It took us only moments to put on our skates and escape to the icescape. It isn't often that our bay is ice covered and snow free. When it happens an exciting new world opens up and those of us that would ordinarily paddle here are now able to utilize this fine body of water in a solid form. In Duluth and Superior it's time to get out the skates and wind surfing bladed boards. If you are truly an ice aficionado you rig up one of the most thrilling winter recreational devices, the ice boat.
Skates are great, of course.
You fly down the ice, observing cracks that give you some idea of ice depth and perhaps warning you of no depth and impending doom. If the wind is out of the north or south you can bring out the ski poles and a big garbage bag. Wind surfers may look a bit more sophisticated with their colorful sails, coordinated clothes and smug looks as they pass the Hefty Trash Baggers by. The ultimate in coolness, and that can mean literal coolness as well, is to breeze along the ice in the comfort of a modern ice boat. Propelled along in a gizmo that looks like part sailboat, part ice skate, part cockpit designed for Snoopy as he attempted to defeat the Red Baron, the ice boat can hit breathtaking speeds.