Can you go on this stuff?

Hunter Welles · Post by **Hunter Welles** » Thu Jan 06, 2005 8:43 pm

I dont know about other places, but tonka is seriously lacking snow. Its this 1 inch sheet of rock hard icy stuff. I dont know if anybody has tried to ride it, but im not sure if you can even hold an edge. I took a smaller dirtbike out and played around on it, i really doubt that somebody could edge against it. Where is everybody going, I really want to get out and I want it to be somewhere local. I have my midterms next week which means that I get out at 10:45 everyday, and then no school on friday or monday so let me know where you are going and maybe I can meet some of you guys out there

Tom L · Post by **Tom L** » Thu Jan 06, 2005 8:56 pm

Hunter,

I've been out twice on Tonka this week. I had some pretty good rides. Make sure your edges are very sharp and use less turny board or skis if possible. If it gets warmer edge sharpness will not be as important. I was out today on 207 downhill racing skis and they were fantastic (totally cruising), much better than the shaped skis I normally use. I think shaped skis are better for crud conditions we get later in the season.

The snow offers no resistance so you can cruise in very, very light winds.

It's great out there....... so get out there. You'll hold enough of an edge to have a good time.

Hunter Welles · Post by **Hunter Welles** » Thu Jan 06, 2005 10:07 pm

is anybody gonna head to kite island tommarow? It is gonna be about 10 mph, looks pretty good. It think I might, it would be great if somebody else was out there too.

Tom L · Post by **Tom L** » Thu Jan 06, 2005 10:27 pm

Anybody driven out to kite island yet? People are driving on Tonka but every bay can have it's own conditions.

I'd want to see tracks out there or walk the path out there. The ice ridges have to be checked and they form in different places each year.

If there is already a road from the ice fisherman then it's cool.

Windzup · Post by **Windzup** » Fri Jan 07, 2005 2:27 am

Went to Tonka on Monday and Tuesday,
but found slightly better (although very similar) conditions on Long lake over by Billys Lighthouse bar. Snowkited on a 179 Snowboard and had no problem edging and cruising around. The 1 inch of fuzed ice/snow was actually a really fun and fast surface for riding, but a little too hard for jumping.

Windzup,
Brian Schenck
Ozone Kites USA

JERRY · Post by **JERRY** » Fri Jan 07, 2005 8:03 am

I was out riding for 4 hrs. solo on Washington yesterday with large kite and snowboard. This lake also has the 1" of hard bond. What's sweet about the SwitchBlade is that the depth of blade can be adjusted easily for the conditions being rode. The blade was only 1/8" below edge and worked perfectly for those conditions holding a very good line.

Jumping was no problem, but keeping kite high is key for soft landings. I do wear full protection gear though. Impact vest, shorts, knee, elbow and #1=most important is helmet.
I have rang my bell a few times with helmet on. Hate to think of consequence if helmet was not worn.

I will be riding somewhere today and would enjoy some funhog company.
Who's riding where?

Let's Ride

jerry

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dave t · Post by **dave t** » Fri Jan 07, 2005 9:15 am

I second the helmet recommendation. I literally shattered my helmet last year when my skate dropped into a crack. I was down so fast and hard that the frame of my sunglasses blew off the stems and the foam of the helmet was in about 8 chunks and a bunch of bean-bag stuffing.

You can get a decent helmet for $40 and that is a small price to avoid carrying a drool cup to your first day back at kindergarden. Ironically, you might even have to protect your fractured skull with a HELMET.

JERRY · Post by **JERRY** » Fri Jan 07, 2005 9:45 am

dave t wrote:I second the helmet recommendation. I literally shattered my helmet last year when my skate dropped into a crack. I was down so fast and hard that the frame of my sunglasses blew off the stems and the foam of the helmet was in about 8 chunks and a bunch of bean-bag stuffing.

You can get a decent helmet for $40 and that is a small price to avoid carrying a drool cup to your first day back at kindergarden. Ironically, you might even have to protect your fractured skull with a HELMET.

I have also seen a brain injury recovery patient. Sad to see something like that which could have been avoided just by slapping on a coconut.

Also goggles vs. sunglasses can reduce the possibility of sharp broken pieces protruding from facial area.

Can't say enough about the Switchblade which does not drop into ice cracks. The depth of blade is adjusted from 1/8"-1/4". The snowboard keeps it from dropping in any lower. Thanks Todd, I love this device!

jerry

Hunter Welles · Post by **Hunter Welles** » Sat Jan 08, 2005 1:33 pm

Anybody driven out to kite island yet? People are driving on Tonka but every bay can have it's own conditions.

I drove out there with my dad last night at about 6:30. I was told by that Alex was setting up a green house type thing out there. It was looking pretty good, and then we did doughnuts for like 30 minutes or so all across the bay.

#1=most important is helmet.

Couldnt agree more, I always wear a helmat when im doing any sport like kiteboarding. Also my snowboarding helmat is an army helmat replica for snowboarding so it looks pretty cool I think.

I was hoping to head out today, but I dont see any wind, which is really dissapointing, but maybe it will pick up in the afternoon.