Winter festival on Lake Altoona draws large crowd, continues Sunday

The 17-year-old has been racing for about eight years following in the footsteps of her father, Jayme Steindl, who used to race.

Kaylin Steindl races with studded wheels and loves the speed of racing on the ice.

"It's almost like an adrenalin rush," Steindl said.

Steindl said the track was pretty good.

"It is a little slushy," she said.

Craig Melville of Wisconsin Rapids, who races a studded Honda 450cc quad, said the ice conditions were really good Saturday.

"I think the site is great and there are a lot of spectators," he said.

Melville has been racing about six years.

"I just love the speed," he said. "You come up tire to tire and nothing beats that."

Temperatures climbed to the mid-30s Saturday, which helped attendance at Winter Fest, organizers said. This was the first ever Winter Fest and Games sponsored by the Leader-Telegram and Citizens Community Federal.

Brad Windeshausen of Ignition Promotions, who helped promote Winter Fest, said attendance was higher than expected Saturday.

"It is way larger than expected," he said. "We've got well over 1,000 racers and well over 1,000 fishermen. It's a beautiful day."

Winter Fest and Games runs today until about 4:30 p.m. There are ATV and bike ice races, auto ice racing, winter softball as well as music and a disc golf tournament.

Temperatures are scheduled to go down a bit and a little fresh snow may be added, which will freshen the ice and the race track, Windeshausen said.

On Lake Altoona Saturday, parents pulled children on sleds as older children tried their skills at broomball on the ice. The roar of snowmobiles, ATVs and motorcycles filled the air as they raced on the lake. While on other parts of the lake ice fishing ruled as anglers tried their luck to catch a walleye with a $5,000 prize tag.

Mercedes Virnich of Cadott pulled her 3-year-old son Loren Hofer on a sled, swinging him in circles as Loren laughed.

"It is fun," Virnich said of being out on the lake. "I just love watching the little ones race with their motorcycles. That is just adorable."

She hopes it may be a sport her son might want to try one day.

At the broomball court, Sarah Sosebee, 12, of Eau Claire, was trying the sport for the first time.

"It's kind of fun," she said. "I really like the racing though, especially the little kids when they spin out."

Zach Honadel and Josh Kriesel, both of Altoona, played softball on the ice for Rolly's Coach Club of Altoona.

"It is definitely an experience," Honadel said, noting he had never played softball on the ice before. "I was sliding around just like I was a kid again."

Kriesel agreed.

"It is slippery. You've got to pick your steps carefully," he said. "It slows you down a bit."

Kaleb Jackson, 12, of the town of Seymour, has been racing quads with rubber tires for about four years. He likes the rush.

"My goal is to get better," he said.

Some people tried Hammerschlagen, a game of driving nails into a log using the smaller end of a hammer.

"We get carpenters in here they hit the nail two or three times and they are done," said Jacky Desantis, who was running the game to help raise money for United Cerebral Palsy of Northwest Wisconsin. SnowBiz, which raises funds for UCP, is part of the Winter Fest activities.

Gene Amann, campaign director for UCP of West Central Wisconsin, said funds raised will help 800 families affected by disability. A telethon held in conjunction with the event raised more than $169,000.