Some photos from the event in Latvia...
www.wissa2009.org/photo.html

More proof of just how far behind we are in Snowkiting over here !

I love the diverse group of sailors. It's a bit like NABX . Only cold and white.

The thing I like to see most is the Kiteskiers seem to out number the kiteboarders over there ! :moon:

Simon Gill (french canadian snowkiter) has finished within 10th among these Russians.

Simon is 2008 WISSA champion
http://simongill.blogspot.com/

There is also Lionel Dion another french canadian there.

great link this is cool looking

I couldn't find on the site where this will be next year, does anyone know?

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Originally posted by NHT Kitesurfer great link this is cool looking I couldn't find on the site where this will be next year, does anyone know?

Ville de La Baie (near chicoutimi quebec)

http://maps.google.ca/maps?hl=en&q=Ville+de+la+Baie&...

nice, I hope to make it there next year!

Here is the link to the wissa organization site
http://wissa.org/

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Originally posted by Bladerunner More proof of just how far behind we are in Snowkiting over here ! I love the diverse group of sailors. It's a bit like NABX . Only cold and white. The thing I like to see most is the Kiteskiers seem to out number the kiteboarders over there ! :moon:

BR, I don't necessarily disagree with you but I'm curious what you mean by us being "behind" Europe in snowkiting. Do you mean as far as racing? Organized events? Skill level?

Search around the web for some Snowkite Solider pictures from last weekend in Idaho and you'll see a whole bunch of "us" (North American snowkiters) tearing it up. NWkite has some pictures up. Gotta warn you though....lots of snowboards.....

and QC is not bad either. We have more than 3000 registered users on the local kite forum. lots of organized events, spots with kickers and ramps, we just dont have the mountains.

that is last race event this weekend in MTL




And this is me far ahead (joking I was alone at my own spot)

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Originally posted by kiteNH Quote: Originally posted by Bladerunner More proof of just how far behind we are in Snowkiting over here ! I love the diverse group of sailors. It's a bit like NABX . Only cold and white. The thing I like to see most is the Kiteskiers seem to out number the kiteboarders over there ! :moon: BR, I don't necessarily disagree with you but I'm curious what you mean by us being "behind" Europe in snowkiting. Do you mean as far as racing? Organized events? Skill level? Search around the web for some Snowkite Solider pictures from last weekend in Idaho and you'll see a whole bunch of "us" (North American snowkiters) tearing it up. NWkite has some pictures up. Gotta warn you though....lots of snowboards.....

Wow, that is a lot of kiters in that first picture. I'm definitely going to look into getting up to Quebec for the wissa event if not sooner.

I agree that Behind might be the wrong word as there is a current reace series in the US in fact I have been competing for the last 4 years in this...in the USA..

This weekend at Skyline Utah there is the US OPEN and there is a freestyle as well as RACE.

Netxt year there is a word of a POKER race at Tug Hill in NY and talk about one in NH as well that will go through out the entire winter!

Also, in NH I may hold a fun deal that will link with Tug Hill and have what will be called the Kite Olympics....
Long Jump, High Jump, as well as sprints and distance races may be held depending on the number of people that are available.

Who knows....but really, we do not (in my humble opinion) need to sensationalize snowkiting to feel validated....we are all individuals that go out snowkiting like addicts looking for a drug....that in itself is respectful and I personally do not need or want the fields and lakes to be as crowded as the festival pictures show or like the lines at ski area lifts etc....I do believe that recreation is important but INSTANT is NOT the word that goes well with kiting but seems to be all to familiar and EXPECTED in the USA....Instant, I want, You do for me!!! NOW! does not fit the learning curve for snowkiting or kiting in general that is why beaches are being closed all over the place....kiters that go INSTANT get wrecked and hurt or hurt others as they do not have the proper training.

Regardless, snowkiting is super fun!