Looking for an exhilarating winter adventure beyond the usual ski slopes? Discover the thrill of Ice Winging! This unique sport combines the grace of ice skating with the power of winging, creating an unforgettable experience on frozen lakes. In this post, we’ll explore the basics of Ice Winging, discover the best spots to try it in Trentino, and share tips for enjoying this sport with the entire family.
Wing Foiling and Ice Winging
Wing Foiling is one of our favorite wind sports. It’s all about experiencing the freedom of wind power using a wing and a board with a foil. We love this sport for the higher level of freedom it offers compared to windsurfing and its easy packability, which is crucial, especially when traveling with the kids and their gear.
However, practicing wing foiling in winter can be challenging. The cold water temperatures and icy winds often make it too extreme for us.
But when the weather gets truly cold, we turn to the super fun winter edition: ice winging! All you need is a pair of ice skates, a wing, an icy lake, and, of course, wind. Finding a combination of strong enough wind (at least moderate for enjoyable riding) and icy lakes makes this sport quite unique.
Is it more about ice skating or wing maneuvering?
In my opinion, ice skating proficiency is far more important than winging skills for this activity. Given the speed you’ll reach, excellent ice skating control is paramount. Even if you’ve never winged before, with some guidance and practice, you’ll quickly learn how to position the wing correctly. Of course, prior wing foiling experience will be helpful, but prioritize strong ice skating skills and possibly wear a helmet.
Why is this sport so fun?
Perhaps it’s because I miss wing foiling in the winter, or maybe it’s just the unique nature of the sport, but the feeling of being propelled by the wind on an icy lake while effortlessly maneuvering the wing is exhilarating. I wish I could execute tacks as easily on the foil as I can on ice skates!
Ice winging isn’t the best training platform for jumping tricks, as the ice surface is very unforgiving. However, its novelty, alternative nature, and slight “crazy” factor make it incredibly cool.
Another reason we loved this sport is that this winter in Trentino has had very little snowfall. As avid ski mountaineers, we’ve had limited opportunities to enjoy off-piste skiing. Ice winging became a fantastic alternative during this winter with limited snow.
Where to Practice Ice Winging in Trentino
Our favorite lake for ice winging is Lago della Serraia in Pinè. We prefer it due to its thick ice (under the right conditions), sunny exposure, large surface area, and even a convenient catwalk for easily putting on your ice skates.
Other lakes where ice skating is popular during winter, but not suitable for ice winging due to their small size, include Lago delle Buse (Brusago), Lago di Canzolino (Pergine), and Lago di Santa Colomba (Civezzano).
Larger lakes more suitable for ice winging can be found in Alto Adige. For example, Lago di Resia, with its lower temperatures, may allow for longer ice winging and skating seasons compared to lakes in Trentino.
Why Ice Winging Could Be a Family-Friendly Activity
When practising ice winging there is also time for the entire family to enjoy the ice and to introduce your little one to ice skating or simply enjoying going around on the ice with a sledge. We introduced our child to ice skating alongside skiing. To understand the appropriate age for children to start ice skating, refer to our dedicated post on skiing, as the principles largely apply to this winter sport as well. While there are ice skates with two blades for young children, we opted for single-blade skates directly. We believe this approach is similar to using a balance bike instead of a bike with training wheels, as it encourages better balance and coordination from the start.
We chose slightly larger ice skates for our child (no smaller ones are on the market), knowing that each skating session would be brief (around 10 minutes). This allowed them to experience the sensation of gliding on ice and have fun without discomfort.
In conclusion, ice winging offers a unique and exhilarating winter adventure for families and individuals alike. While it requires a combination of ice skating proficiency and wing handling skills, the thrill of gliding across the ice while harnessing the power of the wind is truly unforgettable.
