Well being a southern hemisphere boy I waited for the temp to go up. Headed to a farm house and ask the owner if I could play in his field, plenty large enough. He gave me the ok...happy days, it's 5 minutes walk from my house.

Things I learnt
1. To small a kite is no good
2. Highly tuned race kites dont work inland (had some great turbo boosts of speed in the gusts)
3. Get something like a sled to pull my kites in to the middle of the field.

All and all had a few decent runs, was not enough wind to really cut upwind, skis were running flat most of the time. No crashes to report or broken bones. 10m depower in the post!

Oh and to top it off, I locked my keys in the car...lesson learnt!

cheers
D :singing:

Sorry to hear you had a less than stellar start. You'll be heading upwind next time!

I got by with a 3m JoJo on a bar, 4.5 and 7m Bullets for my 1st real winter of snowkiting. All too often had too much or too little kite and that could change just depending on where I was on the lake. Not too surprised that the race kites don't like prarrie winds. The large ones may be good for ultra low winds? I like to keep a big FB in the bag for that.

I don't know how comfortable you are with your Blaze II but it may end up your snow kite ?

I think that your race kites will work just fine in the right conditions. I think that a more forgiving kite for the gusts would have made it your first outing more enjoyable. I use U-Turn Nitro Evo II's when the conditions are right for them, other times I use depower kites. I'm in southern alberta, it was a gusty day down here, wind 30 gusting to 60km. There will be days that the gusts won't be so punchy - on a frozen lake (the right surface so you can edge better) I think you'll grow to like your race kites since you already know them so well. You just don't know how to work the surface or the skis yet!

Good to hear! Props to the farmer

... I once spent an afternoon in the lake with my car keys in my cargo shorts knee pocket ... I was amazed they were still there and that the remote still worked

I have a 7m Blaze 2 but not enough wind for it, it was stalling when I pulled the bar in. Wind was blowin less than 10kmph. I have a 10m in the post from China so I suspect it will be my main snow kite. Also have a snowboard, have never snowboarded so it could be dangerous...lol

"2. Highly tuned race kites dont work inland (had some great turbo boosts of speed in the gusts)"

must not be tuned right ... i used my Vapor yesterday in less than stellar wind conditions (on / off / gusty) and it was fine.

yeah we know Vapor's are the best at everything and you are a PL pimp....lol

I'm sure it is more of an issue of you getting used to the skis and the technique than anything.

Hi guys

I'm getting D all set up with his Blaze II's, he will be ripping it in no time!

The Blaze II's are probably the "best bang for the buck" snowkites out there, plus it reverse launches better than just about any other snowkite made by anyone!

Blake

Quote:

Originally posted by PrairieWind I'm sure it is more of an issue of you getting used to the skis and the technique than anything.

yep.
did very little snow stuff (ski/boarding) when i was a kid and even less as i got into adult age. i tried kite skiing for the first time a couple seasons ago and as i did i about completely forgot how to fly the kite (12m FS Pulse2). After a while i settled down and declared to myself that i was makingg things harder than need be as i already knew how to handle a kite. it all got better from then on.

It's a tough one inland to judge what will work - some days things feel okay but I've had horrible sessions with my race foils but it all comes down to the location. A lake with a bit of a bowl, or wind coming over the tree line effects patterns for a long way across a lake and then a field with rolling hills will create all kinds of trough, wind rotors and dead patches where you least expect it. Some days the kites will power up, then get pushed down and from wind rolling inward over the top, they can twist fall into lull areas - so much is location - then a day later it can be a different animal.
When the wind is good and a big open area then foils are sweet. But we have such varying winds here that more than anything you'll depowerable kites used in winter and then a huge number that are using their inflatables because they don't want to expand their kite purchases - what? crazy kids...don't they know you need a closet full of kites...
Anyway, it'll all come together quickly in the winter but you soon develop a quick realization of what will work certain days - best to pack it up and switch if something doesn't feel right especially in higher winds rather than trying to struggle and make it work. I've seen to many friends walk a looooong way back though deep snow and that sucks.

Your locked car/keys reminded me of when I was out a number of years ago and came back to my car to see I had left the keys in the ignition after doing something and door was locked but had the passenger window open a crack. I was so impressed with myself after fashioning something out of alum. spars and some other bits to actually turn the key, pull it out of the ignition and then to the window etc - after all of that I walked to the back of the car to find I had the back unlocked the whole time - d'oh!