jameseb Posted June 2, 2008 Report Posted June 2, 2008 What kites are best suited to the snow? Or doesnt it really matter? Would love to have a bash at snow kiting at some point. ta! James Quote
_Geordie_ Posted June 2, 2008 Report Posted June 2, 2008 Well I ain't no expert as its been my first year. I've kite surfed for several years though and have flown quite a few different types and makes of kites. I've tried snow kiting with LEI and depowerable foils and its got to be depowerable foils all the way. Much easier to handle and much easier to pack down and carry up/ride down the mountain with. Quote
jameseb Posted June 2, 2008 Author Report Posted June 2, 2008 Well, I've got an arc (15m Phantom) and a 7.5m Frenzy. I know the Frenzys have a good name as a snow kite, but I much prefer the big arcs. I guess you need less power to get going on the snow. But you still need the power for the jumps, although I guess you have more hills and stuff to lob yourself off... Quote
zerogee Posted June 3, 2008 Report Posted June 3, 2008 Yes, you will need less wind to get going on the snow (on hard snow or ice or shallow powder) and in powder I can handle the same amount of wind in the top end as I can when riding on butter smooth water. I use the same size quiver for water, snow and ground. I fly PL twinskin. Quote
pen-dragon Posted June 3, 2008 Report Posted June 3, 2008 I obvously use the Air Evolutions, two min set up and 1 of those is used putting the board on yr feet! very stable with great power! Thay are built for the mountains, I was in Semnoz with 4-5m of powder. i enjoyed snowkite more than kitesurf or kiteboarding, and belive every one should have a go, if you have alot of powder you can try massive powered moves and it dosen't hurt when you chuff it up, it's like landing in a fome pit that gradualy slows you down and supports you! love it. Quote
jameseb Posted June 5, 2008 Author Report Posted June 5, 2008 That does sound top fun, I really fancy the idea of a bit of snow kiting. Only done a bit of snowboarding, and that was awesome with a decent bit of powder down -- as you say, it's like landing on a douvet or something when you cock things up. Awesome. Shame snow is one thing we lack big time in this country... Quote
sandfly1599968672 Posted June 6, 2008 Report Posted June 6, 2008 It looks like the Spirit is the big snow kite at the moment - wining lots of comps. Quote
kahis Posted June 7, 2008 Report Posted June 7, 2008 Snowkiting is probably the least kite-specific of the kite sports. You can use any kite. In deep snow depowerables have an edge. Most sites have less-than-perfect wind, so very unstable kites will fly poorly at low speeds. Most "snowkites" tend to be of the mid- to -mid/high AR depowerable variety. Quote
andrewlcblueyo Posted June 8, 2008 Report Posted June 8, 2008 As always let's all disagree! I used my water kites on the snow (Boxer SLEs) and they were fantastic. Set-up time is marginally longer than a foil but performance way better. ALL of the good snowkiters I saw in Norway, especially the pro guys, were using inflatables. Quote
spooky Posted June 8, 2008 Report Posted June 8, 2008 "especially the pro guys, were using inflatables." May be thats because they have to fly there sponcers kites who dont make foils?? But I agree with you Horses for Course, fly what ever works for you Freestyle comps LEI's fine but I would say for any back country stuff, foils are the way forward. Not just becuase of pack down size, but also the ground handling, and a bility to recover from luffs and tucks (if only to grab a line and ball it up before it reopens etc). But again fly what your comfortable with Jon Quote
PieGuy Posted June 9, 2008 Report Posted June 9, 2008 ALL of the good snowkiters I saw in Norway, especially the pro guys, were using inflatables. I take it you didnt run into fabretti or chasta then? why follow the pro's anyway? fly what your happy flying and get on with it, develop your own riding.. theres no point buying a kite somone else has recomended to you without trying it first, their idea of 'the best snowkite' will almost definately be different from yours, because the truth is there isnt one. A kite is what you make of it fly before you buy Quote
Rushmore Posted June 10, 2008 Report Posted June 10, 2008 personally i'd choose an inflatable.. much bigger depower range, and they don't luff. Quote
Dan Masochist Posted June 11, 2008 Report Posted June 11, 2008 they dont luff but they can hindenburg Quote
Rushmore Posted June 13, 2008 Report Posted June 13, 2008 they don't luff. sorry but ******** if you LEI luffs, you've got problems! Maybe try pumping it up??? yes they can hindenberg, just fly it properly! :rolleyes: Quote
baldwhippet Posted June 13, 2008 Report Posted June 13, 2008 It's all about a product being designed for a purpose: Foils: Snow LEI's: Water Simple as that! Quote
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