Dom

Been thinking about giving snowkiting a go but the best time for me to actually go due to work is this summer. Checked out flights to NZ but they are so expensive. Any ideas for a cheaper Northern European alternative?

Gunner, what's it like living there? I live on Tenerife in Puerto De La Cruz but I find the whole island a bit too busy. Thinking about moving over to Fuerteventura in the not too distant future but some Tinerfenos have said to me that it's just too quiet. Obviously the kiting and the surfing is awesome but what's it like as a place to live? Are there things to do other than watersports or is it really that quiet?

Nice idea, I'll look into it. Sounds reasonably busy though. Anyone know of anything similar to Tiree in terms of crowds?

any recommendations?

I finish work on 22nd June and am searching for somewhere to spend at least a month kitesurfing. Unfortunately, working in a school means every other man and his dog is off at the same time. Was looking into Dakhla for a month but I'm not sure whether the travel costs will blow the budget. Any recommendations for somewhere reliable and quiet which won't blow the budget? Did Tiree last year but now I'm working abroad so can't bring a car with me which rules that out...

Studying the maps of the area I'm looking at, I can only guess that there are a few decent places around and about to have a look at. I'm guessing a really high up plateau with a only couple of hundred metres difference in altitude over a distance of maybe a couple of square miles would be a good place to blast around? How far away does an obstacle, such as a large peak, have to be before the wind can settle down again to a more predictable flow? Also, I been scouting some snowkite pyrenees forums and some posts say that the wind is crap in certain places. I can understand some lower locations will be affected by high mountain chains blocking a good flow of wind but I'm guessing that cannot be the case if you're towards the top of the range?

Baqueira got thin and mushy in April but the rest of the time it was great and I didn't work there in a particularly good season for snow. Last winter was incredible according to my friends who are still there. I've read that the eastern part of the range gets better snowfall than the west as the precipitation generally comes from the Atlantic. I have been looking pretty much in the middle as a compromise for quality, quality and as the best terrain is also central although I guess this is probably still not far enough away from the coast. Videos from Cauterets look amazing both in terms of terrain and snow but then I guess everywhere has good days. The Alps obviously have better downhill overall but in my opinion people focus way too much on statistics and the Pyrenees have fantastic terrain in the right places. I'm no world champion skier and so there's plenty of Pyrenean terrain which would frighten the life out of me. As a place to actually live, I would choose the Pyrenees from what I know which I stress is limited. The Alps seem much more commercial and I have very fond memories of life in the Val D'Aran.

Vindman, I'd be really interested to hear your observations on Pyrenean snow. My snow experience is limited to the Alps and Pyrenees

Flyvan, how much is one of these trips going to be? Where would we fly into? Regarding the Pyrenees, I'm looking at an area where most of the terrain is 1600m - 2800m so I'm thinking that quality of snow will be a little better than most places in the Pyrenees. In terms of terrain, I have been researching snowkiters in the area for some time now and there are many flatter places to go as well as steeper terrain which is what I'm after too for downhill. I spent a winter in Baqueira on the Spanish side and there was wind nearly everyday in the afternoon. I cannot compare it to Sweden as I have never been but I'm guessing Swedish snow is more higher quality. As for speaking English in Sweden, you're right but you're doing nothing for the British stereotype! I speak French and Spanish so being on the border of both countries would be cool for me personally

I'd be very grateful for any tips on how to assess the terrain for snowkiting suitability. Google maps are excellent for giving elevation so I think with a little help I hope I could get a good idea of what to look for bearing in mind I'm interested in the high mountain aspect side of things as well as more mellow terrain. It looks relatively simple to understand but I'm sure I'm unaware of some basic things to look for

I think realistically it will be the pyrenees due to the good elevation, the fact that I can speak French, its proximity, decent value for money and lifestyle. The issue of snow quality I guess depends on what you're used to...

Fantastic advice, thanks very much. So, whether dependent seems fine to me so there's a mix of kiting and hiking, plus I'd be looking to find somewhere that would give me a range of options in a range of wind directions hopefully

cool. but I'm interested by the ultimate access idea that snowkiting gives so I'd want to use it like here http://www.kiteworld.tv/the-chasta-series/the-chasta-series-7-ultimate-access/ any thoughts?

As an addicted downhill skier and boarder for some time and a kitesurfer, I'm looking into moving full time to an place where I can start snowkiting to enjoy as much of the mountain as possible. Although I've done winters in both the pyrenees and the alps, I'm in need of advice. How important are the vertical stats once you start snowkiting? Obviously if you're hiking or touring in the backcountry, you want to get as much downhill as possible. But with a kite, when you can really explore so much terrain with ease, does the vertical become less important? Basically, all the famous downhill areas especially in the alps are so expensive and often crowded that I'm looking into cheaper and quieter places and wondering whether the kite. will compensate for less extreme terrain.

I fly 07s too and I got totally spanked recently. Made me realise how little i actually know about the safety system on my own kite. Does anybody know of an instructor in the NW who can give me a half day session on this type of kite?