LATEST NEWS
2022 U.S. Nationals Update #2 Jan 20
2022 U.S. Nationals Update #2 Jan 20, 2022
We have two sites under consideration, the primary site of Walled Lake, Novi, Michigan and alternate site of Lake Monona in Madison, Wisconsin. We need more time to look at incoming weather and work through the details of a smaller venue at Walled. Racing is still scheduled to begin on Sunday, January 23 at 10 AM local time. Next update is Friday, January 21, at 2 PM CT/ 3 PM ET. Thank you for your continued patience.
2022 U.S. National Update #1 for Jan 20
The governing board has met tonight via conference call. We are still in the process of gathering information about potential sites and will reconvene later tonight. We will post the next update by 9 PM CT/ 10 PM ET. Stand by for update #2 tonight. Thank you for your patience.
U.S. Nationals Site Selection Preliminary Update
US Nationals Site Selection Preliminary Update
We thank you for your patience. Scouts continue to search for regatta ice in northern Michigan and Ohio. We have one confirmed site in the Madison, WI area, possibly two, with a possible back up site just north but with chances of snow during the week.
We will have an update tonight, January 20, 2022, by 8 PM CT/ 9 PM ET.
1987 DN World Championship Video
Here’s something to watch while we wait to learn the location of the 2022 U.S. Nationals (The location will be announced next Thursday, January 20, 2022.) Jeff Kent shared this video of the 1987 DN World Championship sailed on Lake St. Clair, Mt. Clemens, Michigan. I added a few captions to identify some of the people who were interviewed. There’s some technical bonus footage at the end including a visit with Henry Bossett at the sail loft and then sighting runners with Jeff Kent. Results are posted below.
2022 DN Western Region Regatta Postponed
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2022 Western Region Championship Notice of Race
Date: To Be Announced
Location: The Western Region includes Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, Illinois, and Indiana
Next Update: After the US Nationals (which take place January 23 – 29, 2022)
Via IDNIYRA Western Region Commodore Chris Berger
The 2022 Western Region Championship had been postponed until after the U.S. Nationals. Lake Monona ice in Madison, WI was not regatta quality. Regatta information will be updated after the U.S. Nationals.
2022 Western Regional Regatta: Location Update
2017 DN Western Region Championship sailed on Lake Monona, Madison, WI. Photo Credit: Kurt Mayer
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2022 Western Region Championship Notice of Race
Date: January 8-9, 2022
Location: Tentatively called ON for Wisconsin. Location TBA
Final Confirmation/Next Update: Thursday, January 6, 2022 by 1 PM CT
Via IDNIYRA Western Region Commodore Chris Berger
Big Spirit Lake in Iowa is no longer under consideration for a Western Region Championship regatta site. Severe wind chill temperatures and high winds made sailing impossible, but a ranked sailor walked the lake today. Unfortunately, the drifts have hardened and are big enough to hinder safe sailing. However, there are potential sites in Wisconsin. Next update, Thursday, January 6 by 1 PM CT.
2022 DN Central Region Championship Update
Via Central Region Commodore Rob Holman
The 2022 Central Region Championship has been scheduled for February 12-13, 2022. Stay tuned to this website for further information.
2022 Western Region Championship Tentatively Called ON for Spirit Lake, Iowa, Jan 8-9
Big Spirit Lake, Spirit Lake, Iowa on Sunday, January 2, 2022 Photo: Pat Heppert
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2022 Western Region Championship Notice of Race
Date: January 8-9, 2022
Location: Tentatively called ON for Big Spirit Lake, Spirit Lake, Iowa.
Final Confirmation/Next Update: Thursday, January 6, 2022 by 1 PM CT
Via IDNIYRA Western Region Commodore Chris Berger
The 2022 IDNIYRA Western Region Championship is tentatively called on for January 8 – 9, 2022 for Big Spirit Lake in Spirit Lake, Iowa.
Big Spirit Lake has 10″ of black ice, 95% snow-free. “The remaining snow on the better part of the lake will result in 1 – 2″ jumpers,” according to Pat Heppert who walked and drilled the lake today. There is enough ice for 2 courses. It will be sailed by ranked sailors on Thursday morning, January 6. Final confirmation will be made on Thursday, January 6 by 1 PM CT.
Rudi Bauer OE39
Rudi Bauer and Ron Sherry
The IDNIYRA is saddened to announce that Rudy Bauer OE39 passed away at his home in Austria on January 1, 2022. The entire DN community extends our condolences to Rudy’s family.
Ron Sherry US44 recalls:
I called Rudy ‘The World Champion of Fun.’ He was a champion ice boater, downhill skier, and true ambassador to the sport of iceboating. In 1998, I built him a complete DN, which he raced in North America. He then shipped it to Austria and made sure I had a good boat for European regattas. He said, “Ron, you come to the Worlds, and you can sail this boat.” With his help, I won my first Worlds in 1998 in that boat.
We had such wonderful times together. Rudy would haul a big old beat-up leather suitcase to the pits, filled with cheese, bread, and meats to share at the end of the racing day. Nothing ever tasted so good after a hard day of sailing, standing around with your buddies rehashing the day.
From left, Art Teutsch, Dan Connell US1630, and Rudi Bauer OE39. (Screen shot from the 1993 World Championship video.)
1993 Worlds: A Look Back Through Video
Here’s a raw, unedited video from the 1993 IDNIYRA World Championship from Andre Baby, the Montreal Iceboating Association, and Jeff Kent. The 1993 Worlds was memorable for being one of the biggest, with four fleets and over 170 competitors, and sailed on Geneva Lake in southern Wisconsin. The video is typical 1990s VCR quality but still worth a look. Pay close attention, and you’ll see many familiar faces in the opening ceremony and the trophy presentation. There’s racing footage in between the opening ceremony and the prize giving. Happy New Year from the IDNIYRA.
Jeff Kent Wins Worlds
By Eric Armstrong US4232
February 1993 IDNIYRA Runner Tracks Newsletter
Jeff Kent of Weymouth, Massachusetts USA, has won what is being hailed as the most competitive Gold Cup in the history of the event with eleven points. One hundred seventy-eight competitors from ten countries gathered in Fontana, Wisconsin, to race on Geneva Lake on January 24th, 1993. Ten competitors at the regatta had a ranking number of three or less. This is the largest fleet of top competitors ever assembled in North America. All of these factors combined to make the 1993 World Championships very competitive and, most of all lots of FUN! Click here to continue reading.
2022 Western Region Championship Postponed to Jan 8-9
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2022 Western Region Championship Notice of Race
Date: Rescheduled for January 8-9, 2022
Location: TBD. The Western Region includes Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, Illinois, the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, and Indiana.
Next Update: Tuesday, January 4, 2022 by 5 PM CT
Via Western Region Commodore Chris Berger US5166
The 2022 Western Region Championship has been postponed until January 8-9, 2022. Warm weather followed by a snow event has left us with no viable sites. With colder weather moving in, we are optimistic for good conditions the weekend of January 8-9. The next update is on Tuesday, January 4, by 5 PM CT. Have a Happy New Year!
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DN VIDEOS
Minnesota Ice Sailing Association
- main lake sailed Minnetonka December 31, 2024
Chickawaukie Ice Boat Club
- John Eastman, R.I.P. April 26, 2025