What is Winterlude?
From the NCC's Winterlude web site:
"Every February, Canada’s Capital Region is host to Winterlude,
North America’s greatest winter celebration. Three fun-filled weekends of
excitement and activity await the whole family! From spectacular ice carvings to
an amazing playground made of snow, Winterlude is a great way to take in the
best of our Canadian winter.
Skate on the world’s largest skating rink — right in the heart of Ottawa!
Marvel at majestic snow sculptures and glittering ice sculptures or groove to
energetic rhythms at Snowbowl. Our mascots, the Ice Hog Family, are waiting for
you in Canada’s Capital Region, from February 3 to February 19, 2006.
Facts:
- In 2005, Canada’s Capital Region celebrated the 27th Winterlude.
- Winterlude was founded in 1979 by the NCC as a means of celebrating
Canada’s unique northern climate and culture.
- Every year, more than 650,000 fun-seekers take part in
Winterlude activities. More than a third of our visitors are people from
outside the Capital region.
- Every year, Winterlude attracts thousands of artists, athletes and
visitors from across Canada and around the world.
- The success of Winterlude rests on the support — both financial and in
donated services — of the private sector, local collaborators, the media and
the community.
- In a 2004 survey, it was estimated that Winterlude-related spending
generated a total of $151.7 million of economic activity in Ontario and
Quebec — $82.5 million within Canada’s Capital Region.
- Over 800 generous people volunteer for the NCC during Winterlude.
Winterlude Kite Demonstration Event
Following the success of the
2005 Winterlude Kite Demonstration event, the school
Kitesurfingschool.org
Ottawa (VL Kites) and the
NCC again teamed up to organize a kite
demonstration event for Winterlude 2006 on Feb 11 and 12. Again, this
is the world first large scale winter kite demonstration event for a very large
number of non-kiter audiences, fully insured with $2,000,000 public liability insurance.
Due to the large number of surrounding audiences, only instructors or riders
with more than 3-year experiences were invited to ride in the event.
The main objectives of the event are
to:
-
Show the northern climate way of
life
-
Promote kiting to a very large
group of non-kiters
-
Make kiting a legitimate and
official sport.
The event was fully supported by
the kite manufacturers and the kite magazines. Many kite manufacturers
and magazines have contacted Kitesurfingschool.org, and in the end, BestKiteboarding
(http://www.bestkiteboarding.com)
has sponsored 4 riders by sending 3 BFK kites and 1 newly released Waroo kite for the riders to use during the event (then to keep afterward) and
SBC Kiteboard Magazine sent
two boxes of Kiteboard magazine to
be distributed to the audiences. Many thanks to BestKiteboarding
and SBC Kiteboard Magazine for recognizing the important of the Winterlude Kite Demonstration
Event in the promotion of the sport
and sponsoring the school as well as the riders.
Sign at Winterlude
2006 Kite Camp
Kiting is becoming
as "legitimate" as Canada Agriculture or Canadian Wood Council
Winterlude 2006 Kite Event Report
Part 1
Following are the photos
and the report of the event (Saturday Feb 11 and Sunday Feb 12, 2006).
Even thought we normally have very
good wind around here in the winter, the wind was not very cooperative on Saturday and
somewhat OK on Sunday. This year, NCC made a mistake of over-plowing the demonstration area
so it was smaller than last year but large enough for a couple kiters. Due
to lack of new snow, snowboards were not very desirable but doable.
Thanks to the experienced team and the cooperation of the wind on Sunday, we
managed to demonstrate all aspects of winter kiting: kiteskiing,
kitesnowboarding, kiteskating, kitesnowblading, kitetelemarking with skis,
snowboards, skates, snowblade and telemark skis respectively. The riders have done
an admirable job and have really impressed the skaters. Some riders have
managed to boost some good airs given the non-ideal
condition and that has quite motivated the
audiences. The event was
a major success - we have managed to demonstrate all form of standing up winter kiting
- if
you know of some others, let us know and we'll try to do it next year.
Furthermore, this year, the Canadian
national CTV station crew filmed Claude kitesnowblading, Hung kitesnowboarding,
interviewed Brent and we made it to the TV news coverage at 6:00 PM and 11:00 PM
EST
Many of the audiences (skaters), came
from all across Canada and Northern US:
-
Some didn't know our sport exist;
however, more people knowing about kiting this year than last year!
-
Some has seen kitesurfing but not
aware that one can do kitesnowboarding and kiteskiing in the winter
-
Some has seen kitesnowboarding and/or
kiteskiing but not aware that one can do kitesurfing in the summer
-
Overall, most agree that kiting is
the most exciting 4 season sport in northern climate
Arrived at Kite
Camp early in the morning, Claude and Paul unloaded the truck.
We used this same
Tahoe LX 4x4 on sand as well as snow and ice
Brent and Claude
already in riders' T-shirts pumped up the BFK
Hung was in the
back ground
Kites were ready
and placed around Kite Camp.
a pink Waroo, a yellow
and 2 blue BFKs
The Giant Tiger
carnival train passed by the Kite Camp
Skaters started
arriving at Kite Camp
the pink Waroo was
in the foreground
Paul answered early
skaters' questions
(we had equipment,
photos, magazine, information sheets)
More skaters came
to Kite Camp
The Kite Demo is ON!
Claude showed how
to kitesnowblade with the BFK
The crowd started
invading Kite Camp
Martin and Paul
busy answering questions
(We had equipment,
photos, magazine, information sheets)
Claude switched to the Waroo
More people came
over to watch Claude Kitesnowblading
Air time on
snowblade
Steve showed to the
crowd how to kiteskate on glassy ice
with the trainer
kite
Day 2 (Sunday February 12th, 2006)
Click here
for day 2 photos and report
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