Härkmeri - Sideby - Merikarvia - Björneborg 18.2.2017

Date: 18.2.2017
Route: Härkmeri - Sideby - Merikarvia - Björneborg
Duration: 8:15
Distance: 70,14 km
Wind: 14 m/s West
 Company: Bertil Bäck, Mikael Holm.
Service team: Nishant and Sonali Redekar

Kaskö - Kristinestad - Skaftung 18.1.2014

Date: 18.1.2014
Place: Kaskö - Kristinestad - Härkmeri
Duration: 5:14
Distance: 50,88 km
Company: Solo



I did not manage to get any company for this trip so what can you do. I drove to Kaskö where I left the car. I first skated 10 km north to connect with the turn-around point from our last trip 2012.
After that I skated back to Kaskö and continued towards Kristinestad. Great day and nice frosty ice. After Kristinestad I continued still towards Härkmeri and Slåttor where I got picked up by a taxi and returned to the car. Great day on the ice!

Närpes - Kaskö 4.2.2012

Duration: 3,5 hours

Distance: 31 km
Place: Närpes -  (allmost) Kaskö
Company: Aleksis Hahn

This short skating tour was a really interesting one. We skated in the outer archipelago in the county of Närpes. Ocationally we skated along the very edge of the ise shelf. The biggest challange is to avoid being on board an ice shelf that brakes loose and sails off. Especially on days that the wind blows from the land land.

Kokkola - Pyhäjoki 21.3.2009

Distance: 102 km
Duration: 6 hours
Company: Solo, with dad as support team

Comments: Indeed one of the more enjoyable trips I have made. The ice and the weather conditions are perfect and I managed to cover a nice piece of the Finnish coast. Supported by my father I first sailed from Kalajoki to Kokkola. I did the distance of 70 km in just 2,5 hours so we decided to drive back to Kalajoki and continue north towards the county of Pyhäjoki. I set a new personal distance record for one day sailing. The old record was 5 years old, and i figure I should be able to do at least 200 in another five years :)

Närpes - Molpe 18.1.2009

Distance: 41,6 km
Duration: 5 hours
Company: Five skaters from Vaasa longdistance skatingclub

Comments: We planned the trip in south-northern direction to benefit from the strong southerly wind. In the outer parts of the archipelago we ran into open sea (not literally though) and we expereinced wave movements in the ice shelf. A new and exciting experience to most of us. We passed the open water by walking a few kilometers over islands and stumbling along the uneven ice along the shoreline. The trip was very rewarding and we managed to complete the whole route to every bodies excitement.

Vaasa - Molpe 15.3.2008

Distance: 41,5 km
Duration: 5 hours
Company: Petter Lingonblad

Comments: We start off with the kites pulling us, but due to the unreliable ice conditions and the strong wind we decide to wrap the kites and pull them ourselves for a change. We run into open water in some straits and we pass them over land. We meet some fishermen in Sundom archipelago laying nets under the ice. A good 10 m/s tailwind gives us a comfortable ride even without any sails!

Oulu-Kuivaniemi & Oulu-Siikajoki 1-2.3.2008

Distance: 160 km

Duration: 2 days

Company: Petter Lingonblad, Lasse as support team

Comments: The ice conditions were lousy this year so to find reliable ice we head north to the city of Oulu. Day one we sail north and reach Kuivaniemi, roughly 90 kilometers. Due to change in wind conditions and direction we head back to Oulu and sail south the second day. We reach Tauvo harbour in Siikajok. We are accompanied by Lasse my fateher who follows us along the coast by car and trailer. We also run into a curious coastguard patrol on snowmobiles. For this part of the coast we use kites.

Vaasa - Pietarsaari 24-25.2.2006

Distance: 98 km
Duration: 2 days
Company: Solo

Comments: This part was the first to include an overnight stay on the ice. Finally I had some use of the equipment I had been pulling so often just for practice. First day I get lost in the fog and second day I get two little wind for the only rig I'm carrying. Beautiful scenery in the outer parts of the archipelago.

Larsmo - Kokkola 29.1.2006

Distance: 33 km
Duration: 3 hours
Company: Haggi

Comments: This time Haggi joins on his mountain bike. He is not as fast as me on the open ice, but he definitely has an advantage in the narrow passages along the small canals between the Larsmo lake and Kokkola where there is zero wind.

Replot Island Circumnavigation 21.2.2004

Distance: 98 km

Duration: 10 hours

Company: Solo

Comments: This was the first longer ice windsurfing tour I accomplished solo. I had been planning and preparing for the tour for over ten years. That's a lot for a one day tour, you could argue. Though an accomplishment in itself it took me zero kilometres on my west coast project. However, it created the mental foundation for the project: Long distance windsurfing is possible -and FUN.

Fäboda - Mässkär 19.1.2003 -PART 1-

Distance: 21 km

Duration: 3 hours

Company: My brother Haggi

Comments

Our long distance ice windsurfing starts evolving. We get tired of sailing back and forth on the same spots and decide to aim for a longer tour. Despite the modest result of 21 kilometres the tour can be considered a success. We start testing different sledge systems for transporting extra rigs and sails. Without realising it we have completed the first part of something which will become the 'Finland West Coast Ice Race', and eventually 'Finland Head to Toe.