by Deb Whitehorse | Oct 30, 2024 | 2025, Home Page
From left, Brett Husley, Maggie, Kayla, and Sam Bartel with the new Junior trailer donated by Brett.
Learn more about iceboating for kids.
Via Junior Sailing Director Sam Bartel US1011
Junior Program Update:
Mike Bloom, myself, Jillian McGary, and two junior sailors from MN (Maggie and Cayla) made the trip to Harken this past weekend. We had a BLAST! Thanks to the organizers of the celebration/program on Saturday night. It was fun to mingle with everyone, and hear from Harry and Kyle about their Youth America’s Cup experience.
I also want to extend a HUGE THANK YOU to everyone that supported the Junior Program at the swap meet!! I want to thank the following people in particular:
- To Brett Hulsey, for donating the enclosed box for our new junior program trailer (it can fit up to 4 boats inside and 1-2 on top!)
- To David Frost, for donating the funds that made it possible to buy the trailer for the enclosed box. Extra funds will be used to finish buying parts for our DNs and Ice Optis.
- To Peete Johns, for buying a DN from Bob Rast and then donating the entire program to the juniors.
- To Bob Cave, for donating a DN hull, plank, boom, and many other parts.
- To Mark Isabell, for donating a brand new Ice Opti hull.
- To Steve Orlebeke, for loaning his complete Ice Opti program.
- To John Harper, for donating a bunch of chocks, travel cover, and DN mast components.
- To Matt Meyer for donating a bunch of DN shrouds.
- And of course, to Mike Bloom for his endless support of myself and the junior sailors.
Our junior program now has 2 trailers, 4 Ice Optimists, and 3 DNs. Mike Bloom, myself, and the sailors in MN plan to take inventory of our gear this coming weekend. We’re also excited for the Western Challenge in just over a month, which will likely include the first Ice Optimist North American Championship in 10 years! If you know of other Ice Optimists and/or Ice Optimist sailors, please encourage them to attend. I’ll send an NOR out in the coming weeks.
Think Ice!
Sam Bartel US1011
by Deb Whitehorse | Oct 25, 2024 | 2025, Home Page
Help our junior sailors hit the ice! Your donated gear could make Ice Opti North Americans a reality.
Via IDNIYRA Junior Coach Sam Bartel US1011
Yo! This is your NA Junior Coach checking in. I’ll be heading to Pewaukee tomorrow/Sunday (October 26-27, 2024) for the swap meet to pick up some things for the junior program (a box trailer from Brett, as well as a DN hull and parts from Bob Cave and David Frost). Swap meet details here.
I have MANY eager junior sailors in MN. In particular, I have a number of Opti kids and parents interested in Ice Opti sailing. If we can pull together another 3-5 ice Optis in time for the Western Challenge, we could maybe have an Ice Opti North Americans alongside the DN event…??
If you have any of the following to donate (tax credit available via Deb Whitehorse), please send me a message via FB or text.
Sam
by Deb Whitehorse | Jan 20, 2024 | 2024, Home Page
“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
by Deb Whitehorse | Dec 19, 2023 | 2024, Home Page
Dust collection tech Robin Schmidt readying his Ice Optimist for some clear coat.Â
Western Region DNer Matt Schmidt US5536Â shares some family Ice Optimist news
My youngest Robin (4 1/2) is helping get his Ice Optimist ready for the first freeze! We were given an unfinished hull a few weeks ago and scrambled to build a plank and sort out steering gear. The second clear coat is on tonight. Hoping that he, his brother Caleb (7), and sister Sarah (7) will put it to good use!
Hoping for ice in Pewaukee,
Matt
In case you didn’t know, Ice Optimists were created specifically as a youth trainer, designed to be easy to build using commonly available materials and to keep costs minimal. It uses a standard Optimist dinghy sail plan (hence the name), so youth sailors can use much of the same equipment in summer and winter if they sail/race in both seasons. Learn more about Ice Optimists and the DN Youth program from our North American Junior Sailing Program Director, Sam Bartel.srbartel4@gmail.com
by Deb Whitehorse | Nov 29, 2023 | 2023, 2024
Four Lakes Ice Yacht Club Skeeter Sailor and Past Champions Iceboat Shop Trailer-Repair-Specialist, Ken Whitehorse
Junior Program Trailer Locked and Loaded
Submitted by Daniel Hearn
It’s an exciting day for ice sailing in the US of A! Thanks to 4LIYC’s Ken Whitehorse, with an assist from Paul Krueger, the chariot that will carry the next generation of American ice sailors into the future is ready to roll.
Can’t think of a better trailer for the job, as this one was formerly owned by the legendary, Jane Pegel, who always carried the torch for everything youth sailing. Now, the original aluminum frame, with high capacity rack system and dock box, is equipped with a new axle, bearings and leaf springs; new LED lights, a shiny new safety, new radial tires on new rims, and a new spare bias ply tire on a new rim.
Our new enthusiastic and visionary Junior Program leader, Sam Bartel, is now well equipped. He has gathered up an arsenal of DNs and Ice Optis which will ride on this trailer. And he’s got a back of newbie ice sailing kids lined up to give it a go at the Great Western Challenge. Pinch me, I must be dreaming!
Many thanks to Donny Anderson for the trailer donation for this cause. And to Dave Elsmo for the dock box donation. Think Ice! And let’s all help Sam refill the pipeline!
PK at the bench clamp
