K , so after watching the video I am all about trying sand ski thing. Rushed out and bought some 135's to wreck !

Can anybody link me to this fellow who did it at WW ? I can see myself having all sorts of down wind fun. It is holding a line that seems pretty amazing ? Was this what was happening at WW or did each ride end up downwind ?

Big Prop's to the dude if he was running an upwind line !

I hope to give this a go next weekend so any tips will be appretiated ! :wee:

His nick is crabnebula on PKF, Snowkite NH on FB
He did go back upwind every time with no problem ...

Yeah he went pretty much wherever he wanted with ease...

I read up a little about it with regards to the sandboarding experience... they required waxing between runs which put me off.

.. wonder how the bases would handle it? if you give it a shot, let us know :D

Just a heads up.... Zeb is on PKF sporadically, so you might want to try he profile email first.

ATB,
Sam

Thanks all. I'll try him tonight.

A whole lot of learning is in the doing. I know I'll have some downwind fun. I hope to hold a line and if I do :dunno: I just might like this new game ! :wee:

If I do , look for Pisces following Crabnebula at WBB !

Parabolic ? good or bad ?????

found this years ago, and just refound it.
http://home.kpn.nl/robert.heerekop/e1.htm

Skiing sand is not unlike sking snow. The dynamics are essentially the same just with added friction relative to snow. The critical moment is breaking the coefficient of friction and geting moving which can be harder or easier pending on the type of sand, moisture content, base material, weight and kite etc.

If you are a decent skier you shouldn't have a problem with this in regards to going upwind. If you can snowkite on skis up wind you can sandkite on skis upwind. If you don't ski then obviously there is going to be a steeper learning curve here.

All skis are parabolic, its a matter of how much. Does it make a difference? In regards to riding on the sand it will depend on the firmness of the surface and how you edge on it but I would say in general the answer is "no" and any ski will get the job done. Again it's like snow, unless the surface is super firm and you can lock an edge the heavy sidecut of "modern" shaped skis shouldn't cause you to carve up wind. I haven't watched the vid of Zeb on the sand but my guess is, knowing roughly the types of skis he uses, that his carve radius is roughly 21m. Unless it's a rally shapely short ski.

This discussion should probably be moved to the "sand kiting" section of PKF. heheh J/K

Thanks for that link Jeff. While it didn't teach me much I find it reasuring that it exists. They even link back to PKF

Chris, I notice that when well powered and kitng with my little 160's that I head upwind too easy and have to constantly correct. While I'm far from the king of snowkite I think I'm pretty well qualified to make this happen.

I started this thread pretty convinced I'ld be headed downwind but now have every confidence I will hold a line. As long as we get strong winds.

When you say you have to constantly correct I'm assuming you me you have to disengage the ski, redirect slightly down wind and reingage to maintain power in your forward motion? This is a function of the turn radius in current ski design. Skis now are designed so that merely setting them on edge will cause them to turn if they are in motion. Just the speed you get comming off the unloading ramp is enough to make the ski turn if put on edge. It's like power steering for skis and allows people who aren't able to drive a ski and make the ski bend to get the turn rate they desire. In a skilled skiers hand they become amazing hi-G carvers. Drive the boot harder and the trenchs get deeper, the turns get tighter. At 160cm your carve radius is probably around 14-18m (ish) unless it's some flavor of race board. Anything less than 21m is going to have noticeable upwind drift.

Tight radius works great on ski slope but not so well on snow with a hard packed surface or ice.

On the sand I think the sidecut will be less of an issue depending on how hard you have to drive the edge and how firm the sand is. Even with a fair amount of sidecut you can ski the ski more flat and eliminate that upwind drift. Like everything it's a bit of a balancing act.

Let us know how it goes.

Don't over think it....anything will really do....



Get a pair of skis that need some edge grinding... Hahaha! The old ones I use are my old " invert" skis. Salamon 1080's. old terrain park skis I learned to do big pipe tricks w/. Be a bit over powered with the kite....

If you care a little about the skis, then ... grease up the bindings before kiting...(white lithium) wash the sand and salt out of the bindings/ boots each time after kiting....
Really......, the feel of the ski or important thought to consider regarding the ski you choose.....? Be it on Sand or snow....is torsion and flex... The soft vs. hard skis ride different. but that is not a big deal really, as you will react to your ski in the moment on whatever sand,wet grass, slush/snow/ice you get on...

I would just warn people if you have bad knees... Or have ever had a knee injury be careful...

Pressure on the acl, Plc, Lcl, & mcl...can be pretty serious....



Have fun.... In the last 10-12 years kiting on sand w/skis...(and yes.... With my powder skis I have been able to ride on waves!).. Heads turning and eyes opening is the norm. Be prepared to get some strange looks especially on beaches when it is warmer.... There is no snow in sight, and you are walking to the beach with skis over your shoulder.

Well said Z.:wee:

Knees , check ! Skis , check. PLEASE , let me have wind !

I kind of know how it feels to look out of place.

Feyd, yes that is axactly what is happening with my freestyle skis and why. Not a big issue. I just notice it and notice it not happening with others I kite with and it's less than ideal. Just wondered how this effect will play on sand with these tiny , 135cm shaped skis.

I'm betting you'll feel it a less evident on the sand. Especially with the really short boards as you will kinda be able to force/plow them beyond the point in which they want to carve up wind. It will be interesting to find out.

Get out there and start banging out some Sandy 8's!