Hey all,
Just been thinking of giving this a go this snow season and wondering where they are doing it in Aus?, and also New Zealand , heard they were doing it down Wanaka way?

Also is it best to use a foil kite as they all seem too, and what are the disavantages advantages of using either a foil or a inflatable?
What size kite would you need in general for 85 kg's?
All info appreciated.
Anyways cheers

There's a snow kiting weekend organised in every year, down Wanaka way in NZ. I think it usually happens around august/september. Its called Wanakite.

Have a hunt on www.kiteforum.co.nz/phpBB/ for some info. I haven't heard anything about when its planned for this year.

From what I can gather that other company no longer exists.

The Wanakite event is organised by Tim @ kitesports.co.nz and is held at Snow Farm which is opposite Cardrona b/w Wanaka and Queenstown.

It is usually held at the close of the season, beginning october or something like that.

I am unsure if kites are allowed on the snowfarm during the normal season but I suspect it is ok. Give them or Tim a call and they should fill you in.

And then of course there is this:
http://www.boarderpatrol.com.au/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=18&Itemid=55

Now that would be fun!

I think I'll pop up to Kosi this winter for a snowkiting play with my friends. I'll stick something on here )seabreeze) when planning to go, so anyone else who wants to play too can come! I'd recommend going with someone who has done it before if you haven't...the snow in Aust is often icey/sketchy, and there are rocks poking out and gustyness.

If you want to go to NZ, then Wanaka is the best place to go (for those without secret insider knowledge!!). Snowfarm is great - but you really should hook up with Tim from kitesports.co.nz first or someone else, because the snowfarm people can get edgy about people using the area sometimes. The upside is that you can go to snowpark (terrain park) next door if there is no wind. And if you break yourself I can recommend sitting on the picnic tables at the bottom of snowpark, with a Moro bar and watching people **** themselves up - it's about one broken bone per 5 minute ratio. Fun!

Mr float said...

Mike Walker and i are running snowkite week at Thredbo this year from 14-21 Sept ...

Mr Float
Will you please inform me about your snowkite week?
I'm a professional ski instructor, a snowboarder and of course a kite surfer, but its my first year of skiing in Australia and I have no idea where to go.
So I would really appreciate to get some local advice.

Cheers
Alex

Well flying a doona would be quite warm i imagine.

As for snowfarm thanks for all the tips lads, im much more enthused about these guys, They seem to have far more experience, just from the look of their site you can tell they know what they're doing...right?

So....who's going and when, Ive got about 3 mates who'll be keen to go...need a few months to gather money though

Thanks for all the feedback guys.
Alot of good info, which is great!
So the Ozone is the perferred kite to purchase, so it seems?
Not sure what size to get for 85 kgs and what wind range this will work best in but will check out the websites you have suggested, for more info and definately going to give a good month to going this as it is combining my two fav sports so surely ythat must be a good thing..............................

Gin, Lesser Known?

hahaha...maybe to some, but as far as kitesurfing goes with Ram-Air kites, Gin are leading the pack. For instance, they usually make Paragliders (Parapente for some) which are designed to catch maximum Thermals, Ridge Lift and stay aloft for hours on end.

Seriously, look into Paragliding its helluva lot of fun about as expensive as kitesurfing and great for travel.

anyone kited in the victorian alps?

I know theres been some action at falls and hotham in the past. looking at organising a snow kite trip with a few mates this winter. Just want to make sure that everyone enjoys the trip and gets home in one piece.

Any idea of which mountain is best for experienced kitesurfers, novice ( 1st time ) snowkiters, especially safety wise. Some experienced snowboarders in group.

any advice / input welcome

INfiniDIE said...

So....who's going and when, Ive got about 3 mates who'll be keen to go...need a few months to gather money though

I'm going to Wanaka for a day or two in the first week of September, but it's part of a bog standard snowboarding trip to Queenstown with non-kiters who will want to go to the normal resorts most days. I'll just be leaving them to it for those couple of days because seriously, how could one not want to try it?

You know there is a snow kiting forum under the landboarding section?
www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/forum.asp?FORUM_ID=51

What sort of wind would you need for snow kiting? By the looks of that vid not much? 10knots with a 9m kite?

gruezi said...

Steve from Kitepower once told me you need Katabatic winds (wind that goes uphill)....makes sense...how else you gonna get up the slope...walk...not for me.

This may be of help for anyone thinking of snowkiting .katabatic winds go down the hill . www.woweather.com/reports/wxfacts/Katabatic-winds.htm
The good news is
that if a hill is upwind of you you will find that you can actually ride up the hill using the wind that is coming down it using a number of tacks just like going upwind on water. Snow generally offers less resistance than water and you will find that you can generally get upwind better than on water and even if there is a hill upwind of you you can tack up it. There is a limit tho and the steeper it is the more tacking is required .Snow quality will also determine your upwind ability .Fresh snow in Oz is sometimes called "powder " Even when it can be light and fluffy it is no where as dry and "powdery " as many of the resort areas of the northern hem .this means our snow can be quite sticky so "freshies " can be pretty tricky and the hill that you went upwind into yesterday on hardpack can be an obstacle that canoot be kited up in the fresh stuff .Slush can have a similar effect but when your in the back country as long as its not too hot and is not elephant snot can go quite well as it often still has a hardish base.
Another phenomenom that we get here is crusty snow .You might be going along after a snowfall that did not have much accompanying wind and a crust forms over the freshies as the wind starts to pick up.You can be going along and crunch through the crust and just stop dead .it can be quite difficult to ride as one second your skating over the crust and the next is soft stuff with more resistance .Sometimes there can be a " base destroying" granite rock lurking underneath .This can be really exhausting too adjusting to the different resitance of the snow
Don't expect to be able to kite up a slope like bottom to top of thredbo .Plateaus are the best and you will find that you can even get to the top of kosi from top station thredbo and there are some pretty decent hills in the way.In NSW the kosi area is essentially a high plateau that once you have used the lift to get up onto is an excellent place for kiting

It is best to kite up into the wind and leave the down wind part to later in your session.It is also a good idea not to venture too far out into the backcountry while you are getting the hang of things and where possible go with more experienced hands which can be tricky as there are not that many experienced snow kiters in Oz

Having seen kiters over the years with no snow experience going well after an hour or so in good conditions wind around 15 kts you should pick it up easily .
Personally I like skis as i can move my feet and body position very easily .Plus I use super short 100 cm snow skates .no heavy bindings and work a treat and if i have to walk there isn't much weight .It comes down to personal preference I have seen boarders and skiers with kite skills both adapt very well

Flux said...

So Mr Float, how long to profiency snow kiting, if you were experienced kiter and snow boarder?
, is it an easy transition?
of course reading terrian is another aspect altogether. Was just wondering as to the usual progression rates and even for non kiters but proficent snowboarders skiers?
What is your opinion between ski's and board or preference.
I'm a better skier than snowboarder and just wondering if it would make any difference, I could imagine kiting on ski's to be somewhat more difficult , yes?