International Skeeter Association Regatta
The International Skeeter Association (ISA) was organized in the late 1930s and the first ISA regatta was sailed in 1940. Skeeters were developed on Geneva Lake in Wisconsin. They are piloted by a single skipper and steer from the front of the boat as opposed to the original iceboats which were crewed by two or more and steered from the rear.
The Skeeter is the “Formula One” of ice yachting, a wide open development class where state-of-the-art sailing is seen annually. The only restriction on the Skeeter builder is a 75 square foot sail maximum sail area. While the basic configuration for successful E Skeeters has long been established, significant design improvements have been developed within the Four Lakes fleet. Taller rigs and rear seat Skeeters designed and built by 4LIYC members Bill Mattison and Paul Krueger have brought world championship titles to Madison skippers. In 1989, New Jersey’s Dan Clapp took the ice boating world by storm with his first front-seater and dominated the ISA regatta during the 1990s. Skeeter builders are adept with high tech materials like carbon fiber, and Kevlar. The super powerful Skeeters are the fastest boats on the ice. Sufficiently committed skippers find the greatest challenge in these boats, where design, building, and maintenance skills share equal roles with sailing ability
INTERNATIONAL SKEETER ASSOCIATION DUES NOTICE
NEW! Pay your ISA dues online here.
Or pay through the U.S. Mail: CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD AND PRINT AN ISA MEMBERSHIP FORM
President Jason Thompson
jsthompsdds@hotmail.com
Vice President Pat Heppert
Pat.T.Heppert@saint-gobain.com
Secretary/Treas. Steve Schalk
W6001 Brick Church Rd
Fontana, WI 53125
262-275-2871
I564@charter.net
The annual dues are $25.00 for the 2023-2023 season, payable to:
International Skeeter Association
Steve Schalk, W6001 Brick Church RD, Fontana, WI 53125
December 1st, 2023 is the deadline for new items to be placed on the 2024 agenda.
January 12, 13, & 14, 2023 (Friday, Saturday, & Sunday) is the first scheduled weekend for the 2024 Regatta.
The Mead Glider Company
This week, I received a package filled with iceboating memorabilia, which included what seemed to be magazine advertising proofs for Mead iceboats of Chicago, Illinois.
Since the beginning of this website in 1998, the Buy & Sell page has been filled with vintage Mead iceboats for sale, all of which came out of Ted Mead’s Chicago factory.
Who was Ted Mead? According to a 1937 newspaper article, his father owned bicycle factories in Chicago and England. 
His mother was noted for her exceptional woodworking skills. After graduating from Princeton in 1925, he built houses for a few years; he eventually grew tired of this profession and founded the Mead Glider Company. When the airplane business became unprofitable, Mead moved on to building kayaks, ice motor sleds, and iceboats, and the factory employed 24 people.
Below are links to some of the Mead iceboat memorabilia that’s come my way in the last 20+ years.
Learn More:
Ted Mead Biography Newspaper Article
Announcing Mead’s New Class E Skeeter Racer
Mead Batwing Iceboat Brochure
Mead Iceboat Brochure 3
Mead Iceboat Brochure 5
Mead Archives
Early ISA Video
Wisconsin Skeeter Association 2023 Virtual Awards Ceremony
Ken Whitehorse on Lake Kegonsa in March 2023. Photo: Ethan Brodksy
The awards season kicks off today with this virtual presentation for the Wisconsin Skeeter Association. The in-person 4LIYC banquet is this Saturday, April 22 at Springer’s on Lake Kegonsa. There’s still room for you to join the party! Please get in touch with Deb today.
