March ice reports

[Chummers]

A colleague at work was ice fishing Oak Lake, about 1 mile from Swede Lake yesterday and tells me there's practically no more snow on the lake and the surface is solid and relatively smooth (and still 2 feet thick). Can anyone provide an updated report on Swede? Would be awesome to be able to FREESKATE!

[speedsailor93]

Had the ice boat out on Waconia yesterday. About 1” slush on solid ice with temps in 40’s. Fisherman in f150 said ice still over 2’ thick. I think when we get a good overnight freeze a free skate would be ok again - not perfect ice but not bad for this time of year.

[Chummers]

Thanks! Speedsailor, are you Alan who used to live in Europe and Chicago? If so we've met at Calhoun several times. I have the red Astro van.

[speedsailor93]

Yes that is me - good memory!! I have not sailed Calhoun for many years and I think the last time I did was on freeskates. I alternate between snowkiting and iceboating on Waconia in winter depending upon conditions so if you ever need to know the current conditions just let me know. Always happy to get more windpowered people out on Waconia in winter as typically it is just me and the fishermen out there.

[Eric S]

Lake Washington last friday - minimal snow but very fun and edge-able. Went back friday and most of the snow retreated 50/50 - almost better with skates, snowboard was tiring. Plenty of ice, then, still driving cars out.

Video conditions last Friday 1/2 mile out or so..

http://downhaul.com/kites/20180315MiscE ... 18-web.mp4



If I find any good ice to sail I'll post!

[Chummers]

Calhoun ice was hard and fairly rough on Friday and Saturday with almost no snow remaining but by Sunday afternoon the ice had gotten soft so it was like a layer of slurpee on top of ice which is probably my favorite surface to kite on. There were only 2 other kiters with me out there yesterday though!