Fri Jan 13, 12 7:57 amWyoming Snowkite Adventure...Jackson Hole Kiters
Now that the road is closed at the Bighorn Mountains we stayed in Lovell, Wyoming for the first time. We pulled out the Alpine start from Jackson leaving at 430am with the standard Jackson crew of Wayne, Pascal, Chaz,Jamie, Pascal’s friends Christophe and Myself.
3 trucks, 5 sleds, and the 6 of us hit the road. We posted “Bighorns!” on the Jackson Hole Kiters, Facebook page and drove into the sunrise.
There was a bit of culture shock that first night in Lovell. Knowing that Christophe is a famous French Chef made me think that any funny stereotypes he must have about North American food are probably confirmed if not exaggerated. Not speaking French there was no way to make any excuses. Pascal probably just told him to get used to it, since we tend to drag Pascal to all these funny places. However, at the 4 Corner’s Grill the folks were super friendly, and the waitress cooked our food, served our drinks and helped everyone else in the bar. Her mom was sitting at the bar and helped her carry out the food on the second day. Todd from Meeteetse, Wy was originally from Lovell got it right...the Burger is quality.
The Horse Shoe Bend Motel was our place. Joe and Joe the married couple running the place were as nice as they come. I guess Dave stayed there Saturday night and we didn’t even know it. Dave by the way skinned in with his dogs to Mt Baldy before we even got up there…extra credit since sleds compromise my environmental morals.
Before we left we knew we would have some NW wind conditions which drastically decrease the area of the terrain, however still have some great features. There’s tons of long half pipe features that we really need to dedicate more time too. They’re vertical walled trenches formed from runoff with snow on top. I’m sure with a foot + of fresh snow the bottom could be a deadly terrain trap, but this trip it was like a groomed and shaped pipe at a resort. Not only that, you can climb up Mt Baldy on the NW side and fly from the very top to the flats which probably takes 50 seconds+ on direct flight. Don’t land in the trenches! A Kite down with lines over the sides of those trenches and you in the bottom would be insane. You’d probably have to let your kite go and walk out the bottom of the trench just to get out.
Anyway, the first day was light NW with some great top to bottom glides. The second day was full North and strong with a great local crew. We got a little ridge soaring above these trees near the top. It was simply too dangerous to spend the day playing there, but the halfpipe and flats were good times until dark. The third day gave way to some sitting around in the morning to finally the West wind we wanted soooooooo bad. The big bowl gave us ridge soaring we could nearly stay up in. We were gliding across the hill pulling big turns and long passes landing about where we were starting. 5mph more and we wouldn’t have even landed. Chaz pulled off a massive glide to the flats that landed him a half mile+ away. It probably took him 20 min to get back. We now know that if you take off at the top and land at the top you get to spend more time in the air!
I got to fly big on the 2012 Ozone Frenzy for the first time and it felt easy and stable. I was surprised how nice of a pull the loops have. Christophe was pulling really powerful loops right in the lift ban on the Frenzy all the time. The launch and landing are just as easy as they say. I needed depower crossing the icy top and the wingtips weekend a bit. The convenience and quickness of access do make it a snow specific kite no doubt. For flying my friends, the Ozone Edge was the favorite kite of the day. Pascal peeled my hands off the bar to get mine. “Just one try” he said, but yea right! The Edge has that dang efficiency! Not only does it go upwind for racers, it glides ultra efficiently to help you stay up. It was frustrating to give my kite up, but lead to taking some pics so I hope you enjoy them because I was clicking not flying!
Thanks to the Bighorn regulars for their beta and meeting us up there. These guys are great to kite with, and with imperfect wind and snow conditions…friends make it Epic! – Will
Wayne's Line down the South Face of Baldy.
Big3 copy.jpg
Pascal out front setting up for a big bank towards the ridge lift.
Big1 copy.jpg
Me playing in the half pipe.
Big2 copy.jpg
Chaz way down at the bottom, Wayne flying by above.
Big8 copy.jpg
Wayne dropping into the bowl.
BigHJan2011 044 copy2 copy.jpg
This cool old cabin out there.
BigH2 2011 181 copy.jpg
Christophe looping in the ridge lift.
BigHJan2011 038 copy.jpg
Jibbing by the Cabin, but just for a picture.
BigH2 2011 085 copy.jpg
Chaz gliding towards the south on the ridge lift.
Big7 copy.jpg
Last edited by knewschool on Fri Jan 13, 12 8:23 am; edited 1 time in total
Wind Slither
Since 04 Mar 2005
2623 Posts
The 503
METAL
Fri Jan 13, 12 8:21 am
Kill, kill, killin' it!
For the rest of us, looks like there's finally some precip heading our way this next week...
Killin it.jpg
Last edited by Wind Slither on Fri Jan 13, 12 9:23 am; edited 1 time in total
knewschool
Since 23 Dec 2010
61 Posts
Wyoming
Fri Jan 13, 12 8:24 am
Thanks! We could use some more too! Sorry I can't figure out why my long pictures won't fit. I've adjusted them 10 times.
Scriffler
Since 03 Jul 2005
581 Posts
LYLE
Addicted
Fri Jan 13, 12 11:13 am
That doesn't even look real. You guys are lucky.
J_Matic
Since 14 Oct 2011
158 Posts
InDaHo
Stoked
Fri Jan 13, 12 3:41 pmEffects of Snow deprivation
This is how I feel about the situation, crossing fingers for next week!
