North Americans Early Entry Deadline February 4
If this has been on your to-do list, now is the time to check that off your list before the early entry deadline. Register here.
If this has been on your to-do list, now is the time to check that off your list before the early entry deadline. Register here.
We do not have a safe venue yet. Higgins Lake in Michigan was reported to be nice, but warm weather and rain in the future means we can’t make a safe call for the weekend. The Centrals remain under postponement for this weekend.
Thanks for your patience,
Pete Johanson US 5633 Central Region Commodore
The 2024 DN Western Region Championship has been postponed. Next update is by Thursday, February 1, 2024.
Chris Berger US5166 Western Region Commodore
There is potential ice for centrals. It has been scouted and not sailed. And we have some weather systems later this week. Stand by, next announcement Thursday night.
Pete Johanson US 5633.
“After-school iceboat racing practice?” Common in Poland, now in Minnesota thanks to IDNIYRA Junior Sailing Director Sam Bartel.
Wow, the last 3 days have been incredible! I’ve had the pleasure of coaching 18 high school and middle school sailors from the Lake Minnetonka Sailing School race teams as they discover the thrill of ice sailing. Some of these kids tried iceboating with me earlier this year, and others just had their first rides recently. Seeing all these new ice sailors leaving with ear-to-ear smiles is priceless.
In addition to giving some kids their first rides, I’ve been coaching the more experienced ones on racing skills. Yesterday marked our first after-school iceboat racing practice, complete with 4 scrub races and 5 DNs on the line. It’s amazing to see the enthusiasm – some of these kids are really getting into it, asking tons of questions, sailing until after sunset, and coming back for more every day. A couple of them are even asking when the next junior regatta is scheduled… we need to bring these events back ASAP!
Our local high school teams are gearing up for a training trip to Florida next weekend. Between now and then, we’re planning to hit the ice every day, running more scrub races and helping more kids get into the sport. I feel very fortunate to have such great conditions at our home venue on Lake Minnetonka!
Cheers,
Samuel Bartel
IDNIYRA Junior Director US1011
Link to video.
Our ice sailing friends are heading back home. Video above courtesy of the regatta organizers of Jinzhou and Panjin.
Results
Joerg, Jost, and I set a land-speed record to make the last train tonight to Beijing, but we will all make our planes home tomorrow. I had a wonderful week in China. Very fun and very eye-opening. The minute I got here, and to paraphrase Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz, it was clear I wasn’t in Kansas anymore. I am glad to be heading home, and I look forward to hearing English and sailing with familiar faces.
Think Ice
Mike Bloom US321