Power Kite Forum

Canada? suggestions...

flyboy15 - 20-11-2009 at 08:48 PM

I'm looking for all the good places to go in Canada. Anywhere that gets good snow and wind conditions. Local spots, high popularity spots, anything at all. I'm getting a feel for where the diamonds are!

Tell me anything! where, details, Google earth coordinates (yea im a gps geek) , terrain, best months, etc!

ripsessionkites - 21-11-2009 at 09:29 PM

Yellowknife ... i went up there back in 1999 and it was a wicked trip. i went 35 miles in one direction and we stayed overnight in a little town.

There are some good locations in Ont and Que, William has some good spots on his website.

Scudley - 21-11-2009 at 10:52 PM

Wolfwolfee lived in Winnipeg for a couple of years. He should be able to tell you of a few a little closer to home for you. I had someone tell me of kiting skiing across Lake Winnipeg at Gimli. The lake is 25 miles across at that point. It would only take a few tacks to give you a pretty good days milage. If you went up to Grand Rapids, the lake is 70 miles across. If the wind is blowing east or west, the lake is 240 miles from end to end. I am sure that that it is cold enough for the lake to freeze over.
Further north loads of smaller lakes, but not much else. There really is not much at Gimli and less at Grand Rapids to do once you have finished kiting.
You could go up to Churchill and kite ski Hudsons Bay. It should be freezing up about now. There are polar bears to keep things interesting.;-)
S

WolfWolfee - 22-11-2009 at 01:37 AM

Lots of people around Winnipeg go to Goose Hammock a naturalist reserve popular with the locals. I know people also head out to Buffalo bay on Lake of the Woods. Try the guys from the kite shop there, good people will help you out. http://www.boostkiteboarding.com/

flyboy15 - 22-11-2009 at 08:44 AM

Thanks everyone, sounds exciting! We are going for some distance records this season, and some of these lakes sound awesome.

Bladerunner - 22-11-2009 at 09:21 AM

You MUST contact DenniLaMennis.

He lives in Montreal. One awsome city to visit and a fantastic fellow to help you out.

Within a couple of hours there are MANY choices and a full blown kite park at Mirabel .

Conceptair was one of the snowkite pioneers and Quebec is about a decade ahead of the rest of North America !

Check out a Paraski kite and many other Quebec innovations when there.

Our Dollar is back down to 93 cents so you get farther with you money here.

william_rx7 - 23-11-2009 at 03:13 PM

Wow, Canada, that's a big subject...

Here's an excerpt from an up-coming article list of select top-spots in Alberta (Calgary, Edmonton), Ontario (Toronto Ottawa), and Quebec (Montreal), arguably the biggest snow kiting spots near population.

I'm sure I've missed everyone's favorite spot, message me to have it included in the final article.

Alberta
Calgary snow kiters frequent Spray Lakes. Edmonton riders make a short drive to Cooking Lake, for snow kiting all winter long.



Ontario
Ontario is blessed with 3 great lakes that can deliver great snow. Cold temperatures are required for the best conditions, and when everything comes together, it's epic (epic in a good way...). Toronto area kiters have been kiting Lake Simocoe for years. Keswick is home to the Canadian WindRider annual snow kite festival (Feb 13/14), and Paul Berube's PBKiteboarding.com snow kiting school. With the right snow conditions, there can be as many as 50 kiters out ripping up the powder. Beware of snow machines here and mark your lines while setting-up. Riders further north might want to check-out Waubaushene, or Bass Lake, that can get more snow, and hold it longer than wind swept Lake Simcoe.

Lake Simcoe is the premiere spot in Ontario for both speed and distance runs. Lake Nippsing is also good, with a longer season.



Quebec
Quebec is home to a bunch of hard-core riders in Ottawa and Montreal. Ottawa riders can grab a quickie at Aylmer. Montreal snow kiters can be found at OKA every time the wind is blowing. Finally, La Baie Home of the World Ice and Snow Sailing Association Championship 2010, Feb 28 - March 7.



Snow Forecasts
Be sure to check this spots once the snow flies, LocalKiteSpots.com offers one of a kind snow accumulation and depth forecasts that every snow kiter needs.

Have a great season!

HolyCow - 6-12-2009 at 08:37 PM

Anyone know a good website to chack wind conditions?

power - 6-12-2009 at 08:39 PM

Accuweather, windguru

william_rx7 - 6-12-2009 at 09:52 PM

Quote:

Anyone know a good website to chack wind conditions?


I hear that LocalKiteSpots.com has pretty good weather, especially since it's from Environment Canada, eh!

Plenty of spots on the Alberta map, all with current and forecast wind / temp / density boost.

http://localkitespots.com/kitesurfing/Alberta

Bill

Scudley - 7-12-2009 at 11:28 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by WolfWolfee
Lots of people around Winnipeg go to Goose Hammock a naturalist reserve popular with the locals. I know people also head out to Buffalo bay on Lake of the Woods. Try the guys from the kite shop there, good people will help you out. http://www.boostkiteboarding.com/


Is the ice on Lake Winnipeg too buggered up to ski on? It has to be closer than Lake of the Woods.
S

zero gee - 7-12-2009 at 04:04 PM

The ice and snow cover on Lake Winnipeg changes year to year. No ice on the lake yet (or not enough yet). It depends on the wind during freeze up and the amount of snow we get and how much wind blows during each time it snows. Snow covered areas along the shoreline are usually useable every year though (some years this area can be MASSIVE!). If the snow drifts into hardpack moguls lake crossings can only be done comfortably by skis. Unless you wait for the ideal wind direction you can snowboard across in comfort by taking the snowmobile trail (Grand Beach to Gimli).

That said, most of us stick around on fields in /or near Winnipeg at Lee B, Oak Hammock, or the Floodway (off limits during construction, we are hoping they will let us back on this winter, it's looking sweet). Unless the conditions on the lake are epic or desire a crossing challenge. Once we lose our snow around town in the spring we head to the lake.

kiteyakker - 8-12-2009 at 11:09 AM

Well, I think your best bet if your gonna go any distance is Lake of the Woods. It's about 2.5 hrs from Grand Forks, so about the same distance as Lake Winnipeg. I'm planning to try Buffalo bay this year, I've been all over the west side of the lake and now it's time to head farther north to the Angle.

I think L.O.W is as good a place as any if ya wanna go for miles and miles. Nothing to dodge but fish houses and ice breakers...and the occasional pack of snowmobiles.

HolyCow - 13-12-2009 at 12:34 PM

lots of lakes in Alberta. Cooking lake seems to be a popular place.