Winter Kiteboarding On The Lake
Right now, there are four kiteboarders out shredding up the ice at the NFTA Small Boat Harbor. Every winter I get a call from Ward Pinkel (bottom photo), owner of Urban Threads on Elmwood Avenue, letting me know that his tribe has found the perfect wind, sun and snow conditions. Today he was out with his dad and his friends Bill and Matt (top photo) flying back and forth in front of the boardwalk as people cruised by on Fuhrmann Boulevard on their way home from work.
Although the conditions were not perfect, Ward told me that the snow was better closer to shore since the wind had blown some of the snow off the ice further out. Matt was getting some serious air because he had opted to go with a blow up kite - normally used when out on the water. Although Matt's oversized kite is much more difficult to prepare, the results are dramatic. All four boarders were having a blast... the wind was strong and steady while the sun was completely un-obscured by clouds or buildings.
If you're looking to get into this sport, you may want to check out Bill's site. He's got everything you need to get you started on the snow or on the lake. Watching these guys surfing out on the lake was awesome. Last year I tracked them down boarding at Delaware Park... the backdrop of the lake and the grain elevators made today quite a visually intense scene. If you're looking to keep updated on the kiteboarding culture in Buffalo year 'round, tune into Urban's site.
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STEEL
This really needs to become the image of Buffalo winters both to locals and in the eyes of the nation.
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RisingDamp666
By that, STEEL, I hope you weren't referring to the grain elevator in the background of Mr Pinkel's frolic.
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STEEL
The grain elevator has nothing to do with winter. The Grain elevator is another asset WNY refuses to take advantage of.
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tudorguy
The kiteboarding looks cool, the grain elevator looks like crap.
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carlmalone
Word up Steel, if the City had any sense at all, they would simply fill those empty silos up with diamonds and then auction them off to the highest bidder. Think how much money they would make. Isn't crazy how backward our politicians can be?
I did hear Issa was thinking 'bout turnin dem der silos into Shangri-La.
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sayvanderlay
There's a little boat tied to the dock on the other side of the grain elevator. All the local politicians had a nice press conference there recently talking about what an eyesore the little boat was. Then the politiicians got back in their cars, and never even noticed the grain elevator.
Anyway, getting back to the topic - these guys have more balls than I ever will; God bless 'em.
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sbrof
I agree that the should be an image during Sabres games or something to pall up whenever you get those snarKy remarks.
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RisingDamp666
I gotta admit Steel, I dig those old grain elevators. And the only reuse I've ever seen is a weird hotel. Has there been others? Oh, and carlmalone, there actually is a chain of upscale hotels called The Shangri La!
...but I doubt Issa could swing the check in at one of them.
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lebowski
I dont get it, they can kite-board on the lake but BTD cant skate?? Seems silly.
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gaustad
Steel, is this what they do in Chicago?
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Eisen
Is the BTD the duathlon? I can’t recall off the top of my head. Things like this should be promoted as an asset; skating, sledding, skiing, duathlons, triathlons; that the area and the city has to offer. Is there a reason as to why they aren’t?
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orlanmon
Pretty amazing spor; wouldn't it nice if the local TV news media did a segment on this; start selling Western New York winters and some of interesting ways to enjoy the outdoors. What an incredible backdrop as well, an obstructed view of the lake by a century old grain elavator; wonderful. If that is an asset to Buffalo then I think it's time to liquidate it; if they can reuse the Dulski Federal building concrete panels I am sure they can find a way to reuse the concrete material from these structures.
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orlanmon
Sorry for the typo (sport), need coffee...
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