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Photo of the Day

03 Nov 2006
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Snowkite Photo of the Day: Nov. 3, 2006

The Gear Junkie Features the To Cross The Moon Snowkite Expedition

31 Oct 2006
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Happy Halloween! 
Stephen Regenold is an outdoor enthusiast, "gear reviewer," and writer for the New York Times. Today he featured the To Cross The Moon Snowkite Expedition on his comprehensive sporting website, thegearjunkie.com. Take a peek:

Gear Junkie Daily Dose
Gear Junkie Article

A New Snowkite Film in Development

30 Oct 2006
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I got the first chance to preview new film from New Zealand, taken this summer. It's high definition and the video highlights New Zealand’s great snowkite features. The film is one segment of a multiple part movie that will come out in the fall of 2007.

The main athlete is Jamson Smith, a US citizen who has been living in New Zealand for the last year. Having lived in Hawaii & Africa as a kitsurf instructor; Jamson combined his passion for kiting with his love of snowboarding when he moved to New Zealand.

I spoke with Chris Nestor, who is part of a snowkite video production crew that traveled to New Zealand this summer to get a jump start on their footage.

"I was supposed to be the film's kiteskier, but I screwed up my leg in New Zealand." said Chris. He explained that it was ok, "because I had wanted to finish my kiteskiing parts early and focus on the video portion. I was able to just start filming from the beginning. I actually had to tie a ski-pole to my foot and use it to pull my leg up the hill."

When asked about the project name, Chris let on that it's still in development.

"We're playing with the name Surface Hoar," says Chris,” Hoar is a certain type of snow. But we're kind of playing on the double meaning. We'll see if we can get away with it."

Chris and his comrades plan to put out a snowkite film every year.

"We hope to keep it fresh. Not rehashing snowboard and ski movies. There's a formula, and we're trying to follow it, but always with new footage." says Chris.

Chris has done a lot of traveling in his life, and used to spend 10 months out of the year skiing.

"This was a good excuse to travel back to New Zealand," quoted Chris,"it's a lot easier to justify if you're going to make a film."

Look forward to seeing the finished film in the fall of 2007.

For more information, contact Chris: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Fresh Interview with Paul "Motz" Macaj

27 Oct 2006
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Eric: You've been a snowboard pro, a sailboat sail repairman, a e-store owner, and a film maker... Which one are you the most passionate about? Why?
Motz: Man that's tough. Let me break it down:
Snowboarding Pro: Not really snowboarding if you ask me. It's a job. If your a pro just getting footage for upcoming video parts then you hike a kicker 20 times at 6am when the light is just right to get maybe just maybe one shot in a video...if your lucky. So your not really snowboarding like people think when they see the vids. Also your always sitting around waiting for that blue sky day. So ya underpaid/always waiting/and not really snowboarding.
Sailboat sails: Sometimes I like it and sometimes I don't. The best is when someone comes back and says "damn you did a hellofa job" I like that. And then sometimes it's windy and I'm stuck sewing....I don't like that.
E-store: I love it. When people buy something on Kitesnowboarder.com and get stoked on gear that's been tested...you can't beat that.
Film maker: Love/Hate. I love getting the shot. I hate that I'm behind the lens and not kiting when it's really good. So on those perfect days when it's bluebird and I need to film.....that can suck. But it's the best when everyone is watching the vid and you can see peoples reactions to certain parts...I really enjoy that and it's very gratifying to be a part of something that is still relatively new.

