Snow Kiting
Getting Started: Selecting a Kite for the Snow:
Types, Designs, Brands, Models, Sizes,
What to ride and Where to ride
New to Kite sports? If you have not yet mastered the basic kite skills, be sure to see
these pages as well: Beginners, Trainer-Kites
Video: Interview with HQ Kite Designer: Tom Bourdeau
This Page:
Kites Types used for Snow-Kiting
Standard foils
Sheetable-foils
Amphibious Foils
Inflatables
Choosing a kite size
Where to Ride
Snow kite Lessons
Kites - Kite Brands Models and Pricing
4 Kite Types currently used for the Snowkiting.
1) Standard Foil Kites:
Example: HQ Scout
Foils are designed for Land based sports.
No pump required.
The Foils will still fly well even with a small tear or hole.
Examples of standard foil kites: HQ Scout
Traditional foil kites that are rigged with 4-lines on a control bar. The kite mainly flys using the kites 2 front lines that connect to the outer ends of the Control bar. The Back lines ( aka brake lines / Back lines / Rear Lines ) are mostly slack while the Kite is flying. The brake / the back line(2)) Add 2 advantages. Firstly, they allow the kite to be easily "reversed" relaunched quick and easily off the ground after a nose first crash. The brake lines are also used as a safety kill switch. Just release the bar, and the brake line tighten up causing the kite to fold up, lose power, and fall to the ground.
2) Sheetable-Foils:
Examples: HQ: Montana IV, HQ Apex II
The ultimate kite design for most Snow-Kiters. Take the advantages of a foil kite and add in the the "sheetability" of an inflatable kite, ....giving the SnowKiter the best of both worlds! All of the benefits of a foil and the full sheeting (depower) ability of the inflatable! The wind range on these kites allows one kite to handle the wind range of 2-3 standard foils. These kites are amazing. To learn more about them, visit our new "Sheetable Foil Kites" page. Qualities: Very big wind range, designed for land use, The holy grail for snow kiters.
You'll pay more for these kites but also get one kite that will cover the wind range of 2
3) Sheetable Amphibious Closed Cell foils:
Example: HQ NEO.
Similar to sheetable foils but with one way intake valves/ flaps along the leading edge that air to flow only in only one direction... IN.
This feature lets the kite to naturally inflate without the need for an air pump.
The trapped air allows the
kite float and to be relaunched from the water.
4) Inflatable kites.
Examples: Best Kahoona, Best Waroo
Designed for the water and proven on the snow!
The Inflatable kite was designed for the water but recently kite companies have been making their inflatables tougher in the right places, easier to relaunch, safer, and more de-powerable.
In the past, the majority of snow kiters chose foil kites, but more recently many are now opting to ride inflatables.
Inflatable Qualities:
Excellent wind range.
Kiteboarders (water) already own them,
Will not fly with a leak.
You'll need to carry an air-pump.
Not designed to handle multiple strikes on solid ground,
The ideal kite design for the water, and also fun on the snow.
Inflatable Kite and "Sheetable" foil line configuration.
The front lines which connected to the kites Leading edge (LE) pass through a hold in the center of the control bar and terminate into the "trim-loop" that hooks directly to you via your harness.
The back lines on inflatable kites ( and Sheetable / Depowerable foil kites ) connect to the outer ends of the bar.
The back lines also called "Steering lines" or " Brake Lines".
When pulling on one side of the bar. ( the right side for example ), the right line pulls tighter,
creates more drag on the right wing-tip, and the kite then rotates around that point, causing your kite to steer ( turn ) to the right.
If Both back lines are pulled and tighten at the same time, you would initially feel more power from your kite, but as you continue to pull both line, the kite will reach a point in which its angle to the wind is excessive, and would cause the kite to stall and lose power. Many describe this as "back stall". When your kite stops flying forward, and wants to fly in reverse, you'll now understand why!.
If the back lines are slacked, the back of the kite is allowed to open ( to breathe ) having the effect of reducing the power in your kite. " de-power" ( also called "sheeting out" )
The beauty of this system is when you get hit by a strong wind gust, and want to spill off some of the power, just slide the control bar a few inches away from your body.
The sheetable foils and Inflatables function in the same way:
Pull the bar closer to increase power (sheet-in)
Let (or push) the bar out to Decrease power, De-power (sheet-out)
Steering with a Control Bar is the same regardless if it's a 2, 3, or 4 line set-up.
