Snowkiting

Hi all .

I consider myself as intermediate snowboarder, but recently moved to Yellowknife (has a lot of snow but no mountain) so I am going to get everything from the ground up, if you guys can shed some light of whether I am getting the right tools, it will be most appreciated! By the way, I am about 155lb and 5'11 tall.

The average wind speed for Yellowknife is here: http://yellowknife.weatherstats.ca/metr ... speed.html

The followings are what I am thinking to get, please let me know if they serve well for snowkiting purposes (I would to do both freeride and a bit of jump and tricks):
* NEW 2012 DC Judge Snowboard Boots Mens Black Camo Double Boa
* NEW 2011 RIDE MANIC ROCKER SLIMEWALLS MEN TWIN 158 SNOWBOARD
OR
BRAND NEW 2012 NWT BURTON SHERLOCK SNOWBOARD MENS 157 157cm flying V
*Peter Lynn Twister IIR 7.7m Power / Traction Kite New
OR
Prism Tensor 5.0 power kite 4-lines bar/handles NEW
* 2012 K2 MEN'S CINCH CTS BINDINGS

Any suggestions of quality products which don't cost an arm and leg will be most welcomed! Thanks.

Hey Guy .... welcome to the forum mate

I am assuming you mean Yellowknife Canada ?

By the way .... the link you posted didn't link

I have zero idea about which board/bindings to advise you on (I don't snowboard) so I'll leave it for others to comment.

.....but I don't believe you are on the right path with your kite choices.
What you want to be looking at is a de-power kite......no question. Look for one that is second hand as a first kite, during your learning curve you will crash the beegeeberz out of it
Either a foil type or a pump up kite.
It will require the addition of a harness .... but in the long run it will be worth it.

Do you have any kite flying experience ?


Marty

Thanks for the advice, I am totally oblivious about de-power kite. Do you know where I can find it? eBay? Which do you recommend for average wind speed about 20-30 km/h area?

The link is here, for some reason it was compressed: http://yellowknife.weatherstats.ca/metr ... speed.html

I have zero kite/power kite flying experience (LOL), but I think I could pick up quickly. Thanks.

Hi Guy,

I'm with JKS, depowers are the go, that's all I ride. My 11 year old son started on the four line fixed briddle kites and has just converted over to depowers and loves them, much safer as well when the gusts come in.

I see you were eyeing out the Peter Lynn kites. I started out with a PL Venom II 13m^2, but use it for landboarding and the water action, it is a depower. For snow kiting (mind you I don't snow kite) they tell me a size down is best. Your 20 to 30 km/hr converts to 11 to 16 knots (most of us think in knots for wind speed). For me that is light to medium strength. I'm guessing for the snow action a 10 m^2 Venom might do the trick for you. They don't make the Venom's any more, but you might be able to pick one up second hand or some old stock from kite shops, oppertunity for a bargain. Their lastest kite is the Charger, I've demoed their 10m^2, turns very fast, nice kite.

There are others to choose from like the Maxtrix and Montana from the HQ people.

Personally I like the all terrain kites, water - land - snow, like the PL Venom, Charger; HQ Matrix; and FlySurfers.

Don't forget the Ozone people, they have kites especially for the snow action, like the Frenzy. Spartan here on the EK can tell you all about them.

Be carefull buying kites from ebay, personally I think you are better off looking in the for sale sections in the various kiting forums, EK has one too.

As for experience, I highly recommend getting some lessons before strapping your self into one of these depowers so you don't hurt your self and/or others. It's well worth it. Probably a good idea to get/hire a trainer kite to get used to how these things steer and where the power zone is. If you go through a kiteshop/school for the lessons they can tee you up with a trainer for the duration of the lessons rather than buying one.

Regards,
Norman.

Hi Guy,

I'm with JKS, depowers are the go, that's all I ride. My 11 year old son started on the four line fixed briddle kites and has just converted over to depowers and loves them, much safer as well when the gusts come in.

I see you were eyeing out the Peter Lynn kites. I started out with a PL Venom II 13m^2, but use it for landboarding and the water action, it is a depower. For snow kiting (mind you I don't snow kite) they tell me a size down is best. Your 20 to 30 km/hr converts to 11 to 16 knots (most of us think in knots for wind speed). For me that is light to medium strength. I'm guessing for the snow action a 10 m^2 Venom might do the trick for you. They don't make the Venom's any more, but you might be able to pick one up second hand or some old stock from kite shops, oppertunity for a bargain. Their lastest kite is the Charger, I've demoed their 10m^2, turns very fast, nice kite.

There are others to choose from like the Maxtrix and Montana from the HQ people.

Personally I like the all terrain kites, water - land - snow, like the PL Venom, Charger; HQ Matrix; and FlySurfers.

Don't forget the Ozone people, they have kites especially for the snow action, like the Frenzy. Spartan here on the EK can tell you all about them.

Be carefull buying kites from ebay, personally I think you are better off looking in the for sale sections in the various kiting forums, EK has one too.

As for experience, I highly recommend getting some lessons before strapping your self into one of these depowers so you don't hurt your self and/or others. It's well worth it. Probably a good idea to get/hire a trainer kite to get used to how these things steer and where the power zone is. If you go through a kiteshop/school for the lessons they can tee you up with a trainer for the duration of the lessons rather than buying one.

Regards,
Norman.

Having flown both the matrixx and the charger (of the ones you mention) I would like to add that the charger is a c-shaped kite and IMO not as easy to start out on than the matrixx

I know a few guys who bought them when they were quite new to surfing - they ended up selling them - at the end of the day, they just couldn't get used to them

//M

Hey Guyser , an welcome to EK now for my 2 cents yes depower all the way for snow as wind in the hills can change pretty quick sometimes ,Now for you up in Canada there is a company called HQ Kites in the US of A I know how much Canadians love em too but they are worth a look I would look at for a first kite to go new as you get warranty plus you know what you are getting if you know nothing about kites and you have said this is safer in the long run HQ make two kites that are awesome for snow they are the apex II and the scout both awesome kites look into those and as norm said ozone frenzy as well get yourself a small trainer first learn to fly then move on now from your post is or do you have anyone close to you that may be able to help you learn or even fly if not you can find lots here or on line that can help there are a lot on this forum too a kite shop here in australia is briskites.com.au they sell the hq kites plus some others too happy hunting

Regards Mike