Over the years I've seen people snow kite up at the Col du Lautaret, and in the valley above Monetiere near Le Casset.
Few years back we were ski touring up the Col du Galibier and two guys kited up on snow boards and then proceeded to have a really good time getting some big air. They probably took half an hour to kite up whilst it took us three hours to skin up. I managed to get a little bit of video.
So last year I learnt to kitesurf on the sea, and took to it pretty fast, which has a lot to do with many years of windsurfing & snowboarding, and I now go out in strong winds / big seas and the like, just as I did when windsurfing, in fact have not been out on the windsurfer now for a long time!
So would seem the next logical step is to kite on snow!
Kites that are used are different to the ones we use on the water, so have identified a couple of kites and checked with some mates as to their suitability. Basically you use a depower foil kite on snow as opposed to the relaunchable kites we use with a bladder on the water.
My logic / game plan is to get to kite on a flattish area and then proceed to some open bowls / plateaus that I know with the end game of kiting up hill to then ski down. I might well take a half day lesson up at the Col, but will try just flying the kite first and see what it's like compared to the sea, and practice on dry land here before leaving for the mountains.
Should add that even though I use to snow board I really see the advantage of skis as being more practical, though I'll probably try both, but could well be easier at first with skis as I'm not strapped in as such.
Anyway, as the other half says, yet another way that I could end up braining myself, so watch this space
So would be really interested to hear of anyone else who has given it a go ?
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Weathercam, love to but not yet. The big empty area in the pass behind La Roz is purported to be a popular place with easy lift access in and out
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Weathercam, LEI kites are fine for open area's but most kiters I know use depowerable foils in the mountains as you can kill them fast and there is less risk of them dragging you over a cliff.
I'm a big fan of Ozone kites and used a 15m and 7m foil for snowkiting.
Weathercam, as usual the tw@t known as Masque, has almost got it right, the 'big empty area in the pass behind La Roz' which is actually the Col du Petit San Bernard is a well known area for kite skiing/boarding. There is a school there and there are a number of vids posted online of kite skiing/boarding.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Had quite a few days in Wiltshire over the last 3 years mostly in strongish winds and it's a lot of fun. You don't need much snow and a helmet is probably a sensible precaution. Skis are much easier than a board IMO and any old pair will do I have used 210 GS skis which go fast, but Icelantic Nomads work better in deeper snow and are more fun to turn. Grass fields are best as a flinty arable fields will strip the bases off in one session! I use Flysurfers on snow and water. I don't have any experience of kiting on big hills/mountains. Weight restrictions on flights stops me taking more toys. Hoping it might snow once more this winter.
FAQ
Poster: A snowHead
