got kites, harness, helmet, skis, boots, ski clothing...what else will I be needing or would be usefull? What do you guys use to stake kites out?

Stake it with a ski when Noy in use..

An ice screw or 2 can be handy. They aren't cheap new but can often be found at second hand sport shops? As DH mentions you can use your ski in some cases . I like having an ice screw at home base at least.

GPS is a great toy !

extra gloves, your first set will most likely get wet.
Hard Candy/skittles/shotblox to help give you a jump
A hook knife
Some patch tape, just in case you get out somewhere that is not walking distance back to homebase... and would rather fly back.
Snow Shovel - so many uses
Chapstick/bag balm/sunscreen
A 'snow' weight bag. One you can stuff full of snow and use as an anchor. I don't always use this, just found it came in handy a few times. (i.e. the time I wanted to plant a big flag so I could see where my car was hiding behind the berm)

for the car always carry a way of making some sort of hot liquid. You would be surprised (if you are not familiar with this) how much a cup of hot cider or ramen will do to take the edge off your exhaustion. Throw in some of those hand warmer thingies in a box just in case.... my old car took forever to warm up. Big fat old school sleeping bag. You know those old style coleman ones that are so impractical for actual camping, but you can unzip them or snuggle under their massive thickness. A flashlight/headlamp.

Sometimes I carry a beacon, I know folks that carry avy-lungs, but those tend to be the guys that are ripping the sick slopes in alaska, seems strange for me on the flats.


oh.... and always drive with Duct Tape/mondo electrical tape.... I have fixed so many things with these two.

More kites....you can always use more kites.

SNOW:bigok: WIND and a wide open frozen space, no buried fences or other hazards to ruin an epic day.

I'm with flash on the snow shovel - never get enough in the right place using your hands or boots. Weigh down the trailing edge with snow when you can't stake or instead of staking.
How about a GPS -always fun to see how far and fast you go in a session. You can also share your tracks with us.
If you are on ice you'll need something to check the thickness to ensure it will hold you safely (often an ice fisherman or a kid wanting to spin donuts will do)

macboy has some ice screws that work real well for staking kite but alls i ever did was land the kite and walk the lines/handle to it and fold/roll kite a couple times. with all the sharp edges from skiis and boards around I do not want to leave my lines stretched out, hard to see in the snow, and run over by skis with nicely sharpened metal edges.
i know because i was the dumbarse that ran over my own (or my brothers?) lines last time i went skiing.

Windmeter.

Hard sometimes to judge windspeed when the leaves are gone.

thanks for all the input gents :wee:

bring on the snow

Because Mother Nature can be a b|tch in the colder months.

• 8" Gerber Folding Saw (Folds into a nice cushy handle and locks, so it's reasonably safe in a pack). Might also come in handy for treed kites too.
  
  
• An alternate way to start fire (Exotac nanoSTRIKERs are looking good these days, but paracord the end of the critter for gloved use). Wet & cold enough and lighters are next to worthless.
  
  
• A small Nalgene container of short lengths of waxed jute. Non-toxic, doesn't stink to high heaven, but blazes nicely in the damp and cold. <* Not-so-latent pyro gene flares up :o and is tamped back down... pun(s) noted *>
  

Note to self: Take "The Day After Tomorrow" off the Netflix queue.



ATB,
Sam

There is sort of 2 types of Snowkiting day.
Back country snowkiting requires not just extra gear but KNOWLEDGE. Don't do it unless properly prepaired.

I prefer to do what I call " park and ride " . I like to drive out on a lake or up to a spot , park close to base and then never ride farther from home than I can walk back.

If you are heading out with FB having 2nd size kite in a backpack isn't a bad idea?

People riding snowboard in deep snow should consider snow shoes for getting home from a break down.

Things I bought for snowkiting and NOT in a back country way. Just to ride alone on small lakes near my Mothers.

2 - Ice screws
2 LB rated carabiners
small shovel
snow shoes
impact / floatation vest
road flares
GPS
Cell phone
folding chair
wind proof lighter
HOOJ back pack and a ski bag.

A couple of things we use that are good for deep snow "park and ride" or backcountry application.

AT (Alpine touring) bindings and climbing skins. We go far enough out on lakes that walking back in deep snow is not an option. If there is a problem and you can't kite back an AT setup can save your bacon. AT setups are light, verstile and can save you if you get standed without a kite in the air.

I run Marker Dukes and Fritsche Freerides. The Dukes are basically a regular alpine binding on an AT platform. The Fritsche is a pure bred AT system. Much lighter than the Duke and much less rigid torsionally. Not a big deal in soft snow but I notice it edging hard on firm stuff.