Life in the Knife

Kitesurfing at -36 Degrees Celsius in Yellowknife

Posted on 24. Jan, 2010 by Shane in Sports & Recreation, Winter

In Yellowknife, the winters are long. And sometimes they are a lot longer than others, which requires Yellowknifer’s to get a little creative with what they do to stay in shape and to distract themselves from the cold isolation. This has naturally resulted in some interesting and fun recreational activities normally associated with the summer to become the normal activities of the winter (too).

Kitesurfing (aka. Kiteboarding) is normally considered an extreme water sport in warm sunny locations in the south. Kitesurfing is a modified wind/water sport where riders use small parachute-kites and the wind to pull themselves across the surface of the water while standing on a small surfboard. However, Kitesurfing in Yellowknife has become an increasingly popular recreational activity in the winter. Someone probably woke up one day and said: “something has to be done with all that open ice on the frozen Great Slave Lake.” Thus, Kitesurfing on ICE was born. Below are some photos of kitesurfing in Yellowknife from the winters of 2010 and 2009. Please click on the images to enlarge the photos.

Here are some websites with tips for Kitesurfing: www.kitesurfingnow.com and www.kitesurfingschool.org.

Tags: 2010, Great Slave Lake, January, January 2010, kite boarding, kite surfing, kiteboarding, kitesurfing, surfing, Winter, winter 2010, Yellowknife, Yellowknife Bay