02/10/2019
Memphremagog Ice Skating Festival in 2019 has been CANCELLED.
Kingdom Skaters,
I was out on the ice today after the thaw, to check things out. I have decided to cancel this year's planned Ice Skating Festival. The surface ice conditions are inconsistent and I do not have the equipment and resources to "tame" the ice between now and the first weekend in March.
I value this skating community and the friendships I have formed on this quite remarkable journey. We have had some truly epic days on the ice, the oval, the trails and the Great Skate the length of the lake. This may be the last year.
I will be exploring ways to re-group. A non profit Ice Skating corporation that can get grants and donations for necessary equipment and a core of volunteers to maintain trails and ovals. Sponsors to help cover the fixed costs. But, as you know, natural ice is a tricky business. And, we do not have a local ice skating community established to provide a base for this effort.
If we are able to consider hosting an event next year, it will be on the weekend of February 15-16, or 22-23, 2020. I am open to suggestions of dates that work best.
Some MSI members, Neal Hundt, Gaetan Rochette, John Ambrose, and Rejean Blais, have signed on to ride The Moose in June, a 103 or 66 mile ride on some great, "car hungry" and recently repaved roads. Hope you'll consider joining Team MSI for a great ride. www.kingdomgames.co
All my best and thanks for the friendship and support over the years.
Phil and the Clubhous Gang