So maybe its just me but, for some reason I can't seem to bring myself to go kiting the past week. Its been hovering around -20C,-35C with windchill. Last winter I couldn't wait to go out if there was wind, no matter what the temp. I went out last week and didn't even unpack before saying it was too cold. Does this mean I'm growing soft?????:puzzled: It really can warm up to around -10c anytime now

//rant

Sometimes I feel exactly that way, shaggs, but I find if I can force myself to at least set up my kite, by the time I've checked my lines I'm usually kind of huffin' already, trudging through knee deep (or deeper) snow warms me up real fast. I think the initial wind chill(which we are hoping for, really!) is what really gets you at first, so good protection from the wind at set-up is a real plus. I've got one of those neoprene bala-whatsis face covers, and neoprene ice fishing gloves for set-up, and usually by the time I'm ready to try and take off, I'm ready to lose the bala-thingy and switch to ski-gloves. I use a full face helmet, and that helps keep the wind off the face. Cold is...well, COLD!

Going soft? Yeah you are harden up, sissy man! Once you're rolling you'll be stoked!

-35C? That's nothing. Here in Texas last week, I was out kiting in a whopping nut-freezing 40F. Sometimes, you just have to tough it out! Quit being such a wuss!

Cheers,
Seanny

over here its not raining the sun is out 23 degrees C and 15 knots

But am kited out had another big flying weekend

:bigok:

I hear ya. For me it's become more of a "I guess I have the rest of my life to kite so I can sit this one out" kinda thing. 'Course that's easily broken by a fellow kiter saying "Let's go!". Wouldn't the world be a different place if we all had people to get us up off the couch when we could but don't want to?

I suspect there'd be a lot more assault charges ; )

Kiting is like sex - the one you miss is the one you can never get back. Just do it!

Ah you girlyman!

shaggs when its really cold and blowing I fire up one of those little pocket heaters the ones that actualy burn a charcoal strip. It hangs in pouch right at my belly and makes huge difference in comfort. I know I just opened the door for a kami comment:D

I find something similar here but not just the cold. I used to head out between rain shower to just fly on the beach or in the bitss of GP still above water.

Cleaning and drying the gear has become the breaking point. I am tired of trying to dry kites in an apartment.

This makes for a LOooong wait for snow !!!!

P.S. 40 f is about 5C not even freezing .

-40 F is -40C at -36 they are almost the same. ADD windchill and OUCH !

Quote:

Originally posted by Bladerunner P.S. 40 f is about 5C not even freezing . -40 F is -40C at -36 they are almost the same. ADD windchill and OUCH !

I'm pretty sure that he was being intentionally silly.

Nah, he's from Texas, and 40 deg in Texas is cold. I don't know why, but I grew up in new england, and 20 Deg. F was the ave. winter temp, but I spent the winter of my 18th year in San Antonio, and when it got to be 36 deg. F there, I never felt so cold in new england.:dunno:

yeah we have our few external water pipes wrapped in towels and the faucet dribbling at night to keep from freezing. But the real problem are the western frontal driven winds, 2 mph gusting to 35- a sure way to get yarded. After next week the days start getting longer again and spring will be soon enough.

get going in those cold temps and you'll forget about them once your kite is airborne......

Got me a set of Dickies bibs and Jacket! That helps a bit and a set of lined ski gloves gets me toasted, not quite at the temps you are talking about, but it helps! Many days I do the same and say ahhhh maybe tomorrow won't be so cold!

Angus, you are right, spring is just around the corner! Ready to hit some snow though!

Quote:

Originally posted by Maven454 Quote: Originally posted by Bladerunner P.S. 40 f is about 5C not even freezing . -40 F is -40C at -36 they are almost the same. ADD windchill and OUCH ! I'm pretty sure that he was being intentionally silly.

Correct! :D

-35C is seriously pretty cold. I'm not used to that kind of thing. But 40F really is not that bad. After having summers where the air is humid and the temp goes up to 107F+, some chilly weather is a welcomed thing. Last summer (2009), we had 30 straight days of 100F+ weather. 1 day away from breaking a record. My friend in Alberta complains about how "hot" it is when the temperature goes above 75F.

Not all of Texas stays this warm though... Even here in the Austin area, it gets pretty cold. Cold for Texas, at least. Usually in January and February, it will regularly be in the 20s (F) during the day. Further up North it will be lower. Dallas has frequent snow. I spent the night at our property in Brownwood 2 hours North of here and the night temperature went to 0F.

