The winds were good today so I tried snowkiting. I could not get going no matter what I tryed. I would go a few feet and fall forward or I would fall backwards imediately when I tried starting. I think it is I don't know how to edge. I skateboard alot so edgeing doesn't feel right. If I need to turn sharp I don't lean I "hop" the board around. I have kite skated with a skateboard and got it first try and was doing good. I can skateboard much better than I can snowboard. I may have been slightly underpowered but I could skid down wind by looping the kite. Any advice on how to get going? Also, is the how to snow kite dvd any good?

I would guess from your problem and what you are asking, you have never snowboarded.
My advice to you is to learn to snowboard. Even playing on the bunny hill with the board would be a great learning tool, after you learn how to board, picking up the kite will be much easier.

If you dont want to learn to snowboard, launch the kite and follow it as on an ATB and then lean back as you turn with the board......you are wearing boots and bindings on the snowboard, right?
I would recommend a 1/2 hour beginner lesson at the closest ski area, makes all the difference in the world.

It reads to me like you have found what is lacking. Edge control.

I can ride ATB but haven't even attempted a snowboard knowing that I will need to develop a whole new skill set. The board.

I think Jeff is right and that you should dedicate a no wind day or 2 to learning the board if that is the ride you choose. Fastest way is always le$$on$ !

If you want to snowkite with a snowboard you need to improve your board skills. The balance you have developed with the skateboard will help you but your center of gravity is different on the snowboard. What I did was spend some time on a local hill with a gentle slope. I went down the hill and practiced carving. I spent a lot of time sliding down the hill with the board perpendicular to the slope. I also practiced going left foot forward then sliding and transitioning to right foot forward. Eventually you can do 360s. Once I felt comfortable sliding on the heel side edge snowkiting was much easier. I think it is helpful in preparing for kiteboarding too. Good Luck!!

Go out on a low wind day, follow the kite straight downwind, wiggle a little, stop, walk back, do it again, wiggle a little more, rinse repeat and you'll be edging in no time flat. If you ever did a "power slide" on a bike, that's what stopping (or hard turning) feels like.

I've been snowboarding for years, but the transition to ATB was a little sketchy, so that's what I did, and it seemed to do the trick. Of course, I'm still horrible at switch, but that's a different thread

ATB should be a piece of cake for me. I was riding upwind on a skateboard right away when I tried it. I can ride swich just as good as I can ride regular. I think I will try the ride down wind and gradualy turn method.

Yeah I agree Snake, which is why I thought maybe a lesson would be overkill. Let us know how it turns out, will ya? Now I'm curious.

Also, where are you located? Maybe one of us can go out with ya? I'm heading up to the mountains just about every weekend in February if you're around Denver.

Get on your rear foot as much as you can stand, make sure that you have enough power, maybe more power (over powered) riding is better on the snowboard, as it allows you to lean or hang on the bar when you are out of balance.

Most students (even snowboarders) I work with get on skis first (by choice) and then dial the kite skills in, then switch later

Snake,

It does sound like you need more power. Kiting with a snowboard you need more power than with skis. If you are not powered you tend to ride more upright then it's easier to catch your toe edge and fall forward. When you do lean back you fall back since there is not enough wind to hold you up.

Being able to snowboard does help get you goin a little easier and progress quicker. But, I have seen lots of people that have never been on a snowboard ever that get going on one with a kite in an afternoon or two.

As crab says put more weight on your back foot.

Does the board matter?

My board has an aggressive side-cut and my toes and heels drag if I get too radical with lean angles on hard surfaces... I'm assuming like skis that less sidecut is better...

I think I got it down. I was definately underpowered most of the time. I rode perpendicular to the wind and slowly got dragged down wind. For about 5 mins the wind increased and I had tons of power. I went from moveing at 5-10mph to scary fast. I edged with all my might to stop and ended up poping a jump :shocked2: . I landed on my butt to save my foot and flagged the kite. Once I got some confidence back I launched the kite again and I started to ride up wind. I got about half way back to where I started and the wind died again. I called it a day and packed up in the -27 degree air. Hopefully next time the wind is stronger so I can practice going upwind more.

Nice... I did the same thing the first time I flew on a serious depower (13m) in real wind (like 10mph). Scared the bloody hell out of me. I was kiting with a veteran buddy, though, and he told me how to stop. It totally worked:

When you're banging downwind at a pretty good clip and you want to stop, just steer the kite into the wind and turn upwind at the same time... your kite will go to 12:00 and you will just stop, then you can get adjusted and go back the other way (unless you're horrible at switchstance, like me... in which case you'll just fall down... wear a helmet)

Hi Snake, ET.AL.

The trick to a board is all toe heel, the latter mostly with a kite. You really have to grab an edge and ride it like a skate blade. Once you get it, you can look at your track and it will be like a knife cut. If you can find an older used board with shallow side cut it's better.
Stance is very important for accurate control; your bindings have to be set up for your hip width, front binding slightly offset forward ( some like it more than when you ride downhill...15-20 degrees, some guys even set up like alpine race i.e. both pointing forward, I find that very uncomfortable) the back binding has to be at a right angle to your board. You need to bend at the knees, this will allow you to place a bit more weight on your back leg (like riding powder downhill), it will also get you working upwind better. When you do it right, your front leg will be almost straight, while your back leg is bent. This setup will work even when you "switch" i.e. jibe. If you ride a skateboard then you likely know how ollie and pop, thats the best and faster way to change direction when you fly the kite up to come about or jibe. You can also just butter a turn but you lose a lot of speed. If your board is set up properly you will last longer, poorly set up and you will feel a wicked burn. Work the edge and you will feel speed like you never thought possible. I had my 16 waroo out a couple days ago on the st Lawrence, almost black ice, very sporadic thin crust, wind at 7 knots ( I measured it) and I was smoking fast. I also agree with the other guys, pay for a lesson on the hill and tell the instructor to go right to toe heel control, once you grasp that simple element you are on your way!

some good points but setting your board up duckfoot it way better