Kite Touring

[Platinum Pete]

Kite skiing was discussed a little a while back on Powder, but that archive is gone.
After reading several times about Andrew McClean and others utilizing kites for touring, I am very interested. I know Flingle is getting into this and other ski mountaineer types are putting kites into action and raking in huge (like 20,000 ft) vertical days. It seems so damn cool.
So let's start a knowledge base on it. What equipment is all necessary (harness?, bindings in tour mode or heal locked?, etc.) How to get started? Cross over skills from kite boarding (on water)? Uphill vs. flats techniques? Upwind vs. downwind? Basically all the shit you need to know and a feedback from the field.
Anybody who has done some kite skiing, has researched it, or has questions please speak up. I think it is the wave of the future.

[Twoplanker]

Check Andrew McLean's Kite page to get this started.

http://www.pawprince.com/index/kitendx.htm

[LCC]

I asked Andrew (friend of a friend) about this last time I saw him. About the touring thing in the mountains/using the kite as uphill transport. At that time (no idea what he is doing now with it) he was just using it as a transport, like across ice/fields. He mentioned that when going up a mountain that had the necessary uphill winds, it was difficult to get the kite to brake before going over the ridgeline. And the smaller rounder mountians didn't have the desiered upslope winds.

Read as: I'm hauling ass up the mountain and suddenly in the air off the other side.

Locked bindings, you need edge hold, but probably want freeheels to move around.

Nice guy, drop him an e-mail and ask, can't hurt.

[Platinum Pete]

Thanks. Andrew McClean is so damn cool, I'd go gay for him (but I'm glad he's not asking me to.)
That site has some cool pictures and links to kite designs, but not a lot to go on. It looks like hella fun.

[LCC]

Ohh yea, he was talking about making kites and selling them too. Might be a good way to get started.

[sluffhunter]

It is good for access along long flats.

You can ski with the kite in your back pack, not much weight/space, but the bar will stick out of your pack.

Kites are not allowed in national parks in France, but may be allowed in other countries.

If the winds are right it could kill alot of time on approaches.

6 m kite is probably the best starter.

[Platinum Pete]

Originally posted by sluffhunter
It is good for access along long flats.

You can ski with the kite in your back pack, not much weight/space, but the bar will stick out of your pack.

6 m kite is probably the best starter.

Yeah, the kites and lines weigh in at around 500 grams, so the weight is well worth the energy to be saved. Plus fun.

I am surprised at your recommendation of a 6m kite. it sounds huge (you meant 6 square meters, right), and perhaps overpowering for a beginner like me. How does one determine appropriate kite size? I know factors like expected wind velocity, rider weight, and surface conditions come into play; what else is to be considered and how do you weight each factor?

Does anybody know of a retailer or class in the PNW? It seems like one of the kite boarding operations in the gorge would be in this business.

I really appreciate all the feedback so far.

[sluffhunter]

this should help
kite sizes

[Platinum Pete]

Originally posted by sluffhunter
this should help
kite sizes

That's a very helpful site. I've been doing all my searching with terms "traction kite" or "kite skiing", so I missed this one.

[cj001f]

Originally posted by Platinum Pete
Does anybody know of a retailer or class in the PNW? It seems like one of the kite boarding operations in the gorge would be in this business.

I haven't heard of any kiteskiing operations up here in the PNW.
I have seen a setup or 2 at some of the shops in Hood River - one of the manufacturers (add in last springs Couloir) is selling setups commerically.

I've made up a 2.5m^2 kite, and am working on a 5m^2 (both modified nasa parawings a la Andrew) - with designs on adding a 10m, and maybe something bigger eventually. The 2.5m has been useful for working on kite handling skills - but I've yet to try either with skis. I'm still looking for a nice, big, windy, flat, snowcovered field somewhat close to PDX.

[Gorillo]

I brought some kites to Chile this summer. Result : nada mierda concha su madre !

Well tried them out on dry land but when we brought them to the snow, the winds were just not there. Sucks when your sport is supper weather dependant. (Kinda like powderskiing). But when the goods arrive I suppose the rewards are wicked. I toured and skied with a windwing 550 (www.windwing.com) in my backpack (sticking out a little) and was fine. But I don't know if I would always carry it in hopes of maybe using it a little. Takes some time to set up and also to put away properly.

Uses for kite for me would be :

- Day kitting - good wind conditions and a frozen lake or wide open space

-kite touring : extended tours on large flat terrain large glaciers

If I kited I think I would go out for a kite and not a kite tour. The perfect weather for the combination is in my opinion a utopic thought.

Props to Andrew : I dropped him a mail and he was really helpful. Buddy rules !
there was a good tread on couloirmag.com but it is gone now I tthink at least I can't find it.

[ak_powder_monkey]

30 mph sick sick sick sick what are "kite jibs?"

[Gorillo]

Originally posted by ak_powder_monkey
30 mph sick sick sick sick what are "kite jibs?"

Scroll down to bottom left of page. Click the link kite skiing freestyle tricks.
http://www.doomwheels.com/movies/index.php