Power Kite Forum - Winter Storm Watch! 8-14 inches! WooHoo

Winter Storm Watch! 8-14 inches! WooHoo

g00fba11 - 9-11-2014 at 01:53 PM

Hope the weatherman is right.

Lots of snow and winds 15-20.

Tuesday is looking like a good day.

Charging the gopros.

Cheddarhead - 9-11-2014 at 03:00 PM

Looks like all the snow is going to be north and West of me

Latest model shows Rhinelander area with 10-20 inches possible, but Green Bay at a measley 2 inches

Pretty early for so much snow. Hope you can get out and play Goof :thumbup:

BigMikesKites - 9-11-2014 at 03:49 PM

I don't get any snow

Chrisz - 9-11-2014 at 07:40 PM

Getting up to 7 inches in Duluth! :bouncy::Ange09:

canuck - 9-11-2014 at 08:23 PM

I hope you all are able to get out and enjoy it. :thumbup:

Alberta is finally getting some Arctic air to freeze up the lakes and about 6 inches of fluffy snow today in Calgary. Will be good but cold Monday - 15-30kph wind with windchill at -30C

Futahaguro - 10-11-2014 at 11:35 AM

I'm hoping for enough of a base here in Minneapolis, MN for some noon kiting on Veteran's day! 12-15 with gusts around 20. Early morning will be 30+ gusts

Feyd - 10-11-2014 at 12:45 PM

You guys are killing me. I rode grass yesterday. GRASS DAMN IT!!!!! :mad:

Nah it was actually pretty fun and I don't know why I don't do it more. Looking forward to getting on the snow but waiting until we get something that's actually snow and not grass kiting with snow on top.

Cheddarhead - 10-11-2014 at 05:27 PM

We only received 1-2 inches today and every single flake that fell melted

Ground is still way too warm to accumulate anything. North of us was a different story. Lows in the teens later this week:D:D Lets freeze some water!

Feyd - 11-11-2014 at 04:23 AM

FREEZE THE WORLD!!!!:o

IkonKiteboardingUSA - 11-11-2014 at 09:37 PM

An inch of snow and you are good to go!

Excuses for all else

Chrisz - 12-11-2014 at 02:38 PM

Lakes almost frozen over in Duluth Minnesota, should be safe by Thanksgiving!

Cheddarhead - 12-11-2014 at 06:58 PM

Quote: Originally posted by Chrisz

Lakes almost frozen over in Duluth Minnesota, should be safe by Thanksgiving!

Uh!:moon: I'm moving up by you.:D We're about 20degrees colder right now than last year. Not too optimistic it's going to stay this way for long. Just have to be patient I guess.

flyhighWNY - 13-11-2014 at 12:27 AM

Was "Brisk" tonight. Hearing that Lake Effect in "Snowbelt" could produce and/or accumulate some "Fun Stuff".

Feyd - 13-11-2014 at 03:01 PM

Looks like a good cold stretch coming for us. If we don't get too much wind it should start to set up some of our shallower lakes.

It would be nice to be on ice by Thanksgiving. :D

4w7s - 13-11-2014 at 04:41 PM

:thumbup:

We're gettin some in West Michigan...wow, early winter here! Could it possible be as epic as last winter? we rode on the dunes AND in the water on 11.28.13 and then on the snow until the second week of April 2014 on the lakes, the dunes, the fields...and then back into the water mid April!...nonstop quality kiting all last winter...hoping for an encore! Sunday was my last day in the water but now it's 30F and snowing...so praying to the snow gods fr the big lake effect.They got 2-3 feet in the Upper Peninsula!!!! not too far from here.

H2O...we ride it here in any form possible...liguid or solid...just add a little wind. :smilegrin:

Come to MI this winter if you want to ride. This is a great place to get some lessons, learn, explore, and progress on the snow. Endless possibilities and easy access to man superb spots.

check out some pics from last winter
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10152319154995229....

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10152365297600229....

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10152283366220229....

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ssayre - 17-11-2014 at 06:19 AM

Awesome pictures 4w7.

