Essential Snowkite gear

Hein · Since 08 Mar 2005 1314 Posts Possessed

Older dog. new trick: Snow kiting on skis.

Got some Ozone Sub Zero Kites, bars and their harness.
Have a couple size skis with touring bindings.
All wheel drive van with heat.

What other essential gear do I need?

Thanks,
Hein

hilton · Since 15 Aug 2008 799 Posts Opinionated

the hardest thing to find around here is a spot to go with flat-ish ground, steady-ish winds and a sufficient snowpack.

Hein · Since 08 Mar 2005 1314 Posts Possessed

Plan is to drive east to ID or some other place with more reliable conditions.

All the best,
Hein

windpig · Since 28 Aug 2008 279 Posts Obsessed

Sounds like you're pretty dialed in. I used a climbing harness last year rather than a waist harness and it was infinitely more comfortable. Ski jackets are usually pretty slippery. Climbing harness fit over my ski clothes too. An over sized seat harness would work better probably. Looking at your post again, it sounds like maybe you have the Ozone Snowkite harness, in which case, even better.

shymac · Since 20 Jul 2005 919 Posts Home Valley, Wa. Bigfoot

Glove warmers. Get a 10x pack. Place them on the top of your inner glove to give you the heat you need when you grip it for 6 hours of riding.

SnowShoes. Helps when you need to rig up. Be the one that walks on water while others sink...

Easy to reach hot food and drink.

Goggle Lens for all occasions

Sunscreen for both face and lips.

Firewood if you want a nice warming pit while you wait for wind.

Two pairs of everything. One is drying the other is riding.

Cold WAX or Warm Wax but wax that shit up!

Check webcams in the area to see what's the real world looks like.

Snowkiting is like a big wave event. You just have to be patience and we have 3 flags. RED/YELLOW/GREEN to sound the horn. Green is 24hr departure anyone not ready in that amount of time misses the bus! Drunk

See you out on the wind lip!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qFENwsZ4H9I

Sasquatch · Since 09 Mar 2005 2100 Posts PNW Bigfoot

Hein · Since 08 Mar 2005 1314 Posts Possessed

Thanks for the great posts and ideas.

I have been skiing in recent years but
may need to get back on a snowboard.

Looks like I will have to get down to see
Pepi to finish the gear up process.

All the best,
Hein

IWantToFly · Since 29 Jul 2019 151 Posts Stoked

I messaged Hein but probably should have just posted here.

This summer a friend arranged a private surf camp from Jennie Milton. In addition to being an all around rad person, Jennnie does a bunch of snow kiting in Island Park Idaho near Big Sky. She would be the perfect person to reach out to for possible snow kite camps or instruction. She was really fun, safe, and knowledgeable. She travels between Oregon, Montana, Alaska, and Australia for every flavor of kiting.

Jennie Milton

jen
@
adrenajen.com
(Posted weird just in case it stops some bot from harvesting her email.)

Here is a link to an Instagram post. I can’t figure out how to link a whole profile but you can look through her whole feed/profile - Adrenajen. https://www.instagram.com/p/Ce88VFeLxzD/?igshid=MDJmNzVkMjY=

ldhr · Since 21 Jul 2009 1487 Posts Hood River XTreme Poster

+1 for coaching from Jennie.
It literally take 10 seconds to learn to snowkite if you already know how to kite and ski...
I spent a few hours with Jen in Island Park to learn how to self launch and land the Ozone foil kites. Lots of good tips and tricks.

Gman · Since 11 Feb 2006 4910 Posts Portland Unstrapped

skins for your skis if the wind dies far from home...

snow shoes to set up if you go snowboard route

helmet and thin pullover liner

a plan to keep your phone warm and charged - in case you need it

stringy · Since 23 Jun 2006 1734 Posts vancouver XTreme Poster

hey hein, I spent a few years chasing wind up at MSH and simcoes. I used a timbersled to get to the fields. in addition to a toolkit for my sled, I packed some emergency items like waterproof matches, leatherman with saw, shovel, probe and transponder.
these were essential for backcountry but for just snowkiting, I always carried my Garmin inReach and also my garmin rino with walkie talkie capability.
A one piece snow suit is bomber for keeping you warm and dry.
I liked a full face helmet with goggles.
I used the ozone snow kite harness which is very similiar to a climbing harness.
for gloves, I found the glacier gloves to work best. I use them for winter water kiting and they work real good for snow kiting as well. pepi has these in his shop.
if you're on semi flat ground you should make yourself a snowskate. not the best for hills (use a leash!) but for places like the HR sandbar, its super fun.

Here's a couple of pics from year's past to get you pumped