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Originally Posted by boardcanada
Hey,
Found kiteboarding on the internet about a week ago, and I can't stop thinking and researching the sport. I am glad just to have found this forum to ask some questions I am uncertain of.
Before I get into the sport or consider buying any gear, I will be taking lessons. From what I have read so far, the forum deals mostly with kitesurfing. I would love to do kitesurfing, but unfortunately, central Canada is not the best place to do so. But when I heard of kitesnowboarding, I knew I wanted to get involved.
Main questions would be:
1) When buying the kite for kitesnowboarding, what kind of kite would you recommend? I am also considering trying out some lessons on the lakes next summer, so I also wanted to know if certain kites can double up for both the winter and summer sports?
2) When you are on a lack kite surfing, do you plan on not coming back to your launching point? For example, if you are kayaking down a river, you plan your exit further down the river, so do you do the same for kite surfing - planning to end up at some other part of the lake?
3) Side question, any one know of any good kitesnowboarding spots in the Alberta area up in Canada?
Sorry for the lenght of all of this. All responses are greatly appreciated. I will be buying a smaller trainer kite some this week to practice some kite control.
Dominic
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Hello Dominic,
Sadly, you may find the snow kiting experience in Florida and on this forum to be a bit lacking. I have taken kites to the mountains on and off for 7 years but have yet to try it?! I need a big cornfield in Minnesota I think instead of alpine cliffs.
Anyway, there are some good snow kiteboarding instructors out there. I would wait to take lessons before worrying much about what type and size kites to buy. Snow kiting is similar in some ways to the water variety and yet quite different in others. Just as in water kitesurfing you need different kite sizes as a function of wind, you need this in snow kiting to some degree. However the surface conditions factor in as well. For instance I am told deep power is the most similar to water in power requirements. Hard pack requires less kite power and ice even less than that. Some guys are indifferent to helmets and impact protection in water kiting, a mistake in my view. From what I have heard use of these and even more padding is fairly common in snowkiting. One area where water kiting may be further ahead than snow kiting is in weather planning. Squalls occur in snow just like they do in warmer times over the water. There was a sad case of a snowkiter being killed at Alberta Beach a while back in a severe weather event. More about this at:
http://fksa.org/viewtopic.php?t=405
Anyway, regarding instructors you could interview:
http://www.kitesource.com/
http://www.rockymountainkiting.com/
http://www.kitesource.ca/contact.htm
http://www.mullerwindsports.com/feb05/links.htm#ozone
I don't know this outfits so you will need to interview them for course content, goals, etc..
I think Ozone Kites does an extensive winter race series across Canada and the USA in the winter which would be worth checking into for instructional opportunities as well.
I know in some alpine lakes in Europe guys do downwinders stopping for lunch, dinner, etc. along the way as they tour the coast of the lakes. I imagine snowkiters do downwinders just like the water variety with the same attendant logistical issues, i.e. how to get back.
I understand there are a LOT of good riding areas in the snows of Alberta but I would still say to check in with the best area instructor you can find in that regard.
Good luck!