What Type of Snowboard/Gear should I use: snowKITEN?

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

This year, I have seen many riders working much to hard to get going with the whole snowkite thing... And I have heard over and over that this sport is just to time consuming, hard, workout, ect....

When all reality is that if you have the right stuff you not gonna suffer; expect only when there is no wind. So when it comes to making life easy I have come to realize having the right stuff means more then you think and educating the newbs on what gear they should be looking for is the only way to get this sport rolling in the right direction.

This post is meant for riders to give up there special quiver and gear run down that really makes a difference while out snowKITEN.

For me:

Either a 3 kite quiver of ONE-PUMP RPM's or Fuels- Bomber kites and unhook well. www.slingshotsports.com

Volcom Zip tech Coat and Pant combo- A must for snowkiters because you will have protection against showing your ass crack when your harness rides up. And prevents snow going up and down you back side.

http://business.transworld.net/2008/10/27/volcom-acquires-patent-for-zip-tech/

157 MC KINK LIB TECH snowboard with Banana tech- This is the best board i have ever owned! The rocker in the board is a must for better edge control, smoother riding, Floats above the powder, Kink tips for better butters and really does not dive into the snow in deep conditions, Sweet flex, Twin Tip, Fat outline Tip and Tail, better pop, and my overall deck for snowboard Meadows or SKin.

http://www.lib-tech.com/snowboards/mc.html

DC JUDGE boots- Screw lacing up when you can have BOA! Don't wast your energy trying to tie your boots up! YOU DO WAST ENERGY! Good socks are a must too.

http://product.dcshoes.com/winter.asp

Von Zipper Feenom Goggles- Best over all fit and has the best wide screen window for you eyes. Get more then one Lens for all the conditions you will run into.

http://us.vonzipper.com/#/products/goggles/feenom/

Dakine pipe Gloves- Get a pair of pipe gloves for the blue bird day or a warmer low profile set for cooler days. Just make sure your gloves are not heavy or balky so you will have less stress on your hands and have a better grip on your bar.

Layer well- Don't over layer because once you out kiting you will get over heated and sweat and once you come in your wet and cold. Still a no brainer but I see tons of people doing this....

WAX Dat board- See this many time too. Perfect conditions with wind but your board sticks.... Lame. Should have wax dat board!

Helmet- Safety first and while snowkiting it is best you save your head from a wip lash from a kite loop gone bad. There are tons of great helments out there for all kinds of personality's. Find the one that fits you best!

Bring food and drink- Don't drive and miss out on your sessions. Bring food and power up!

Last but not least...

Know how to read the weather report and do your research on the spot you plan on hitting.

The list could go on and on but this was some of the key points that help me find my zen while snowkiting...

I would like to hear what your bring with you to make it happen!

So spill the beans.
Alien

MW · Since 09 Jan 2006 186 Posts Hood River, Oregon Stoked

Twisted Snowboard. Bottom line the best board to stay afloat in the powder and handles the crust well in addition to being well designed by Rob Whitall from Ozone and doesn't cost too much.

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

Can you use it for both in-slope ski resort riding or is it SK specific? Because if it specific, it seems that it will cost more to have 2 boards then one that does it all...

And there seems to be some confusion regarding the twisted board too. Isnt' it like the Banana Hamock that LIB TECH built a couple years back? If not, why is it not a copy of that board...?

http://www.lib-tech.com/snowboards/hammock.html

Do you have a link you would like to post so I don't have to waste my time googlin it?

DROCK999 · Since 31 May 2007 852 Posts Left Coast Opinionated

Without going on too much of a rant, and I know that this forum doens't allow brand vs. brand. but Von Zippers are the worst goggles i have ever owned. I highly reccomend people take a look at oakley crowbars, they're the most comertable goggles i have ever had, with the best peripheral vision with the spherical lens, and they have oakley's hdo lenses which are hard to beat by anyone. They are the bees knees

MW · Since 09 Jan 2006 186 Posts Hood River, Oregon Stoked

Unfortunately, it doesn't do very well on resort terrain as it is kite specific. Although, I did use it for hiking to a top of a butte and snowboarded down in thigh powder, and I just adjusted the back binding to ride towards the back slightly and more perpendicular to the board. I like the reverse camber on it as it allows for less heel and toe drag and the tips allow you to float above the snow. Everyone will have their opinion on what works best, but all I know is that I rode this board after riding a regular snowboard and it was so much better and it performed great in Idaho for 7 days of riding. Check out this link for more.

http://www.windzup.com/news_twisted.html

Wind Slither · Since 04 Mar 2005 2626 Posts The 503 METAL

Board:
I tried one of the Twisted kite specific boards. They are very comfortable on heelside and for edging and pop. But I could not go toeside at all on it. I like my regular twin, plus it works at the resort.