Submitted by WSA Trophy Chair Ken Whitehorse:
Eleven years ago, Paul Krueger, Bill Dale, Tom Hyslop, and Ken Whitehorse formed the Wisconsin Skeeter Racing Association while sailing on Green Bay in mid-April 2012. We sailed six competitive races, yet “how would you know (copyright Bill Mattison.).” During lunch breaks, the racers discussed how poor ice conditions made club races a rarity. We determined that wherever good ice should appear in Wisconsin, we would hold sanctioned iceboat races as the Wisconsin Skeeter Racing Association. Wisconsin iceboat clubs carry letters on their sails: M for Four Lakes Ice Yacht Club in Madison, I for Skeeter Iceboat Club in Lake Geneva, V for Pewaukee, and U for Windjammers in Green Bay.The 2023 champions are:
C Skeeter: Pat Heppert
B Skeeter: Jim Smith
A Skeeter: Ken Wahoo Whitehorse
Iceboating Goes to University
Boecraft Continuum
Boecraft Website
Meet Jared Kaesmeyer, a former Lake Geneva, WI resident and a recent graduate with a Master’s in Architecture. Jared’s thesis project was on iceboating, again proving that iceboating is a highly creative endeavor. Please let me know if you want to see Jared’s remarkable and unique 165-page thesis.
My name is Jared Kaesmeyer. I used to live in Lake Geneva, WI, and grew up hearing about and seeing ice boating. It always intrigued me. Since that time, I’ve gone to college at North Dakota State University and graduated with my Master’s in Architecture. As part of that degree, I had to create a thesis project. My thesis was on ice boating.
I spent 9 months developing a proposal for an iceboat cultural center in Lake Geneva’s downtown. I did research, and worked with Steve Schalk to get a better idea for the history and background. In the end, I designed a destination establishment that featured year-round display of ice boats in a prominent location downtown, with a workshop and event space for hosting year round training and events. The thesis went on to win an award, and in all was just such a fun process!
I have sent this to Steve, and thought I would share it with iceboat.org. Maybe you will find it interesting, or know someone else who may!
The Regatta That Wasn’t
WSA Official Ice Hunting Vehicle
The Wisconsin Skeeter Association President, Ken Whitehorse, has been doing everything to find ice for the Skeeters. He thought he had a site lined up on Lake Petenwell in central Wisconsin with the prerequisite bar and restaurant at the landing, but “nothing fickler” came into play. Looks like Madison area lakes received another dose of snow yesterday meaning we wait for the big Zamboni to roll through again. I’m in Stockholm, soon heading to Latvia for the DN European Championship. The weather over here isn’t making it any easier either.
The Wisconsin Skeeter Racing Championship Race is called off. The Director of Competition, Tom Hyslop advised me to evaluate the smoothness of the racing surface. The surface is race worthy provided there is light wind velocity. However the racing surface is more than 1 1/2 miles out. We would need a safety committee and vehicles. This is a mammoth lake and there are very few sports people on it. Today people drove their trucks all the way across. 12″ to 14″ of ice is the report. If the ice surface were closer to the shore and the Lure Restaurant launch site you can bet M-197 and M-165 would be rippin’ it up this weekend. Let see what happens during this week. Fair winds to all!
-Ken Whitehorse
Kayla Wolf ISA & Renegade Championship Photo Gallery
Start of a Renegade race at the 2023 Renegade Championship on Lake Kegonsa. Photo: Kayla Wolf
KAYLA WOLF PHOTO GALLERY
Freelance Photographer Kayla Wolf was there for the action Sunday on Lake Kegonsa at the ISA & Renegade Championship. Renegade and Nite sailors will want to make sure to look through her gallery for some fantastic shots. Link here
C-Skeeter Polish Championship
The Western Region of the DN Class (WI, MN, IL, IA, IN, UP of MI) is hosting the DN World & North American Championship in just a few days. Ice sailors from Poland and Sweden are here to train on Lake Kegonsa. The regatta site information will be announced on January 18, 2023, on idniyra.org. Regatta information.
Boat preparations are underway for the first-ever C-Skeeter Polish Match Racing Championship. Current DN World Champion, Robert Graczyk, will face off with former DN World Champion, Tomek Zakrzewski, on Lake Kegonsa in Stoughton, Wisconsin this Wednesday, January 18. Weather permitting, of course. At stake is a meal of Polish delicacies including pirogies and Polish sausage. But none of that cold soup. The loser will treat the winner and the boat owners/race committee at the prize giving ceremony, which will take place sometime during the ‘23 DN Worlds/North Americans.
To date, only the Black Ice/Loren ipsum camp has responded to requests for information about boat prep. The Drifter camp remains shielded under a cloak of secrecy, no doubt working on another traveler-like innovation to create an unfair advantage.
