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Klicker's New Ice Surfer is awesome! I'm new to icesurfing and snowsurfing with lots of questions.

February 23, 2007 - 02:41 — wildthing

Hi,

I'm very new to this. I've windsurfed but am looking to build a snowsurfer and an ice surfer. I saw the photos of Klicker's New IceSurfer and was impressed by not just the looks, awesome as it is, but also by the materials used and the craftsmanship. I'd like to see a photo of the bottom of the rig if possible. Can anyone point me toward Klicker? I'd like to know the advantages or disadvantages of the three blade style verses the four blade "freeskate" style.

Any help would be appreciated as I try to build my first wildthing.

Life is good,
Bob

Comments

February 28, 2007 - 06:04 — willdog

Turney boards Rip

Once you go turney you never go back,,,,,

Hotvet Rippin

March 2, 2007 - 04:06 — wildthing

Hotvelvet rippin

That looks so sweet! I can't wait to build one and get it rippin. Thanks for the photo! Perhaps you can get that on the web site! Life is good, Bob

February 23, 2007 - 18:25 — Adam-US5366

There is one for sale.....

Follow this link:

turney board for sale

Adam US-5366

February 23, 2007 - 22:42 — wildthing

turney board

Thanks for letting me know about the performance and the offer. Having never seen one in action and having just spent half a day surfing the web seeing counless options out there It's all a bit stagering as to how many devoted ice and wind lovers there are out there improvising and coming up with new deigns.

I just got an email from John Klick. He's already been a great help. As I wrote to him, I windsurf a little bit. I also have a Hobie 16 and a Sunfish and they are cheap fun considering the months of the season available to use them. I'm on a small lake, biggest in New Jersey, but that isn't saying much by northern standards. In Maine I know they would have a hard time deciding whether to call this a lake or a pond. I started looking at this because I once saw a woman out here on the lake with her homemade board. It was a very primitive rig compared to John Klick's sexy blue board. It seemed like an inexpensive sport since we already have the sails etc.., and it looked like FUN!

We don't get ice every year here, and some years it just teases us. This past winter we had some great ice for about a month, but there was still open water in some areas, limiting the area to about 1 mile square sailable here. We have about 3 or 4 DNs in this neighborhood. We have another part of the lake that's 2 square miles where most of the DNs and all the larger iceboats head to. I mention that because it decreases the desire to invest a small fortune in equipment for a sport that has a very limited season here. If money wasn't an option I'd probably have a DN out at our dock now, and I'd buy that turney board in a heartbeat. But, the kid needs braces and mommy needs a new car...

It's hard to decide what to build considering all the options out there, but this turney rig sounds like and looks like the winner! The more I hear the better it sounds. I'm still trying to go low budget, and I have a workshop here I can build most things with. I doubt I would be able to complete it before the ice disapears here for the season. Woodworking I can do well. The metal scrapyard has a large stack of aluminum channels that are cheap. The runners and front steering head assembly seem like they are a tad more complex, and I have not figured out what the underside of the board looks like nor the bushing sizing or selection details, but it all seems buildable for me.

Meanwhile, in case I change my mind and decide to risk the wrath of my wife, please email me with photos of the icesurfer you have for sale. watrousr@optonline.net

Please also let me know what it would cost to buy a front steering assembly.

Enjoy the weekend.

Life is good,
Bob

February 26, 2007 - 19:57 — Adam-US5366

There are so many options..!

For details on the freeskate copy I built see this link. There is also a small video.

icetoys

Another option for you is to build an Isabella. It is a bit more involved than slapping a windsurfer sail on a skateboard, but not much. I built one in a day but I pre-made all the stainless steel parts - that took three evenings. If we are talking 100% DIY, you will need to be able to weld, machine, and have a drill press, bandsaw, and belt grinder. That is what I used to build both.

Isabella icebox

If you want to get out there NOW for cheap, pick up some speed skates, make them a bit taller, and build a simple Swedish iceskate sail ("skridskosegel"). These will scare you silly. Directions are here:

Svensk skridskosegel

I can translate these pages if you so desire.

Finally, a used kitesurfer kite can be had on Ebay for pretty cheap. Get some old-school 200cm skinny skis or a snowboard and you are good to go. The advantage here is that they work on snowy lakes and even fields too. This is prob. the best way to salvage what is left of the season.

/Adam

February 26, 2007 - 22:33 — wildthing

Ice Toys!

Adam,

Wow, I just blew off another hour ( I should have been working ) following the links you suggested. What great fun. We have one sole out here on Lake Hopatcong that has a kiteskater similar to the Skridskosegling thing. He's been fumbling with it for years. I saw a video of some people that have perfected it and they really fly. I hadn't thought of the speed skates. Why make them taller?

I can do everything except the welding and serious metal bending/ fabrication. I have the grinder, drill press, band saw, routers and almost any woodworking equipment. The welding I'd have to go to a shop for or learn, or purchase parts if available.

It's interesting following the links and seeing the Hobie sail on that little rig. I have a Hobie 16 and can't imagine strapping that huge sail onto anything except a huge ice yacht.

It's great looking at all the crazy permutations. That Isabella isn't as pretty as the name suggests but it looks like it gets the job done. Quite a few smiling builders/owners. ;~) Thanks!

Perhaps one day I will have tried them all. For now I'm still swaying and jibing toward building something like that hot John Klick icesurfer, probably after the season is over, and playing with the snowsurfer in the meantime.

Life is good,
Bob

February 28, 2007 - 17:58 — Adam-US5366

Here is one more....

I forgot about this one...

Sticksailing

If you have a windsurf rig, it just can't get any simpler. I'll definitely try it one day...

Also note the plans for a turney type board and the prototype skate wing.

With a skridskosegl and the ice-wing, the skates are taller simply so you can LEAN! Normally an old rear entry ski boot is modified with skates. I have Anders Anser's plans for the ice-wing and tall skates if you want more details.

Keep us posted whatever you do.

/Adam

March 2, 2007 - 04:03 — wildthing

icesurfer

Thanks again. That's a great site that somehow I missed while googleing. It still looks like I have to build an icesurfer! Life is good, Bob