Utah Windriders Association

Got there about 1:30, wind seemed on the light side but there were a couple kites in the air. Ended up flying a 12m turbo diesel, wind was blowing 15 gusting to 20 or so. Snow was wind blown and kinda packed but not too hard, packed enough you get going really fast and boost pretty good even though it wasn't nuking conditions. I rode my normal snowboard a 161cm, not sure who else was out there, couple of bigger looking Best kites. Wind seemed to have alot of west in it and getting back to the parking lot was something i gave up on.

S, SE, SW, best wind direction to get back to the parking lot.

N, NW, and W take the chair lifts to the parking lot to the snowkite spot.

Happy New Year!!

thanks for the advice Jacob! hey can you or anyone else tell me more about kiting at powder on a northish wind? I tried it a couple times last year and it was no bueno because the wind was blowing almost down the slope it usually blows up and was pretty gusty and stuff too. Is there some other terrain there that works better there on a north...thanks

I've ridden on a North wind there...but you are limited to staying right on the ridge line...near the trees. There is good riding to be had but it seemed crowded with 3 kites in the air that day. Chasta snuck onto the side of the runs facing north, twisting his kite between the forests with care.

It can be ridden, just not as good as the SW winds.

You may be able to head out farther down the ridge and get some.

Windzup,
Brian Schenck

There another spot for the north wind days which is farther north from Sunrise ridge. Follow the snowcat track or take the snowcat. They will take you there for $12.

I hate to disagree with the original poster about the wind speed but here is my story. I arrived @ 1230 and went to the Hidden Lake lift terminal and the wind speed was 28-32 from a mostly west direction. I realize that the lift terminal is a little higher thatn the riding area but I wonder how the difference could have been so great. It was definitely honking when I got to the launch area. 2 guys from Boston had 7m and 9m inflatos flying, and someone else showed up with a Frenzy but I couldn't get the size. I was on my 7.5 Frenzy and was fairly lit up. I was able to go alll the way around the back side of the ridge and over where the snowcat skiing is. I kited back to the car @ 3:30.

To answer another post about a north wind at Pow Mow. Brian said it right. You are stuck in a small area. Lucky for us that the most powerful and predictable winds in the winter are S or SW, which is the best direction for Pow Mow..If you attempt to ride the ridge on a north wind, be ready to hike out, it can be a long one if you get pushed all the way back to where the snowcat skiing is.

I flew a 12m turbo diesel on 12/31. I saw two guys with (looked like) Best kites in the air and if it was a 7m and 9m then I have no idea how they were jumping like that. When i walked back to the parking lot there were two guys asking if I had seen Augie, i said no because I hadn't seen a skier flying an ozone foil-i've kited with you at monte so i know your setup. I dunno just my story...