Locals favorite Snowkite Spot?

[windzup]

So Utahn's are at the forefront of Snowkiting, or at least the magazines would tell us that, everyone claiming Skyline as a top spot. I personally know of a lot more and even better places, they are just farther away from civilization.

This is my 9th year searching for the epic winter ride in Utah. I started in bad locations in Southern Utah, outside of Brian Head and Elk Meadows (closest snow to my home in Vegas). I then moved North in 01 for better snow and wind. From my home in Draper I was perfectly central to all of Utah's Snowkiting (known and unknown at the time). In 01 and 02 the Snow was good low and opened up many early riding spots that have since disappeared. Rush Lake was a huge favorite those first years with wind and snow, but it hadn't turned much until this past winter when lake effect got the better of it. Beside Rush, I kited with others in parks and fields regularly across the valley... some of those spots are now known as IKEA (damn urban sprawl). The Point of the Mountain was also a regular meeting place for out of towners dropping in during winter, a place that has seen less snow every winter since.
The next 'first' spot I remember was Kimball Junction in Park City, but after a couple years it turned into a nature preserve, and we were forced to search for other close spots nearby... finding the home depot field, the DOT field and Kevins Corner. Some of which are closed to 'tresspassing' or may become closed in the future due to urban growth.

Then came the 'bad snow' years, that forced snowkiters to search the high ground. After a miserable winter where Sulfer was the only ice/snow around, we stumbled onto the mountain meccas of Pow-Mow, Strawbs and Skyline. The first years, there were not enough riders to exploit the true potential of any of these spots. As locals, I think we have all been skunked our fair share at all of these spots, and then moved on to either more predictable or closer locations.

So there are now dozens of new places to ride in Utah, just depends on the snowpack. Park City is a backcountry dream if you are willing to hike. There is a ridge above Deer Valley that turns out very reliable conditions...and D rides his splitboard solo on a ridge opposite Park City, along with numerous other untracked ridges in the region. Strawbs has unlimited potential when the wind is good, as does Skyline. Then head North and one realizes that Pow Mow is just one of many ridge tops to ride in Nor-Utah. Everything boils down to 'Access and consistent conditions'.

So with that I ask, What Snowkite spot do you ride most?
Do you ride because its closer, because the wind is better, or because the terrain draws you in?

Windzup,
Brian Schenck

I ride Skyline because I find it predictable, I am in love with its terrain, and it is now the closest spot to my home in Mt. Plez. I wish I lived in a motorhome that ran off of wind

[lesvierra]

Powder Mountain for me. Its a no brainer when you live 4-5 miles down the road. I hopped on the seen just a couple of years ago. Auggie and Nate, Ryan as well as some others were frequenting the place.

I think Powder Mountain is awesome because what the Point Forcast says is usually what you get almost to the mph, in my experience. And it does blow a majority of the time. Its not huge, there is not alot of terrain, but it is perfect for a backyard session. I'd love to get out to alot more areas, but cant quite justify it due to pow mows proximity and lack of time.

We're luck to have monte cristo for some backcountry excitement. Thanks to Auggie and others that go out when the wind blows, we are learning when its good.

Access is everything. Powder Mountain can be take away just as easy as it came. Hope we can preserve it.

Not ready for the snow yet. Still taking a mental beating from the lack of wind on Pineview and my lack of being able to predict the wind. Its one of the toughest things to do, stand on the beach with the wind 2 to 3 miles to light, with frequent gusts that keep you from going home.

[Kenny]

Brian, as if I was not already jonesing enough for snowkiting...

Honestly, if it was not for the high mountain spots I would be dreaming of water kiting year round. Now the opposite is true, I can't wait for the snow to fly.

Skyline is my pick. I was only skunked once there this past year and that was due to a whiteout. The place just rocks, floating off Bosco Hill, soaring the ridge, making deep turns in the pow. I would go to Strawberry more often if the snow were deeper and the wind more predictable. I like PowMow, but it was not that great this past winter. I did get some great sessions the year before. I wish we had more high terrain with decent access. I keep threatening to buy a snow machine, but I realize that by the time I loaded the sled, unloaded it, drove it to the kiting spot I could be at Skyline.

Best place for beginners is a tie between Pineview and Sulphur.

Burn your lift tickets, this winter is dedicated to snowkiting!

[Marty Lowe]

I like...

Strawberry ... for the terrain, snow conditions, and options within a few miles, when up there. (and closest to work in SLC)

Skyline... windy from all directions, terrain options. Someone is always there.

Powder... close to home.

All 3 are very predictable, hard to get skunked.

We're just very lucky to have options that we can drive to.
Unbelievable backcountry opportunities.
Snowmobile---hum....maybe in the future.

-Marty

[btjsfca]

Sitting at SSB last night with Mike, Bordy, and friend, staring out over the perfectly flat, glass, we were all just pining for the snow. For me, winter is bliss. No need to chase after phantom fronts, just check winds aloft and pretty much nail it every time. It's a great thing.

I've got to spread the love to Skyline for its early snow coverage, excellent terrain, and killer vibe and community. I never love riding the snow alone, and I've never been stuck solo at Skyline.

Looking forward to tapping Strawbs some more this winter, and hopefully hitting PowMow some, though.

-J

[Augie]

PowMow is good because of the proximity and elevation. It is always the first place that I ride every year. However, the terrain at Monte is superior to PowMow both in variety and size. Late last year I even found a natural halfpipe in a filled in a gully that we used to avoid due to low snow coverage. Being able to ride down the halfpipe and then turn around and go UP the same way is pretty cool. If Pow Mow gets too big and they build houses in our riding area then I have my sights set on Flattop mountain just southeast of the normal area. I have been there a couple of times and it is huge. Also there is some space on the north side of the area (Davenport) that looks good.

[MikE mAy]

i hesitate to mention a favorite of mine becuase i feel that there is so much more to experience. with only one winter season under my belt and having only gone to the top spots (skyline, strabs, pow mow), i'm ready to do some exploring this winter. i've got skins at the ready and ride with AT bindings. i dream of screeming past some of my beloved backcountry skin tracks with a kite and skiing down this winter. hopefully it will become a reality. i'm still searching for my #1 spot and honestly don't know if i will ever find it. last winter seemed to provide good wind somewhere every weekend and many midweek screamers. i hope the same trend continues and i hope i never find that #1 spot and they only get better from here.

on a side note, i saw some old ski buddies a little while ago. they asked me where i had been skiing and where i had a pass. i was able to tell them with a grin that i don't buy season passes anymore as i have subscribed to the wind pass. only when we get two feet or more of fresh snow at the resorts will i ski there and even then i will probably be out under a kite in the afternoon.... it's been quite a weird transformation but i can safely say that i'm a winter wind junkie.