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Someone, somewhere
always wants to go
that one step further.
Snowboarding? Pah, leave
that to the amateurs. Skiing?
Been there done that. What
you really need to get your
kicks this season is to strap a
life-sized kite to your waist and
hurl yourself off a mountain.
James Wallman dips into the
high-flying world of snowkiters.
Photograpy by Gus Hurst
Start reading here for our exclusive snow-season section including the 2006 Winter Olympics, ice cricket, holidays for non-skiers, and wonderful winter wipe-outs.
Now that you ski and surfboard like a pro, you’ll want to know what the next mountain is to climb, so to speak. Snowkiting, the frozen water version of kitesurfing, is set to take winter sports to a whole new level.
From DIY-dangerous beginnings in the 1980s there are now 10,000 snowkiters worldwide who use especially designed kit in order to harness the wind, and ski and snowboard with it.
Snowkite evangelists rave about the freedom to fly about wherever there’s snow, not having to pay for lift passes or stand in lift queues. For those who want to have a go, snowkiting schools are popping up all across Europe—from France and Switzerland to Austria and the Czech Republic. And it only takes two hours to learn. Well, that’s the theory…
WHEN DID SNOWKITING TAKE OFF?
The man behind snowkiting manual The Snowkite Worldbook, Neil Godbold, says the sport started in Scandinavia in the 1980s: “At first, it was just guys in Norway and Sweden playing around with a basic parachute. But it was very dangerous because there was no way to control the power when there was a gust of wind.”
The pioneers persevered though, especially once Arctic explorers like Ranulph Fiennes realized that using a kite could cut journey time. He can usually walk 12 miles in a day. With a snowkite, he covers 112.
Snowkiting is now moving in two different directions. As well as these long-distance explorers, there’s the freestyle skiers and boarders who use the kites just for fun. “One of the first snowkiters was Swiss paragalider André Kuhn,” says Matt Taggart, owner of leading snowkite manufacturer Ozone, “He used to fly down from a mountain resort, land on Silvaplana lake when it was frozen and use his paraglider like a kite.”
WHY IS IT CATCHING ON?
The sport is gaining converts from all camps—from snowboarders to skiers to kitesurfers. With snowkiting you can go up and along the hill faster than you used to go downhill— and you don’t even need a hill. With snowkiting you can reach snowy parts of the backcountry nobody else has been to, carving fresh powder where lifts and snowshoes can’t take you.
Snowkiting can even save you money and hassle, too. Filip Sevcik, who runs a snowkiting school in the Czech Republic, says he doesn’t have to pay for ski lifts and doesn’t have to deal with long lift queues and overcrowded piste rage anymore. Another big pull is how easy it is to learn snowkiting. If you can stand on skis or a board, it’s just a question of learning how to control the kite.
Practicalities aside, snowkiting is an ultimate buzz. Sixteen- year-old AG—Arne Georg Eide Dokken to his mum—the current world junior snowkite champ, started kite boarding a few years ago. “I really like the water and how you can cruise the waves, but then I heard you could kite on snow… My favourite thing is the rush from flying five metres above the ground with the wind screaming past your head.”
HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO LEARN?
Most people take two hours to get the basics, although some zip along after an hour. But before you head off safely into the backcountry on your own, the International Kiteboarding Organisation recommends you’ll need around 12 hours tuition.
Snowkiting is relatively simple to learn and there are two reasons why it’s much easier than kitesurfing. First, unless you’re Jesus, standing on snow is easier than standing on water. Second, sliding along snow needs less pull than skimming along water. Result: you need a smaller kite to get started which means a far less daunting task for beginners.
Snowkiting
THE BASICS:
Step one
You’ll need to get to grips with kite handling; turning it right and left, how to use the safety systems and especially how to depower the kite (that is, lose all power instantly) and to relaunch it when it crashes.
Step two
Clip into your skis or snowboard and off you go. About 25m away, the kite feels like you have a hand holding you, constantly pulling you along. Beginners should start in a flat area, at least 200m away from all downwind obstacles like cliffs, rocks, trees and power lines—in case you get dragged. You must start with a small kite so any crashes are small.
Falling over
Beginners do fall, but the kite is always there pulling you up, minimizing the dreaded ski or snowboard-learner’s knee and bum bruises.
Fitness
You should be as fit as you would be skiing or boarding, but that’s all as you are attached to the kite by a harness. The only aches to expect are the same as other winter sports where you’re continuously exercising muscles you don’t always use.
- For details about all the clothing and kit: www.flyozone.com and www.northkites.com u For Snowkiting trips and courses: www.extremesportscafe.com/ snowkiting.html
- For the world Snowkiting tour: www.wintertour.fr
- Fotr the official Snowkiting body: www.iska-snowkitetour.com
One of the best places to learn is Silvaplana in Switzerland. With regular winds, beginners learn close to the resort. Other good ski resorts in Europe include:
OBERTAUERN, AUSTRIA
Details: ¤30 for a taster class, ¤110 for four hours introductory class. Both include kit. www.kiteschule.at Nearest easyJet airport: Munich + 2.5hour journey
SILVAPLANA, SWITZERLAND
Details: Offering a wide range of courses for all levels. ww.kitesailing.ch
Nearest easyJet airport: Milan +2.5hour journey
ORLICKE HORY OR VYSOCINA MOUNTAINS, CZECH REPUBLIC
Details: Mushow snowkiting school offers weekend, five-day and bespoke courses. www.mushow.cz Nearest easyJet airport: Prague + 2hour journey
SEMNOZ, ANNECY, FRANCE
Details: Open on all sides, which means regular winds. Ideal for snowkiting at all levels. Beginners lessons from ¤30 for a one-hour introduction. www.snowkiteschool.fr Nearest easyJet airport: Geneva + 50minute journey
FREERIDE CENTER, ABRUZZO, ITALY
Details: ¤139 for a weekend of tuition. ww.snowkitecampoimperatore.com Nearest easyJet airport: Rome Ciampino + 2hour journey
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