So this morning I woke up to a decent 24km/h wind, that lasted till just afternoon. After some small errands I headed out to my parents to attempt to see action.

I was not disappointed! After correcting some unexplainable line crosses I got the kite in the air. I was already strapped into my board and quickly found myself face first in the snow. Not prepared for the kites drag and not leaning back enough to hold the kite back was the issue. I managed to keep the kite in the air so this time I decided to stay sitting while I powered the kite up. I worked!!!:singing: I only got pulled about 30 feet before I fell flat on my a$$. So I tried again, and again, and again. Finally I managed to figure out how to keep the kite on the right side of the window enough to travel fairly smoothly for about 200yards.

Not bad (or so I thought) I felt that I was onto something. A couple of times I found myself ahead of the kite causing it to over fly the zenith. Or the kite getting to far in the neutral zone where it collapsed and fell to earth. My father followed me in his truck and helped me out so that I didn't have to set the kite back up again, which made things easier.

One thing I can say is that I am definitely out of shape, what an extremely great workout. By the end of the session I had made my way through the field for half a mile. I was unsuccessful at making my way back to where I started, so again it was a good thing my father was there to drive me back.

One thing I did learn was that I will need more wind to make things easier. The kite wasn't quite powered enough to keep me from falling down when I leaned back. I had to constantly work the kite a lot to prevent me from stopping. Next time I will try when its a bit more breezy.

All in all a great experience and an awesome workout. Sorry for the long post didn't know how to shorten it up.:wee:

Shaggs

Enthusiasm is never really meant to be abbreviated. Anyone that says that it.... has gotten too old.... too early.

Glad to hear you had a good day... especially as I have gotten stuck at work for a few more hours.... trying to get too many things home and ended up missing my train

ATB,
Sam

This is a day you will rmember for the rest of your life ! How great you got to share it with your Father ! :bouncing:

Sounds like fun I wish I had gotten out on my snowboard when there was still wind and snow. If you find yourself getting ahead of the kite cut upwind a little bit, that'll put more tension on the lines causing the kite to speed up and hopefully move forward. If the kite gets ahead of you cut a little bit downwind, the kite will semi stall and you will keep going and hopefully the kite will be further from the edge of the wind window. Or if it gets ahead of you just continue the motion oof the kite up and into a loop.

And the hooks set deeply. Right on man! We're dying for wind here but it'll come....it'll come.

well done mate. snowkiting is awesome, whether you are jumping down the side of s mountain or blasting along for 200m in your local field. when everything comes together its just a great feeling!! everybody who kites should give it a try if they get the chance.

Mac looks like your going to have to come up here...lol
Awesome Shaggs, more wind will be a plus but it sure feels great to get moving. We have 18" of ice on the lake and 6 to 8" snow need I say more. We had the same winds here today 24 km's, stayed on the Gureilla today just perfect cruising weather. Hope to be down In Edmonton after New years for a few days, should all try and get together Rev, Mac etc etc.

Thanks fellas! It was definitely a good time. A challenge to both fly the kite and try and control the board. I'm sure that after a few good sessions I will have it under my belt. I was surprised how my 6m could pull me in those winds even though I had to work the kite lots. Wolfee I gotta come to where you are, seems like you have been having more sessions than the rest of us. If it looks like its gonna be a good kiting day Mac let me know if I'm not too busy I could swing out your way on the fly.

Shaggs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UHIG9M7-m5Q

we've had snow but not much wind.

Seems the same for us. Enough snow in fields but so far only one day of usable wind in like three weeks. If there has been wind I've been working.

I hear ya. I'm thinking maybe I should work next week and take the week following off in hopes there is wind.

Man this hobby can be a curse sometimes ; )

Believe me Wolfee, I've been watching all over for wind (have a friend with a place to call home up there on the lake and we'd be there in a moments notice) but I've just not seen any winds Alberta wide. You're picking up miracle wind I think....lucky bugger. We had one roll through here tonight....killer south wind but too close to dusk (and I'd have been killed for ditching the Xmas plans ; ) Total mystery wind. Not predicted, not nothing. Came outta nowhere. Make sure you give me a call if you're down around New Years. Maybe you can bring some wind along.

Gotta share your stoke, shaggs! Today was my first ride (on snow) that I felt totally in control, and my traction engine was my 4.8M NPW! I first saw this sport 3 winters ago, late in the season(feb. I think). Had to try it, got my first kite, 3.5M Ozone Imp trainer. Also decided at that time that the snow board would be my method, as I had to learn something, and due to a hip fracture as a child, skiing would be too hazardous.(I was 50 at the time, 52 now) Of course, the Imp would only move me in winds I was too scared to fly it in! So I was learning both at the same time. I guess all the time in the buggy with that NPW in the air this past summer gave me a lot of confidence in that kite, and with conditions less than perfect, (36deg. F, light mist, wind gusting 12-20 from the SE,) I was able to launch, pop up from seated, travel about 200 yds in a broad reach, bring the kite back over and turn and run about 100 yds back before I ran out of gas, and had to stop for a breather! What a blast! By that time I, the kite, and everything else was soaked from the mist, so I called it a day. I can't wait for better conditions, to put the 8M Access up!