Crystal blue persuasion. Pat Heppert’s C Skeeter DRIFTER with Canadian DNer Jack Marzenski at the Great Western Challenge on Lake Minnewaska in Starbuck, MN. PHOTO: KEVIN BARTA
Friendly reminder, we have a 4LIYC meeting tonight, December 7, 2022, at 6:30 PM. We are going ZOOM ONLY tonight which allows for more work in the shop. You should have received an email with the link. Contact me if you haven’t received it.
The winter tradition of sail-powered ice boating finds the right combination of ice, wind, and speed-seeking participants in Montana
BIG SKY JOURNAL
in Winter 2022 | Feature Stories | Written by Andrew McKean | Photography by Sean R. Heavey
Just as surfers will spend the balance of their year waiting for just the right wave, and skiers will rearrange their lives in pursuit of fluffy mountain powder, so do ice boaters watch for fresh ice and stiff winds. They’re monitoring long- and short-term weather forecasts for their version of powder days, says Flathead Lake ice-boat builder John Eisenlohr, one of the dozens of Montana winter sailors who travel the West in search of perfect ice. “For us, that’s the first black ice thick enough to play on, plus a certain amount of wind,” Eisenlohr says. “Not too much wind, and no packed snow on the ice. And, if I’m really lucky, the ice will have just a little stippling on it to hold the runners.” Continue reading.
Pat Heppert sailing DRIFTER at the 2022 International Skeeter Association Regatta on Lake Monona in Madison, WI. Photo: Will Johnston
Photographer Will Johnson joined us at the ISA and Renegade Championship on Lake Monona on Saturday. He has a huge number of photos he’d like to share with us.
If any one wants some extra work done on some of them feel free to pass along my contact info I am happy to help.
The boaters are welcome to use the photos for any personal use, and feel free to post them any icboat.org socials you see fit.
I had a good time watching the racing and hope to come out to more regattas
Will Johnston
Paul Krueger creating some smoke with RAMBL’N
Photographer Sean R. Heavey spent a few days on Lake Monona taking photos and flying a drone before the snow ended hopes of a DN U.S. Nationals regatta. Take a look at his photo gallery here.
Nite and DN class iceboats on Lake Monona, January 15, 2022. Photo by Joe Berger.
Hoofer soft water sailing instructor Joe Berger came over to the chilly side and brought his photography skills to Lake Monona over the weekend. He has shared his photos on our Facebook group and to Google pictures. See them here.
National Iceboat Authority Web Page
Location: In person at the Elks Lodge 711 Jenifer St, Madison, WI 53703
Time: 6:30 PM
YOU ARE SKIPPER NUMBER
TO ROUND THE MARK SINCE NOVEMBER 1999.
