Hopefully video to come, but i am super excited to try a little snowkiting today on my teleskis- should be interesting but before i head out in a few hours any tips or tricks you guys can recommend- this will be my first attempt at kiting with skis
Scott

Have fun out there and stay warm!

Just my $.02 but skiing on tele-skis is certainly not the same as alpine skis. Are you a good tele-skiier? I hope you are not just learning to tele-ski because that would certainly be interesting.

In the years of observing tele-skiiers on the slopes I know it is mostly about knee bends and pivots, rather than hard edge carves, so holding an edge for an extended period of time may not work that well. I could be wrong but I don't think there is nearly as much lateral stability to a tele-ski and boot because of the method that it connects to the binding so it could pose a problem if you really try to edge hard. Now, if you fly your kite like most people tele-ski, a-la back and forth a lot, it could be a lot of fun. Upwind would be interesting because I don't think a lot of tacking in quick succession will get you upwind very well.

Have fun though!

WOW- that was my first time kite skiing- had never tried it, even with alpine skis- IT IS AWESOME. unfortunetaly i was to stoked to try it that i never bothered to set up the camera, but definetly will next time. Wind was gusty 5- 15 and throw in a 25er every once and a while. Flew my 15m charger and off i went was super easy to hold an edge and was getting the carving turn down after about an hour. To better explain my skis I am sking a full metal edged ski and a stiff plastic framed boot with a complete heel strap, so its very easy to "ski" downhill style. I did get "light" on the skis and that was a little interesting with tails dragging the ground but think with a smoother wind i could easily launch....land maybe:D. Did have a couple of faceplants and since the skis dont realize twisting around is a pain in the a. Hopefully i will get out again tomorrow WITH the camera.
Thats so most fun i have had in a long time- you frozen water guys are sooooo lucky
Scott

It is a Blast. Was out on Sebago last Sunday. Warm, Windy just enough snow on the lake to hold an edge well and beautiful

AWESOME!! Hey Scott, how much snow did y'all wind up getting from the storm?

Up here nothing, a little south a foot or mor I hear. Maybe Woodsom farm Saturday

Todays Telemark equipment is close to alpine for control. In fact.... there is so little difference in skis that they market backcountry skis as for alpine or tele touring(and their bindings).

Regular skis designed for downhill areas may have a little more difference-still not much- but this would be a bit more weight...

.
The boots are plastic and bindings are cable and give good lateral stability and good control if slightly less than an alpine binding. A telemark skier can match any alpine skier in any pursuit just as well, in any extreme.


Using either is perfect for kite skiing. The carving, pressing and all general skiing principals are the same. But with Tele you can lift your heel,kick and glide, and tour with them to get to the open area you want to kite (using a pair of collapsible poles and/or skins) or ski back to car if wind dies in middle of big lake.

*If you've been on Alpine you know the principals. But you don't HAVE TO telemark w/ telemark equipment. You can Alpine turn with it. You actually have more versatility!!

Now jumping..

.....the tail of the ski will drop a bit so position for flying and landing may need to be made with a little better posturing and position(point toes down) perhaps....maybe not.

Was out Tele kite skiing this morn.. not much wind but a few runs here and there when a gust would come. Mix of snow and ice patches. need to sharpen skis BAD!:o

@3shot -we got maybe 5" but enough to cover mowed areas for skiing the fam and I have cut tracks the last two night -have a north facing hill on 17 acres in back yard to ski makes a great after dinner activity.
@ski- you did a much better explanation, thanks. As for alpine never done it, don't like lines and stupid people so have always been a backcountry skier believe you need to "earn" the downhills and skiing the trees is more fun:P. although I can really see some value with a kite on a real hill personal lift for a day of free turns. Most of my skiing is in Canaan valley WV area. Usually only get to ski at home once or twice a yr but they are always the best to just walk out back door strap in and go
Scott

That's awesome you gave it a shot FLy. I forget how much fun tele skiing on the kite is. Snapping the turns is wicked fun. Makes a foot of snow feel like 3. Feels a lot faster when railing an edge with a dropped knee. ANd hell I have the stiffest boots on the market and they'll still 100000X more comfortable than my alpine boots. Half the people I kite with started kiting with tele but moves to alpine race gear just because it suits our conditions better.

Tele gear, Ozone Harness and Flysurfer Peak and you have a crazy light snowkite package. Hmmm now you have me thinking about riding tele today. :D

Hey Mainekite, did you fly over on Jordan or were you out of the water district? How was the ice boat traffic?
Winds west today 10-20mph, thinking about hitting Jordan and wondering if it's good all the way too Water District. With this cold it's gotta be close. Looks good on the webcam.

Hey Chris,
Took off from Patrick"s, dont know if it was closed up at the water district, some slush around the edge but I'm sure its gone now