Utah Windriders Association

Saturday morning at Skyline was light, but we saw Kenny riding so we thought we'd rig up and give it a try. We had 4 kites inflated and were preparing to launch when a rogue snowmobiler buzzed through the lot of us. He ran over my buddies lines and took the 14M BEST with him. We yelled and waved, but attempts signal him were futile. It was an eye-opening sight to see the kite get ripped away at high velocity, dragging behind the oblivious sled.

Another sled stopped to offer help finding the kite. It was a couple hundred yards up the hill. Three lines were cut, but the bar and kite appeared to be in decent condition.

My buddy doesn't harbor any hard feelings to the snowmobiler. It was a simple accident. We just hope to help others avoid the same predicament.

I wish I had a snowfence. I have had my lines run over once, but I caught the riders attention before any damage was done. I am thinking of carrying an air horn, but I am not sure if even an air horn would be loud enough. Those motorized chainsaws are so loud. That is part of the reason I have started going to Skyline at first light. It is great to get a couple hours before the racket ensues.

It would be nice if there was a sign explaining to sled riders to give kites a wide berth. A designated launching spot for kites only would also be appreciated.

It's nice to leave the lines out.

Color lines might help to prevent sledneck and snowkiter cutting thru.

I have to wrap my lines up because I hate watching my kites like HAWK to make sure no one cut thru my lines.

This happens a few times a season on the frozen lakes in Minnesota. Some of the guys out there started bringing cones, like the small ones used by soccer teams, to mark their lines when they were setting up.

john