Intro Guide to Kite-Snowboarding

BRONEAH INTRO TO KITE SNOWBOARDING:

Make it happen this winter!! Get outside and learn to Kite Snowboard. It is simple, fun, and safe. Kite Snowboarding is a great family sport and an inexpensive alternative to skiing or snowboarding. Read the info below and learn all there is to know about getting started on the snow.

EQUIPMENT:
KITES: In kite snowboarding one of the largest issues is what type of kite to use a Leading Edge Inflatable (LEI) or a Foil kite. This debate can go on and on, but the fact of the matter is that both kites work great. You have pros and cons to both styles of kites, we will look a bit further into each type.

LEI: Leading Edge Inflatable kites are the kites most of us already use on the water. These kites also work great in the snow. The fact that you are using the same exact kite in the snow and in the water allows you to get very comfortable with the performance of your kites. You can use your LEI for a full season in the snow and expect the same performance and response when you make the transition back to the water. This is a huge advantage and will defiantly make you more comfortable with your kites and how they fly.

FOIL: Foil kites are another great option for the snow. One of the greatest things about the foil is that you do not need to pump it up! The kites are also very durable and can take some hard crashes on the snow. Most foils are very easy to de power and re launch, which makes them fast and easy to use. The main issue with foils is that they are typically not the kites you use in the water. This means you have to adjust your riding style to the kite. If you already own LEI kites your really do not need to purchase another set of foils for the snow, but if you plan on getting into the sport for the winter only Foils can be a really good, cheap option for you.

PICKING THE PROPER SIZE: In the winter time the wind can be much different than in the summer, leaving you guessing on which size kite to rig. Winter time wind tends to be best described as “Dense”, the wind is very full. Meaning with a light steady breeze you will be powered up. Due to this “Dense” wind you will typically be using a smaller kite in the winter than you would in the same wind in the summer. Also there is very little resistance between you and the snow allowing you to ride with much less power. When first headed out to a new kite snowboarding spot rig small and test the conditions.

BOARDS: Many people that get into kite snowboarding already have experience snowboarding and know what type of board they prefer on the hill. For kite snowboarding conditions your preference may change depending on the conditions you will be riding in. For most conditions you will want to pick a board that is long, wide, and stiff. A board that is long enough for your size (i.e. 160cm for a 5’10″ person) with enough base to get you through the rough stuff, remember with kite snowboarding you are not riding on nice groomed conditions like on the slopes. A board that is wide will allow you to edge hard and not have to worry about heel drag. If your board is to skinny and your heels or toes are hanging off either end you will find yourself catching them in the snow. A stiff board allows you to edge hard and hold your edge even through the harder areas. On a flexible board you will find your legs getting worn out very fast working hard to hold your edge.

BINDINGS: Many snowboarders know what type of bindings they like to ride, but for kite snowboarding things can be different. Remember you now have to control your kite and put your board on at the same time. With standard ratchet bindings this can be a difficult task when it’s blowing 20 and snowing hard. Even though they may not be your favorite on the hill “Click in” bindings might save you tons of time and energy kite snowboarding. Once you launch your kite all you need to do is step in and you’re cruising. “Step in” bindings also work great for when you need to make those fast exits off of your board. If you’re using a LEI kite with no re launching attachments then you will find yourself having to get out of your board to re launch the kite, making “Step Ins” even more attractive.

CLOTHING: One of the most important things to remember for kite snowboarding is that you will freeze your ass off getting rigged, but be sweating bullets five minutes into your session. This leaves you with a difficult balance between what is too much or to little. You may want to throw on an extra jacket and warm mittens while you’re getting rigged and ditch them before you head out for your session. There are a few very important aspects of the clothing you chose to kite snowboarding in.

PANTS: First off is your pants. It is worth the extra investment to get into a nice pair of bibs. These are snow pants that have a connected bib on them that straps up around your shoulders. You will end up being dragged face first in the snow and there is nothing worse then standing up with your crotch full of hard packed snow. Get a bib, you will have a much better session.

GLOVES: Secondly is to find the right gloves. Having your hands be warm and toasty in huge pair of mittens is nice, but does not work great on the performance end of things. You pretty much want to choose a pair of gloves that will keep you just warm enough with minimal size. Try to pick a pair of gloves that are very low profile yet keep you hands dry. This can take some testing, but once you find the right pair you will be happy.

PROTECTIVE GEAR: Most important thing with kite snowboarding clothing is what is under the clothes. Typically is it better to have more than less. Rummage through your garage and find some old skateboarding pads and motocross knee braces and throw them on. There is nothing worse then starting off your season with a huge elbow or knee bruise that will continue to bother you the rest of the season. The more padding you can find the better. And most importantly never go kite snowboarding without a helmet. Maybe you don’t wear a helmet in the water but the snow is much harder. Just wear a helmet, it will keep your lid warm also!

TECHNIQUE:
So now that you have the gear to head out lets work on some technique. For any kiteboarder who is just progressing in the sport and has had their first few rides in on the water will be blown away by how easy kite snowboarding is. Even for advanced riders working on touching up surface handle pass tricks, hitting sliders, kickers, and even kite loops will love the snow. Kite snowboarding allows you to fully focus on your body position and technique without having to worry about the next wave breaking or losing power and sinking down into the water.

