Power Kite Forum

kite anchor in deep snow?

pongnut - 3-1-2012 at 07:45 PM

What do you guys use to secure the control end of a kite in snow thats a foot or more deep? (Not that we have that, but when we do...) I don't think my 1' ground stake is going to cut it in that situation.

Thanks.

Bladerunner - 3-1-2012 at 07:49 PM

Ice screw ?

Rope and caribiner to post / bench in park.

Jam ski or snowboard into snow and anchor to it in a pinch.

Kober - 3-1-2012 at 07:52 PM

Use u snowboard as anchor
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MikeDobbs - 3-1-2012 at 07:55 PM

I had a chance to snowkite for the 1st time last week and came across this very issue. What I found was that with a foil kite I was able to put a ski through the brake loop (so the loop would be around the bindings at the center of the ski) and the bury the ski perpendicular to the kite. I found that by packing snow down on top of the ski, effectively entombing it in the snow, it held like a rock.

I got the idea from Bear Grylls who I've seen rappel over snowy cliffs by tying the line off to a small rucksack, filling the sack with snow, and then burying it in the snow. Once the snow was packed down on top of the bag it was strong enough to hold his body weight for the rappel. :thumbup:

B-Roc - 3-1-2012 at 08:16 PM

I just dump snow on the kite itself when setting up and I use my skis to anchor the bar / handles when packing up.

pongnut - 4-1-2012 at 12:40 AM

NICE! Thanks guys! :thumbup:

Feyd - 4-1-2012 at 04:41 AM

When I'm on snow, and it has to be fairly deep I use a piece of angled steel for a dead man. I have a hole in it for a biner and a tether line, I bury it deep and it works great. You would use it like Mike described using the ski.

But I only use it as an anchor secondary. I always use the snow to hold the kite in position first.

Otherwise since I fly mostly on lakes I just dig down to the ice and set a screw and biner/tether.

ragden - 4-1-2012 at 07:55 AM

Personally, I use my board to hold the lines, then move up to the kite and bury a wingtip. Then I go take my break, or whatever... I never rely on the board to hold the kite for any length of time.. I always bury a wingtip.
;)

crabnebula - 4-1-2012 at 09:27 AM

look up "thinx".... T anchor.....H anchor.... I anchor.... N anchor...... X anchor . it is all configuration based...look it up on "google", as IMPROVISED SNOW ANCHORS

It is a way that with SKI, Snowboards, aluminum, "A" or "V" shaped snow pickets....shovels....#@%$#! you can bury a bag filled with snow and loop some rope around it and stomp on top of the snow.

The real deal is LESS IS MORE....go out and experiment with how to get something in the ground and pull on it in all range of motions that the kite may put in the anchor.....if it blows remember it is now a projectile getting pulled around by the kite.

"Mountaineers", book on SNOW ANCHORS will help you here....