Skiing and Wing Skiing

I was having a great morning skiing. While it was +3c, the colder wind was building from the north and the waves were starting to build on Georgian Bay. I was thinking maybe I'd try foiling at Sunset Point? Then I saw the What'sAPP note: "Whites Bay wing ski session imminent." Hmm.. where is White's Bay?

Thanks to Ed for the location suggestion and video!

Turns out it is the little bay just NW of Collingwood Harbour by Hen and Chicken Island. I took some photos of it from the top of Blue Mountain. After finishing my 21st run on my 55th day of skiing this season I put my pump and wings in the car and drove the 12 minutes to the foot of Balsam St.

A good orchard to North and back morning

21 runs on day 55 of the season

Scoping out White’s bay from Blue Mountain

Free parking!

I found Ed

It took a little walking around to figure out how to access the ice. I could see Ed from the Sunset Point Foilers chat group out winging back and forth. I went back to the car and pumped up the 5m wing and put on my ski boots. I walked out and Ed came to introduce himself and nicely gave me some information on the spot.

The bay is sheltered on 3 sides and the north wind funnels in nicely. The ice was sketchy but Ed noted that where we would be skiing it was only waist deep at most. The biggest risk were the areas where the rocks below the water were making holes in the ice. On skates it would be possible to break through and then tumble onto the ice on the other side of the hole. Not as much of a risk on skis though.

I put on my skis and worked my way upwind and then over to the more expansive area with better ice. The soft top surface of the ice made it easy to grip with skis. We were jibing and tacking and having a great time.

My sister found the spot and took a few photos and video. While I was sweltering under my FXR snowmobile suit, she was freezing in the 0c wind.

My video edit of the day on Vimeo

Ed took a great video of me, I got a few shots of him. After 30 minutes of winging my arms were tired and I quit when he was done. I wasn't too excited about being out there alone. Indeed on my last run back to the parking spot I had one "puddle jump" where I was glad to be leaning back on my skis.

My gear

Post session selfie with Ed!

That gets the heart racing!
Max speed 18.5 knots - 34 km/h

Location of the only stable sheet of ice in Collingwood

My GPS track. Definitely better to approach via the curved trail
7.8 km total distancing including the walk to the parking lot

It was really nice to discover this spot. I started winging 3 years ago in Collingwood - using skis at Sunset Beach. Wing skiing has been a great addition to my winter recreation - I always love getting in two or more sports a day!