PHOTO: Kitewing skiing in the 1930s

The modern kitewing used today on snow and ice has some history. “This picture is of my grandmother, Katharine Summerhayes Beale, ski sailing near Lake George in the 1930s,” shared John Beale. “The same sail was used for skate sailing on the lake. Unlike today’s technology, there was no harness to the sail. Instead, you gripped the frame and leaned into it. Tacking, you held the frame over your head parallel to the snow and then leaned into it on the other tack.”