I'm pretty sad that April 2nd was the last time I was able to get out on the ice. I haven't checked recently, but figure the shorlines are getting pretty beat-up by now. So farewell to winter until next year, sniff sniff. Here is some footage from that day:

http://youtu.be/mcQTC9ecJfw

I'm bummed too. I think my last day in the Saint Paul area was April 4. Some of the ice on my favorite lake wasn't looking too good then. A couple areas were getting some open water earlier in the week. I was going to try getting in another session yesterday but it didn't look safe from the side of the lake with the on shore wind.

Thanks for sharing the video. I plan to put something together too but I don't have it ready yet.

Thanks slope,

Good to see another midwestern kiter on the forum!

Had an April 6 session on Shawano Lake. :P

Once we made it 30 feet beyond the shore we were good. I think we are done now... unless we swim out to the ice.

I distinctly remember my brother-in-law using wadders to get out to the "good" ice one year. I quit before that happens....time to dust off the buggies

I draw the line at swimming out as well. I'm willing to use small bridges or hike a mile to get a spot in the shade that hasn't melted out yet but I drawn the line at swimming.

At least I have so far. There is a lot of good ice out here still and we haven't even lost the edge ice in some places. By the time the edge ice goes at this rate it will be warm enough for swimming!

I'm starting to take in work related to the mountain bike end of my business and it's starting to hinder my kite time. I try to explain this to my kindred mountain bikers but they don't get it. Hard to convince them to wait for their stuff when there hasn't been any snow on the ground locally in 3 weeks and it's near 60f. :embarrased:

Here's my stab at making a video from my last session. It was a light wind day and I had a small kite so its not too exciting. Its more of a look at the ice conditions than anything else. I think I also struggle with a creative edit so don't expect to be amazed.

https://plus.google.com/107959361145887666943/posts/fxs9tY9k3cW

Nice job Slope, especially liked the kite mounted view. You have a nice riding spot, does it get busy in the winter? My brother used to live in White Bear Lake, he's since relocated to Minnetonka, I should visit him more often. Keep up the good work, you'll have to make more next winter so we can share in the stoke!

Rob.

Holy Cats! That's White Bear Lake! Does Joe Levins still ride there?

We stopped by there once a few years back. The wind was perfect when we were there but there wasn't any ice. Looked like a sweet place to ride tho.

Very cool, thanks for sharing.

WBL and Lake Minnetonka are probably two of the three most popular spots to ride in the Twin Citis summer or winter. It definitely can get busy when the conditions are right.

Thanks for the positive feedback.

Quote:

Originally posted by Feyd Holy Cats! That's White Bear Lake! Does Joe Levins still ride there?

That's one third of the lake where I was riding that day. A few weeks back after the snow first melted and the ice was firm I rode from one side to the other and back on my 3m foil. That was actually a pretty good time. I hit just under 39mph too.

I don't recall meeting Joe. The kiting community here is pretty good sized and I certainly haven't meet everyone so I can't say. Thanks for the feedback on my video.

Mike

I've never met Joe myself. He was one of the guys in the original speed ranking and the first guy to break 70mph snowkiting. I heard he had a kid or two and that kind of took him out of things a bit.

He was a driving force for me to go as fast as I could. I loved seeing his speed each week and trying to beat him, wicked fun and healthy competition. I was at 69.1mph for so long and he just pushed me out with an even 70mph on ice that he had to swim to get onto. (sigh) I miss those days.

Just goes to show ya, the guy who wins is the guy that wants it more. :D

I'd like to ride White Bear someday. It looks great and it would be sweet to do a Minn. lake snowkite road trip. I'd hit White Bear, Red, Mille Lacs and Lake of the Woods for starters. As you know there's no lack of lakes there.:wee: