An estimated 8,500 people braved the chilling weather Saturday and Sunday to congregate on Lake Mendota to experience the sixth annual Kites on Ice.
The event traditionally takes place on Lake Monona and in Monona Terrace, but current renovations within the building prohibited indoor kiting and workshops this year.
Visitors of all ages enjoyed hundreds of vibrant kites with designs including Bert and Ernie, octopi, pigs and bees. Kiters performed synchronized flying shows to music and skied and snowboarded by holding onto C-shaped kites.
The Real Kiteboarding company’s instructors gave free kite-flying lessons. Saturday night, kiters concluded the day with choreographed kite-flying accompanied by music and a fireworks display.
Kiting took place inside the Memorial Union as well. Guests could learn how to make kites, view Kites on Ice founder Craig Wilson’s aerial photographs taken by cameras attached to kites, or listen to University of Wisconsin professors speak about ice.
Professor John Magnuson gave a lecture on the physics of ice and Professor C. Allen Wortley spoke about varying winter conditions in the Great Lakes.
Hoofers held its annual winter carnival this weekend as well. The group hosted a broomball tournament, ice golf and scuba-diving demonstrations.
Renowned kiters journeyed from areas in the United States, Switzerland, Japan, Germany, Canada, Austria and Columbia to come to Madison for the event.
“Kiting is an expression of life and lifting spirits,” Wilson said. “There are thrills in exploring the world together with friends through kite-flying and after meeting people at international kiting events, I wanted to bring a little piece of them [to Madison] for a fabulous winter event.”
Mike Agner came from North Carolina to display his $4,000 octopus kite that was 100 feet in length. Sven Weishase and Andreas Schmeelke traveled from Cuxhaven, Germany, to showcase their homemade Bert-and-Ernie kites. The two massive kites are made from more than 6,000 square feet of fabric each.
Weishase said he loves to “feel the power of nature and to play with the wind” when kiting.
Guests exclaimed their surprise at the magnitude of the event.
Jacob Palet, a UW sophomore, marveled at the grandeur of the event.
“It was amazing to see huge kites filling up the whole sky. This was my first year attending and I definitely plan on returning next year.”
Others exclaimed their joy of seeing Madison’s own children, students and adults come together.
Kites on Ice guests were the first to enjoy Memorial Union’s The Lakefront on Langdon’s dining room. Julie Vincent, Memorial Union assistant director of food-retail services projected the restaurant will open in a few weeks. There will be a hearth as well as wok, salad, soup, grill, pizza and dessert stations. Students will be able to enjoy these fresh meals in a modern aerodynamic setting or may study in a comfortable area off to the side.
“My impression of the people in Madison is that the winters are hard but people will still do anything to get out and enjoy it,” Kirsten Kapp, a kite skier and UW graduate student said.
Madison Festivals, Inc., produced the event. This non-profit organization also coordinates other great events in the city including the Mad City Marathon and Taste of Madison, which take place in warmer months.
