I'm trying to decide what type of kite to get for my first season of snow kiting. I figure that the first step is narrowing down the type of kite to use. Then I can focus on picking a specific model and size.

So please finish the following sentence and please feel free to add any other bits of information on why you fly what you fly.

When I go snow kiting I use.....

This year I plan on running Combats(open cell fixed bridal) for the most part, if the wind's just right I may drag out the PL Scorpion(closed cell depowerable) and go for some huge air.

A larger race kite or the Silverarrow for the light days and a HQ Montana III or Ozone Access when the winds pick up.

All four of my kites you can see in my sig below

All four of my kites you can see in my sig below

using Fixed Bridle Race Kite - U-Turn Butan

but

converted to depowerable in seconds for snowkiting.

http://www.powerkiteforum.com/viewthread.php?tid=3953

I only have fixed bridle kites but hopefully that will change with a mod for depower on my Ace. (Someone on the pansh forum figured it out) then I will no longer need a 5 meter foil and only the 3 for crazy windy days. But if you have the cash a large and a small depower kite would be the way to go. Especially if you plan on covering alot of distance, or are going on a multi day "expedition"

If you're trying to figure out how to depower a fixed bridal kite this is a must read, mostly the De-power and Modified kites sections. All the info you'll ever need to make your own systems as well as a review of a couple common ones.

http://www.powerkite.me.uk/

If snow is your #1 use for the kite I suggest you take a close look at Peter Lynn Arcs. They have large wind range, huge gust munching abilaty, auto zenith + are a reasonable price. Specially second hand. I have found that buying for snow only hasn't worked for me ! All my depower foils are likely to be closed cell and thus more versitile.

I have only been to two major snowkiting events. To me it appeared that fixed bridles were not that common. Ozone including the Instinct, Peter Lynn arcs and Best bow kites seemed to rule ? Flysurfer is right in there but was not as well represented.

I took my 1st runs with 3 and 4.5 fixed bridles and had a HOOT ! I found it was better to use kites I was intimate with so I didn't have to think about them so much as figured out + ENJOYED the ride !

Baulk, what kind of wind speeds do you need to get out snow kiting with the Beamer?

Would I be correct to say that the fundamental advantage of flying a depowerable kite is the wide range of wind speeds they can fly in? Also, are they better for jumping because of the ability to "power up" when you go for a jump?

Last year I spent 90% of the time skiing on my 2.5 JOJO (but it was a windy winter). But in years past, I've spent most of my time on the 8.5 blade and then there are days when your switching kites every hour or so as the winds build or diminish (this only applies to fixed bridle foils).

I fly fixed bridles only. They are quick, easy and fast. They don't require a harness though a harness is a very good tool to have for long hours of fun in the snow.

You will be able to use your 3 and 4m kite, depending upon your weight and snow conditions in 10mph and up. If the snow is deep and heavy, you'll need more wind. If its compressed, dry or icy, you'll be fine in 10.

I'd suggest you go out, have a few runs on what you have and then decide what you want to do. Depowers are great but they require a harness.

Well, it looks about split between depower and fixed bridle kites in the snow. That's good to know as I was under the impression that everyone out there flew depowerables. I think I'm going to progress to larger fixed bridle kites and get more comfortable with them before I jump right into a depowerable kite (unless a good deal on a used kite comes my way).

However I think I do want to get a harness and strop. I think it will be needed if I want to spend any reasonable amount of time out there and it again seems like a good progression towards getting a depowerable in the future.

Can anyone recommend a good entry level harness that would work well for snow kiting with a fixed bridle kite and strop line? What should I be looking at when comparing models? I don't have any local dealers so demoing them is not an option.

Also, I think I'll get a bar to screw around with on my fixed bridle kites. I may go with the HQ one since I'll be starting with my Beamer with it. They all look pretty much the same. Is it possible to "hook in" to a harness with a fixed bridal bar?

From what I see on this page HQ bars do NOT come with a D loop ( or strop ) to hook in to your harness. If you notice the ones in the next row down have that extra loop on the bar. That is what you want. You can buy them after market.

http://www.extremekiteshop.com/kites/accessories-control-gea...

Harnesses are a personal thing . It's hard to say what will feel right for you. Too bad you can't try some 1st. I have never heard a person complain about Mystic harnesses. A handle in the back for your ballast buddy is a handy thing.

Hey kiteNH,

The HQ-Safety Bar does not come with a harness loop but can be purchased seperately. Basically the same system the TSR Beamers come with.

Cheers
Tim

We have a 3m, 2-5m's, a 7.3, 7.5, 9.5 and a 12m Ozone Frenzy of various years to use for snow kiting. We also have a 13m PL Bomba and an 18m Guerilla. I find that we tend to use the Frenzies in the winter. They are simple to use: set down your skis, walk 30 paces down wind, pull the kite out of the backpack, unfold it, put some snow on the trailing edge, inwind the lines, hook in, step into your skis, launch, go. I find the PL kites to be too much trouble on the cold days. They also require a little more wind to start developing power. The kite I like to use the most is the 7.3 I think because I can use it over a really wide wind range and it is nice on the higher wind days. The 9.5 and 12 are almost the same power on the really low wind days because the 9.5 flies faster. The 12 is so nice when the wind is right and not too gusty. I can use the 5 in really severe conditions, near whiteout ground drift and the 3 is more for my wife in the same conditions. I have only really needed the 3 twice, one of the times I was being blown along pretty good on skis with no kite. (I had packed up the 5 because it was too scary)
We used to have a fixed bridle 3m but while suitable for snow kiting, once you try a Frenzy it is hard to go back. We have a fairly long snow season here, usually early Dec to early April and we are really close (5 min) to good spots so it is worth investing in snow specific kites. If you have a short season or have to drive a lot then go for Flysurfers or Peter Lynn kites so you can use them on water too.
If I was going to buy one kite for snow kiting I would get a 9m Frenzy. (I am 215 lb) if I was lighter I would get a 7. Then I would get a 13 or 11 in a year or two. If you are shopping around remember that Frenzy kites come ready to fly all nicely tuned with color coded pre stretched lines and are problem free. Our old 5m has been pounded into the ground over and over and just hammered and still looks new.

