Top 3 International Shenanigans on Ice

3) Ice Sailing: started in Poland, it's by no means new. Ice sailing has been used for transportation since the 17th century, but it's definitely faster now than it was then. Chuck Nevitt holds the record at 150mph, clocked at a race on Lake Winnebago.
Also available in New Jersey!

2) Swedish Ice Hotel
As the 1st commercial ice hotel, it's been rebuilt every winter since 1990. Its latest reincarnation is 5,500 sq meters, a far cry from their first 60 sq meter igloo. They have some pretty amazing activities too, including ice sculpting classes, reindeer sled rides, and northern lights tours on horseback.


1) Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival
This annual, month-long event is held in Harbin of Northeastern China. 1/5 - 2/5, 2012 marks it's 27th anniversary. Buildings and slides are all ice!

Bike the US of A

"The best way to start a cross-country bicycle trip is to pretend you're not doing it." That's the best advice Calvin Woodward has to offer, at least. Not exactly the inspiration I was looking for.

The closest I've come to this kind of journey was when I drove across part of the country with a bike. I threw it in as an afterthought and rode around in happy circles in pretty parks. There was one serious ride: Dante's Peak. It's 13 miles of climbing 3,500 feet on a steadily increasing incline. I was dying by mile 11, and by 13 I was going so slowly my bike just tipped over. I walked the last quarter mile, obliviously stepped over a rattlesnake, and took in the amazing view at the top.

Fortunately, quite a few groups have completed the entire 3,000+ mile journey and blogged about it. Here's "Nathan and Kelli Bike Across America!", "We're really doing it", and "Judy's Journal".

There's even the Race Across America (RAAM), which will start in June, 2012 for the 31st time. Instead of taking a few months, soloists often take only 8 days. Teams ride 350-500 miles a day, while soloists ride 250-350, and are given 12 days max to finish.

Regardless of how many miles you have in your legs, the RAAM decision making section has some great pointers on how to deal with a racer who says "I have to have a pickle or I'm quitting." Also applicable to toddlers.

Happy Riding!

Candola down New River

"When you build crazy boats, and somehow they float, that's Candola!", or at least that's how the over-caffeinated geniuses at Red Bull put it.

This hilarious, disastrous competition encourages brave teams of 3 to construct and propel homemade boats down a 1/3-mile course, no motors allowed. If you don't know anything about boat-building, you qualify!

To properly prepare for victory or the swim to shore, teams have 30 seconds to perform a skit beforehand. Win the coveted cup, possibly made from recycled cans, with a sassy dance, stylish craft, and a fast crew.

When: April 14th, 2012. 10am - 3pm.

Where: New River in Fort Lauderdale, FL

Qualifications: Boat must float, at least for a little while.

The inaugural 2011 Candola included teams like the "Italian Stallions," who handed out mustaches, the "Techno Vikings," who won, and a crew that didn't make it to the finish line on their sinking air mattress.

This video is worth watching, and you can enter the competition here. Only 30 teams get to compete, but anyone else can come to this event for free.