We just had our first snow and I'm determined to snowkite this year. The means of which I'm still deciding. I'm thinking of trying to find some skis and ski boots or modifying the buggy.

Would attaching plastic snowboards to the wheels work? I wouldn't be on lakes but I would be using it on snow covered fields. Any help appreciated.

4w7s - 17-11-2014 at 07:24 PM

thanks ssayre,

last winter there was a dude who was trying to learn how to kite on the snow/ice. he made a small "trike" out of some basic lumber materials and used some sawed off skis for the runners. after a bit of experimentation he had it going pretty well.

this guys "ice scooter" is pretty crude looking but it worked. this guy is now riding on the water with a twin tip and on the snow with a snowboard. i personally prefer skis, but to each his own.

these pics taken at one of our local lakes last winter (12 March 2014.) ...the EPIC winter...we had 30"+ ice thickness and solid riding until the first week of April. hoping for a repeat this winter!

it's been really cold here for the last few days and snowing - blizzarding lake effect snow today! maybe 8-10" accumulation by Wednesday?. possibly enough snow to ride the fields, but no ice yet. the water is still in the low 40's so it needs to cool down a little more to have any ice accretion on the lakes.

ssayre - 18-11-2014 at 06:58 AM

I think I just need to find a pair of skis and ski boots to get going on snow to start with. Is there any good websites that sell ski boots? Also, I'm a size 12, do I need a 29.5 or a 30.5 mondo?

rectifier - 18-11-2014 at 01:59 PM

That thing looks like a relative of my iceboat from last winter! I went a bit fancier, but in the end we had too much snow on the ice for bladed vehicles.

Every ski boot fits differently. Don't think about buying your first pair online. I went through about 20 pairs at the local ski swap before I found one I liked! Look for a swap meet or try kijiji/craigslist first.

In my snowboard (15yrs)-> skis(1yr) transition I really liked the snowblades. They turn a lot easier and are less scary in a bail, but they drift downwind on ice due to lack of edges. They are fun in a park.
Then I got a pair of straight skis, which I haven't tried yet due to a snow shortage.

This year we have no snow, just bags and bags of cold. Tempting to hit the sloughs but with windchill down to -30 breaking through would be a rapidly fatal proposition...

Feyd - 18-11-2014 at 02:56 PM

I tend to agree with Rectifier Ssayre. The boot is your most important piece of equipment. It is your direct interface with the rest of your gear and if your fit is sloppy, everything else is going to be less efficient. A proper fit is very important and if you were here I wouldn't even let you entertain the idea of buying a boot online. At least not without an idea of which boot (type, size and brand) would fit you best. As Rectifier pointed out, not all boots are a like. Some have a wide last, some narrow. Some are better for high instep, come aren't.

This all said not everyone has ready access to used ski equipment. Before you decide on a boot type and fit you have to ask yourself to what level do you want to snowkite? How critical the boot fits will kind of depend on the level of performance vs. comfort you're looking for. If you are looking to dabble, aren't a strong skier and just want to be able to slip something comfy on and go cruise around and get your snowkiting fix then the fit isn't going to be as critical. If you're a solid skier and planning to rip around on the verge of being overpowered all the time and driving the edge for all it's worth, a proper fit is going to be more important.

The dabbler vs. disciple question.

If your demands aren't high, the fit can be a little more generous. If you are looking for performance, a race fit will start at a boot around 2 sizes down from your street shoe size. At least that's a good baseline to start with in regards to a performance fit.

I don't know how the ski swap season, if you have one, runs in your neck of the woods. Ours is about over here. But rectifier is right, if there are some swaps it's a good opportunity to find a boot that fits and won't break the bank.

size 12 street is a mondo 29.5-30 depending on the brand. Many brands use the same shell for a size and a size and a half. They just run a thicker or thinner liner for a given size.

Liners are cheaper to make than shells.

