iceboating.net Minnesota Ice Sailing Association

Mark your calendars!

Fire on Ice, the competition for the Johnson Cup is Jan 30 an 31 on Lake Phalen in St Paul MN is rapidly approaching. We're publishing a notice of event this afternoon.

The IDNIYRA westerns this weekend, and is threatened by weather.

In order to have a Magic event at Phalen, to really make magic, thru the lens magic, we need to enhance the quality of our event along several fronts.

Again, We're organizing a multi camera shoot, planning on live play by play coverage by the Reverend Petey, a sound track, much more color on track... a richer spectator experience, and most important, a better competitor experience. Which is really whats needed to make this great television. Geoff Sobering says he's coming to catch some more fantastic stills, like the one just published in Sail Magazine http://moving-target-photos.com/WIC/2009StPaulWinterCarnival/slides/IMG_...

To do this we need to get a lot of things put together...

First, we all as sailors need to get much more comfortable racing on these tracks, there just isn't enough experience in the fleet, and that has to increase.

Second, the track needs to be enhanced in design, for safety, competitive experience and visuals. (track side banner advertising is a key safety element for visibility)

Third; we need more base data on comparative speeds to assign rankings for initial heats in the competition. And as I see it, 4 boat heats in the competition are really needed from a spectator experience perspective, practice is needed, racing is needed before St Paul.

Fourth: We need competitor commitments to participate, if you guys want this to happen, it will, if you don't, it won't.

Toward that end, We're beginning track preparations for a development track in Prior Lake in front of Captain Jacks Restaurant. It will be open for track qualification with a very very low wall height as we have to blow that track rather than plow.

If you have a small vehicle /tractor snowblower over 12 horsepower and can help, it's needed. please advise.

Sailors need to commit to participate in the winter carnival, please do so with the registration section on the Notice of event at your earliest convience.

Fifth: We need volunteer support for the event, registration, scorekeeping, crowd control, track safety, event support, track preparation, event setup, etc. and of course the Parade!

Six: Sponsor support is required, this is a major undertaking with significant hard costs to do properly. For the right sponsor partners this is an excellent opportunity to be aligned with one of the coolest things about Minnesota, and absolutely the coolest thing in the sport of sailing. Last year the media coverage was extraordinary and we've already considerable commitments for this season's event. If you'd like to showcase some goods or services for your brand, this is an excellent opportunity.

If this is an undertaking that you're interested in being involved in, there are opportunities at almost any level, let me know as soon as possible.

It's gonna be amazing.

Mark

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