Alright boys and girls, let's see what you got!
The 2008 Ice Opti North American Championships are easily as much about learning as they are about racing. The most important learning? That would be safety, my pint-sized pilots! So, the first race of our great weekend is going to be the "Bear Claw" Race. Don't forget your ice picks, cuz you're going to need them to drag yourself on your youthful belly from an official start line to a finish line. You're going to get to show us how you can effortlessly access your ice picks with all your gear on and propel yourself on the ice from one point to the next like a snake with it's tail on fire. Hopefully this will be a safety skill you will never have to use, but if you do, you'll be ready.
And speaking of ready-- don't forget your shoes/boots with spikes, helmet, goggles and life jacket. You're required to have all of these and your ice picks on your body the entire time you are on the ice at this event. Yes, that means in the pits, too.
The first rule of ice sailing? Never assume the ice is safe! You should always be prepared to address a situation that COULD come up.
See you in two weeks! Please pre-register at
www.iceboat.org. (Junior Sailing Tab)
Daniel Hearn
US 5352
danielhearn@tds.net608-692-4007