4w7s - 18-11-2014 at 06:47 PM

Ya, ssayre, if you already have any skiing skill. even the basics, you will do fine with skis.

as for boots i agree a proper fit is critical. but i think if you are going to use the boots and skis mostly for snowkiting a few other considerations may be worthwhile.

boots come in all sort of stiffness and performance targets...racing, recreational, park style, etc.

imho one of the important things about boots for snowkiting is to have a comfortable and warm boot. we tend to spend a lot more continuous time riding, standing around, (or sometimes walking) when we snowkite. many race boots will be too stiff and too uncomfortable...most ski racers buckle there boots for a run down and then unbuckle for the ride up, otherwise your feet will be tortured.

i also think having light gear is something to consider. i use the dynafit system which is a "tech binding" with a pair of dynafit Titan boots, which are just fine for resort skiing and off-piste, (plus they have a "walk mode"), but not really stiff enough to win the world cup with, unless everyone else falls or blows out of the course...hahah

there are lots of good comfy boots out there and you may very well find a pair of used boots that work, but watch out for "packed" or damaged liners...which you can easily replace if you get the boots for really cheap...you can spend 150-200 for a good replacement line, which is worth the money to be honest....just make sure the shell is the right size for you.

the other reason i have the dynafit boot/binding system is that i can use them as an A/T ski and skin/xc ski into (or out of) a spot i want to kite, or even go alpine skiing comfortably with them. it's sort of a big commitment but everyone i know who took that route loves the set up. they are a little hard to find "used", but if you start looking and search hard enough you might find some. I combined the dynafit with a nice lightweight al moutain ski which is good for lots of conditions. but if you are going to be riding primarily on very icy conditions maybe you should pick a ski for that. I have other skis that I use for those conitons but only about 10% of the time.

that said, any decent skis and boots will work, it all depends on your committment level and budget.

there are tons of skis and boots for sale on ebay, craigs list, etc...and lots of good deals if you can spend the time to look. if you go to a shop and get a general idea of boot fit that might help you decide on a boot, and whether to buy new or used. but as someone else said above, finding the right fit of a boot an be tricky, and an unpleasant disaster if it's wrong.

one other important thing that i believe in is doing a proper ski prep. i see a lot of guys that don't tune/wax there skis having a hard time, especially on high moisture snow. if your skis run fast on the snow it actually enhances performance of the kite by reducing resistance, which improves development of apparent wind, and also is physically easier.

hope that helps.

we have 18" of snow in some fields here now near Grand Rapids...going out tomorow to explore some fields i've never ridden on before. the lakes have a long way to go for minimal ice...and it's supposed to rain on Saturday... :mad:

...which will kill most of the snow, but maybe create a base if doesnt rain too much....and then its supposed to get cold again with some new systems arriving....

PRAY for snow!!!! :thumbup:

ssayre - 19-11-2014 at 04:45 AM

Thanks for all the great advice. I'm basically starting from zero. I've been skiing a few times, but I'm basically starting from scratch. Most likely I will just be dabbling. We don't always get a lot of snow, but last year was good and it looks like this year might be too. I don't want to be sidelined for another winter.

Feyd - 19-11-2014 at 10:53 AM

For just getting a taste then try to track something down that is on the comfortable side of the spectrum. I have customers that buy boots based on how they work sitting in the bar as much as skiing. Nothing wrong with that. In fact there's no point in getting a performance fit, which is always initially a bit uncomfortable as the liner breaks in, and make yourself miserable and reduce your willingness to get out an play.

4w7s had some good advice. Though for most people a Dynafit boot and binding system is a little beyond the $$$ range for riders starting out. Most of us here in the northeast have abandoned Dynafits and even Fritsche Alpine Touring Systems for snowkite because they don't offer the torsional rigidity some snowkiters need. It's mostly Duke and Guardian country up here these days.

As he also pointed out, make sure you skis are in good shape. The edges, unless on really hard surfaces won't be a critical as you bases and the wax you run. Universal waxes are very good these days as are flouro rub on waxes. Rub on wax is a great choice as you can reapply anytime and you don't need an iron or wax machine.