Pull right and the kite turns right.
Pull left, to steer it left.
Just like a bicycle.
Selecting a Kite Size:
The Kite size used for the snow varies considerably! On a day with 15 knots of wind, people can be Snow-Kiting with kites ranging from 3m to 13m!
The factors that influence the kite size chosen include:
Wind Speed: as measured with a wind meter / anemometer.
Wind Density: affected by altitude.
Snow Conditions: Icy and slick, hard-packed, slushy, to powder, to deep powder.
Rider Weight and strength: 90 lb kid, 115 lady to 220 big guy.
Type/ Design of Kite: High vs Low aspect design, Standard foil, or Sheetable.
Rider Skill: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced
Rider Style and Goals:
Cruising on the flats. Andrew McKendry and Family.
or Pushing the limits for maximum airtime...
"I was able to ride with my snowboard, man, this sport is a pure drug...
I've been windsurfing for 16 years and now, I only think about Kiting!"
- Pierre Couture / Canada
IF you have no previous experience...
the max size we recommend for your first kite is a 3.5m
See "Trainer Kites"
Small Snow kite:
3m to 5m range Good for the stronger winds in normal snow conditions or on lighter days with hard packed conditions.
Medium Size Snow Kite:
6m to 11m
Medium " Sheetable Foil" One Kite for variety of riders and conditions is a 6m or 8m
Medium "Inflatable Kite"
9m or 11m
Large Snow kite:
11m to 14m or larger for light winds.
Kite Quiver:
For those serious about the sport who want to be fully powered-up and boosting high lofty jumps in all conditions.
You'll eventually end up with 2 kites.
Examples: Inflatables 9m + 13m, or 7m +11m, foil kites: 8m + 11m
It you're going to split the purchase and get one kite now. Get the smaller kite first!
**** These are approximate sizes. The actual size or sizes you choose will depend on Weight, snow conditions, local winds, experience level etc. specific Brand and Model.
We're always happy to help... just ask! : )
Contact Us Also see the "How to" page for info on kite set-up and flying.
Locations to Snow Kite. Where to ride?
The best locations are wide open mountain passes, and frozen snow covered lakes, at high elevations where the wind can blow freely with minimal obstructions. Tall Trees, large Buildings and houses can all block the flow of wind and force it to become gusty and shifty. Ideally you are looking for wind that is consistent as possible in it direction and strength.
Currently some of the known kite spots are: Lake Dillon, in Summit county Colorado Skyline, Utah Georgetown Lake, Montana The best locations are still waiting to be discovered.
Lessons: Lessons are always a good idea, and a great way to avoid save time and money. Snow-Kiting is super easy to learn with a couple of lessons from a certified instructor. Like any sport, you can learn via the school of hard knocks, aka "suicide on a string", or you can take a 2 hour lesson and save yourself needless frustration.
I still remember the 1st time I tried snowboarding, crash... crash... crash. The 2nd attempt was with an instructor and friend who told me to drag my knuckles. The crashing stopped, and in about 5 minutes, and I was riding and doing surface 360's down the hill pivoting off my knuckles planted in the snow.
I'm sure at the time, I was thinking to myself ... " You dummy, why didn't you take a lesson
the 1st time!"
For many reading this, you already have the boarding skills, and mainly need need to learn about the wind and kites. Launching, Landing, re-launching, safety kite leash, riding angles, going "up-wind", kite tuning, using a harness, hooking in to the trim-loop vs fixed loop, emergency and self rescue, kiteboard stance, Transitions, jumping, Kite etiquette, choosing the right gear, etc.
The best way to begin, just like any other kite sport, is to pick up a trainer kite.
Use the info on the instructional DVD, and on our "How-To" page, and then progress to riding on the snow, and using larger kites.
Related Links:
Foil Kites: (Details for each brand model, sizes, prices )
Standard 4-line Foils made for snow-kiting (3m, 4m, 5m: HQ Scout)
De-Powerable / Sheetable 4-line Foils (including the HQ Apex-II and HQ Montana)
Inflatable Kites
Best Kahoona 2009
Best Waroo 2009
Best Waroo 2010
Not sure which kite is for you? We're here and happy to help if we can. Contact Us
