Mendon Ponds Park session

[Windydoug]

Yeah you read that right, Mendon Ponds Park.

I headed up to check out ice beach after work yesterday to find 3-4 inches of snow on the ice. The ice by shore (3-6 feet from shore )was about 2 inches thick but much thicker further out. Some really nice black ice existed under the snow. Problem was, all the snow as well as some slushy spots under the snow. Open water with swans was also in the midst of solid ice.

Spoke with Ice Beach veteran/legend Rick and then decided to head for Mendon to see if the snow spared the pond out there.
It hadn't, but their was only an inch or two and the ice was perfect black ice underneath. The wind was blowing side on from the swimming beach so I rigged a 5.2 and went out.
I was able to get good speed, but did get some snow drifting/build up on the nose of my board from what the blades kicked up. Snow brush took care of that.
I managed about 30 minutes till the wind and sun disappeared, and then said goodbye to the way-to-tame deer population and headed for home. It was well worth it. I would say that kiting and windski might work out there, but I am not sure if you would be able to get any stick/purchase on the snow on top of the ice.

[flashpipe]

The Mendon Ponds Winter Fest is on Sunday and they're saying the conditions should be perfect for the ice fishing demos, so, I'm guessing with all the snow, it might be good next week for snow kiting...

Anyone agree?? Anyone interested??

Winds even look promising. Would a 9m kite work well for this??

www.windfinder.com/forecast/lake_ontario_buoy

[rider1200]

Hey Brian! I haven't been to Mendon Ponds yet but I'm guessing Winter Fest means lots of people making it difficult/dangerous to kite. You know how well people & kites mix. Maybe theres more room than I think but if all the ice fisherman are at mendon ponds then irondequiot bay near the bayside restaurant should be wide open! A 9 should work well but I wouldn't go out if winds are over 20mph...need a lot less kite on snow & even less on ice than you'd use in the water.

I'm snowmobiling to Fairhaven today (which you could prob kite! Sodus as well at public boat launch) so have fun whatever you do!

[flashpipe]

Brent,

I had the kids so I didn't end up taking the kites, but there was a guy out on skis with a trainer kite and it looked like he was having some success, although there wasn't enough wind to give him enough power. A bigger kite would have worked very well. There were only a few ice fishing tents up and the crowd was pretty small out on the pond.

I'm thinking tomorrow might be a good time (cold, but good conditions) so I may go over around 3 for an hour or so to try it out, depends on the wind. The forecast is calling for strong winds on the lake, so I'll have to judge it at the time. I've got my 9m Waroo which may be good.

www.windfinder.com/forecast/lake_ontario_buoy

Sunday looks promising as well, so I may go out in the morning. We'll see how cold it is.

I did some snowmobile snowboarding a few years ago with a ski rope and that was a great time...assuming you have a large field to play in.

[Windydoug]

Any word on ice/snow conditions in Mendon Pond Park? Some of the small ponds around Fairport had a good melt down of snow and seem to have a skate-able tesxtured ice on them.
If you head(ed) out to the park a quick update would be appreciated!.
Doug

[flashpipe]

I went out to Mendon today and the ice is thick, the only fishermen I saw out there said it was around 4" and there's about 3-4" of snow on top of that.

The winds were too strong today for me to break out the 9m, but I'm planning to go back and give it a shot Sunday afternoon when the winds look better for first time snow kiting.

[waterauthorityrick]

www.grindtv.com/surf/blog/23749/surfer+becomes+first+to+ride+giant+jaws+waves+at+night/

How about this Night Rider see clip

btw lots of cold snow on IBay and today lots of wind but no kiters or sailors I am sidelined with a nagging back because I'm OLD

H2O (old) Rick

[Windydoug]

The cold can make anything a little more creeky than normal.......get well big Rick.