MSR 2009

stringy · Since 23 Jun 2006 1738 Posts vancouver XTreme Poster

....from an email from joel over at montana kitesports...

The Montana Snowkite Rodeo is almost here. This President's day weekend, Feb 13-19 2009. This year's festivities will be held at the brand new Sugar Loaf Lodge near the Mount Haggin wildlife management area just outside Anaconda, MT.

With the event now in its 6th year, we thought it was time to change it up a bit and move the event to Mt Haggin, just 30 minutes south of Georgtown Lake. This year we'll be featuring a challenging race course where riders will have to navigate some the area's natural terrain. We think this race course will make for some exciting racing and close finishes for riders of at all ability levels.

Tony, myself and some of the local riders will be out Thursday and Friday to build the course, and all are welcome to join us for some hot soup and the best homemade bread in the world at the brand new sugar loaf lodge on friday night.

Races will begin on Saturday at Noon (wind providing) with a Riders meeting being held at 10am. Kiters who wish to enter the race must sign up and check in with us on either Friday night and up until one hour before our riders meeting on Sat. morning. Races will go on until all the racers that have signed up have finished or will continue on Sunday if the wind runs out......and If you miss your race or the sign up, this year we'll be holding a free-for-all race at the end. There is NO ENTRY FEE this year, but we will be taking donations at the lodge to cover some expenses and to donate a big chunk to the State of Montana so they can take good care of the place for years to come.

Saturday Night the Sugar Loaf Lodge keeping their doors open after hours for all kiters to enjoy some food, fun and good times. The whole family is welcome to join us this year. There's no liquor sold at the lodge so its b.y.o.b., and hopefully there will be some bluegrass music (still working on that one).

The rest of the weekend we want to encourage everyone to get out and enjoy some of the area's awesome freeriding locations, including Mt Haggin, Grassy Mountain, Georgetown Lake, Black Pine, Macdonald Pass, Mullan Pass and Big Hole Pass just to name a few, and all within an hour's drive of Anaconda. There will be plenty of kite industry representatives on hand showcasing all the latest gear, including longtime supporters of the Rodeo Ozone kites, Windzup and Slingshot

And with a large core group of quality snowkiters that always gather at the Snowkite Rodeo from all over the U.S.A, Canada, and the World, It's a great weekend to learn and share and push yourself to take part in our great culture and grow your kiting skills to the next level.

And oh yeah, the Mount Haggin Wildlife Managment has some special rules that are a bit different than some of our other public lands.

1.Parking is always an issue, so we encourage people to either shuttle from the snowmobile parking area located 2.5 miles from the riding area at dry creek. There will be some limited parking along the road, so it would be nice to pick a few kiters up along the way in order to consolidate space.

2. This is a game preserve, with historical buildings that aren't always clearly marked, So its imperative to respect the wildlife, fences and buildings of the area. The willow bottoms are Moose habitat so its good to stay out of those areas as well. (good for your kite too!). There will be a few port-a-johns to use for the weekend, and of course take your trash with you.

3. The area is not to be used for commercial use. So that means this place is open for all of the public to use as along as they are not profiting from it. That doesn't mean you can't wear your favorite Ozone sweatshirt. It just means no one is allowed to set up shop and charge for anything.

4. Don't let rules scare you off!!, Mt Haggin is an established kiting destination, and so far we have been welcomed by the Montana Fish Wildlife, and Parks to use the area and invite others to join us for a great weekend of kiting, and they appreciate it when everyone pitch's in to take care of the place.

For more information on places to stay or directions go to http://www.montanakitesports.com or email me at joelslastexit@aol.com

To check out the Sugar Loaf Lodge go to http://www.sugarloaflodgeandcabins.com

and I would like to give a special thank you to The Kiteboarder Magazine, Kiteboarding Magazine, The Drift Snowkite Magazine and KiteWorld for helping promote the Montana Snowkite Rodeo and all of the Snowkite events. Your helping give our sport the attention it deserves.

With all that being said, I hope to see all of you at the Rodeo. Yehaww.

thanks, joel beatty

shymac · Since 20 Jul 2005 919 Posts Home Valley, Wa. Bigfoot

Sick, can't wait for it... Always a good time with the Montana Crew.

luke · Since 06 Jul 2005 399 Posts Obsessed

Time to party cowboy style.

There are at least 3 carpools from The Gorge/Portland going over to the Montana SnowKite Rodeo this weekend.

Who else is going!!

And for a sweet loop. A few of us are staying out for a few extra days and then hitting Kite Soldiers on the way home.

forrest · Mon Feb 09, 09 8:57 pm

Avoid the Pine Cone Lodge if you're renting out there by the lake. Those guys stole my deposit.

bustingbladder · Since 12 Jul 2006 387 Posts Seattle Obsessed

YOU KNOW IT JIM! This one will turn out to be a rocker for sure! Cant wait! Ive never seen a Subi hauling a keg and all the gear... Drunk

Kite Montana · Since 07 Nov 2006 6 Posts New Member

Here's a quick itinerary and a locater map to some of our kiting spots for the Rodeo weekend:

2/13 Friday:
Day. Meet at Mt. Haggin and set up the Race course and event site. Ride Ride, Ride
Evening. Meet at the Sugar Loaf Lodge soup shack for some fireside conversation and register for the kiter cross

2/14 Saturday,

9:30 - 10:30 am, Registration for the Kitercross at the Sugar Loaf Lodge (No entry fee & all are welcome to sign up).

11 am, Kiter Cross Race Meeting, (if you want to race I suggest you be there).

High Noon, Let the Races begin!!, We'll run em till they're done or the wind quits,

6pm - 8pm, Home cooked Barbeque dinner at the Sugar Loaf Lodge, They're cooking this up just for us kiters, (costs around $10)

8pm-ish, A Montana Hoedown. Live Alt. Bluegrass Music. Kiter Awards, Free Kite Swag! some Beer samples from Big Sky Brewing! The whole family is welcome, There will be no alcohol for sale, but you can bring your own and drink responsibly.

2/15 Sunday,

11am, We'll plan on running any of the races that we don't get to on Saturday.

All DAY, Freeriding at Haggin and maybe a few Kite Demos at Georgetown Lake.

Evening, Here's my plan: soup at the shack, soak at Fairmont hot springs, and a drink at the Club Modern in Anaconda.

2/16 Monday,

Get out and explore Montana Day, There's plenty of kiting to be had as your traveling to and from Montana. We'll do our best to point everyone in the right direction.

Any questions?? Call or Text me 406 459 6898 or email joelslastexit@aol.com

See you this weekend, Joel Beatty

shymac · Since 20 Jul 2005 919 Posts Home Valley, Wa. Bigfoot

Sweet, thanks for the update! FREEE IS GOOD!

railgrab · Since 29 Mar 2005 177 Posts Seattle, WA Stoked

Mount Haggin beckons! Here it is in all its glory last President's Day. Check out the snowkiters' slalom and sled tracks above the cornice.

Ethan