Ice Rescue Demonstration and Practice - RSVP - Sunday, March 29, 2026

[Daniel Spada]

Ice Rescue Demonstration and Practice (RSVP HERE)

Purpose:

1.    Show ice users (i.e. skaters, fishermen) the gear required to facilitate self-rescue or rescue by peers or a professional team.

2.    Provide ice users (i.e. skaters, fishermen) the opportunity to practice self-rescue and peer rescue techniques.

When:  Sunday, March 29, 2026, 11:30am-2:30pm (end time pending on number of participants)

Where:  Lake Flower Boat Launch at Pontiac Bay, Saranac Lake, NY.  https://maps.app.goo.gl/69GN6Ce3zChw3Bxr6

Who:  Open to all ice users (including skaters and fishermen) and anyone interested in reducing their risk while recreating on wild ice. RSVP here.

What: Participants will have the ability to practice self-rescue and team rescue during this event. No gear will be provided for liability reasons. Bring the gear you would be using and clothes you would be wearing during your typical wild ice outing. Bring items you would benefit from after a “cold plunge” (blanket, change of clothes, hot chocolate, etc).

Description:  This event will be divided into three parts with an optional Apres-Rescue Social)

1.    “Show and tell” and discussion of the gear ice users should ideally have when venturing out on wild ice to test ice, self-rescue if necessary, aid in the rescue of others and facilitate emergency rescue team efforts.  Much of the gear for Nordic skaters is also appropriate for other ice users.

2.    Experienced Nordic skaters (Dan Spada, Justin Oliver (owner of Silver Birch Cycles), and others) will demonstrate self-rescue techniques using ice claws and throw ropes.

3.    Participants will be able to practice ice self-rescue in a controlled environment after signing a waiver and having their gear inspected.

 

Apres-Rescue Social at RiverTrail Beerworks with the organizers and fellow ice enthusiasts from 2:30-4pm. Food and beverages for purchase at the venue.

Disclaimer

This event is meant to provide information that has been gathered via reading, the internet, collegial discussion and practical experience.  We hope that by presenting it participants will gain a better appreciation of safety equipment and its use, respect for the environment in which they recreate, and techniques to reduce risk on wild ice to individually acceptable levels. 

[Daniel Spada]

Dear Ice Colleagues,

The ice self-rescue demonstration and practice that we had initially scheduled for this weekend has been canceled. There are several reasons including liability issues and scheduling conflicts.  While we think we can safely practice rescue techniques with a niche subset of people, we are not currently equipped to provide a safe environment for a broader set of participants.  We hope to continue to work with the local authorities to develop a suitable and safe program for all participants.   Safety is paramount. 

Don’t give up hope.  View it more as a postponement than a cancellation.  We will plan better, collaborate more and present a more comprehensive and likely safer program in the future.  Until then we direct you to:

Dr. Gordon Geisbrecht video here: https://youtu.be/Wz3gy5XyaBo

Videos from the 2024 demonstration session here: https://youtu.be/IGkc6dT48RA?si=9ya-MvS328NRlgli

https://youtu.be/_8FsgNeXZhQ?si=t2J2PZkptLVPvEeD

https://youtu.be/QaO40ym7H_A?si=8-H4Dv3F3ttn2xYw

These won’t substitute for real-life practice but will help you understand cold water immersion physiology and visualize aspects of the self-rescue process.

We’re very sorry for any inconvenience this cancellation may cause you.  But we will be back and better.

Respectfully,

Dan, Chi, Rob, Kitty and Justin

Silver Birch Cycles and Sk802

[JoAnn Berns]

Dear Dan, Chi, Rob, Kitty and Justin,

Thank you for this update.  While it's disappointing for you and participants that the event won't happen as planned, thank you for all you've done to try to bring it to fruition for this year, and for your intention to create a safe opportunity in the future.  These activities can take much more planning and behind the scenes effort than may be evident for all the pieces to come together.   

Great collection of video links, too.  

With appreciation,

Jo

---

From: nhnordi...@googlegroups.com <nhnordi...@googlegroups.com> on behalf of Daniel Spada <spada...@gmail.com>
Sent: Tuesday, March 24, 2026 12:03 PM
To: ADKNordicSkating <adknordi...@googlegroups.com>; VTNordicskating <vtnordi...@googlegroups.com>; NHNordicSkating <nhnordi...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: Re: Ice Rescue Demonstration and Practice - RSVP - Sunday, March 29, 2026

 

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[Elizabeth Lee]

I second Dr. Jo's appreciation. I know how much goes into the logistics and planning for outdoor training and appreciate that you were (are) willing to make it happen when it makes sense. Thank you for laying the foundation. I look forward to another shot at attending.  

Elizabeth

[Jamie Hess]

It's sad to hear the Saranac Lake event has been canceled. Thanks to
all the organizers for working so hard to make it happen.

New Hampshire skaters would be happy to host a substitute ice safety
and rescue workshop at Lake Sunapee this Sunday at 11:30am, with an
optional wild skating tour preceding the workshop.

What will the workshop cover? You can learn a lot about self-rescue
and peer rescue without anyone going into the water. (That said, if
someone volunteers to jump in and get wet, and we can find a hole big
enough to jump into, watching and participating in an in-the-water
rescue will be even more instructive.)

Have you ever tried tossing a throw rope across the ice to someone?
Did it land close enough for them to reach it? Have you stuffed the
rope back into the bag in the proper way so it's ready for its next
use?

Have you used ice claws to slide across the ice on your stomach? Have
you reinserted the claws into their holster without getting the
strings into a hopeless tangle? Practice these skills and they'll be
instinctive behavior that you can perform without hesitation in an
emergency.

We'll also use ice testing poles to gauge the strength of the ice, and
practice picking up visual cues from the ice color and texture to
decide where to test. The ice should be rapidly softening around noon,
so it will be the perfect time to observe how quickly it loses
strength. I'm hoping we can also witness how black ice and gray ice
deteriorate at different rates under different conditions.

Thanks to the proximity of the Mount Sunapee ski area, there are
plenty of venues available for an apres-skate social. The Flying Goose
brewpub in New London is always a good choice, but there are lots of
others.

If you're interested in attending Sunday, please message me privately
- DO NOT 'reply to all' as it will clog hundreds of skaters' inboxes.
I'll need to know how many people are coming, in order to make sure
there's enough parking.

Thanks and happy skating,
Jamie