I saw kites of all types, with nor cal kitesurfers trying snowkiting for the first time and following the more experienced riders down the main ridge.
Interesting that while windy everywhere, only Skyline had good snow at this point......it was great to see Marty and Doug make it out for the session after getting skunked at powmow and making the long drive south.
Great day for side by side testing, as the hard packed ground made it easier for inflatable kiters to set up. Marty took out an Instinct 13, while Buzi pumped up waroos. (pumping isn't so bad, as long as you have someone else doing it
) Great day for testing as most riders were powered on 7.5 meter Frenzy's, I think that size out nunbered any other one kite model... and while the 7.5m owners were cruising around with plenty of juice, others were able to hold down much larger kites.
An interesting point I learned is that on snow, foils and flat kites all have a similar high end range. both the 13/16 inflatables, gave comparable de-power (comfort) to the equally powered 12 meter Frenzy's. It was cool to see so many big kites easily riding when we all should have been on 7 or 10 meter Snowkites.
Rob, myself, big Al, Lorne and a couple others bombed down the ridgeline, exploring the 2 mile trek and discovering huge powder stashes. We were giddy as we launched high speed runs across the saddle, while watching everybody else ride the chopped up Bosco's Hill. ( I should mention that everyone heading down the ridgeline had foil kites, which are much easier to deploy and control by oneself...should one get into trouble out there).
I bring this up because the winds overtook big Al on her 10 meter Frenzy, and she had foolishly followed a few of us farther than her skills could handle. It was cool to see her just wave us off as she pulled the kill switch, rolled up her lines.... then skied down to a lower wind area and relaunched her kite by herself.
Allin all a great day, with everyone dialing in their skillz for the seaon, it was sweet to see so many more local faces at Skyline...and seeing the local level getting steppued up this season with more people launching big airs off the slopes!
See you out there.
Brian Schenck
