The Great Western Challenge Regatta - IS ON!

6 Dec 2013 11:00 am

The Great Western Challenge Regatta is scheduled for December 6,7, and 8. Best ice in Minnesota. Scrub racing on Friday and scored racing on Saturday and Sunday. DN fleet and Opti fleet. Lodging information to be anounced.

NEXT UPDATE Friday MORNING

Primary Location:
Buffalo, Minnesota
La Crosse, Wisconsin!

Launch site in Lacrosse: Louis Nelson County Park

** Ice has not been checked ** please see the comments below.

As always, never an entrance fee and iceboaters of all abilites are welcome to attend.

** Edited by US5214 at 9:30am on 12/05/2013

Comments

It's On! In La Crosse!

La Crosse, Wisconsin.

For the first time ever the Minnesota Team is travelling across the river. It's too cold in Minnesota!

4" of ice reported at the launch site.

** ICE HAS NOT BEEN THOROUGHLY CHECKED **

Iceboating can be a hazardous sport. The Ice is never safe. Please procede with caution. Use your best judgement.

The racing venue just got rain sleet so there are most likely some hazards. The cold ice that drove us out of Minnesota will hit La Crosse on Thursday night and stay for the weekend. We will have good ice making conditions on Thursday night and all through the weekend.

Minnesota Ice Sailors will be at the launch Friday morning and will then procede with a more thorough check of the ice.

The tenative racing area is north of the launch site in-between the horse shoe shaped islands and the shore.

We are looking into race headquarters and lodging now.

Think Ice! and drive carefully.

Race Headquarters

Days Inn La Crosse
101 Sky Harbour Drive
La Crosse, WI 54603
608-783-1000

We've got an _Iceboater Special_ for $74/night (plus tax). Flat Rate for a double or a King size with Sofa Sleeper.

Large Parking Lot and Easy Access, close to the Ice.

They have the Hero's Bar and all the other nice amenities.

Grocery Store right next door.

Pet Friendly.

Friday Fish Fry

And all you can eat fish fry on Friday at the Bar at the Days Inn.

Mmmmmmmm.... Fisssshhhhhh

Mmmmmmmm.... Fisssshhhhhh Frrryyyyyyyyyy....

now if there was some...

Wisconsin Beer Cheese soup to go with it. that would be priceless.

DN 5050

Wunderground Wundermap Snowfall Amount

http://wxug.us/1aitb

Check it out. La Crosse is in the sweet spot.

Wednesday Regatta report

Regatta is on. While things look pretty grim around Lake Buffalo we have two alternate sites further South. We have good reports from both Clear Lake, Ia and LaCrosse, Wi. We will update this site tomorrow morning with Lodging and launching details. Here comes the cold.

JD

JD US4691

Ice conditions

At this time we have a primary site at Lake Buffalo which is still good to go. The forcast for there is not good.

Our secondary site is Clear Lake Iowa. Local boats are set up and had great sailing last weekend. The forcast for Clear Lake is much better.

JD

JD US4691

Clear Lake IA, would be cool

Clear Lake IA, would be cool .Sailed there lots,had the 2008 Hobie 16 NA ,s there.Surf ballroom would be a great place to get everyone together.

after weather mon-wed

markham will check lake city wed/thur. or lacrosse. or anyone know if ice on clear lake, ia? green lake , spencer, mn misses the storm? frozen now with clear ice. looks like need to go south of mpls. I vote for Oshkosh! then I can get perch before westerns.

ya xxxxx

Sure hope you guys can pull

Sure hope you guys can pull this off.Very challenging Weather,good luck.

Clear Lake, IA

Clear Lake froze last week sometime. Photo looked good, but don't know thickness, etc.

Winnebago Kicked

Looks like Winnebago kicked last night, 26Nov. Maybe we should hold the Great Keifer Challenge in WI this year.

Tip of the Helmet!

Sailing tomorrow morning

Time to go! Pelican is newly frozen and its cold. We are headed up in the morning and planning to sail two days. Remember this ice has not been checked so be careful.

Three possible sites; Christina, Pelican, or the back bay of Pelican.

JD US4691

who is going boating sunday?

looks to cold sat am in Fergus falls. I'm still in TX, dam!

ya xxxxx

If you cannot find Ice there

If you cannot find Ice there ,here in Thunder Bay we have great ice.Spent the Day at White Fish Lake.Photoes and video are posted on my Facebook.They rent Cabins right where I was sailing at a great rate.One Cabin for 5 people is going for $100.

Sailing

Time to start looking for a place to go sailing. Weather this week does not look great... Maybe. Please post any ice reports.

JD US4691