History: The Annual Lake Simcoe Wind Sports festival was launched in 2003 with the goal of organizing an exciting winter wind sailing event on a provincial level. The event is a celebration of winter wind sports and brings out some of the most enthusiastic riders throughout Ontario and Eastern Canada. Visitors from afar are encouraged to stay in local accommodations so they may enjoy the two days of riding.

Over the years, different locations were tried to try to find the best wind, ice and season conditions close to Toronto. We are happy to call Glenwoods Avenue the home of the festival. The put-in at Glenwoods has become so popular for winter sailing, its common to find 30+ riders out enjoying the terrain any time it is windy in the winter.

The major focus at the festival are various forms of kite flying: traction kite flying, single and dual line. Although the predominant one at the festival is the power kiting, the single and dual line kites always paint a beautiful backdrop in the sky for riders and spectators.

Finally, it merits noting that this event includes riders from 10 to 76 years of age. The event serves as an excellent opportunity to promote the sport and to watch real passion seekers as they show you how they enjoy winter in Ontario and how you can Refine Your Balance.^TM

News: Press Release

Last Year: What happened last year and what did all the guys miss on Sunday?

What: Wind Powered Ice & Snow Sailing Sports

• Eastern Canada's most enthusiastic group of ice and snow sailors of all ages will be showing you how they pursue their outdoor passions

• See why this locations has become one of the best winter wind riding locations in the Country

• You'll see kite skiing, kite snowboarding, winter sail crafts, ice boats (conditions permitting), Skimbats, and ice buggies and more

News: (Feb 14, 20:00hrs) The festival is a go! The surface is 100% ice, so you'll need sharp edges to hold a grip. The winds for Sunday are forecasted 15km/hr NW in the morning increasing to 20km/hr NW. If the forecast is true for Sunday, it should be a great day for photos as well.

Spectators: (Feb 14) The ice is very slippery for walking today. Please proceed with caution when on the ice. Traction cleats on your shoes would be ideal.

Photo Journalists: (Feb 14) The ice is very slippery for walking today. Please proceed with caution when on the ice. Traction cleats on your shoes and knee pads would be ideal.

Race Info: (Feb 13) Due to the lack of winds on Saturday, the race has been moved to Sunday at 13:00. The meet will be at 12:30. Talk to the race coordinator (florescent vest) to find out the meet location. You need to bring your pledge form with payment to the race coordinator with a minimum of $10 worth of pledges (all proceeds of this race are for Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario).

Some race guidelines/rules:

• when passing upwind kite stays high, downwind kite stays low

• downwind kite has right of way at a mark

• when riders are meeting head on they should each turn to their right however this shouldn't be an issue in a course race

2009.02.14, 7th Annual Lake Simcoe Winter Sports Festival

Saturday Update

2009.02.15, 7th Annual Lake Simcoe Winter Sports Festival

Sunday Finale

Out of Country visitors: GST Rebate form

Media (Promotional Rights): All media taken at this event are property of Canadian Wind Rider Inc. and cannot be used for commercial purposes unless authorized by Canadian Wind Rider. Please contact us @ 416.497.wind (9463) for commercial permission to use media.

Due to liability matters, in order to ride at this event, you must be an experienced winter sailor. Beginners are welcome as spectators or accompanied with a qualified kite instructor.

Attention Beginners: If you are a beginner and would like to be contacted by an instructor about getting started, please fill out a Skills Assessment Form.

Parking: Please obey all the displayed parking signs in the area. The event organizers realize parking may be a challenge for the weekend, but we're asking everyone to do there best to respect the community on their day at the lake. For kiters, you may be able to park on the lake. For spectators, we're asking you to park east of Lake Drive (the last north south road before the lake) on either side of Glenwoods Avenue. Please do not block any driveway.  Technically the ice is never safe. Should you decide to park your vehicle on the ice, you do so at your own risk.

Office Flyer: Fly it forward and help us promote the festival by displaying a flyer at your office. Download (174k-pdf)

Store Media: Fly it forward and help us promote the festival by displaying a flyer at your store. Download (171k-pdf), or a hand out (116k-pdf)

Activity times

• 6:00am - Pat's Place will be open for breakfast from 6:00am, so come on by before the event and let them know that you're going to fly kites, 299 The Queensway South (east side), directly across from Crates Marina, 2nd stop light north of Glenwoods Avenue, 905.476.5575

• 11:00-11:15hrs Opening ceremonies, kites in the air for a photo opportunity

• 13:00-14:00hrs Kite for Heart and Stroke Fun Race - Sponsored by Heart and Stroke, and To Be Active

• Note: If you would like to see an activity at next years event, please let us know as we want this festival to be more fun for you each year!

Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario Fun Race This year for the first time we will be having a sponsored race in partnership with the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario. The race will take place approximately at 13:00hrs on Saturday February 14. If the conditions are not favorable on Saturday the race will be held on Sunday February 15 at 13:00hrs. There will be a prize for first place; one for the first place male and another for the first place female. You have two ways to enter the race.

1. Download a pledge form (Adobe PDF 1.62M) and submit it with the funds you have collected on the day of the race prior to the race to one of the race coordinators.

2. Fill out a festival pledge form and submit your pledge to one of the race coordinators prior to the race.

Note: Tax receipts will be issued to those who pledge a minimum of $10 and provide clear and complete mailing information. All pledges raised for this event are donations to Heart & Stroke Foundation of Ontario.

Screen Saver Help us promote the festival and sport of winter kiting. Click here (2MB) to download a screen saver of images from our past winter events.

Where About 1 hour drive north of Toronto, Ontario, Canada in Keswick on the east shores of Cook's Bay Lake Simcoe, at the foot of Glenwoods Avenue

Glenwoods Avenue, Keswick, Lake Simcoe

• From 401, take 404 North to the end. (34.8 km)
• Take the Rural Route 19/GREEN LANE exit- exit number 53. (.5km)
• Turn RIGHT onto GREEN LANE E/REGIONAL ROUTE 19. (.6km) east
• Turn LEFT onto WOODBINE AVE/REGIONAL ROUTE 8. (14.3km) north
• Turn LEFT onto GLENWOODS AVE/REGIONAL ROUTE 33. (2.4km) west
• at the lights before you come to Leslie, Tim Horton's is a great place to stop for a coffee and washroom break
• Continue to follow GLENWOODS AVE. until you see the lake

Rental Cottages

Promoters

Connections
(Internet Information groups)

Local Clubs

Toronto Kite Flyers

Kitchener Waterloo Wind Climbers
http://www.geocities.com/Colosseum/Track/8336/directory.html

Loyal Partners

Local Merchants

Media Partners

There's no such thing as bad weather ...

If you missed the article on "There's no such thing as bad weather ... only bad clothing" last year by Professor Popsicle, Dr. Gordon G. Giesbrecht a leading expert in the field of winter sport, at the Health Leisure and Human Performance Research Institute, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, handed out at the festival, the original material can be found at:

www.umanitoba.ca/faculties/physed/research/people/giesbrecht.shtml
 

Scroll to almost the bottom and you’ll see some Seminars and Lectures (off campus). The article is entitled "Cold Weather Clothing".

Ice Safety

Liability Information
Canadian Wind Rider Inc. (CWR) or it's advertisers do not assume any liability as a result of the use of any information contained in at this web site.  CWR does not assume any liability as a result of use of any link contained in the CWR web site. Wind powered activities have potential hazards, which need to be evaluated for each person based on that person's circumstances.  By your use of the information or products provided by CWR, you recognize the foregoing and agree to hold harmless CWR from any liability as a result of your use of the information.