I hear ya about being sidelined for the winter. I was almost sidelined last winter with a shoulder problem but I don't want to miss a snowkite season. I can't afford to. Summer? More flexible and less important on the fun scale. :D

Rectifier brings up a good option. Snowblades are a blast and if you aren't dealing with deep snow a very good and affordable option. Way more user friendly to riders not really experienced with skis. They really can be a riot.:P

flyhighWNY - 19-11-2014 at 10:52 PM

The SNOW HATH COMETH!!!
http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2014/11/19/buffalo-snow-photos-...

Feyd - 20-11-2014 at 04:54 AM

I cannot believe how its dumping out there. And blowing! Is anyone out riding or can you even get out to ride in all that? I guess right now there are probably bigger things to deal with than getting a pow session in if you're in the snow zone. Should make for a hell of a base.

flyhighWNY - 20-11-2014 at 06:06 AM

Helped friends dig out.. Helping some more today!! Doubles all weekend. Not much where I live (25 miles to buffalo). This is typical for most grocery stores in my friends neighborhoods.

abkayak - 20-11-2014 at 06:11 AM

omg...nothing drinkable left

4w7s - 20-11-2014 at 11:44 AM

ssayre....fyi, one of my friends just bought brand new Salomon boots at MC sports for $100!!! people pay more than that all the time for running shoes.

he also got a brand new pair of Atomic Access skis for $250 off ebay. if you look for deals you will find them. you don't have to spend a ton of money unless you are very specific and picky about what you want. thre are so many skis and boots out there on sale you should be able to find something good if you can spend the time looking

otherwise....we have been getting dumped on here in the snow belt of West MI. great snow conditions prevail, 18"+ in many spots, and excellent kiting the last few days...small kite conditions. TOTALLY juiced on my 6m Flysurfer Peak yesterday. USed my 5m Core LEI today, blowing 25-35 kts. snow is nice and deep and solid base. tomorrow could be good too and then a warm up and rain over the weekend. hope we don't lose the snow completely.

rectifier - 20-11-2014 at 12:09 PM

Wow you guys have been doing so much riding that you drank all the beer :D

It has been cold and windy and our snow evaporated. Shouldn't be jealous of those with weeks of shoveling ahead but I'm looking at the dry ground and can't help but be a little jealous.

Cheddarhead - 20-11-2014 at 03:52 PM

I actually hope the snow holds off for a while. Were finally getting a few inches of ice on the local lakes. A large dump of snow like Buffalo would be bad news for ice formation. Besides, bare ice is great for speed runs :D

4w7s - 21-11-2014 at 05:02 PM

...just a word about the Dynafit system in case anyone is wondering about negative comments made above...

Dynafit has several models ranging from ultralight A/T race bindings and boots to 16 DIN A/T bindings and very stiff boots if you want that. The binding I use are 12 DIN which is fine for me, "TLT Radical FT". I have been skiing my entire life and feel completely confident with mine on any terrain, on or off piste. The burliest Dynafit binding is the "Beast" and it is 16 DIN and are also extremely light. The Dynafit gear is engineered really well, and unless someone screws up the mounting process they will suffice for 95% of people snowkiting with them. The lads out west in WY and MT are doing incredible things with these bindings.

check out the website at http://www.dynafit.com/en

If you are going to race on ice all the time or want to run gates at your local mountain or the pro circuit all the time ...sure then yes you will want a true race binding...but this thread is about snowkiting, so i think it's a bit ridiculous to even suggest that the Dynafits are inadequate in any way. Of course they are not cheap, but if you want a really light setup that works as an A/T system they are awesome. Some of my friends have the Markers Dukes and regret not going the extra mile to get the lightest package possible (Dynafit). But as I said before it's a big commitment to the tech binding and boot...so that's obviously up to the individual of course.