Eric:You have been snowkiting longer than most. How did you get into the sport?
Motz:Munz and I bought two Wipika 8.5m kites complete with bungee leash and all from France...from the Leganoix brothers in 1997 for about 2,000 dollars.. We bought them for the water (used surfboards with footstrap inserts) and it was ridiculous. We never got upwind that summer and I actually said screw it I'm done with this sport. So I just put the kite in the garage and was like well "I tried". So we always talked about how it could work on the snow though and how there is no friction and that maybe we could go in less wind. But we had no idea. It was just this big question mark in our heads...and so we had to wait for the next big dump. And it snowed one night and I went by this lit up soccer field by my apartment and I was like okay let's see what happens. I got there around 7pm and put the kite in the air and cruised back and forth going upwind for like two hours in untouched powder. I couldn't believe it. When I was done I called Munz immediately and told him what happened and told him I felt I was in a dream. So after that we both just cruised around looking for soccer fields and open spaces. We loved that fact we could finally go upwind and "ride". Trust me it looked stupid but we didn't give a shit we were finally conquering this sport.

Eric:You've been able to see snowkiting grow; what changes or developments need to happen before this sport can grow more?
Motz:It's happening now as far as kite development goes. People can learn the basics in one day and actually get up on the water/snow with ease (bow kites). When Munz and I started it took us one year to figure out how to go upwind and two years to do a 5 foot high jump.
As far as snowkiting goes, I think we need to really lay down some locations for people that want to get into it so they know where to go (locations), who to talk to for lessons (instructors), and more media publicity for the sport. I think if we can combine those three aspects kiting as a sport will grow much faster. And this is happening but it's tough too. Some of the guys that I snowboard with and don't kite are are not that stoked on it. Here are some examples of what I hear:
"what i think is that it's really lame. it's cool if you enjoy this sort of thing but when i saw the guys floating over all this perfectly good powder i felt they were blowing it"
"too much gear"
"looks way too expensive"
Those three are some very typical answers. And well from what I get from that is that the image is "not cool" to these guys and that is where I think we need to make changes. Make the gear look cool, the riders need to have a role model/good image, and the riding needs to look stylish (and ya hot pink is out already...sorry). Stylish is a big thing with pro snowboarders. If your doing a lame grab (tindy) 40 feet up it will still look lame to them. Now throw in an indy and they atleast say well that's pretty cool. For me when I kite or film I make sure it's as close to snowboarding as possible. The tricks in snowboarding are all the same in kiting to me. It's just that kiting has a longer flight pattern compared to a jump with just a snowboard on. So to get as close to the sport of snowboarding I think holding good grabs for as long as you can with a smooth style get's snowkiting it's right image for growth.
Eric:You were part of snowboarding as it develope from a fringe sport into what it is today. Do you ever compare snowboarding to snowkiting? If so are there any similar or different trends?
Motz:Snowboarding was totally the same to me as kiting is today. Are you kidding? Crazy Banana snowboards that had a 3 foot nose and 1 foot tail. Neon outer wear. Sorel boots. Bindings that came undone on every jump. It was dumb. When Skateboarders saw snowboarding they thought it was lame up until the late 90s when baggy pants and the style of snowboarding tricks evolved more towards skating. But for most of us it was the feeling you get from riding. That feeling is what makes snowkiting so amazing. Have you ever tried to talk about a good session to a non-snowkite friend and how insane it was?? they have no clue. It's that feeling of jumping as high as you want, flying through untracked powder all day long, to just messing around with a kite. Actually snowboarding took a while to evolve if you really think about it compared to kiting. I think Kiting is progressing way faster than snowboarding did during the 80's and 90's. So if you know anyone out there that is not into it....tell them o.k. listen come try it for just one day and if you still think it's lame then so be it. Everyone I showed kiting to within the last 7 years has bought a kite and is super stoked on it.