STAYING UPWIND: If you’re still doing the downwind walk of shame in the water and have been busting your ass working to learn how to edge hard enough to finally stay upwind all your hard work will be put together on the snow. Many riders will really make the next step in their riding ability by spending a season on the snow. Riding upwind and focusing on your edging technique is so much easier when you’re already on the surface. In kite snowboarding it is almost hard to go downwind!

PROGRESSION: If you’re already a proficient rider on the water and can stay upwind all day long but looking to add a few more tricks to the bag over the winter then kite snowboarding will do just that. Learn how to ride toe side and to make different transitions that you were never before able to do in the water. Or if your looking to get your first airs hold your edge and send the kite, you will be amazed at how easy it is on the snow.

GETTING TECHNICAL: One of the best aspects of the snow is the potential for practicing your surface handle passes, riding blind, and hitting sliders and kickers. Being on a hard surface allows you to learn how to move your weight around and learn to grab the correct side of the bar on your passes. Going blind in the water can be difficult for many but once again the hard surface of the snow will allow you to practice this body position and focus on how to rotate your body and still hold a strong edge.

Its time to forget about taking a short ride down the mountain, hitting one crowded slider, and getting on the chairlift. With kite snowboarding you can hit the same slider over and over all day long without ever having to stop. Same goes for the kicker that you and your buddies spent the entire morning building.

WHERE TO KITE:
Kite snowboarding opens up the amount of places to ride dramatically. Not all those smaller inland lakes become powder covered dreamlands. The farmer’s field you drive by on the way to work becomes a kite snowboarding park full of sliders, kickers, and rolling hills to launch off of. All the worries about crowded beaches and small launches are no longer present.

Kite snowboarding spots can range dramatically in terrain and location. The first thing you need to look for in any spot is if it gets clean wind. Remember that in the winter time there are no leaves on the trees allowing the wind to blow through much cleaner than in the summer, which opens up new spots. Some of the best spots might be the same spots you ride in during the summer time, as long as it freezes over and a good base of snow develops on top you can expect clean, steady wind.

Also some of the smaller inland lakes that get good wind but have no launches are now frozen over with enough room for 30 kiters. For frozen lakes the main things you want to watch for is number one thick ice. Ask the local ice fishermen how the ice is, they typically have a good understanding of the conditions. Next is a nice base of snow. You do not want to head out on a frozen lake that has glare ice spots or just a dusting of snow over solid ice. The ultimate base for a lake is 12-20 inches of ice, topped with 4-8 inches of hard crusty snow, topped with 6-12 inches of thick powder! This allows you to edge hard without scraping on the ice.

For some of those fields you pass on the way to work it’s a good idea to check them out during the summer months to see what exactly is on the land. Are there some random rocks, posts, or hard objects on the land? These types of things all get covered over by a minimum of 3 inches of snow. The nice thing about riding on frozen lakes is that you know that nothing is under the snow but ice. So be very careful about riding on land, talk with the land owner to make sure you know about what may be under the snow. Once again the more base you have the better, without much base you will be edging right into the ground.

5 TIPS FOR SNOW KITEBOARDING:
1. Dress with enough gear to be warm while rigging but not hot while riding.
2. Wear plenty of protective gear including knee and elbow pads, helmet, goggles, and even knee braces if you have them.
3. Choose a board that is long, wide, and stiff.
4. Rig a smaller kite than you typically would in the summer.
-If riding on the ice make sure that there is a thick base of ice, if riding on land make sure that the surface is free of hard objects that may be under the snow.
5. Try to use a kite that has some type of re launching feature on it.

Here are some troubleshooting thoughts to consider before heading out:
Self Launching: This can easily be done in the snow. If you have a kite that has some form of re-launching feature than just use it. If not you can rig up your own fifth line setup easily on any kite. Or if you don’t want to deal with the hassle of putting on the extra lines just fill a pillow case or small bag full or sand. Take this with you and place it on your wingtip the same as you would on the beach.

Self Rescue: Same rules apply in the winter as in the summer, that is don’t go out any further than you would want to walk back in. One of the advantages of kite snowboarding is that if you do break down you can just pack your gear up and walk in.

LEI Re-launch: One issue with LEI kites in the snow is that they can be difficult to re launch. There is such little resistance between your leading edge and the snow it makes it hard for the kite to flip on its back for a snow re-launch. This is where some of the new advancements in LEI that have an additional re launching feature are great. Systems such as the Recon and fifth line allow you to easily get the kite off of the snow without any issues.

Pumping up LEI’s: One of the worst parts about LEI kites is pumping them up in the snow. When its blowing 20 knots and the wind chill is 0, pulling your fingers out of you gloves to pinch valves can leave you frozen. Having a kite that has stopper balls and one way valves makes this process much simpler. Some of the new inflations systems that fill all the struts at once are wonderful in the snow. If you plan on getting multiple sessions in during a given week it may even be a good idea to just leave your struts inflated, or inflate them inside before getting out to the riding spot.