Snow Kiting

Do you love kites and want to enjoy it come winter time? Snow kiting may just be the sport for you.  Take off and feel the power of the wind push you up the slope.  With this discipline, you will be expected to use big kites to help you travel long distances at a shorter time.  With this, you are able to do some back country, freestyle and big air techniques.

The thing to remember here is that you have to be a skilled skier to be able to do this.  You have to manage both the kite and your body to successfully pull this off.  Do not try to snow kite by yourself, especially if you are not yet that confident in controlling the kite.  You may be surprised by just how much pull a kite will have once it has gained considerable windspeed.  To prevent any serious injury from happening, do practice this sport with care.

Get a kite with a size that is suitable for you.  Do not try the bigger ones first.  Master the craft of snow kiting on a smaller kite before you try the bigger ones.  Then, look for the ideal spot.  The criteria for choosing would be that it’s a snow-covered area and that it is open, with no obstructions that will snag your kite or bump into you.

After you having chosen the right spot, be sure that you have the right wind conditions.  Remember that increases in windspeed would also increase your kite’s power to drag you.  Make sure you have the safe windspeed, where you will enjoy your ride whilst ensuring that you are still have control over your kite.  With the right wind conditions, you may be able to easily travel uphill, without much effort on your part.

Of course, you will also have to learn what to do while you are holding on to the kite and skiing at the same time.  Plus, knowing how to land properly is essential as well.  That said, the best way to learn snow kiting is to take lessons from an experienced snow kiter or from an instructor.

For your equipment, make sure you have a kite – the kind that has a control bar, as this is much easier to control that kites that have handles.  There are a variety of kites in the market – 2-line and 4-line foil kites, depowerable kites, and inflatable kites.  You should also have protective gear such as helmets, harnesses, pads for the elbows, knees and wrists.  Of course, you should not forget to bring your skis.  Telemark skis, alpine skis and snow boards are good options for snow kiting.