It really doesn't start to get cold until late November though. Up until two weeks or so ago, the temperature would still be in the 70s and 80s while other states were freezing. Really quite nice if you ask me

Cheers,
Seanny

Thanks for the support guys!!! I have to agree that it will probably take me just doing it! Once up and riding one will stay pretty warm. If I can stand in that freezing cold pulling cables then I can definitely kite in it. Won't have to worry bout that till 2011 though cuz I'm heading to Vancouver Island for Christmas so far the weather looks decent enough that I'm bringing the atb and a couple- three kites to play around at low tide if all works out

It all depends how bad you need a session. Setting up and riding you stay warm enough. I find the worst part is trying to get the ski boots off when the shell is -20.

You might be surprised on the Island, that wet cold feels colder - 0C on the beach feels like -15 in Lloyd

Quote:

Originally posted by canuck You might be surprised on the Island, that wet cold feels colder - 0C on the beach feels like -15 in Lloyd

Very true point there canuck packing all my long underwear and winter gear. The only real question is if my mother-in-law will let me dry my kites in the living room If it gets too cold do you think it will look funny wearing a pair of sorels while riding a mountain board????:smug: ;-)

New guy Gabe is on the island and hungry to snowkite. You should check out mount Washington on google earth ? It has the elevation and the snow but may still be full of those pesky trees that are everwhere ?

You guys suck it up and be glad you aint sitting on the bench like Me and Flash and NJLandboarder and Jeff (bigkid). Did I miss anyone? If so , sorry .
Bunch of wussies! I would go kiting naked ,right now! (25 F right now) if my shoulder could bear it. GO FLY A KITE! Matter of fact ,would all of you go out and fly one for your bros' and sis that can't? We all would LOVE to go flying(I am speaking for all of the GIMP squad) ,but can't. AND IT SUX!!!!
Sorry for the hijack , but I'm getting stir crazy. (bunch of wussies! Put on a extra pair of socks!)
WG

Pain killers wearing off WG ?

Only thing worse ... being over my sprained ankle. Bunch of new kites and no wind without rain for months ! :ticking:

that happens if ya buy a BUNCH of kites.

I was in Phenyx AZ (spelling?) about ten years ago. Had just been in Chicogo at -5f and it was about 80 in AZ. I was in shorts and sandles and Tshirt. Every one from there was in hats and mittens I thought they were wierd!

Phoenix*

Hats and mittens in 80 degrees?? Are you sure it was 80? That sounds pretty ridiculous to me

At least in AZ they're granted with the gift of DRY heat! Sure, it gets to like 115F during the day in Phoenix and never falls below 100 at night, but there's 0 humidity! Totally different! Here, it'll be 108F but moist. The heat hits you like a wall. Houston, I swear, is the hottest city in America. When it's 108F with 90% humidity, you'd be better off living in the Sahara.

The temperature dips down much lower here than in AZ also. Most of the time we're underprepared, not over-prepared. Nobody around here has winter clothing that still fits them The only time heavy jackets come out is when the temperature dips below 30F. We loooooove the cool weather. And when it starts to get uncomfortably cold, too bad... you just light a fire, suck it up, and be thankful you don't live in Minnesota. Hats and mittens in 80F? Whatever man, that's like the perfect temperature. I wear a beanie because I like to, and gloves because I wear them when I go kiting anyway

Don't mess with Texas! :singing:
Seanny

I find anything below -15C reduces the fun factor, whether it is on the hill or while snowkiting. I generally won't go below that unless I can't take it anymore.

but, upgrading equipment helps too, if your pants/jacket is pretty old there is better stuff out there. I upgraded my ski pants 2 years ago and wow, way better. I need to upgrade my jacket shell too though. Compared to my ski pants, my current shell still lets through wind - it's noticeable.



Also, I have stumbled across this balaclava thing at mec. I bought it for a different purpose, but I thought I would try it snowkiting. I just pull it over my head and wear it as a neck warmer (ie, not as a balaclava); it wind proofs the back of my neck, which I have found really nice. Way better than a scarf/regular neck warmer.

http://www.mec.ca/Products/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Ep...

Quote:

Originally posted by Bladerunner New guy Gabe is on the island and hungry to snowkite. You should check out mount Washington on google earth ? It has the elevation and the snow but may still be full of those pesky trees that are everwhere ?

Definitely going to Mount Washington sometime after Boxing Day, taking the kids tubing for a nice family day with everyone. Was gonna bring my snowboard but will rent if I want to ride. Also gonna check out everything there though to see if kiting would even be possible, and see how the atb would work when I head back in the summer.

I wanna go to the Canadian boarder, just so I can see Canada Ohhh and Canadians! Jeepers eh!

Angus is looking for Spring already and I'm glad winter is getting started.

So Angus, whats wrong with 2 mph gusting to 30? That's kind of par for the course in the Midwest Sort of like saying we make better skiers because we have to learn on icy, crappy snow...

krumly