Braving the Polar Vortex on the Ice of Lake Michigan

Cold temperatures didn't stop one Chicagoan from training

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When Patrick Ozner, 28, of Chicago, Illinois, booked a split boarding trip to Montana for the fourth year in a row, he knew he needed to get in some training for the enduring vert he would face. Living in Chicago isn't necessarily the best place to train for the mountains, especially when there’s a polar vortex with temperatures ranging anywhere from -20 to -50 degrees Fahrenheit. But some cold weather wasn't going to stop him. He strapped up along the lakefront and made his way around the shoreline.
(Mike Killion)

When Chicago resident Patrick Ozner, 28, booked his fourth annual splitboarding trip to Montana, he knew he needed to log some training for the big-mountain days ahead. Chicago isn’t necessarily the best place to train for rugged terrain, especially when there’s a polar vortex with temperatures dropping to minus 50 degrees. But the extra-cold weather wasn’t going to stop Ozner. He strapped in and skied along the shoreline of Lake Michigan.

Ozner treks out in fresh snow at 63rd Street Beach, Chicago.
(Mike Killion)

Ozner trekked out in fresh snow at 63rd Street Beach.

Ozner explores the frozen pier at 31st Street Beach, where there’s still some open water here despite the frigid air temps. The water sits at about 33 degrees.

Exploring the frozen pier at 31st Street Beach, where there was still some open water despite the frigid air. 

At 31st Street Beach, the trees take on ice from the freezing spray of wind and waves of Lake Michigan.
(Mike Killion)

At 31st Street Beach, the trees ice over from the freezing spray of Lake Michigan.

He navigates the channels of 63rd Street Beach, covered in ice ball formations that were pushed in from Lake Michigan.
(Mike Killion)

Ozner navigated the channels of 63rd Street Beach, covered in ice-ball formations that were pushed in from Lake Michigan.

Ozner makes his way around Montrose Beach on the north side with a view of the skyline.
(Mike Killion)

Next he made his way around Montrose Beach, on the north side of the city, with a view of the skyline.

Ozner takes a closer look at the incoming ice on the lake at 63rd Street Beach before continuing south along the frozen lake.
(Mike Killion)

Most Midwesterners were holed up in their homes to wait out the weather, so Ozner had the shoreline to himself. Resting, he took a closer look at the incoming ice on 63rd Street Beach before continuing south along the frozen lake to complete his four-hour training day.

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