To make sure the race track is level, the two competitors will trade boats after each race, and the championship will conclude after an even number of races. Clearly the Drifter camp strategists have failed to read the Notice of Race and Sailing Instructions.
2023 ISA & Renegade Championship Awards
Renegades line up to race at the 2023 Renegade Championship on Lake Kegonsa, January 14, 2023. Photo: Will Johnston
RESULTS
A stronger breeze made it a wind hat trick on day three of the ISA and Renegade championships on Lake Kegonsa. The A & B Skeeters elected to watch the Nites and Renegades take to the course for spirited racing. All agreed they couldn’t remember when Mother Nature blessed the ISA with three sailable days. Renegaders discussed how this ISA was a record for them in the number of races (8.)
Many thanks to the Race Committee, including
Joe Norton, Jerry Simon, Scott Goetz, Paul McMillan, Afan Ottenhemier, and 4LIYC Commodore Daniel Hearn, who helped to organize the equipment. Also, many thanks to Ann Foeller, who tabulated remotely from Lake Erie’s shores and is a Toledo Ice Yacht Club member. And thank you to the many competitors who didn’t hesitate to pick up starting blocks, call numbers, and anything else to make the regatta run smoothly.
Will Johnston ISA & Renegade Championship Photo Gallery
Class A Skeeters in perfect harmony. Photo: Will Johnston
Photographer Will Johnston joined us for a second year in a row for the 2023 ISA and Renegade Championship. He even hitched a ride in an airplane (friend of Jeff Russell’s) for some aerial shots. Will has generously shared a link to all of the photos. See all of them here. If you use Will’s photos for anything other than personal posts, please get in touch with me so I can give you his contact information.
C Skeeter on Lake Kegonsa. Photo: Will Johnston
ISA Fly By Video
Incredible drone footage from the 2023 International Skeeter Association Regatta & Renegade Championship on Friday, January 13, Lake Kegonsa.
Drone footage and editing by Logan Lien. Video Link
Logan’s Youtube Channel is @loganlien1848.
Instagram:@ loganlien
ISA & Renegade Championship: Day 3 AM Report
A Skeeters frame a Nite Class iceboat. Photo: Kenton Fowler
PROVISIONAL RESULTS
2023 ISA & RENEGADE CHAMPIONSHIP HOME
The wind made another welcomed appearance on the second day of the ISA & Renegade Championship. The A, B, C Skeeters, and the Renegades sailed three races in moderate breeze. The Nites were only able to complete two races today. The weather mark came down in the first Nite race of the day because someone hit it (and did the right thing by telling the Race Committee, thank you!) The race was black-flagged, the mark repaired, and then the A Skeeters began the rotation.
Nite points leader Tom Sweitzer broke his mast in the first Nite race. Luckily, the race was black-flagged, and he carries a spare mast. Tom was on the starting line for the final Nite race of the day and came in second to David Navin
The Nite fleet starts first in the rotation today at 9:30 AM (to make up their 6th race from Saturday), and then the regular order will resume.
ISA & Renegade Championship Report: Day 1
amberarnoldphoto The International Skeeter Association and Renegade Championships hosted by the Four Lakes Ice Yacht Club on Lake Kegonsa in Stoughton, Wis., Friday, Jan. 13, 2023. AMBER ARNOLD, STATE JOURNAL
PROVISIONAL RESULTS
2023 ISA & RENEGADE CHAMPIONSHIP HOME
First, let’s get the business out of the way. ATTENTION ATTENTION ATTENTION
The 2023 ISA Annual meeting will be in the mooring area tomorrow morning, Saturday January 14th, prior to the first race. Fleet representatives take note.
Steve Schalk
ISA Secretary/Treasurer
A perfect regatta day. Wind, hard ice; what more can we ask for? Three races in each fleet, A Skeeter, B Skeeter, C Skeeter, Renegade, and Nite.
The wind was out of the north and “juicy” early in the morning but true to the forecast, calmed down a bit. Southerly breeze for Saturday means the starting area should be visible from Springer’s Bar & Restaurant big picture windows. The A Skeeter fleet will start the rotation on Saturday when the flag drops at 9:30 AM. Follow the regatta on our 4LIYC Facebook page for live video feeds.
