorgeous. We are optimistic we will have a great day on the 11th. There are still a few tables remaining on the upper deck and the beach. With the rest of our dock now installed we've measured and can safely distance 3 more boat slips, so we now have 4 remaining. If it is too windy to boat over we will have a table on shore for you and your party.
If you plan to come anchor offshore we hope you will order picnic lunches and help support our sailing programs, high school sailing team and the Brainerd Response Fund. Remember, this is our annual fundraiser! Any offshore dining is BYOB, so get your coolers ready!
All tables, boat slips and meals must be ordered by next Tuesday, July 7. If you have more than 6 at your table or boat slip be sure to order extra VIP meals for your guests! We do have children's, vegetarian and gluten free meals also.
Click here for more event details.
Lakes Area Music Festival
LAMF is also having to adjust their entire season. We are still hoping to host one of the very few live events and are waiting for a new date. As soon as we know we will update everyone.
WE WISH YOU ALL A VERY HAPPY SAFE FOURTH OF JULY!
Sailing School
Classes started this week and we are receiving great reviews for all the safety precautions put in place to keep our sailors and instructors all healthy. We have just a few openings left for classes this summer with our reduced schedule. Sign up today to get on the lake!
Many thanks to Josh Sullivan and our waterfront team for all their hard work! Follow us on Instagram @gulllakesailingschool and Facebook, Gull Lake Yacht Club & Sailing School to see our set up for COVID safe sailing. Below you can see our individual launch docks. We thank our partner Bradow Dock for saving us some used sections to make this happen!
Hot Fun on the Waterfront is Almost Here!
The early forecast is gorgeous. We are optimistic we will have a great day on the 11th. There are still a few tables remaining on the upper deck and the beach. With the rest of our dock now installed we've measured and can safely distance 3 more boat slips, so we now have 4 remaining. If it is too windy to boat over we will have a table on shore for you and your party.
If you plan to come anchor offshore we hope you will order picnic lunches and help support our sailing programs, high school sailing team and the Brainerd Response Fund. Remember, this is our annual fundraiser! Any offshore dining is BYOB, so get your coolers ready!
All tables, boat slips and meals must be ordered by next Tuesday, July 7. If you have more than 6 at your table or boat slip be sure to order extra VIP meals for your guests! We do have children's, vegetarian and gluten free meals also.
Click here for more event details.
Lakes Area Music Festival
LAMF is also having to adjust their entire season. We are still hoping to host one of the very few live events and are waiting for a new date. As soon as we know we will update everyone.
WE WISH YOU ALL A VERY HAPPY SAFE FOURTH OF JULY!
May update - Wait and see...
Boat Safety Classes - Pending!
We continue to look for direction from local, state and national resources about our summer programming. GLSS is working directly with the Crow Wing County Water Patrol to evaluate our ability to offer safe, outdoor classes, weather permitting. There is an online class available on the GCOLA website for $25. Boating will be a highlight of the summer with so many other activities cancelled and safe boating is fun boating.
Sailing School - Hopeful!
Again, we are tracking local, state and national guidelines for safe sailing this summer. You may register to secure a spot now without payment. In the event we can offer sailing classes payment can be made at that time.
We Welcome Your Support!
We ask that if you are able to at this time, that you make a donation to Gull Lake Sailing School. Our ongoing expenses continue including, insurance, property taxes, dock installation, utilities, and most importantly our wonderful instructors. We remain hopeful that by mid June the world will be a safer place thanks to the tremendous sacrifices that have been made by Americans everywhere. What better place to be than on the water, won't that be wonderful!
We continue to look for direction from local, state and national resources about our summer programming. GLSS is working directly with the Crow Wing County Water Patrol to evaluate our ability to offer safe, outdoor classes, weather permitting. There is an online class available on the GCOLA website for $25. Boating will be a highlight of the summer with so many other activities cancelled and safe boating is fun boating.
Sailing School - Hopeful!
Again, we are tracking local, state and national guidelines for safe sailing this summer. You may register to secure a spot now without payment. In the event we can offer sailing classes payment can be made at that time.
We Welcome Your Support!
We ask that if you are able to at this time, that you make a donation to Gull Lake Sailing School. Our ongoing expenses continue including, insurance, property taxes, dock installation, utilities, and most importantly our wonderful instructors. We remain hopeful that by mid June the world will be a safer place thanks to the tremendous sacrifices that have been made by Americans everywhere. What better place to be than on the water, won't that be wonderful!
APRIL Update
The Brainerd Lakes High School Sailing Team.
(Back L to R) Coach Josh Sullivan, Eathan Stohr, Mattie Holst, Brandt Norwood, Hailey Nameniuk, Brooke Krivich; (Front L to R) Jackson Holmes, Izzy Holmes, Wyatt Holst, Jackson Medeck, Ella Kline, Ethan Nash.
The Times They Are A-Changin'
Bob Dylan
First and foremost, we hope this finds you and yours all healthy!
As the ice recedes from our lakes we are reminded of their beauty and the tranquility they provide to us all.
We are so excited to have our high school program featured as the cover story in the April/May issue of Lake Country Journal magazine. It is a wonderful article written by Jenny Holmes, with the beautiful photography of our assistant high school coach, Chris Holmes. Not to be missed!
With each passing week of ominous news, the high school season sadly disappeared one regatta at a time until the remainder were all cancelled. With the enormity of hurt caused by Covid-19 we keep our perspective in check. That said, there is true disappointment by our growing team of sailors who were so looking forward to joining this new sport or getting back on the water. Something normal to do, something fun to do, something out of the house. So we wait, wait for the last ice to go, wait to hear what the summer will bring, wait to hear when we can gather again.
We are very thankful we have come so far financially these past few years and have zero debt. We have a wonderful waterfront director, Josh Sullivan who serves as both our high school coach and Sailing School Director. Josh has greatly elevated the quality of all of our programs and has been a wonderful steward of our property and boats as well.
These are times of uncertainty for all of us. We are hopeful our summer programs can all happen and are making contingency plans in the event there are delays and cancellations.
Registration for Sailing School is live here. You have the option to register without making any payments at this time. We recommend you sign up now to ensure a spot. If you do pay now and there are any delays or cancellations you will be fully refunded. Stay informed of updates and changes to our schedule at GLYC.com
Last but not least, we ask that if you are able to at this time, that you make your annual donation to Gull Lake Sailing School. Our ongoing expenses continue including, insurance, property taxes, dock installation, utilities, and most importantly our wonderful instructors. We remain hopeful that by mid June the world will be a safer place thanks to the tremendous sacrifices that have been made by Americans everywhere. What better place to be than on the water, won't that be wonderful!
