Winter Sports
What about Winter sports?
Matchbook and Menu Cover, Laconia Tavern, 1930’s.
Of course, there are new winter sports popular today that were unknown in the 1930’s, such as snowmobiling. And one of the most popular winter sports today, ice fishing, was certainly around in the 1930’s, but was not mentioned on the matchcover.
Laconia also has three outdoor rinks:
1) at Memorial Park, on the baseball field’s parking lot
2) at Leavitt Park, on the basketball court
3) at Opechee Park, on the actual lake in the Cove area (but only when the ice is at least 12″ thick).
Gilford has the covered outdoor Gilford Ice Rink on Varney Point Road in Gilford.
During the winter, Lake Winnipesaukee freezes solid enough that people do drive heavy vehicles across the ice. The practice can be dangerous, and extreme caution should be used, as almost every winter, vehicles do fall into the lake, sometimes with tragic consequences. Many snowmobilers like to ride the frozen ice of Lake Winnipesaukee, but there is no legal access to the Lake in the area of Weirs Beach, as the public beach is now fenced off in the winter, precisely to prevent such access. This is a matter of public safety, as the ice in the vicinity of the beach is very thin, due to the turbulence of the nearby Weirs Channel, the outlet from the Lake.
Snowmobilers need to keep on the State Snowmobile Trail (the railroad tracks) as they pass through the boardwalk area of Weirs Beach. The Weirs Beach boardwalk is fenced off in the winter, for its protection. Lakeside Avenue is also off-limits. The City of Laconia has not authorized snowmobiles to operate on any of its sidewalks or roads.
This is a photo of the 1969 Kawartha Cup race held at Bryar Motorsport Park. Click here to enlarge.