Kitestorm Rocks Vermont, Hundreds Affected
 Posted on Mar 08, 2006 by Brian

By Eric Byers

On my flight back from the Kitestorm in Vermont, I was astonished. Normally, I�m forced to explain what snowkiting is when I use the term. But this time the flight attendant, who had inquired about my visit to Burlington, knew all about snowkiting. This alone was enough to interest me, but when I looked to my right, I noticed a picture of blue skies and six kites over Lake Champlain; The Burlington Free Press had posted a huge photo of the Kitestorm on the cover of its living section on Monday. The Kitestorm left a mark when it hit Vermont.

image002\''+m+'\'/');wd.document.close();wd.focus();return false;">Click to enlargeEven with light winds, visitors ventured onto clear ice Saturday morning to receive an introduction to snowkiting, kite demos, and complimentary cookies. Beginners flew trainer kites with their feet placed on grippy Astroturf. Meanwhile a line of onlookers waited anxiously to get off the slippery ice and grab the kite-bar. I had my own fun. After getting a running start, I dove onto the ice and slid on my belly for over twenty-five feet. Others armed themselves with GPSs and took speed-runs on their skis, aiming to win the Peter Lynn that would be awarded to the fastest. Because the sport isn�t called icekiting, we invited the snow that began to fall around noon. As the flakes accumulated and the wind picked up, an unprecedented variety of kites filled the air: Ozones, Peter Lynns, open-cell foils, closed-cell foils, C-shape, bow kites, single skins; trainers & kites the size of paragliders; several pushed the limit of what could be considered a kite. All the while, kiters were experiencing the Kitestorm in their own exciting way.


That evening, the group rallied at the Monkey Bar to converse and numb their aches with a drink. �The Next Chapter� and Ozone snowkite videos played in the background as Rachael tossed goodies to deserving patrons. �If you�re the girlfriend or wife of a snowkiter and got dragged to the Kitestorm, raise your hand!� she half inquired. After throwing out some swag, she continued, �Ok, if you�re a snowkiter that dragged one of these women out here, raise your hand!� With a chuckle from the crowed, she threw out some more rewards. Later we talked kites and sampled �Frenzy,� a drink named after Ozone�s most popular snowkite. Others checked snowkiting forums and played pool. Locals showed up sporting glitter-covered masks and Mardi-Gras beads and we were reminded of the dual celebration. Having followed the festival down town, several of us ended up at a jam�n reggae show.

image004\''+m+'\'/');wd.document.close();wd.focus();return false;">Click to enlargeFresh powder and strong winds greeted us at the lake the next morning. Soon the assortment of kites was back in the air. This time they flew against the backdrop of a bright blue sky. Visitors looking for intro clinics arrived in greater numbers. One student from the University of Vermont peddled miles down icy roads with a snowboard strapped to his back, energetically anticipating a day of riding. As more kiters hit the lake, non-kiters found ways to take part. A local man unloaded his home-made iceboat from the back of his pickup and began cruising, while kiters scrambled to keep their lines clear of the runners. A Vermont Public Television crew mounted a camera on snowkiter Zeb Jacob to film an insider�s view. This prompted him to boost even higher above the hard ice and shallow snow. When the gusts picked up in the afternoon, lessons had to be cut short. Only the brave souls put up their smaller kites, but the ice-boater continued to scoot along as if the gusts were routine (he had over a decade of experience). As I packed up, I reflected on how young snowkiting is and where it will go.

image005\''+m+'\'/');wd.document.close();wd.focus();return false;">Click to enlargeOn the flight from Burlington to Chicago, I wondered how Jake Burton felt when someone first recognized the word �snowboarding� independent of explanation. (*Vermont was where modern snowboarding first hit the slopes.) I�d imagine he was about as surprised as I was. I�m certainly no Burton, so it�s great to see a committed individual like Rachael fostering the development of snowkiting in Vermont. And Vermont, which placed its bet correctly on snowboarding two decades ago, is certainly embracing snowkiting today.

