Snowkiting is a winter sport that involves a rider gliding on snow using either a snowboard or skis and harnessing the power of a kite to propel themselves forward. It is a blend of snowboarding and kitesurfing. Snowboarding is a winter sport where a rider descends a slope standing on a snowboard. Kitesurfing, on the other hand, is a surface watersport where an individual uses a surfboard and a kite to move across the water.
When using a snowboard it is called kiteboarding, and when using skis it is known as kite skiing. Snowkiting is akin to kiteboarding on water, but there are variations in the equipment used. Notably, water kiteboarding involves a surfboard, while snowkiting involves a snowboard. Snowkiting is fast becoming popular.
While riders can use snowboards or skis, most prefer a snowboard, finding it easier to ride and more flexible than skis. Nonetheless, regardless of the equipment, a kite can help riders attain speeds of 50 mph to 70 mph. Notably, it takes less wind to glide on snow than on water. Additionally, once a rider launches their kite and begins moving, it is easy to maintain a stable position on the snowboard.
Apart from skis or snowboards and kites, there are three other basic pieces of equipment for snowkiting: a control bar, kite lines, and protective gear. Riders today use inflatable kites, whereas in the past they used foil kites.
The control bar is a rod that the rider holds on to and uses to control the kite. Kite lines are cords made of materials such as nylon, silk, cotton, or wire that connect the kite to the control bar. Protective gear includes a helmet, impact shorts, knee and elbow pads, and a hook knife. A rider uses the hook knife to cut kite lines if they become badly tangled up in trees or other obstructive elements.
Importantly, a rider must know the ideal locations for snowkiting to get the most out of the experience. A flat open surface with sufficient snow cover is the best. Moreover, it's advisable to choose a flat meadow or snow-covered field, free from rocks protruding above the surface. A suitable location should also be devoid of power lines that could entangle the kite, and it's essential to have cell tower coverage in case an emergency call becomes necessary.
An ideal snowkiting location should also have predictable and steady prevailing winds to allow skiing and snowboarding with ease. Therefore, it's inadvisable to select locations with variable wind patterns or strong winds, like mountainous areas and mountain shadows, which refer to the shaded region of a mountain when the sun is low in the sky, typically during sunrise or sunset.
A frozen lake is often a good snowkiting location since it is flat and open. However, the lake should be sufficiently frozen to allow skating and other ice-borne activities. This ensures that a rider doesn’t encounter any thin ice.
As with other snow sports, snowkiting can be dangerous, especially if a person loses control of the kite. However, if an individual can confidently control the kite, maneuver it in the wind, and bring it down quickly, the sport is not particularly dangerous. Most injuries happen due to rider inexperience and inappropriate equipment, such as a too-large kite, which can take the rider off their feet.
There are a few ways to prevent risks and injuries. First, it’s important to get a kite that matches the rider’s experience and skill level and is the right size for their weight and strength. Second, it should have a harness that allows the kite to drop when letting go of the control bar. Third, it's crucial to check the weather, with a particular emphasis on avoiding extreme conditions like high winds and heavy rain.
