Monona ice boater Doug Kolner thought this year's cold start to winter, meant they were in for a great season.

Then, something happened.

"Well, December came," said Kolner.

2006 was the warmest year ever recorded in the United States and that meant a lot less ice for ice boaters.

Even now, ten days into January, ice is just starting to form on Lake Monona.

"We had to postpone anything we were hoping to do," said Kolner, "we're ever optimistic, so we'll just wait for the arctic blast to come."

And that blast is finally coming.

"There's going to be a big dose of snow probably Sunday into Monday," said NBC 15's David George, "then it gets really cold and that's when the ice is going to form."

David George says it might have taken a while to arrive, but winter is definitely on its way.

And he says the good news for ice boaters, is that winter isn't going anywhere, any time soon, either.

"There might be that late January thaw that we typically get," said George, "but I certainly would expect a probably ten to 14 day period of maybe sub-zero lows and maybe teens to low 20's for highs."

With negative numbers in the forecast, those who've been enjoying the spring-like January we've been having are in for a cold reality in the coming days.

But for those who love winter in Wisconsin like it used to be, the party is about to begin.

"There are plenty of people with their boat on the trailer, getting ready to go," said Kolner, "hoping for the deep freeze to come."