Photographer Sean Heavey captures Brian Hearn’s fly-by on Lake Christina in Minnesota on Sunday, December 13, 2020.
The ice sailing season is heating up worldwide from Montana to Vladivostok. 4LIYC members Daniel Hearn, Brian Hearn, and I traveled for the second weekend in a row to Lake Christina in northwestern Minnesota for some more recreational sailing. The lake was buzzing with Pat Heppert and Daniel’s C Skeeters, 4 Renegades (including the newest Renegader Andy Gratton), and of course, DNs. The ice was harder than the previous weekend, which helped to keep everyone moving in Friday and Saturday’s light air. On Sunday, snow squalls brought more breeze and more fun. Photographer Sean Heavey, creator of the incredible DN drone footage last season, made the long drive from Montana and should have some photos and video to share this week.
Here’s a list of ice sailing locations seen on Facebook:
Montana: John Eisenlohr and friends have been sailing their mini-Skeeters on Enis Lake, McAllister, Montana.
Minnesota: The state is teeming with ice. Lake Christina, Bald Eagle Lake, and Whalestail were sailed.
Canada: DNer Mike Madge is finding ice on the smaller lakes around Thunder Bay, Ontario.
Sweden
Finland
St. Petersburg, Russia
Vladivostok, Russia
Andy Gratton with his Renegade on Lake Christina. Plank of Daniel Hearn’s C Skeeter in foreground.
Ron Sherry US44 and Rasmus Maalinn C20 push off the starting line at the 2020 DN Gold Cup in Sweden.
We haven’t seen a printed ice sailing calendar for a few years. This one by Montana based photographer Sean R. Heavey was worth the wait. Head over to Sean’s website to reserve yours. (They make excellent gifts for ice sailors as well.) 2021 Ice Sailing Calendar
More information.
2020 has been a year that will go down in the history books. For myself it has been a year of upheaval and unexpected adventures. The most unexpected adventure began after a text from an acquaintance tipped me off that our local lake was within days going to host North American Ice Sailing Championship.
I rearranged my schedule and went out on to the ice to get a closer look.
What a sight to witness… Truly is!
A few weeks later and with the help of people far and wide, many of whom I didn’t know or I had meet just days earlier, I found myself embarking on a trip to Europe to attend the World Championships.
So this year I though I would make a special 2021 Ice Sailing Calendar with some of the moments I captured along the way.
They are $20 USD each and what you get is a 12 months, full color, calendar that’s 8.5×11 in size with a couple bonus pages for fun. Here is a link to a full layout preview.
So thank you and I think it’s going to come out looking really nice. Think Ice…
Sean R. Heavey
