Re: Ice Conditions Resources?
Lots of people think you can't kite unless you're on skis. Don't listen. Bring skates and skis where ever you go and use what works best. Paraski Flex kites are great because you can grab the leading edge and skate out to find good wind. Then, if you get blown down wind, all you have to do is skate back. Also, in low wind, the Paraski Flex just skims across the ice so it works when no one else can get their kites into the air. Low wind hint: skate backwards when launching to get it off the ice and then skate a few strokes in the direction you want to go. This way you generate apparent wind and the kite starts flying sooner and faster than if you let it pull you from a dead stop. It should start to fly faster than you're skating and off you go. At the end of a run, carve up wind, hop backwards and keep gliding up wind while steering the kite into the new direction, take a few skates in that direction and you're off. This keeps the kite in the air when a carve downwind would drop it to the ground.
Here's some ice info you can trust. Jamie Hess of NordicSkater.com in Fairlee Vt. He runs skating events around Vermont and NH on ponds, lakes and rivers. He knows where the good ice is and when it's covered in snow. He also uses kitewings. Go to NordicSkater.com , click on the "Nordic Skating ice report" link and sign up.
Yahoo group for Nordic Skating in NE:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/VTNordicSkating/Yahoo group for Iceboating Ice Report from New England Ice Yacht Association:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/IceReports/Yahoo group for New England Ice Yacht Association site with news and ice reports:
http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/IceBoating/Yahoo group for kitewings (also known as skim bats). These guys use both skates and skis and the site is mainly for the New England area.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nasaskimbat/