Anybody that kites large bodies of water that freeze in the winter time know that large cracks develop every year. I consider them more like expansion joints, they separate and come back together depending on what the wind is doing that day. Some of these cracks can be miles long and usually develop in the same areas every year. I was out kiting on Green Bay today and crossed a very large crack that appeared to be frozen but turned out to be about 10yrds wide and all slush. Keep in mind this is over 20ft of water. Didn't know it was slush until it was to late. Back of skis sunk first, then kite side leg went in knee deep then I hit the opposite side of the crack with my sunken ski. About as fast as I sunk, I got yanked out by power of kite and forward momentum. Very lucky ski stayed on and I didn't take more of a bath, just a wet leg is all. Just a reality check that things can go wrong very fast when your not paying attention to the task at hand. Things could have been much worse and I am very thankful that they didn't. I think if one kites long enough on ice, it's not if but when you'll encounter something dangerous like this. Lesson learned and hopefully a little bit more educated next time out.

Glad to hear it was only a wet leg and not a lost ski or even worse!

I can't imagine worrying about freezing cold water under my buggy surface. Glad you came out the other side!

wow lucky! cashed in some lucky chips for that education!

Glad you powered out of that one - were you alone?

Glad you came out unscathed. Definitely one of those situations to tell how fast things can turn ugly. Thanks for sharing.

What a lesson :o Glad you made it out safely. Also glad I kite on small frozen lakes that only get small cracks!

Quote: Originally posted by pongnut

Glad you powered out of that one - were you alone?

I was alone as far as kiters go, but lots of fisherman and snowmobilers nearby if I had to yell for help. The wind was from the south today which isn't normally the prevailing wind. Crack runs north/south, all fisherman on west side of crack, now I know why nobody on east side:duh: There was another crack out there but that one was froze over and everybody crossing that one with vehicles, this other one not so good. Hindsite always says I could have jumped it if I would've known.

Good story - good reminder - good ending, you were safe and nothing broken, lost etc

HOLY CATS!!!
:o

I hate being cold. I hate being WET and cold more, but not as much as being wet, cold, and dead. Glad this was a lesson you got a passing grade for.
Here on the west coast, we have ski areas that just opened on a limited basis because winter has yet to show up.

Whoa. Glad you get to tell the story!

Live to fly another day, bro.

wow , great story, glad your ok. wish i could kite some ice.... kinda hard to here in texas with out getting kicked out of a ice rink. lol

out of interest what would be the procedure if you did go in the water? how long would you have to get out and how long before you had to get dry clothes on?

Hey Carl,

http://hardwaterkiter.blogspot.com/2010_03_01_archive.html
My account from way back.

http://youtu.be/_yCfVu5jXEw some video of last season's adventures with going through the ice.

There are a couple threads in here about it. Skimtwashington started one recently and there was some good discussion there. He went through on skates once and scrambled his way out. As a recall a helicopter was called in.:D Still makes me laugh.

Quote: Originally posted by carltb

out of interest what would be the procedure if you did go in the water? how long would you have to get out and how long before you had to get dry clothes on?

Thanks for the links Chris, you have more cold water experience than I do. Here is a recent satellite shot of Green Bay. If you locate the penninsula in center of pic, Green Bay is on the left of penninsula and Lake Michigan on the right. I was skiing the lower half of the bay. The upper bay shows how dynamic it is with lower bay freezing first, then upper bay freezing much later. Winds and temp really affect the personality the ice has. Satellite doesn't show many cracks in the lower sections due to snow cover but they are there. The city of Green Bay would be in the southern most end of the bay.

http://coastwatch.glerl.noaa.gov/webdata/cwops/html/modis/mo...

:o !!!

Quote: Originally posted by Cheddarhead

Chris, you have more cold water experience than I do.

Lets try to keep it that way.

The video that Mark posted is IMO the best one out there. We have it on the ice safety page of our website. Priceless info.

He really illustrates how keeping your head is uber important in these situations.

I always get the willys at the moment he skis into the hole. The sound, you never forget it.

Important to be properly equipped and clothed. The cold shock issue is reduced a lot if you have good waterproof/breathable layers on. Water will eventually get into your clothing but slowly. Dramatically reduces the risk of cold shock and increases the likelihood of keep your head. Helps a bit with floatation too.