Some people might say...meh, who needs the A/T option? Maybe many don't need it, but I have justified this for myself so many times now that it would have been crazy to have something else. Just today I was kiting with the 15m SPeed3 on some beautiful early winter snow here and kept going and going until the wind died because tomorrow it's all going to melt. Unfortunately my timing was off and I was a good mile away from my van without a breath of wind...so I packed up the kite and rotated the heels into touring mode and had a beautiful time striding back to the van as I watched the sunset. It actually adds another wonderful dimension to being on the snow, because you are mobile with or without wiind or gravity. Any you can put skin on and go uphill with ease as well. So it's much more than a downhill ski binding, which adds a lot of value for me anyway. And it sure beats the #@%$#! out of post holing with heavy boots and carrying your skis, or trying to skate with your heavy boots-skis-bindings in 20" of fresh snow.

just sayin'

4w7s - 22-11-2014 at 07:25 PM

Scored 3 excellent days with this last storm (11/19, 20, 21)....day 1: lit with 6m Peak, 20-25+kts, day 2: 25-30 kts super lit w/5m Core XR3, day 3: mellow cruising w/15m FS Speed 3....but now it's gone with a 2 day warm up

...and I even had to trek out the last mile with the A/T skis on the last day when the wind completely died at sunset and I was at the furthest distance possible back to the van....LOVE that touring capability!!! it would have sucked big time trying to "skate ski" thru the deep snow or walk through the deep snow and thick grass below it, sinking up to my thighs. It was an absolute pleasure gliding along on the skis as the sunset in front of me!

praying for the next snowstorms to hit

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10152924856485229....

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10152922122675229....

ssayre - 23-11-2014 at 07:50 PM

Nice pictures. Looks like a farm field. I know a couple of farmers in the area that I have considered asking to snowkite on their field. It looks like soy bean fields would be best?

Cheddarhead - 24-11-2014 at 10:15 AM

I would think any crop that has a small root system would be good. Soybean and hay fields work best around here. Corn is a no go because of the nasty roots that farmers leave until spring when they do their plowing.

ssayre - 24-11-2014 at 03:31 PM

Hey Cheddarhead, I didn't mean to copy you. I didn't realize how similar our avatars look since they were both taken holding the camera with our right hand. :D

If I would have been holding my ion air pro instead of the phone, it would have looked more similar.

Cheddarhead - 24-11-2014 at 04:02 PM

Heck, that's not copying :D This was just a snap shot from some film I had last year. It's pretty seldom I get anybody to film me. Typically it's me holding the gopro in some form or another. It's lonely being a kiter in Green Bay. I need more people to join in the fun!:D

ssayre - 24-11-2014 at 04:05 PM

Ditto. I'm always my own camera man.

4w7s - 24-11-2014 at 05:45 PM

When considering riding on farm fields there are always several considerations to take:

fetch: if the field is too small and surrounded by tall tress or other physical wind blockers it will probably suck. I would say anything smaller than 3000ft x 3000ft is going to be turbulent. Of course whatever surrounds that area is critical...if it's fairly flat and open beyond those boundaries it's better than if surrounded by tall objects/land features, etc.

snow depth: obviously you need enough snow to cover any of the exposed plant material, dirt, etc. Some snow types will pack down better than others on the fields. If it's too light and cold it might not bond and just blows off.

The field i rode the other day was a mix of alfalfa and some areas of corn. the corn stubbles were probably about 12" long and some protruded thru the snow. landing a kit on the stubble or any other rigid/sharp plant material can spell the end of the day by damaging your inflatable or foil kite. The foils have an advantage of not having bladders to be popped, but the LEI's have fewer bridle lines to snag on things.. o you just have to work with what you have. The last 3 days I rode it was foil, LEI, foil...I only used the LEI on day that it was too windy for my 6m Peak so I used a 5m LEI.

hazards: scope it out to make sure there are no hidden hazards like pipes, wires, cables, barbed wire hidden below the snow, etc. tree stumps, powerlines, old wells, pits,etc..etc.

if there is measurable snowfall and enough to kite safely try to get out before the wind increases too much and scours the snow
off the fields (or scrubs the ice).....some of our best sessions are right after a good snowfall with light wind. some of the place we ride n the dunes can turn into sand again within a day or less if the wind blows too hard or the sun heats up too much. The sun will penetrate the snow and heat whatever is underneath it if its warm enough.

and do yourself a favor and do a good wax/tune job on your skis to get max performance and minimal frustration.