Fond Du Lac’s Honored Sturgeon Stampede Goes International in February

The Sturgeon Stampede grew from the wish to continue the time-honored sport of sturgeon spearing into a gathering of friends and family on the ice. The Stampede will celebrate its 26^th year of races and parties on the ice, Thursday, February, 12 through Sunday, February 15, 2015 off the shores of Roosevelt Park on Lake Winnebago. This will be the 10^th year of kiteboarding, wind surfing and kite wing races plus the “Big Air” kiting competition.  In addition, other activities include ice bowling, tetherball, bag toss, an ice bar, heated shelter, music and food.  The bonfire and fireworks will take place after dusk on Friday, February 13.  For a complete schedule go to wissa2015.com.  New events for Saturday morning will be a “Spear the Fatty” Bike Race and “Booty Adventure Obstacle Run” organized by DuTriRun.  For more information contact Gloria West at gloria@dutrirun.com.

For 2015 the Winnebago Association of Kiteboarders, Wind Power Windsurfing Center and the Fond du Lac Area Convention & Visitors Bureau(FACVB) have teamed up to host the World Ice and Snow Sailing Championship (WISSA), Monday, February 9 thru Saturday, February 14.  This thrill seeking silent sport competition will bring international kiteboarding, windsurfing and wing athletes while overlapping with the Sturgeon Stampede.  Everyone is invited to enjoy the races at the same lake location.

The 2015 events will take on an added significance beyond the spearing and Sturgeon Stampede, as in the past, this massive lake can support multiple activities and people with the shared passion for outdoor fun in Fond du Lac. "While the WISSA event will be a first for the 2015 sturgeon season and the Sturgeon Stampede, the world championship races will resemble what we have been doing for  the for the past 10 years," said Dan Deuster, President of the Winnebago Association of Kiteboarders (WAK). " Our group has been hosting the Sturgeon Stampede on the opening weekend of sturgeon spearing for over 25 years, and has entertained  fishermen, spearers, families and silent sport enthusiasts with our activities and festivities. There is nothing better than being on the ice doing what you love."

Media Partner for the event is Action Reporter Media.  The Host Hotel is the Retlaw Plaza Hotel.  Sponsors of the event are Altmeyer Electric, Wind Power Windsurfing Kiting Center.  Partners include: Attitude Sports, Best Buy, Do-It-All Sports Arena, Fred’s Fastrac Sales, Kitewing LLC, Red Bull, Sunset on the Water Grill & Bar, Joe Stoppleworth and Trademark Builders. Supporters include; Attitude Sports, Fondy Sports Park and Whealan Towing.  Friends of WISSA2015 are MW Tighe Roofing, Dale Jenkins and Jeff Kritziger.  Vendor Sponsors include; Fish Lake Iceboards, Kiteriders, LLC, Ozone, Naish and Nobile.  For information about sponsorship contact Dan Deuster at info@wakkiteboarding.com or call 920-960-9676.

 “Our community is poised to celebrate winter in the grand style of a big party for our locals and visitors.  To add to the excitement of Sturgeon Stampede we will welcome competitors from all over the U.S., Canada and Europe” said Craig Molitor, President/CEO of FACVB.  “C’mon in.  This is a great opportunity for everyone to enjoy winter, celebrate the sturgeon spearing season, witness a World Championship, enjoy multiple outdoor activities and experience the vast, wonderful Lake Winnebago. For more information about the events go to wissa2015.com.  See you on the ice!’”

Fond du Lac, Wisconsin is located one and a half hours north of Milwaukee at the foot of Lake Winnebago.  The Fond du Lac Convention & Visitors Bureau is the destination marketing organization that promotes Fond du Lac area as an overnight destination for groups, businesses, and the leisure visitors, thereby enhancing the local economy. For more information go to fdl.com or call 920-923-3010.