I'm just looking into this sport and I am wondering if there are any ski resorts you can snowkite at? Either resorts out west or in New England? Does anyone know?

Thanks!

I don't think you will enjoy the kite skiing at the resorts. One thing to remember is that the resorts usually have tons of people and the resorts rely on gravity (ski runs, etc...) for the enjoyment of their patrons.

Kite snowboarding (or kite skiing) doesn't rely on gravity to get going and you can take off from a dead level surface and ride in nearly any direction you desire (wind permitting). For this reason, the widest most open areas are usually the desired places to snow kite. Although you can use your kite to pull you up a slope or run, it is not necessary to get to the top of the run to start having fun. Most of the time riding across the flat areas or smaller slopes give the most adrenaline.

Another thing to remember is that the wind is free, resorts charge big bucks for lift tickets that you don't need. Head out into the back country or un-populated areas and search for that perfect playground that will work for you and your kite. I think you will have much more fun than trying to fight the crowds at the resorts.

Yeah, I realized it might be dangerous with all those people around!

While MOST ski resorts don't allow it some will in limited areas. Whistler will allow you to kite in flute bowl ( until they build the lift ) But Flute is pretty extreme with awfull wind. I think Sunshine mountian will let you kite Brewster. So the answer is, most likely not!
As mentioned above, snowkiting allows you to get away from the ski lifts ( and the theives at the ticket booth ) . I take a perverted pleasure out of being stuck in the traffic out to Whistler knowing this car won't be paying for a lift ticket !

Haha, yeah the idea of saving 50 to 70 dollars by not having to buy a lift ticket certain makes this sport very appealing! I just don't want to have spend a fortune on gas getting to a good kiting location.

Where are you located? - You mention New England. In winter in Minnesota, we we look for empty farm fields or lakes with a lot of fetch for cleanest winds.

krumly

Yeah, we don't have many huge open fields that I know about in CT. I will have to look into it. How large of a field do you really need?

For a sole kiter in a field who is learning - you could do it in a large baseball or soccer field but ideally, when you are learning, you are going to end up more down wind and not be as good getting back upwind so I'd look for something in the 3 acre range so you can take longer cross wind rides and build up enough speed to get back up wind or work your way back slowly.

Frozen ponds and lakes rule for size - if it gets cold enough where you are for them to freeze.

You know I have never thought about kiting on a lake

It's great on frozen Lake - so much room and good clean wind...

If you do have a lake you can get creative. Build jumps, rails, sliders and such. Just riding the lakes and working on jumps is thrilling enough for me so far !

Too bad it didn't get cold enough here for the lakes to freeze this winter. We went from -15 with the wind chills to 55 degrees and sunny in 3 days!

Just got home from the last possible snowkiting on lakes around here It's melting fast around here now !

I know people who hike out of bounds at Timberline on Mt. Hood to snowkite. Not the tamest terrain to learn on though.

A agree with the others - a big field or lake is free

You can try googling and see if all ski resorts will accept that ya know ?