hey to be honest its nothing but an idea atm. But i just want to see if people would be keen on coming if i organize a snow-kite trip to new zealand this winter? i lived in christchurch for snowboarding and i know some sick spots to kite. But don't want to really go to all the effort of organizing if no one will want to come :) so fill me in if your keen or any ideas for the trip

cheers

ben

are these paid trips with everything organised

Or just a bunch of like minded guys all paying there way with a bit of help and guidance from someone who has been there done that

yep.If anyone is interested a bit closer to home I will be getting a hookup down at Thredbo in the third week of Sept again this year .Last few years have been epic .Cost tickets (subject to Thredbo's pricing are around $75 per day in 2 -7 day pacs .ride the lifts in the light or ballistic stuff and kite when its good .I have been going there for 15 years now snowkiting and I'd say that Tim ,Pat and Dave who are backcountry gurus will hopefully be along (accom in thredbo around $100 per night inc meals ,lodge accom or camp ,...free. (Its been a big summer and I'm actually really looking forward to winter and hookups all over the southern hem)

yeh ours will be the same cmon wa people :) not afraid of a bit of snow are ya :)

We are fully up for a snow kiting trip in NZ, we are looking at going early August. Please fill us in with more details. We will have our own flights sorted, intrested in the rest of the package...

myusernam said...

i still dont get it? why not just use the lift system and really work all the mountain? rather than dick around on the flat country learning a new skill, getting carted etc. trying to find the optimum terrain/ wind conditions.
downhill snowboarding/ snowskiing is pretty hard to beat...if I was spending the ca$h getting there I would have thought you would get more enjoyment out of downhill than arsing around with a kite. different if you live close and go to the snow all the time i spose.

asking a serious question here

Good question and good points .For me its about getting into the backcountry cruising around in the wilderness seeing some amazing sites and then finding a few perfect spots where I can ride freshh all day .its a bit like waveriding and finding the perfect balance between hill and kite .Sometimes you can find a perfect spot with fresh windblown on it and its steep and deep like the bluff at Thredbo but handling the kite is a pain in the butt and ruins the whole situation but then just around the corner the snows great the angles right and all is good .
Spending a night out at Seamans hut by the fire with your mates and meeting a few new ones is great as well .
I have found that the mid sept missions to Thredbo that I do are a great combo .good snow,no cauliflower ice and some spectacular weather (we usually get fresh and it doesn't get skied/boarded out after 5 mins .I was still making fresh tracks off piste and skking corduroy on little beauty 2 days after a snow fall ) good prices ,no crowds if using the lifts if the wind is no good and heading out when its good

mmm...Id go back country anyday!!! Unsurpassed snow, now crowds....sweet!

myusernam said...

Mr float said...

myusernam said...

i still dont get it? why not just use the lift system and really work all the mountain? rather than dick around on the flat country learning a new skill, getting carted etc. trying to find the optimum terrain/ wind conditions.
downhill snowboarding/ snowskiing is pretty hard to beat...if I was spending the ca$h getting there I would have thought you would get more enjoyment out of downhill than arsing around with a kite. different if you live close and go to the snow all the time i spose.

asking a serious question here

Good question and good points .For me its about getting into the backcountry cruising around in the wilderness seeing some amazing sites and then finding a few perfect spots where I can ride freshh all day .its a bit like waveriding and finding the perfect balance between hill and kite .Sometimes you can find a perfect spot with fresh windblown on it and its steep and deep like the bluff at Thredbo but handling the kite is a pain in the butt and ruins the whole situation but then just around the corner the snows great the angles right and all is good .
Spending a night out at Seamans hut by the fire with your mates and meeting a few new ones is great as well .
I have found that the mid sept missions to Thredbo that I do are a great combo .good snow,no cauliflower ice and some spectacular weather (we usually get fresh and it doesn't get skied/boarded out after 5 mins .I was still making fresh tracks off piste and skking corduroy on little beauty 2 days after a snow fall ) good prices ,no crowds if using the lifts if the wind is no good and heading out when its good

fair enough...I live a loooong way from the snow so that tilts my bias a bit.
If I lived in sydney I reckon I'd be keen for backcountry on the nsw slopes..too crowded and expensive. and the nature and brokeback mountain thing sounds good too. thredbo..$110 for grass skiing

Brokeback mountain ???? Not that kind of male bonding and girls are welcome and have come along in the past .Thredbo is actually at its best in mid sept (look at the snow depth chrts thats where it peaks ) plus the snowmaking and grooming on the lower slopes has really improved the place .its was actually $100 per day last year which is why I go in Sept for $70 per day for good snow ,no crowds ,good weather ,not tracked out after 5 mins .3 years ago we were there just after a mud storm .There was a freeze just aftre it which made the snow very good again and still making fresh whit tracks in the brown in the arv and then a 20 cm top up of fresh