Snowkiting Adventures- Snowkiting is Sailing Through the Air on Skis or a Board

Snowkiting - when wind power from a kite hooked to a harness lets you ski or snowboard fresh backcountry powder for hours - is a fast growing sport. Picture yourself skimming atop virgin powder snow in an open meadow, on a frozen lake or sliding down a mountainside. When the wind is right, you'll be lifted off the ground and sail from 10- to 45-feet in the air as your kite scoops up wind and lets you fly free, until gravity brings you back down to the ground.

Snow kiting fans who are skilled point out this is an eco-friendly winter sport, because they can ski along meadows, do tricks while in the air, and even up propel themselves up mountainsides on wind energy alone. Once you're experienced, you can surf powder in isolated areas that others may spend thousands to reach via helicopter or snowcat

How to Learn Snowkiting

Andrew Goldman, who owns Snowkite Soldier in Sun Valley, Idaho, says that anyone who is an intermediate or better skier or snowboarder can learn snowkiting. Instructors start beginners on flat surfaces, often a meadow or a frozen lake, using kites designed for novices. Newbies are taught the basics about wind theory, how to catch the wind in your kite, launching and landing. Once you have the basics down and some experience, you can learn how to tack upwind, ski in deep snow and even ride uphill. Most companies teaching snow kiting include use of a kite, or have rental equipment to use during the first lessons.

Where to Go Snowkiting

Snowkiting is popular in Colorado, Utah and Idaho. At the Web sites listed here you can find instructions, buy kites and other equipment, places to go snowkiting and communities of committed snowkiting fans. IDAHO: Snowkite Soldier is a snow kiting school based in Sun Valley, Idaho. COLORADO: Colorado Kite Force offers lessons on Lake Dillon Reservoir or snow-covered areas in the region. UTAH: FunSeekers offers lessons and runs guided snowkite tours in the Wasatch Mountain Range around Salt Lake City. UTAH: Kite Utah is a central source for snowkiting, kite surfing and land kiting in this state.