Eric: What terrain do you prefer to ride?
Motz:I love everything. I was trying to figure this out the other day why I like everything. I think it's because you can do/learn so much on any type of terrain. I can take one jump that is two feet tall in the flats and think of countless tricks off of it and spend all day on it. And then in the backcountry it's gigantic and there are no limits. So if there is wind it can be great anywhere for me. I like the flats for getting super technical....and then taking the technical tricks to the bigger terrain in the backcountry. At the end of last year I was getting really stoked on just spinning the kite to get speed to go up a hill and then pull in on the depower strap (chicken loop) at the top and just snowboard down in the most epic powder spots. I can do that all day long and not do one jump and have the biggest smile on my face at the end of the day.
Eric:Kitesnowboarding is the side of the sport where you prefer to focus your attention. In fact, your films are always subtitled:"...a kitesnowboarding film." Do you feel that kiteskiing is a lesser part of snowkiting, or is it simply a preference?
Motz: Ok. Do you see any films out there have both skiing and snowboarding?? hardly any. And here is why. When someone does a "Zudnick" (ski trick) then snowboarders can't relate. I have no problem with skiers...it's just I can't understand what tricks they are doing. I have nothing against skiers. I ski raced for 5 years when I was younger. In fact I know that skis are faster than a snowboard and that's great (which is why you see skiers in the halfpipe boosting higher than snowboarders). But I come more from a snowboard background (20 years) and I can relate to it better and show it to the public better...I would hate to show skiing in my films and "hope" that it looks good because I really don't know if it's cool or not in a skiers world. Just being true to who I am and what I'm striving for to show to people.

Eric:Here's your chance to speak your mind. Is there anything you'd like snowkiters or people interested in the sport to know?
Motz:I guess for me mostly I really want kitesnowboarders to really understand where I come from as far as the tricks go. Go up to a ski resort and head on over to the park or halfpipe and just watch the good guys. Start emulating those grabs with a kite and you got something.
Start learning names of tricks in the snowboard/skate world and take that to kiting.
Google this: snowboard indy grab snowboard mute grab snowboard tail grab snowboard method grab snowboard melon grab
snowboard FS360 grab snowboard BS360 grab snowboard FS720 grab snowboard BS360 grab
snowboard BS 720 melon ...and so on
That should give you a good head start. Also don't be afraid to write with a marker on your snowboard where to grab. Try this:
Put you snowboard on in your living room and get a marker. Grab with your hand where you want to grab it and have someone outline your hand on the board. Marker up all the good grabs and your set when you go kiting. After all you have so much time in the air you might as well grab legit!!
Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoy my latest film release "20/10" coming out first week of November.

Manta, Frenzy, & Access 2 Flyers Released By Ozone

20 Oct 2006
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From Ozone......

 

Hi Everyone

 

Feast your eyes on the PDF links below >> Our latest beauties, one year in the making, designed with passion, dedication and our legendary attention to detail.

 

Don’t settle for fakes, your life can depend on it! From the start of our involvement with kiting we have been committed to developing the very best kites to allow us to Free-ride wherever we want to with a feeling of safety. Chasta has been with us since the start, his input and the hundreds of hours he rides per year has helped us once again to push the limits of the designs. This ensures our kites remain at the forefront of kite development, allowing Chasta and our Team to go where they want to go with peace of mind, knowing full well the kites will back them up 100%. This dedication to kite design and our talented team consistently proving to be the top players in the snowkite world helps give us the ability to design what is needed, so you can choose your ideal kite no matter what your level.

 

The 2007 range have benefited from the widest range of kiters, from novices in schools, to the instructors, kids, grandpas, everyday riders and pro’s. Along with our design Team that live and breathe kiting, we’ve listened to all this feedback and have made the changes to make these kites un-beatable

 

If you’re new to the sport choose the Access2, our entry level de-powerable foil. But don’t be put off by the term entry level, just look at its clean perfection of design and this year its higher performance design with major improvements to the bar system. Download the Access 2 Flyer

 

The Frenzy 07 remains the king of open-cell depower foils. The 07 has far higher stability than the 06 model and the smoothest power delivery yet with increased power and pop, perfect for the freestyle/wakestyler. Download the Frenzy Flyer

 

The Manta is Chasta’s baby; raw power and finesse blended together make this Chasta’s favorite for those high flying, cruising days. Just look at that kite and it makes you drool! Just wait until you see Chasta’s video that will be released on our new “coming soon” website!Download the Manta Flyer

 

Once again we are organizing a Free-Ride demo Tour where our riders and distributors will be putting on a demo weekend near you throughout the winter season. So make sure you keep checking back for more info or contact your local shop or Ozone distributor to ask for a demo

 

This winter we feel will be huge for snowkiting with more and more snowkite schools opening every passing season.

