Snowkiting

[iancl]

Does Anyone know about Snowkiting near Canberra? Is there anywhere to do it at any ski resorts like Thredbo or something?

Ian

[markp]

Does Anyone know about Snowkiting near Canberra? Is there anywhere to do it at any ski resorts like Thredbo or something?

Ian

Check out:
http://www.windsurfing.org/freesail.htm
This issue of freesail has got info on snowkiting in oz. Could be worth getting it, or emailing them.

[goshen]

Yes, both Thedbo and Perisher are good for snowkiting.

I haven't been to iether, but Mike Walker from Sydney has. He's organising an event/comp for the first week in September, at Thredbo.

Stay tuned for more info.

Goshen

[iancl]

I've missed this winter holiday by going to england but next year i'll go down to one of them and have a try.
I'm quite a good skier so i could probably do kiteskiing but i think kitesnowboarding would probably be better, more fun and easier. Should be easy enough, i mountainboard, skateboard and surf although i have never snowboarded. Any thoughts?

Ian

[Robecq]

I'm off to Mt Bullar on Monday for the day if anyone is interested. I'm taking 3 kites up and am just having a go.
Goshen, do you have any more info on the snowkite comp in thredbo?
Pete

[goshen]

Sorry, no more info just yet. I'll try and find out soon.

Please let me know how you go at Buller. I don't beleive there is any room there to do it (too many lift in the way), and you might get kicked off the mountain. But it would be great if there was good spot - let me know.

For those interested, check out the following news item at the Kite Power website. It's got a slideshow and some video of snowkiting at Hotham.

http://www.kitepower.com.au/news/images/full_news2.asp?mode=shownews&id=132

Cheers all!
Goshen

PS - For the record, if you're better at skiing, it is way easier to use a kite and skis, than a kite and snowboard.

[iancl]

I was invited to go snowboarding at thredbo this weekend but don't have any gear, still don't have my kite yet and was doing other things already. That was probably my last chance this year for snowkiting. There's also been really good wind resently in Canberra and I don't have my Blade III yet!
I don't know where Buller is. And if you think it's unlikely to be good then I'd prefer to go to Thredbo or Perisher anyway.

Ian

[iancl]

I just watched your video Goshen. I never dreamed of it being that good!!! What Blade were you flying? I can't tell for sure from the video the kite's a bit crumpled where it says the size and i can't tell if it's red or orange. I'd guess it's a 4.0 but it looks too big.

Another thing, what wind were you flying in? At Thredbo would the best place to fly be near the top or bottom?

Thanks

Ian

[iancl]

Sorry I'm a bit slow, that's a MkII isn't it. I don't know those very well but I just watched the new Mountainboard clip at dogrocks and guess it's a 7.8m? Do you think (anyone), that I will be able to get such floaty, long, high jumps on a 4.0m Mk III?

Still havn't found any very good places to fly in Canberra. But those videos have encouraged me to get out on my kite (when it arrives, still no news) and board.

Ian

[aussiewalrus]

has to be said goshen, considering the large number of absolutely awsome photos you have got there, you probably picked the 2 worst ones to put in the news section :D

Looks incredible and lots of fun

[goshen]

has to be said goshen, considering the large number of absolutely awsome photos you have got there, you probably picked the 2 worst ones to put in the news section :D

Looks incredible and lots of fun

Ok, but I had to save the best ones for the slide show. The two pics are to just to give people a taste. You clicked through didn't you?

And Ian,

It was a 7.8 Blade II (and 9.5 Frenzy other times) on the Vid, but some pics are with the 4.9 Blade. The wind varied from 15+ knots in the morning to a steady 10-12 knots in the arvo. Perfect conditions.

I haven't been to Thredbo, so really couldn't tell you where the best spots are, but it is my understanding that you have to get a chair to the top, in order to access the plateau behind it.

A 4m kite will still give you big jumps in stonger winds (or even not so strong for you :wink: ), but still not as floaty as the bigger kites will give you. I can't wait to try the 8.5 Mk III in the snow, as I no longer have the 7.8.

Cheers, Goshen

[aussiewalrus]

yep, clicked through and watched the vid too. Very impressive. I'd love to have a go some time but I cant snowboard, to probably have to do it with skis or snowblades.

[Robecq]

I made it back alive from Mt Buller on Monday night. I got a 3m kite up, moments later a 40 knot squall flew up the side of the mountain. It made for a few very scary moments. There isn't a large area to do it, but in the right wind there is a nice area just to the right of the main chair lifts (blue bullet2). A nice place to show off to crowds. i wasn't hassled by the resort management (although I didn't fly for very long), and I convinced a snowboard instructor to come with me. I just went over to a group of them and asked if any of them knew of snowkiting and any good places to fly. Several seemed very keen and didn't think I would get hassled. all in all a great day but hopefully less wind next time.
Pete

[schmik]

Goshen... Nice Video!! That looks absolutely awsome. When you do get some info on the Thredbo comp please let us know.

cheers
schmik

[Robecq]

Goshen, Any news on the Thredbo snowkiting next month?