I flew a Hots in the winter in Minnesnowta. I put skis on the mains and never had a hint of trouble with the tail wheel. I went with skis because the conditions often gave exposed ice on the runway. The wind BLOWS there a lot. I didn't want to bust floats. I did fly it off a lake (frozen) but didn't go back because there were always fishing shacks here and there and the ice there can make ridges that're hidden just under the snow.

The skis were aluminum, and really benefitted from waxing.

The Hots has a very good power loading. It's success was partly a function of that.