through the ice

[Len007]

Hi there,
what do you use for self-rescue in case of falling through the ice, if anything at all. Most of the winter kiting I've ever done was on frozen lakes. I like the idea of lake crossings which obviously involves kiting through an unknown terrain. I personally don't know of any kiter who's ever gone completely through, but just the idea of it happening scares me to death!
Anyone has any experience in this kitemare department?

[bay surfer]

Ice picks on a string around the neck can help you get a hold of the ice to pull your self out, but seems dangerous if you land on one with the tip pointing in. I like kitneys Idea of keeping a Ice screw on your boot, mite come in handy if you can get to it, the tip is sharp.
Ideas??/??[/i]

[montanakitesports]

early season I use ice picks, and an inflateable life jacket (doesn't take up much space deflated). The best rescue tool is the kite! Keep it up and use it to pull you out. Also, never kite alone.

Keith

[kiteny]

I live on a lake, and the first time I go out after it freezes I take extra precautions: I wear a farmer-john (overalls) wetsuit & life jacket under my coat and bring a set of ice claws from http://www.nordicskater.com/safety/index.html. I like Keith's inflatable life jacket suggestion -- it will definitely be more comfortable than a full one.

The ice claws, for $15, are cheap & will likely get you out if you fall through. However, keep in mind that if you're on skis or a snowboard, your weight is distributed over a large area, so if you fall through it means that the ice is really thin -- so you may end up breaking up a lot of ice trying to get out with the claws before you get to anything thick enough to support you, so a wetsuit is pretty important.

I also keep my cell phone in a waterproof, talk-through case (aquapac).

It's a lot of stuff, but I want to make sure I fully enjoy the 2 months of frozen lake I get!

Seth

[Len007]

thanks for the great advise!

[toyletbowl]

my darling wife constantly tells me to go kite early season on thin ice and to not forget the extra bricks. she says it weighs me down so i don't get so much air, but i'm starting to think she has alterior motives now that my life insurance policy is a gazillion dollars.

where can i find an inflateable life jacket??? sounds like a great idea.

[kiteny]

Update your will to leave me your kites!

Enter "inflatable pfd" into google to see lots of them. Here's one at West Marine:
http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/st ... tId=133946

This one has automatic inflation -- very important, so you don't have blow into tubes. It also has 35 pounds of flotation; a normal life jacket you would wear for wakeboarding has only 15, so 35 is pretty awesome if you have heavy boots, skis/snowboard, etc.

Also in West Marine look at model # 275100. It is a normal jacket that also is a USCG approved flotation jacket. I want to take an extra look at one of these, since it does double duty.

Seth

[toyletbowl]

seth,

thanks for the info and i updated the will for you.