Have a good day,
George

George,

Thanks for the great reply. I weigh only 150 lb. I assume that means that you'd suggest starting with a 7.5 m Frenzy rather than a 10m.

I'll keep them in mind. It certainly looks like one of the more popular kites to use out in the snow.

this year I will be riding a Flysurfer Psycho3 10m probably 80% of the time (may be up to 20kn)

I will fly the Pulse 7m for winds up to 30-35.

and if it blows like crazy out there, I also own a small Paraskiflex (a kite widely used in Quebec www.paraskiflex.ca) which is very good in strong winds.

Buzz,
Can you write up a little review on paraskiflex ?
I'm curious about a few things. How they hold their profile? How the 4 lines hook up to the bar? Adjustable AOA ? Single skin ? Does it come with bar and lines ? ( those huge bars remind me of the 90's ! ) How are they to fly ? What are their positives and negetives ? They aren't cheap !
Thanks

I prefer my fixed bridles when I ski on playing fields because they turn faster but look forward to using depowers on lakes and snowfields where you can hook in and ride for miles. I weigh 200lb and decided to add the 8m AccessII to my 3m and 5.5 fixed bridles. Frenzy is a great kite if you want air.

A seat harness gets my vote - I didn't like the waist harness riding up

I fly fixed only because I can't afford a depower kite, unless Pansh releases a larger Blaze II but the only thing is they are not the liftiest kite out there. I made a depower mod on my pansh and it seems to work well. Only thing is it isn't a bar style in flight one, it has a weird 3 line looking thing that has knots to adjust but you just need to land to adjust. I am trying to save $ and not have to buy a 5 meter and just depower it. And seat harness is the only way to go, or climbing harness, just not waist, at least in my opinion. Hey snowbird how much are you selling the arc for? Is it a depower? Is it lifty?

I was just reading technical specs from flysurfer and ozone on their web site and I just realize that FS kites have higher AR (all flat AR here)

FS Pulse1 = 3.6
FS Pulse2 = 4.2 (upgrade here higher than a Frenzy)
FS Psycho3 = 4.8
FS Speed2 = 5.9 (wow !)

Oz Access1 = 3.3
Oz Access2 = 3.7
Oz Fenzy6/7 = 4
Oz Manta1 = 4.7
This year Ozone models AR are not documented on their web site

I've pretty much decided that an Access XC 8.0m makes the most sense for me for a first depowerable snow kite.

Unfortunately that will take some funds that I don't have so it looks like I'll be starting out with fixed bridles. All I need is a harness at this point. I'll try to get by this weekend without one if the wind blows and will likely collapse in exhaustion about 5 minutes later.

It sounds like FS is where it's at if you want the big air. I'd like to own one someday, but think I'll be sticking to foils for the time being. But if the water is calling this summer........

I've pretty much decided that an Access XC 8.0m makes the most sense for me for a first depowerable snow kite.

Unfortunately that will take some funds that I don't have so it looks like I'll be starting out with fixed bridles. All I need is a harness at this point. I'll try to get by this weekend without one if the wind blows and will likely collapse in exhaustion about 5 minutes later.

It sounds like FS is where it's at if you want the big air. I'd like to own one someday, but think I'll be sticking to foils for the time being. But if the water is calling this summer........

If you want big air. I mean HUGE air, Grab a Manta II by ozone. Nothing compares!

A harness is not a must - even in deep snow. I can go for about an hour in deep snow without a harness before having to give up (I have an old muscle injury in my forearm which prevents me from riding unhooked for too long).

Don't feel like you need to have it to get out. its a huge plus as you can ride all day with them but not a must. If you get one, though, don't hook in right away. Make sure you can fly the kite and change direction without stopping before you hook in or you might get launched and then dragged a bit.

Thanks for the great tip B-Roc. Most of what I know of snow kiting has been through youtube video's and all those people fly huge depower kites with harnesses. So now I know that not only are depower kites not necessary, but harnesses really aren't a must either. So basically.....anything goes!

Well, the snow is coming down today. If I can just get some wind tomorrow or Saturday before the rain comes I'll finally be able to get out there and give it a go!

I remember you mentioned that you quite a bit of snow kiting down in Dracut. I looked up Dracut the other day and realized that it's actually only an hour or so away for me. Once I get a little bit of experience and a bit of confidence on the skiis I'll have to come down and see how it's really done

If we are heading out and you're available - come anyway - experience or not. Last year there were always new riders showing up and its easier to sort your gear and get an assist on a relaunch if other riders are about.

Just keep down wind of those cruising fast until you are comfortable controling your kite and direction and, of course, don't fly into the yards of the people who live on Lake Mascuppic.