So, I will be staying in Crested Butte, Colorado from July 2 - 9th and am wondering which kite would be better to bring, my 13m Venom or 16m Scorpion. Nicole (flash) has been very very helpful, but I just want some input about conditions and such from other people as I am a complete Colorado kiting virgin. I'll be bringing my ATB with me, and as most of you know I'm quite light, 125 lbs or so. I'd really like to take my Scorpion, but I would feel much more comfortable in punchy wind with the Venom.

BTW, I plan on putting my trucks, wheels, harness, bar, and hardware in the checked bag with my clothes and carrying the deck, kite, and spars on board with me. Does this sound viable? Should I take the bindings off? Is it okay to keep the spars in their compartment in the kite bag, or will I get in trouble? I really want to minimize the hard time I'll get from airport security.

Thanks!

I do not know of any location inside CB that would be appropriate for kiteATB. Plenty of snowkite when there is snow, but not a terrible amount of public land that you could kite on. There are lots of ranches just south of CB that have wide open spaces, but you'd have to get ahold of property-owners and such, I don't know how you'd do that in your timeframe there. If you go up, up There is an immense amount of singletrack MTB riding available, but they don't really dig off-trail riding so kiteATB might be out of the question.

I'd have to believe that with the culture in CB that there has got to be someone who really could help share the stoke and get you sorted. Here's the info of the skate-snow shops in the valley.

Colorado Boarder Store Hours(CrestedButte Mountain Resort) 8:00 am - 6:00 pm Everyday
Air Up There Store Hours (Downtown Crested Butte) 10:00 am - 6:00 pm Everyday
Colorado Boarder South Store Hours(Gunnison CO, 28 mi south of CB) 11:00 am - 7:00 pm Everyday
Contact us by email at: Info@coloradoboarder.com
Toll Free: 888-766-7873
Colorado Boarder 970-349-9828
The Air Up There 970-349-6675


I'm sorry I can't give you any better info, the only summer kiting I have done in that valley was at blue mesa resivoir (32 miles south of CB). lots of water available.

Best of luck to you, though. It's a wonderful little city.

Seanny,
Have to agree with erratic winds, Crested Butte in the summer is hike, bike and shop, no kiting that I know of but it is on top of the world so go up to the top and see what we locals ride on in the winter in the Rockies, it is breathtaking, enjoy.

I've been there before, and did lots of biking and skating and such. It's really nice. Next winter I want to go hit the Banana Funnel... it's been a little while since I've stepped into a snowboard, but I think I can handle it. Anyway, I know there isn't a lot of room to kite in CB itself but in Gunnison I remember seeing a lot of open space...

EDIT: Thanks so much for the info, EW. I hit up the dude from Into the Wind Kites a few hours ago to see if he had any info because I didn't know what else to do. Some shops who are truly local to the area should be of great help.

take all your gear

Dude I love you that's what I wanted to hear. It's worth a try, right? If only you guys knew of the udder horridness of the fields I'm forced to ride in. Anything is better than what I have now, and I might as well do it breathing the cool mountain air :D

Absolutely the best of luck!

If I ever win the lotto, I'm moving back to gunny and opening a kite shop!

Please do, I love it there so much. I've been quite a few times... it's beautiful, and the locals really are very nice... unlike places like Aspen. It's such a nice little town.

Seanny,
I'm only 2hrs. away from Gunnison, if you have a spot that works I'd be game.