Had my first ice session of the year.

Managed 74.8km/hr (46.5mp/h) on smooth ice - with skates and a kitewing 5.5.

Wind was just over 20km/hr.

Here is to a long winter....

Way to go - that is fast! What kind of skates?

I was on speed skates - short track style boots so they have more support than normal speed skates. Blades 17.5" long.

The ice was very smooth.

If it is at all rough then I use Nordic Skates, There are a variety of different models - I have the Swedish Lundhags. I would have got the Raps blades if they were available back when I got mine - they have better quality steel. The front profile of the Nordic skates flies easily over any rough stuff.
www.nordicskater.com/blades.html

Thanks for the info PrairieWind,

I was checking out the 19" Isvidda Multiskate ice blades from there. I'm just wondering what the winter will be like here this year...

Here is a photo from the first ice session of this year...

Awesome. I have never flown a skimbat but think they are ideal for ice from what I've seen.

I went out once with hockey skates and a 2.5m foil in 20+mph winds on bumpy ice. I have no idea how fast I went but it was faster than I wanted to go. I think I crossed the lake in about 3 seconds and wound up ditching the kite on the redirect.

If I go out with skates again it will be in much lower wind.

The longer blades of the Nordic Skates - Lunhags for example are much more stable at speed - even on the bumpy stuff. The rocker of hockey skates means that there is very little blade actually in contact with the ice - it is also easy to be pitched fore and aft.

The kitewing is perfect on ice - just lift it into the neutral position and tack or jibe - it is easy to feather the power of the wing. Because there is so little resistance the accelleration is like a motorcycle.

curious to know how cold this is there

how much tick is the ice on that lake ??

One of the local lakes still had open water,... the other was completely frozen, but only 2 to 4 inches of ice - needs a bit more time. This lake is really just a big slough - Pakowki lake - south of a town called Etzikom in southern Alberta. It is quite shallow so it freezes quickly. It was 5 to 7 inches thick. There were some sketchy spots,... the speed run was only along places I'd drilled holes and measured the thickness prior. In a week all the local lakes will be good and solid. Looking at the ice fisherman in his truck on the ice will make it easy to head out... .

We had a solid week and a half of below freezing... now it is quite cold - minus 11 for a high tomorrow and minus 20 for the low. That is Celcius for the yanks and brits... - don't be frightened.

On the day that picture was taken it was plus 5.

I was able to go kiting with ice skates only a few times last year.

Here are links to some of my first tries.

Warning there not the best videos.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aBDVpmPw5vI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M7XZiWvXWHM

OK - I finally ordered a pair 21" Lundhag skates today

I figured I should get a pair for the lake this winter.

We lost all the snow, but the ice is about 10" thick.

I'll let you guys know how it goes!

Got the skates in!

They look really well made. I'm hoping to try them out tomorrow if the winds cooperate.

Did you need a background investigation to purchase those? Those look cool but deadly too!:o

Cool. Did you get them from Nordic Skater out East? I was thinking of getting a pair with the more rounded tips set up for my XC ski skate boots. We typically get our smooth black ice at the beginning of the season. Thought they might be wicked with a small foil. Should be nuts with a Speed II 8m, even in low winds!

krumly

Yes, I got them from http://www.nordicskater.com/

I have not had the opportunity to use them yet - we still have a bit too much snow on the lake.

Maybe soon...

Tried out the Nordic Skates today with the 8m Speed 2.

Didn't go so well

My hiking boots did provide enough support - they felt really weak/wobbly.

It's going to be a fast ride, but I need to get another pair of more supportive boots first.

I have used the nordic skates from Nordic Skater, and they worked really well. You do need boots with good ankle support. I'm using xcountry boots from Solomon that are designed for
xcountry skate style skiing. You don't need a very big kite if the ice is good. I,ve been using a 2.5m in 15mph and it can be scary fast. Remember, there is very little drag on clean ice. Also, think about how hard that ice is if / when you fall. Avoid sailing through any drifted snow if possible as the change in drag can really throw you ( like face first ). One of the good things is if the wind dies, you can just skate on home. Consider getting an ice screw so that you have something to anchor the kite for setup and rest. On clean ice there is nothing at all to hold the gear in one place so EVERYTHING sails downwind if it's blowing at all. It's great fun when the ice is good and if it snows just strap on the skiis and rip out that way!
The nordic skates work well because they are designed to go straight and ride over uneven ice, giving a much smoother ride. Hockey skates have too much rocker to them and are unstable at speed, not to mention that if the ice is even slightly bumpy they will rattle your teeth out. Have fun and keep your stick on the ice....

Thanks for the info Ted - I'll check out the Solomon boots.

I have an Ice Screw in the bag, so I'm set with that. I've used it a few times so far this year.