lostinlondon said...

You can snowkite with LEIs quite happily, just use a size down from what you would use on the water, and two sizes down if the snow is hard pack or icy. Foils are still the preferred choice as they pack down small and don't need a pump.

Invest in knee pads and a snowsports helmet.

Choose an area with little to smash your kite into.

Be prepared to swear a lot.

Be prepared to sweat your arse off.

lostinlondon said...

Mr Float:

Yeah, I am over in the UK. I did spend a day in France at Le Col du Lautaret, which is probably the spot to see it as its best as the world champion (Chasta) rides there pretty much every day the wind is on.(Lucky Chasta)

There has been a lot of debate about the durability of LEI kites on snow and the consensus seems to be that sticks, trees and rocks pose the biggest risk to the durability of your LE. After that, sharp ice is an issue. However, I would not try to ride on a surface like that anyway, (not much choice in oz )you have to be able to get an edge in on your board or skis! (Thats right .we generally get a Hawfrost form on top of the ice which makes it grippy and your right it aint for the faint hearted here ) From my time studying the snowkite forums very few people have actually seen someone destroy their leading edge on snow, unless its refreeze with sharp icy edges.(Yep thats what we get)

Lines are used in all kite construction so getting snagged on ice is going to be an issue on foils or LEIs.(Correct)

To learn snowkiting I would be looking for a flattish open field, with few sticks or rocks, and 10-30cm of soft snow. (Not neccessarily pow, but dreams are free!)(Good luck in Oz)

Once you get the hang of it on flat snow then you can start looking for slopes to ride up and down. The issue with snowkiting is that on a hill, you start adding a dimension to kiting you don't get on the water. ie. The slope of the hill and the wind direction afffect how you ride over it.

If you are just curious and you want to give it a go then using an LEI that you use for water is going to be your best bet because you are using a kite you are already familiar with.(correct but again be careful you don't trash it) This leaves you able to concentrate on riding over the snow. If you have the money, then sure, go buy a foil but remember winter is short (Three months tops) and summer is long, why buy kit you might use twice or three times a year?(Correct which is why my kites have been PL in the main , they can be used on all terrains and you are always familiar with it ,unfortunately a feature that the company has not really capitalised on in their marketing)

The advantages of a foil are:

1. Increased portability/no pump needed
2. You can reverse launch them when you crash them leading edge down
3. Durability


The advantages of LEI are

1. Rigidty helps in gusty conditions (won't collapse or bowtie)
2. You already are familiar with the setup from riding on the water.
3. You have good depower if you use an SLE/bow - This was the advantage foils had when C kites were the standard