[img]
madness03.jpg
quenyaistar
Since 21 Oct 2011
416 Posts
Cougar, WA
Obsessed
Fri Jan 13, 12 4:05 pm
St Helens has halfpipe trenches like that at Lahar viewpoint, used to launch out of them on my snowmobile. The Lahar is a kiteable spot, if it ever snows. _________________ 1 OF 1
Wind Slither
Since 04 Mar 2005
2623 Posts
The 503
METAL
Sat Jan 14, 12 12:36 pmRe: Effects of Snow deprivation
JMacMatic wrote:
This is how I feel about the situation, crossing fingers for next week!
[img]
Hang in there Jmac...
THIS SIGNIFICANT PATTERN CHANGE WILL TAP INTO
AMPLE PACIFIC MOISTURE AND BRING IT ONSHORE IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST
FOR A VERY WET REMAINDER OF THE WEEK. THERE IS HIGH FORECASTER
CONFIDENCE IN THIS EVENT TAKING PLACE AND CURRENT PROGS SHOW
WIDESPREAD PRECIP ACROSS OUR CWA LATE TUESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY.
PRECIPITATION WILL BE ON AND OFF IN THE VALLEYS...BUT NEARLY
UNINTERRUPTED IN THE MOUNTAINS.
Just a matter of time before someone dies and the purchasing of kitesurfing equipmment will become more restrictive and expensive.
Nobby raish
Since 01 Apr 2011
21 Posts
Mon Jan 16, 12 11:26 am
Any of us could meet our demise kitesurfing/snowkiting ect...
OR,in a car crash on the way...
Is that your biggest concern,co$t and availability of gear?
This is a typical american,knee jerk,sue-happy,NERF everything response.
Vast majority of snowkite-gliders ARE experienced paragliders
they use back-up climbing harnesses, and good judgement.
They know where and when to glide and when not to.
They only endanger themselves.
anti-spiral chute,please.
SpaceRacer
Since 04 Nov 2007
434 Posts
Obsessed
Mon Jan 16, 12 11:35 am
Experienced gliders use gliding equipment. If your rationale holds, I assume you are experienced with an umbrella. Why don't you take it out to the nearest water tower this afternoon.
Nobby raish
Since 01 Apr 2011
21 Posts
Mon Jan 16, 12 11:43 am
Worked for mary poppins.
MaryPoppins1.jpg
SpaceRacer
Since 04 Nov 2007
434 Posts
Obsessed
Mon Jan 16, 12 11:46 am
LOL...I have no come back for that one. You win
knewschool
Since 23 Dec 2010
61 Posts
Wyoming
Mon Jan 16, 12 12:04 pm
I agree that kite soaring is still at an experimental stage, and is not safe. However, I still think it's relevant to this forum since it is a unique attribute of kitesurfing that makes it differ from say a cable park, or a ski boat and most kiters no matter their dicipline have enjoyed boosting off the ground as high as possible until their skills build to the wakestyle level.
Letting this aspect of kiting into this forum will only help it move away from an experimental level as the knowledge and experience grows. Just as you have compared it to paragliding with concerns about the equipments soundness.
I like to paraglide, kitesurf and snowkite. I’m a paragliding pilot, and I'll agree that a paraglider has more integrity with regards to the life span of the wing and loading. The foil obviously has more attachment points, actual calculated numbers for integrity and hours in the air which are all pros. Not to mention all sorts of recoveries through turbulence.
The tube kite is single panel, has air filled bladders, just a handful of attachment points, and is less convenient. However, WON’T ANYONE AGREE that the speed, control, and stability of my Ozone Edge (in my case) TUBE kite adds an element of safety based on performance alone? It is so fast and so stable in turbulence I can land just right. Isn't that a PRO? As far as structural integrity...I load test it myself. We all know how overpowered you have to be to ride through 20+ inches of powder uphill, and the most insane kiteloops you can think of. Hours of riding is so similar to airtime. I back up my hook and inspect my kite and lines, just as you’d do with a paraglider.
We’re not flying cross country with varios and GPS. We’re doing gaps and ridge soaring, not to mention that my Edge would have sliced through this turbulence like butter…
I think the safety issue is how comfortable I feel in turbulence on a tube kite. Perhaps even more than integrity. I wonder if we should be asking if paragliding is safe?
Nobby raish
Since 01 Apr 2011
21 Posts
Mon Jan 16, 12 12:51 pm
I guess neither are safe.
I do think speedracer does have a valid point.
And the point is....
You would hope you have 20+ inches of powder,when you break
a line,pop a bladder,blow a panel 100-150 ft. up,
and fall like a stone...it's gonna hurt.
No matter how much pre-flight checking you do...
It could happen...and to say otherwise is naive.
And neither foil nor tube kites are intended for such use.
I herd offhand years ago that slingshot was'nt to pumped on some
of the gliding stuff alex P. was doing,even though no one
would argue his experience.
they,or no one wants to see it attempted by the unexperienced.
I just don't think most sane folks,are thinking....
"I think i am gonna try a 100 ft. high glide today"
At least you would hope.
Am i saying you guys are insane,well maybe a little.
but there is a method to your madness.
And It's beautiful to watch.
>Push personal and equipment boundaries with awareness,respect and humbleness
I guess is all i can say...
Still the most insane glide to date,(he is wearing a reserve chute)
I have to say...
That fist pik of Wayne dropping in that steep chute
is some really revolutionary shit!!!
that's the kinda line people hike HOURS to ski.
Probably got towed by kite up in minutes.
Nice F-ing work man!!
SpaceRacer
Since 04 Nov 2007
434 Posts
Obsessed
Mon Jan 16, 12 1:10 pm
Yeah, I guess that was the point I was making. I was not dissing anyone's skills or abilities but simply questioning, no matter how much knowledge and skill one has, if kiteboarding kites are built for these applications? Either way, better someone else than me. Does the harness come with a diaper 'cause I would need that?
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum You can attach files in this forum You can download files in this forum