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In attendance were three representatives of Ozone: Tech. Rep. Matt Dominouski, Northeast Team Rider Zeb Jacob, and Event Manager Eric Byers. After an introduction to kiting, visitors were able to demo Ozone�s 2006 Access fleet. �With the winds as they were, the 10, 8, and 6 meter Accesses were in high demand,� said Eric. Attendees watched Zeb throw three-sixties and backrolls as they waited their turn on the trainer kite. Working closely with Vermont Public Television, Zeb�s footage will likely air in the coming months. An estimated one hundred to two hundred new kiters were introduced to the sport at the event.
Latest news from the Snowkite Freeride
 Posted on Dec 13, 2005 by Brian

The Ozone Team loaded into the crew van and headed north for the weekend in search of snow and wind. The plan was to hit as many spots as possible, and so far it�s been an amazing trip with Snowkiting in new destinations everyday, and we have found some incredible new terrain along the way. First stop was the Montana Round-up at Georgetown Lake where the winds were good for Friday and Saturday. While half the team stayed on the lake I joined Noah and Matt for a side trip to the Big Hole backcountry. We found wind blowing thru a canyon and directed straight up the face of a totally snow-covered hill. We hiked in above the sagebrush, unrolled our kites and began looping them up to the top of the hill. Even tho the wind was the same as on the lake and we were riding 10-14 meter kites, due to the slope we were able to take long floaty jumps, just hovering in the hills up-draft. We kited until sunset and then boarded down to the truck. Sunday saw our team of 3 girls accompanied by designer, Rob W and myself heading up to Macdonald Pass outside of Helena, Montana.


The winds atop the pass were too strong, so we went down a 1000 feet to a lower parking area. From there we had to hike up 200 yards to an open area where we could lay out the kites. !0 and 12 meter Frenzy�s took to the sky and everyone chose their own playground. Rob would work upslope, only to turn back down on a speed run for big air. The girls chose to chase eachother on speed runs across the bowl, while I broke out and headed for the summit. A series of loops to the right followed by loops to the left became the mantra as I worked my way around exposed boulder fields on my way to the main ridge line. As I made it higher and closer to the ridge, the wind picked up and the kiteloops turned into slow S turns uphill and into the wind as I made steady speed towards the peak.

Island Park sessions\''+m+'\'/');wd.document.close();wd.focus();return false;">Island Park sessionsA set of radio towers marks the very top, but high winds had blown the snow off, and as the grinding sound of Ptex overtook the sounds of my headphones, I decided to turn back, just short of goal. The sun was setting anyway, and the ride down was one of the coolest views I�ve witnessed in a long time. Monday morning the van was loaded and the crew was southbound for Idaho and Island Park. As we drove thru there wasn�t an ounce of wind as blue skies and high pressure had set in across the region, but everything was in our favor. We pulled into the snowmo parking area across from miles of untracked powder fields. The wind was just kicking on at midday and we pulled out our 12 and 14 meter kites. During the next 3 hour session the wind picked up steadily and the 5 of us cruised all over. Rob and I found a half mile long 30 foot high gully-ridge, that was a perfect quarter pipe for kiteloop jumps. As the wind dropped off along with the temps, we hopped back in the van and continued our journey to Wyoming and Jackson Hole.


Heather and Brian crusing Island park\''+m+'\'/');wd.document.close();wd.focus();return false;">This morning the winds are forecasted for 15-18 out of the south, and we are heading to Slide Lake for some sessions. More to follow and this winters endless Freeride Tour.


Windzup,
Brian Schenck

Tahoe Postponed - Freeride Tour update!
 Posted on Dec 09, 2005 by Brian

This is an urgent message regarding the Lake Tahoe Ozone Snowkite Freeride event scheduled for this weekend, December 10th and 11th. Unfortunately, due to lack of snow and un-ride-able conditions we have determined it to be unsafe to host the Snowkite Freeride and product demo this weekend. Members of the Ozone team will be available Saturday and Sunday morning at Kirkwood to answer questions about Snowkiting and Ozone�s latest winter products, so come on up and visit the guys and hit the lifts for a day of downhilling before racking up the night at the UN party!. Again, we will not be flying kites at Kirkwood, or in the backcountry this weekend because of limited snow coverage. The Ozone Snowkite Freeride Tour is only postponed and will return to Tahoe at a later date this winter when snow conditions have improved. Stay tuned to www.ozonesnowkites.com for current details throughout the season.

