AUS Snow kite Best Location

[budha]

ok so im having 2 weeks of and considering going to the snow for a few days

where should i go???

[BobM]

New Zealand

[nigel]

You took the words out of my mouth Bob!!

Aus snow fields are more expensive than Europe.

NZ has big fields, but the draw back is that they have no accomodation above the snow line, so you have to commute each morning and night.

[budha]

im interested in aus lol if i got to NZ then i would have to see my crazy rellos which i want to avoid

[OBEwan]

You could go to Mt Buller. They always have snow there due to this

http://www.mtbuller.com.au/Winter/Environment/Water-Reuse-Project-and-Snowmaking

Adds a whole new meaning to on-piste skiing

Don't just avoid the yellow stuff. The white stuff is urine too.

Australians pay the world's highest ski hire and lift pass prices to go play in other people's sewerage

OBEwan

[skinduptruk]

please do let us know what you learn during your research.

i have asked a bit as well and have been told there are some areas you can pull over on the highways around the place, and therefore avoid the fees for resorts. for example, if there was enough snow, you could cruise up to Kiandra rather than Perisher or Thredbo. However it's much more rare to get that much snow, so then you are stuck looking for high places.

snowkiting is fundamentally different to downhill or even cross country, so what might be useless terrain for them could be perfect for you. the cross country people can handle trees whereas we want big open spaces, and maybe some rolling hills.

as for hills, i've been told the mt kozi / rams head range is quite good, roughly here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seaman%27s_Hut. note that high elevations means you have to know what you're doing, take an experienced buddy or start with safer options. don't think about camping unless you're very experienced - i'm not!

i know nothing for VIC or NZ but I am also on the lookout for a trip one day. i even looked up Canada at one point just for the fun of it. France has a massive snow kite, and all kites, scene.

type in "chasta" in youtube and sit back for a few hours...

[budha]

hmmm motorbike won the battle

so snow kiting next year

[skier]

Hi Guys

As Skinduptruk has outlined above the only reasonable place to snowkite in NSW that is right next to the road is at or near to Kiandra. It will only be covered by snow during the best of the season and the winds are probably not so great there since they are in the lee of the main range. I have not tried it there and am not in a rush to do so...

The best kiting in NSW is most easily accessed from Thredbo or Charlotte Pass but it is all backcountry and involves hiking and so you want to go with someone who is prepared and who knows the area if it is unfamiliar to you.

I would recommend hiking the area around the ramsheads (above and behind thredbo) with map/gps/compass to suss out the best locations. A great spot is the north side of north ramshead but you cannot easily get there without hiking, even with a kite.

Hope this helps.

Tim

[SoutherlyBuster]

Obewan,

You've got to get with the program:

Quote:

•The waste water is treated by a stringent disinfection process that results in the production of Class A recycled water. Class A is the highest achievable standard in recycled water.

•Class A water is commonly used on human food crops, for irrigating public spaces such as parklands and golf courses, and for many other every day purposes.

End Quote.

So if you are worried about the quality of snow, then you should be worried about the quality of vegies you are eating as they may be using such water as well. Am I worried, no.

Personally I think it is a good move. I know in Germany it is common practice to recycle the water, just look along the rivers in the BlackForest there are recycling plants all along it. I was shocked when I saw it and mentioned this to my relative who lives there and they said it is perfectly save and in common use, why don't you recycle water in Australia?

I believe some of the treated sewrage water from the Werribee Poo Farm is also used for farming.

Regards,

Norman.

[Magoo]

To recycle a link from another snow kiting thread in case you haven't seen it yet,

http://maps.google.com.au/maps/ms?ie=UT ... 5&t=p&z=11

shows a few supposedly good spots. I haven't been to any of them with a kite, but I'm heading up to Cootapatamba this weekend.

I'll let you know how it goes.

[VB]

Hi Guys

As Skinduptruk has outlined above the only reasonable place to snowkite in NSW that is right next to the road is at or near to Kiandra. It will only be covered by snow during the best of the season and the winds are probably not so great there since they are in the lee of the main range. I have not tried it there and am not in a rush to do so...

The best kiting in NSW is most easily accessed from Thredbo or Charlotte Pass but it is all backcountry and involves hiking and so you want to go with someone who is prepared and who knows the area if it is unfamiliar to you.

I would recommend hiking the area around the ramsheads (above and behind thredbo) with map/gps/compass to suss out the best locations. A great spot is the north side of north ramshead but you cannot easily get there without hiking, even with a kite.

Hope this helps.

Tim

Tim is right re Kiandra....it has potential, but the rolling hills near the entrance to Mt Selwyn snowfields are open to the northern sun so any snowfalls are melted quickly unless there is sustained falls with cold conditions. I looked/enquired all last season and it never quite made the cut. I did go up to Mt Selwyn and paid the Park entrance fee (I think it was $15 or so) Don't need a lift ticket. We then alpine skied to the top behind the lifts and found a plateau which is well exposed to the NW. To find the plateau follow the path to the right (or SE). It's a fairly small area compared to the backcountry above Thredbo, but it's a shorter drive and cheaper access.

The best place in NSW is the north side of Ramshead as mentioned by Tim.

On that score Tim, are you planning any trips to the backcountry this season? If so, let me know. I would like to give it a go again this year!!! I've been building up my fitness for alpine touring over the last few weeks. Let me know what your plans are?

cheers

Paul

[OBEwan]

Obewan,

You've got to get with the program:

Quote:

•The waste water is treated by a stringent disinfection process that results in the production of Class A recycled water. Class A is the highest achievable standard in recycled water.

•Class A water is commonly used on human food crops, for irrigating public spaces such as parklands and golf courses, and for many other every day purposes.

End Quote.

So if you are worried about the quality of snow, then you should be worried about the quality of vegies you are eating as they may be using such water as well. Am I worried, no.

Personally I think it is a good move. I know in Germany it is common practice to recycle the water, just look along the rivers in the BlackForest there are recycling plants all along it. I was shocked when I saw it and mentioned this to my relative who lives there and they said it is perfectly save and in common use, why don't you recycle water in Australia?

I believe some of the treated sewrage water from the Werribee Poo Farm is also used for farming.

Regards,

Norman.

My point was actually the cost of skiing in snow made from recycled water compared with elsewhere in the world where you can ski in the real stuff for much less money.

But since you raised the sustainability issue.....I agree, by all means lets conserve water and where possible recycle it to grow essential food. Not sure if snow skiing is essential. Specially at those prices.

Aside from that, when you can see the amount of power Buller use to make this stuff, it seems more than a little hypocrytical.

Problem: Burning coal=CO2 emmissions=global warming=less snow.

Solution: Burn more coal to generate electricity to make snow. = short term profits

Its a bit like this other equation:

Problem: Burning coal=CO2 emmissions=global warming=drought=less water in dams.

Solution: Burn more coal to generate electricity to desalinate sea water. = short term voter approval

OBEwan