ISA B Skeeter Trophy Presentation
Jim Smith, Ken Whitehorse, Steve Schalk, Mary Jane Schalk
Better late than never! Ken Whitehorse presented the 2022 Wisconsin Skeeter Association B Skeeter trophy to Steve Schalk of the Skeeter Iceboat Club yesterday on Lake Kegonsa. The 2023 ISA and Renegade Championship begins today.
Follow the action and scoring here.
ISA Called ON for Jan 13 – 15, 2023 on Lake Kegonsa
Photo: Will Johnston
REGISTRATION CLOSES AT 7 AM, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2023
FIRST RACE STARTING POSITIONS .)
COMPETITORS LIST & PROVISIONAL RESULTS
The ISA Race Committee has called the 2023 Championship Regatta on starting Friday January 13th at Lake Kegonsa.
The host club is the Four Lakes Ice Yacht Club.
The Sailing Conditions and Instructions are posted on Iceboat.org. Registration is on line at that site. The regatta fee and dues (if not already paid) should be paid on Iceboat.org.
The primary launch site is at Amundson Landing off of Quam Road on the south shore of Lake Kegonsa. There is an additional launch ramp on the north side of the lake at the Town of Pleasant Springs launch. Pleasant Springs requires a launch fee.
Trailers must be backed on and pushed out or pulled out by the ATVs. No driving on the ice. Parking is available on the local roadsides at the Amundson Landing. No trailers are to be parked on the roadsides.
Steve Schalk
Secretary/Treasurer
International Skeeter Association
The 2023 International Skeeter Association and Renegade Championships have been called ON for Lake Kegonsa, Stoughton, WI for January 15, 16, 17. This is a three day regatta for A, B, and C class Skeeters, Nites, and Renegades.
ISA & RENEGADE CHAMPIONSHIP
Dates: January 13, 14, 15, 2023
Location: Lake Kegonsa, Stoughton, WI
REGISTRATION, ISA, & RENEGADE DUES
REGISTRATION CLOSES AT 7 AM CT ON FRIDAY, JANUARY 13, 2023
LAUNCH:
DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE ON THE ICE! ATVs will be there to help take trailers to the ice.
Amundson Landing
1928-2264 Quam Dr, Stoughton, WI 53589
Map
LODGING
BOOKING LINK
You can call the hotel or just use the booking link and reserve their rooms at your special rate online.
Clarion Suites at The Alliant Energy Center
2110 Rimrock Road
Madison, WI 53713
Map
(608) 284-1234
$99
Ask for the ISA Regatta rate.
RACE DOCUMENTS
ISA Notice of Race
ISA Sailing Instructions & Conditions
ISA First Race Starting Positions
Results
Once racing starts, competitors should check the results online for their starting positions.
STARTING POSITIONS
Starting positions will be posted online by 9:30 AM on Friday, January 13, 2023. Here is the link.
Late entrants will start at the end of the start line.
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
Friday, January 13, 2023
Race Schedule:
• The first race will be at 10:00 AM local time on Friday, January 13, 2023
FLEET ROTATION:
1. A Skeeters
2. B & C Skeeters
3. Renegades
4. Nites
• Races will be held for A, B, C Class Skeeters, Nites and Renegades should Renegades choose to hold their national championship regatta in conjunction with the ISA Championship Regatta.
• Nine races are scheduled for each division. Three are necessary for a complete regatta.
Saturday, January 14, 2023
First race will be at 9:30 AM
Banquet: 6:30 PM
Fat Jack’s BBQ
6207 Monona Dr, Monona, WI 53716
Map
$20 for family style BBQ chicken, ribs, fries, coleslaw, and garlic bread. Beverages are extra.
Pay at the door
Sunday, January 15, 2023
First race will be at 9:30 AM
ANNUAL MEETINGS
The ISA Annual Meeting will be held on the ice after racing on Friday, January 13, 2023
The Renegade Annual Meeting: 6:30 PM, Friday, January 13, 2023 at the Four Lakes Yacht Club
6312 Inland Wy, Madison, WI 53713
Map
WHERE TO WATCH
Springer’s On The Lake is the best place to watch, have some food, and your favorite beverage. You don’t even have to go on the ice. The iceboaters often sail to Springer’s for lunch.
