Telestrat - 11-12-2012 at 12:46 PM
I'm will be a rookie (new this year) to kite skiing and have question for the more experienced winter kite ski folks. I've been scouting for some
open areas (non-lake) to kite ski when snow arrives. Haven't found too many close areas other than the farm in Amesbury, some fields out near
Concord area and, of course, the larger lakes. But has anyone thought about or even tried to kite ski on the cranberry bogs down in southern
Massachusetts (assuming we had permission)? There are some pretty large open areas down in Plymouth, etc. Think they would be good place when frozen
since they are shallow? Maybe they freeze quicker than the bigger/deeper lakes?
Might that work? Perhaps I'm just getting a little too "kite crazy" waiting for the cold weather / snow to arrive??
erratic winds - 11-12-2012 at 01:10 PM
If you are able to secure permission from the owners, I don't see how there could be any issues.
My favorite kitesurf picture ever is from a guy kiting a cranberry bog and spraying a rooster tail of cranberries ten feet high. 
Feyd - 11-12-2012 at 01:53 PM
I'm not really familiar with the dynamics of cranberry bogs. Are they dry or are they still wet? Ice doesn't form well in areas that have a lot of
vegetation like swamps or natural bogs unless it's been crazy cold, like sub zero for a few days and even then it's not the same as ice on deeper
water bodies with less veg. Unless the bog is really flooded and the ice is forming a foot or two above the plants. If the bog is dry and there's
enough snow to cover the cranberry plants and there isn't a lot around to set up funky wind currents and rotors don't see why not.
To back up what E.W. said, be clear on permissions. If the bogs are rideable and you have permission you're golden.
You're about 3hrs south of me. I personally wouldn't risk any ice south of my location and after last week and this rain spell I'm staying off the
ice north of here as well. I'm totally feeling "kite crazy" too. You me and about dozen other people I ride with are all in the same boat. I was
watching some footage of riding locally on the ice here from last January 2nd so I'm keep it together and not taking any crazy risks. It's comming,
we just need to be patient. :D
Telestrat - 11-12-2012 at 02:36 PM
I'm certainly no expert on cranberry bogs but I was reading that the bog owners usually flood them before winter to protect the vines/vegetation, etc.
Was thinking...hmmmm..I wonder.... flooded, frozen, snow on top, nice and shallow, plenty of small hilly bumps to jump off, safer than a deep lake,
etc. Might be cool idea if it works...
But yeah - not sure how well they will freeze since air is usually a little warmer down near Cape Cod.....
I'll keep my eye on it though.....
beachrights - 11-12-2012 at 03:43 PM
Forget it- The Bogs are filled with water to harvest then drained in early spring- They never freeze completely as Feyd states unless they have been
abandoned for a few years. Big slush ponds.
There are many by our house and they aren't even thought of to ice skate on due to the above
B-Roc - 11-12-2012 at 07:16 PM
If you go to Woodsom, drop me a line as that's only 35 minutes from me.