Any one we know? ................aj http://www.cbc.ca/canada/toronto/story/2010/03/19/tor-ice-re...

Man this is NOT the kind of publicity snowkiters need. Those comments on the article are probably pretty indicative of the publics view of something like this.

Of course if you're signed up to make comments on news articles you probably don't spend much time doing really interesting things like snow kiting, getting out of your parent's basement or talking to members of the opposite sex.

Funny I just posted a little story on my blog about my first time going through the ice.

Not so bad if you're prepared and have a closed cell kite like a Peter Lynn.

Water riders are in the water all the time! =)

Boy there's some real hermits who sign up to comment on newspaper articles online eh

More info

I spoke to the fist guy that went through earlier today and he had a story very similar to Chris's blog account - candlestick ice. He hear a strange noise and slowed to listen, turned and saw the direction of travel had a slow wave motion on the surface turned to head in and went 10 feet and went through the ice. He flies Peter Lynn but on this day was using his old lovable Quadrifoil XM and kept looping it to drag through shards of sharp ice getting cut up pretty good and got to a point where the lines went slack and kite fell. A guy came out to try and help him relaunch and fell through and also the others in various places. A big rescue operation and more to the story but as far as I know 3 are home safe and 1 is still in hospital in serious condition. The ice a few km further north was still 10-15 inches thick and after the events of yesterday there were still ice fisherman going out in the same area today. for the majority of us with the extreme mild conditions we had quite going out almost 2 weeks ago and guys have started out on Lake Ontario and Erie surfing the last week and a half.

No offense Kami!

Yeah it's a tough call. Hard to tell when candle ice is going to be a problem.

The stuff is amazing.

Imagine the moment when your kite isn't pulling you anymore and you say to yourself "I should have flown my ARC today."

That had to suck.

We were out today and ther are places that I know were a little sketchy but as there were throttle twisters out on sleds and 4 wheelers we figured we were in good shape.

But there is no way in hell I'd ride a sled or 4 wheeler out there. Of course if you're not smart enough to wear a helmet why would you be smart enough to keep your sled off rotting ice?

I just don't get it.

Eh?

An Ontario forum has a few pages of comments and some more information about the incident.
http://thechickenloop.com/index.php?option=com_fireboard&...

HEHEHE Sorry Kami I read your post wrong.

Interesting reading all the different stories about what happend.

Funny how they've been called everything from windsurfers to icesurfers etc.

Interesting that there is so much discussion about the lack of PFDs and whether to wear them or not. Personally I'm safety minded and if I'm out on questionable ice I would definately wear a PFD. Even though I think the ice here will be good for another week I will be wearing my PFD from here on out. I don't ride water but If I were riding water I would wear one as well. I don't have a problem with reducing risk if I can.

Also it's interesting that they remark about how different the ice is just a few kilometers away. We have similar situations here where one lake will go completely to crap while just a mile or so away another lake will be fine for a few more weeks. It has a lot to do with the depth of the lake, the amount of wind it gets, the accumulation it gets, currents, springs, temperature fluxuations etc. A lot of factors come into play with ice and you have to really know what does what at each lake.

I hope everyone who went in is ok.

For my part yesterday I drove by where I went through and it looked great! I almost tried it out but the wind was too light.

Can't use the kite to get out if there's no wind!