3/5 Skyline Snowkite Masters 11.5 m

[Jessica Gainer]

After a year and a half of watching my husband kite, during which I was pregnant and then taking care of an infant, I finally decided it was my turn to get out and ride. A few failed attempts on the water last fall (see picture below) and some kind advice from some friends led me to believe kiting on the snow would be an easier way to learn.

So for the past couple months I've been getting better-learning to stay upwind and actually getting off the ground for some small jumps. I think it was the few jumps I landed and some kind encouragement that made me overconfident enough to think I could go hang out at Skyline and Snowkite Masters Saturday.
As soon as my kite was in the air and I began my first tack, my newbie stoke and my intuition began to have a fight.
Newbie stoke: “All right, my kite's in the air, let's go!”
Intuition: “Maybe you should figure out if there are any dead zones around here.”
Newbie stoke: “Nah, just get away from that guy taking lessons and that pair of skis so you can kite!”
Intuition: “Your tack line seems to be taking you straight to that fresh powder.”
Newbie stoke: “Yeah! That's what I'm talking about.”
Intuition: “There are 100's of kites here, why would there be fresh powder?”
Newbie stoke: “Uh, people want to glide the hill? There's another kiter down there.”
Intuition: “Yeah, his kite's on the ground and it's not getting relaunched...”
That's when my kite dropped out of the air and my intuition said “I told you so.” Fortunately, Tyler saw my predicament and came to help. He helped get my kite up in the air and got me moving a couple times. Unfortunately, I would move about 10 feet and then my kite would drop again. I got to the point where when Tyler came over, it was so much work for him to get my kite and then his up that I asked him not to worry about it, I would just hike out.
Feeling pretty beat up and frustrated, I unstrapped my board when someone I didn't know came kiting over on a foil and grabbed my kite. I quickly strapped my board back on and was able to move a few feet before my kite dropped once again. The guy with the foil that could somehow magically fly in the dead zone (Chasta, I found out later) continued to help me for the next ½ hour while I worked my way out.
When I finally got back up on my board, I rode for about 15 minutes and after some failed attempts at jumping, I decided I was too tired and frustrated with my hour in the Hole of DOOM to want to kite any more that day. I landed my kite and rolled up my lines. That's when Jake came over to me and said, “You're getting WAY better. I can't believe you made it out of that hole.”
That was the perfect thing to say right then. My spirits improved and my stoke came back as I realized he was right, I was getting better. I doubt I could have gotten out of the Hole of DOOM even a month ago. I really appreciate his, Tyler's, and Chasta's kindness. Thanks, guys, you reminded me that kiting is not just about great wind conditions and the joy of riding-it's being part of a community and encouraging each other.

(the pictures were taken by mark johnson)