"You can go anywhere--uphill, downhill--using only the wind and gravity. And you're all alone with nature. No other skiers. No people at all. It's amazing. Lift-assisted skiers can't imagine the silence, either. It's glorious up there all alone" --
Ski Sailer inventor Carl Meinberg after another great session on Oregon's Mt Hood.

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A Message From Carl Describing The Ski Sailer

Look for a nice feature on Carl Ski Sailing in the upcoming Warren Miller video "The Ultimate Challenge"!











A Message From Carl

Welcome to the world of snow and ice sailing! At the turn of the century, it was the fastest form of travel known to man. That was 100 years ago. Things have changed a lot, but having fun, going fast, and enjoyment of life still rule!

The Windsurfer started the rage on water. The Ski Sailer is one to bring it to the snow and ice. With a standard short board rig and a pair of 200 cm - 220 cm alpine skis, you too can make it happen. The Ski Sailing universal is simple, strong, and works for the athletic person. Here are a few tips to make the first few experiences more fun:

Carl Meinberg, the Ski Sailer developer and inventor, is a three time world champion snow and ice sailing. He will be featured in the upcoming Warren Miller video "The Ultimate Challenge", as well as the November 96 issue of "Men's Health". He is also featured in a video at all Ralph Lauren Polo Sports stores. The video can be purchased by calling 1-800-756-7656. He lives in the Columbia Gorge. His favorite sailing spots: Palmer Glacier, The Hatchery, Baja, and his boat.

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Tips For Getting Started Ski Sailing

This is short board sailing equipment - Wind is required! This is not long boarding. For that, try "Snowfer", "Winter Board", or "Ice Hawk".

SKIS 200-240 GS, Downhill, or Speed with low/no side cut. Edge condition is critical for black ice, base conditions important for snow. Wax properly.

BINDINGS Same as when alpine skiing, adjust accordingly.

SAILS Short board high-performance rig. 3.0 - 5.0 sails. Larger sails can be used, but will feel unbalanced and a bit awkward: see "longboard" note above.

SAIL MATERIAL No P.V.C. Surf Sail windows. All others okay.

BOOM Set a bit higher than regular use on water. Shorter the better.

HARNESS Waist, and one that can slide from side to side just a bit. Or, your regular seat harness, fold under the leg straps. Harness not required on all sailing surfaces. Some (surfaces) have very low resistance, try without first.

"SKI SAILER" UNIVERSAL PLACEMENT Mount base plates 12"-20" foward from toe of boot-binding connection depending upon sailors size, ability, and ski length. Cross bar connects any single Log Stud, Star Base, or Universal Joint.

HELMET Always!

PADS Elbow and hip. Black ice with frozen cookies can hurt. Snow just go!

GLOVES Thin is best. Thick gloves can make your hands cramp.

I think that just about does it. You are ready to go shred! Take it easy, always jibe. Check the ice check again. Snow Just Go! Carve without the chair.

Happy Sailing
Carl
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Ski Sailing On Mount Hood

Jan. 15, 6 a.m. -- I was awakened from a dream of snowboarding endless deep powder turns and radical aerials by a telephone call from windsurfing's world speed record holder, Mike Delehanty. He asked me if I wanted to go photograph some great sailing. In a sleepy voice I told him to call me later when it warned up a little. He insisted that if we were going to do it, we needed to start getting ready now. This just didn't register---here in the Gorge in January, the water temperature is bitter cold and I didn't really want to be hanging out on a frozen beach with the wind shill below zero, hoping to get a shot of someone deranged enough to go windsurfing. Mike informed me that we (he and Carl Meinberg) were not going to sail on the water, but on snow at the Timberline Ski Area...I poured a cup of Joe and prepared to documend this new adventure....

Timberline's upper lifts were closed because of winds gusting to 40+. Carl was the first on the mountain. He made it look so easy. Everything flowed and look effortless. With his Rushwind/Budweiser sail, he used ziqsagging reaches to climb up the mountain. He would sail up and then come flying down, doing unreal bottom turns and banking off-the-wind lips as if they were waves at Hookipa. As I set up to start shooting, Mike sailed up and the two of them raced up and down the mountain. The harder it blew the straighter up the mountain they would sail. The maneuverability of the rigs could only be compared to sailing on ocean waves....

My wife, Wendy, watching from the Timberline Lodge, was bombarded with questions from awestruck spectators. Sailors in the wintertime? How did they get up there? Why use sails--couldn't they just use the lifts to get up the mountain? The people were drawn to the window like moths to a flame. They couldn't believe their eyes....

Author Michael Hildreth of Fascination Photography in Hood River Oregon, the largest photography studio in the Columbia River Gorge.

Photo above courtesy of ...

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