I always get the twintip, sometimes I use my ice spud to break a path so I can body drag out to the h2o.SaulOhio wrote:
But when there is ice out, but with big holes in it, or ice near the shoreline but open water farther out,
It is incredibly painful when you are kiting along at 20-30mph on thin ice and it breaks under you and you slam into the water and these thick panes of ice wedge up under you as you crash into them busting up your ribs and legs. You will be sore for days after a crash like that. So now I make it a habit when the ice is thin hit the water only. But it's ok for doing the water to ice transition from time to time in a snowboard + wetsuit.
Get friends to help you make a path thru the ice, it is so tiring bashing a path to the water if you do it yourself.