Ever wish you could snowboard wherever you wanted, even across snow-covered fields and frozen lakes buried in powder? What about the hills further up further down? With the power of a kiteboarding kite and 10 mph wind or more, you can do it. Snowkiting is the new sport par excellence for lovers of powder snow, freestylers and wakeboarders. Combining all the elements of snowboarding with many of those of wakeboarding plus the freedom of backcountry snowmobile access, snowkiting takes winter to the next level.

The kites used in kiteboarding are controlled by the bar held by the riders. Similar to the towline on waterskiing and wakeboarding, but with a few additions, the kite control bar directs the kite to pull in the direction the rider wants to go, as well as controlling how hard the rider pulls. the kite. And with just a little over 10mph wind and the right kite, the kites power is incredible. Capable of taking riders over 50 mph and over 50 feet in the air, they have all the power of a high-performance snowmobile, dirt bike or jet ski, at their fingertips.

Sowkiting was first employed for arctic exploration, by intrepid adventurers using the power of the kite to tow them on skis or sleds across vast expanses of tundra and ice packs, searching for unknown points or attempting to set record speeds for crossing. the frozen north Since the late 1990s, windsurfers and adrenaline junkies have pushed the development of more versatile and maneuverable kites with precise steering capability and power control, plus relaunch and safety features to bring kites back to life. to fly after a crash. Although much of the progression of kitesurfing equipment and the sport took place on the water, snowboarders and skiers have taken these kites to the snow and opened up a whole new world of terrain and riding possibilities. Snowkiting has now progressed to the point where powder chasers can fly at 30+ mph on flat ground in waist deep snow, pulling huge mountain-like turns, freestylers and wakeboarders can pull off all the tricks of wake of the book in hardpack, more explosion. both up and down, or launch hundreds of feet into the air off slopes or cliffs using the kite as a parachute on the way down.

Snowkiting is best learned on flat, open terrain where riders can learn to use the kite to pull them and develop their kite handling skills. A lesson or two is essential considering that kites can pull hundreds of horsepower. Once experienced, almost any type of condition and terrain is fair game, from areas as small as football fields, to snow-covered farmlands, frozen lakes, vast rural areas, and even some ski resorts where separate space for snow lovers.

Snow lovers can ride skis or snowboards and usually pack at least 2 kites of different sizes to accommodate various wind conditions. The smaller kites are used in strong winds and the larger kites in light winds. Although they are huge in the sky, kites are small and easily fit two in a backpack. With kites in a bag and a snowboard in the luggage rack, it’s easy to travel with kite gear. Of course, it’s unfortunate that there’s no $18 bowl of chili at the end of the ride, but endlessly hopping up and down for hours is a lot more fun than freezing on a wind-blown chairlift.