Dear Rider/Spectator,

Saturday ...

Saturday started with some very light wind rides for those that arrived early. It soon dropped right off after but in keeping with the friendly atmosphere it gave riders a chance to meet and share experiences of many they have spent time out on the ice with, but know little about.

The festival is a brief window into the lives of wind riders that some no little about. Their patience in seeking out pleasurable winds and ideal conditions from mother nature paid off Saturday afternoon. It really didn't look like there was going to be enough wind to sail on Saturday. The waiting game for wind seekers paid off as the winds picked up around 2:30 pm, unfortunately after most of the spectators had left. The later wind was probably even a little more than they had forecasted and all the riders remaining enjoyed a late afternoon blast into the sunset. Another day in the life of a wind rider!

Sunday ...

The forecasted winds for Sunday 15km/hr from the North West were bang on. For most the conditions those would have been considered marginal. But for the hard ice surface, they were just enough to give riders another chance to Refine Their Balance. The winds picked up shortly after 10am and were constant all day. Although the day was dominated by skis and bladed wind craft, riders and spectators enjoyed the sunshine and crystal blue skies.

Race Results & Heart And Stroke

It was a great day for photography as well as the first race for the festival. A young kite flyer also a pilot from Callander Bay, North Bay, Trevor Murdoch, took first place in the men's competition riding a Flysurfer Speed 10 meter. Trevor has been kite skiing for five years. The first place in the women' competition was Linda Kilgus, flying an Ozone Access 5 meter. Linda has been kite skiing for less that one year. Congrats to both of them on their achievements!

If you did not have a chance to hand in your before entering the race, please mail the completed form and a cheque representing your total sponsor amount payable to "Heart And Stroke Foundation" to:

Canadian Wind Rider Inc.

26 Elfindale Crescent

North York, Ontario

M2J 1B5

There should be a minimum of $10 raised for which you will receive a tax deduction. We will be submitting all the forms together so that we can get a grand total of the funds raised to Kite for Heart And Stroke.

Pictures - some of the media captured from the event can be see from this link. If you would like a DVD of the images at the event, please contact us.

A special thanks to:

Dealers and brand representatives that were on-site over the weekend included, Grivel, Kestrel, Ozone, Ocean Rodeo, Peter Lynn, and Q-Powerline.

The event organizers would like to thank all the riders and spectators for managing the parking safely. From what we know, no kiter had their lines cut and the weekend was incident free. A special thanks to those attendees than came from out of town - Toronto, Mississauga, Markham, Lake Scugog, King City, Barrie, Brantford, London, Kitchener, North Bay, Cambridge, and Ottawa and of course some local Keswick riders.

The winter sailing season on Lake Simcoe usually ends in early April when the ice melts. There's still time for you to enjoy what the Ontario winter season has to offer. So come on out and find out how you can Refine Your Balance.

Saturday Update

If you participated in the festival and would like a chance to win some prizes, please register to win at WinterActive 2009.

Host a Kiter or two - Next year if you would interested in having a visiting kiter stay with you or you are looking to stay with a local kiter, please contact us and we'll add you to one of our lists and try matching your needs together and make this festival that much more active.