 

Pray for early season snow

 

Cheers

 

Team Ozone

To Utah or Bust

17 Oct 2006
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It's snowing in Utah. So I'm taking this evening off to re-locate. Until tomorrow, keep dreaming of snow. - Eric

Snowkite Vs. Downhill Snowboards

16 Oct 2006
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There are a growing number of snowkite specific boards being advertised. Here's a list of companies that are developing snowkite boards:

 

Nobile
Windzup
AntiGravity
Best
APO

 

Snowkite-specific boards are being created because downhill snowboards are not designed with snowkiting in mind... and thus they don't suit snowkiters' needs very well.

 

Snowkiting is different from downhill snowboarding in the following ways (there are more, but these are a few things relating to snowboards):

 

Weight & Leaning:
In downhill, you'll find your weight distributed further forward (depending on snow depth and terrain steepness). With a snowkite, your weight is more likely to be distributed back toward your trailing foot. This becomes more pronounced the softer and deeper the snow layer gets. For example, if you're on ice, you don't have to worry about the snowboard tip dipping below the snow (because there is no snow). If you're in some deep powder however, you need to lean on your back foot and use all your apparent weight (your true weight minus the kite's vertical lift) to keep the back tip of the board down and the forward tip above the snow. Although this is true for down-hill, leaning on your trailing foot becomes much more important with a kite.

 

Heel-Side Edge Lean:
In downhill you'll use your toe-side edge often. On the flip side, you'll use your heel-side edge most of the time while you're snowkiting. This is because you'll need to lean back against the pull of the kite while snowkiting and use your heel-side edge to maintain a direction perpendicular to the kite's pull. As you build experience, you'll use your toe-side edge for transitions and more. But you'll still spend most of the time on your heel-edge.

 

Board Stiffness:
Board stiffness needs to be greater on a snowboard used for snowkiting. Here's a metaphor: imagine a sailboat. A sailboat's keel is used to keep the boat's course despite the wind pushing from other directions. The keel is strong & stiff which allows the sailboat to maintain direction. If the keel was flexible, the wind and water currents would force it to change shape and the boat wouldn't be able to cut straight through the water. The same is true in snowkiting. A stiff board maintains shape and allows the snowkiter to cut across the snow in the desired direction---like a keel. Wind doesn't affect a downhill snowboarder like it does a snowkiter, so stiffness can be decreased to improve other areas of performance.

 

Side-cut:
Since a snowkiter uses his/her edge to travel in a straight line (again, to move perpendicular to the pull of the kite), he/she doesn't normally want that edge to force a turn. Traditional snowboards are designed with an hour-glass shape so that the combined flex and shape of the board will assist in turning. Snowboard that are better for snowkiting will normally have less sidecut. Some people hold different oppinions on this issue.

 

Twin-Tip:
Snowkiters tend to use both tips of the snowboard more often than downhill snowboarders do. Snowkiters are normally facing downwind and moving left or right, remaining on the heel-side edge and switching which tip leads. (For snowkiting, set your bindings so that you feel equally comfortable traveling in both directions.)

 

Although some people might add-to, subtract-from, or disagree-with some of the above ideas, they generally outline the difference between downhill snowboarding and snowkiting. Hopefully this gives you a better understanding of the factors influencing snowkite-specific snowboard designs.

 

All said, you can use a downhill snowboard to snowkite. I recommend a stiff, twin-tip board. Set the bindings to "ducky" style. Less side cut is better, but you don't need a perfectly straight edge.