Oh yeah...and my old school Clicker bindings seem very convenient for stepping into when you've launched your kite.

Coat:
I've been liking wearing my harness under my coat and just using the buttons to button around my hook. I see just about everyone else wearing the harness outside their coat...is that comfortable?

jackZ · Since 13 Apr 2008 355 Posts Devon Alberta ca. Obsessed

I use the same boards that I use on the mountain . 164 custom x a k2 164 eldorado and a 164 450 . A 13m flysurfer extacy , 12m waroo and a 9m waroo depending on the wind conditions eh !

stringer · Since 31 Jul 2007 694 Posts Chucktown Flying Tomato

From my brief experience snowkiting, I can say that the biggest thing for me was being able to reverse relaunch.
For clarification, this is the reverse relaunch where your kite is directly downwind leading edge down and you pull both the outside lines to get it to pop up off the ground.
If your kite can do it, I strongly recommend learning how.
If you're buying a kite to snowkite with, look into whether or not it can.
It will save you much heartache and wear on your kite.
It also makes your inflatable as easy to launch (maybe even easier to relaunch as it still holds its shape) as a foil.

kyle.vh · Since 11 Jul 2007 713 Posts city of angels Addicted

for me:
lightweight A/T powder twintip skis/bindings.
skins
collapsable poles (3 section so they will fit in your kite bag)
compass + map
this set-up will get you to anywhere you want to go.

LOOP · Since 08 Feb 2007 107 Posts Ore-Ida

I personally think a helmet is a little more important than on the slopes or in the water. In my many years of snowboarding, I never stepped up to one, (even after the Sonny Bono accident). But my first weekend of snowkiting I realized it was worth it. Also I prefer to wear my harness outside my jacket but began hooking up the leg loops of my Petzl climbing harness to my kite harness to keep it from riding up. Last but not least, clickers would probably work exept when they clog up, but I love my flow bindings, super easy and stable. Standard twin tip board has done me just fine.

kyle.vh · Since 11 Jul 2007 713 Posts city of angels Addicted

Hey loop:
I've been using my climbing harness in the backcountry to save space and weight. in some ways its a lot more comfortable than my waist harness, and obviously lighter and more packable than either a waist or seat harness.
I just recently saw an ozone harness that looks like a climbing+waist harness combination...

pdxmonkeyboy · Wed Mar 18, 09 1:44 pm

Kyle,
how are you hooking into your climbing harness?> you just using a carabiner?

MW · Since 09 Jan 2006 186 Posts Hood River, Oregon Stoked

That Ozone harness is great and I have one, but it is not climbing approved, just so you know.

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

kyle.vh · Since 11 Jul 2007 713 Posts city of angels Addicted

captain crusty · Since 30 Aug 2005 92 Posts PDX

Go no pump!! ...Foils are the only way Ozone mantas,frenzy etc

Fly in ultra light air..loop it like mad and off you go

no need to set up lines..pump w/cold hands and cold nipples..? Sometimes when its super cold the pumps dont even work.

Can pack it down at the top in an instant if wanted..reverse launch,hot launch,whatever you want

Ive snowboarded since the sims swithchblade/terry kidwell (the first bannana tech) days and started snowkiteing with AT skiis due to skin out option..skin up to the ridge to the wind option..etc. no post holes..two edges are better than one. I tried the board and it feels like a nonstop traverese around mt bachelor to me?

tekko · Since 20 Feb 2006 376 Posts White Salmon Liquid Force

Hmmmm.

Been a fun snow season! Even more fun since we have been testing the latest Liquid Force / DeCosse Custom Snowboards. Been in Utah the past week with custom ski/snowboard designer Sheldon DeCosse, LF Kites Designer Julien Fillion and LF Team riders Jason Slezak and Norwegian snowkitefilms.com phenom Petter Johnson sessioning, shooting and flex testing the various prototypes of the board.

Sheldon has been making custom kite skii's and snowboards for the hardcore Norwegian crew for the past few years putting in true R&D and prototyping of kite snowboards. LF is proud to be working with Sheldon on design and production of this HOT new snowkite shape.

Look for these gems in limited availability for 2010.

True twin with kite specific side cut, flex and cores. Yet, still enough side cut to shred the mountain. Specifically designed away from the banana hammok and twisted. Side cut so you can still turn and rip downhill, but perfectly balanced so you can edge effeciently against a kite and generate some POP.

I should have one to bring home with me next week, so anyone wanting to give it a try on the mountain or kite let me know.