3097 Sunnyside St, Stoughton, WI 53589
Regatta Watch: ISA Called ON for Lake Kegonsa
Photo: Will Johnston
ISA Home Page
Via ISA President John Dennis
The International Skeeter Association Regatta & Renegade Championship have tentatively been called on for Lake Kegonsa near Madison, WI, January 13 – 15, 2023. Final confirmation will be on Wednesday, January 11, 2023 by noon CT.
5 classes sail in the ISA & Renegade Championship:
A, B, and C Skeeters
Nites
Renegades
Mary Jane Schalk: Ready For Some Time Away
Steve and Mary Jane Schalk
Via Mary Jane Schalk, Fontana, WI
Hey Ice boat racers,
I just want to thank all of you for so many years of helping me with one of the coolest things I have ever done. We have all been through so much together.
I think I started scoring ice boat regatta’s back in the 90’s. Remember way back then and I did all the tabulating with a pencil and a very long sheet of paper. There were some interesting stories and memorable situations back then! It took a while but so worth it to graduate into computer scoring.
I had so many great people to work with. First of all many of you sailors were my callers, and then I had Renate Intini, Julie Jankowski, and then Deb to work with. As you know Deb and I had some pretty good and crazy times together. We could figure out ways to entertain ourselves during a postponement, and had way more fun that we probably should have!!! Thanks Deb for all the fun times. I would also like to thank Shari Lundberg for teaching me in the beginning all about scoring and tabulating.
I stopped scoring from the ice to help take care of my mom and then we had so many cats that needed care like insulin shots twice a day, fluid under the skin, and medicine that – that kept me from coming back. But I was then able to do the tabulating from home.
I was still a helper by arranging hotels, banquets, and meetings for regattas. I drew for your starting positions from home and called them into Deb. Deb would take a picture of your finishes and call them in or send them to me. Now with me being able to post to the web page on a good day I could score the race and get it posted before the last finisher got out of his boat. That is way cool.
But I am ready for some time away. I have lots of plans for some fun activities while the regattas are on. Maybe I’ll just go down and visit some other retired ice boaters like Gary and Kenny Kessler. Now that would be fun!!! Deb asked one of the DN tabulators, Ann Foeller of the Toledo Ice Yacht Club, if she would score the ISA and NW regattas and she agreed. I wouldn’t leave without a replacement.
I am so happy to have met so many really cool and fun ice boaters. We have had lots of fun times, and made great memories. I can hardly wait for a regatta to come to Geneva Lake, as then I can hang with you all on the ice, and not be stuck at home in front of the computer.
Have fun everyone, be careful on the ice, and sail fast,
MJ
BTW I am sharing my favorite version of Steve’s iceboat song. I’d say it a pretty good one! LINK
Via Jane Pegel:
Mary Jane was a significant member of the Lake Geneva YC race committee. She also is a competitive sailor. She handled the front end of Steve’s E scow and his J-24.
She trimmed jib on my class M scow and helped me win Inland Lake YA championships and Blue Chips. She is no doubt, an exceptional woman who is happy to be “involved”.
…Jane
Mary Jane Schalk has been a crucial part of North American iceboating racing, and she’s decided to take a well-earned retirement. You may have seen her smiling face on the ice of Lake Geneva, but she was deeply involved behind the scenes in every Northwest, ISA, Renegade, and many Nite regattas for 30 years. She took care of numerous organizational details so that you ice sailors could book a room, attend a banquet, see your regatta scores, receive your trophies, and pursue your passion for iceboat racing.
MJ and I share many good memories. One of my best was driving on Geneva back to the Fontana landing towards the sunset. We were singing a silly, fun song at the top of our lungs that we had made up about the late Renegade sailor, Arlyn Lafortune, to the marching chant O-Ee-Yah! Eoh-Ah from the Wizard of Oz. (Yeah, you had to be there…) We both probably enjoyed too much red wine later that night but were always ready for the next day. I know she’ll continue to be the first person I call when I have a funny story to share. – Deb Whitehorse
ISA Newsletter Archive