Windzup,
Brian Schenck

The Snowkite Freeride will be taking a detour and joining the Montana crew this weekend at Georgetown Lake. So anyone stoked to Snowkite should head North this weekend.
Skyline - Ozone Snowkite Freeride
 Posted on Dec 08, 2005 by Brian

The Snow was deep, the wind was up and the visibility was down. This past weekend turned out some of the harshest winter weather Skyline has ever seen, but that didn�t stop over a hundred registered Snowkiters from assaulting the hills and throwing down in the madness. I want to send a huge Thank You to everyone that came out to support this years Snowkite Freeride Tour kickoff at Skyline, you are the ones that are making this sport happen! Each person that participated and went out riding despite the intense weather, collectively �stepped-up� the level of Snowkiting across the board. They proved that Snowkiters are HARD CORE and can handle anything.

The Recap��.Good riding was found all over Skyline with plenty of snow on the ground and in the air. Many riders had their first uphill runs and even their biggest hillside airs, enjoying the soft powder landings. White out conditions prevailed during the days and many riders found themselves lost in the soup, unable to find their way back to base camp. Thankfully Jake Walker (as seen in Kiteboarding mag on his sled) ran a safety patrol on his snowmo and rescued many downed riders, becoming the hero of the weekend. Saturday night was spent at the Triangle Lounge in Mt Pleasant, where the friendly locals showed the visiting kiters a good time. The RBV�s were flowing and Chip Wasson hosted the prize give away, where many Snowkiters went home stoked with new gear like Zeal goggles, UN Kite jackets, Ozone kites and schwag from all of the tour sponsors. Sunday ushered in even stronger winds and more snow with a high temp of 10 degrees, but for those that held out all weekend, the clouds would lift and the sun would pop out for an epic afternoon session. Finally we could see all of the Pow that had been piling up and everyone took full advantage of the conditions. Some of the Montana and Utah crew hooked up for an amazing downwinder right before sunset, realizing once again what Snowkiting is all about. By Monday morning the crowds were heading home while the skies turned blue, and the mountain rewarded those that withstood its wintry onslaught with the sweetest rides ever.


A huge Thanks goes out to all of the Snowkite Freeride Tour sponsors that have made this event possible, Dakine, Zeal Optics, Ultra Nectar, Ozone Snowkites, Anti-Gravity Boards, APO snowboards, Ska Brewing, GS Photography, Rossignol and The Kiteboarder magazine. Most importantly, props go out to all of the riders that brought a positive Vibe to this event. Over 17 states and 3 countries were represented by Snowkiters that came together to Freeride and push the sport to the next level, Thank you for believing!

Windzup,
Brian Schenck
Beartooth Pass Snowkite Adventure: High Winds, High Mountains and The Man
 Posted on Oct 10, 2005 by Brian

Bear\''+m+'\'/');wd.document.close();wd.focus();return false;">Click to enlargeYesterday was my second day of snowkiting for this winter. It was all over the news that the Beartooth Highway was going to open on Friday, October 7th at ten in the morning after a summer of serious road repairs due to rockslides. With Montana�s recent snow and a tight isobars forecast I was sure that I would get a session at 10,000 feet.

Lots of dignitaries were going to be there to cut the ribbon and say their words. Because it was blowing so hard, these politicos would be off the mountain ASAP. As I drove up from Red Lodge, sure enough, down came a long procession of government types.

Getting get up to the top of the Beartooth Plateau, I was psyched! The immense view says one thing to me: snowkite heaven. Snow and wind is everywhere. It�s blowing 35 to 45 and there�s plenty of fresh powder. It�s blowing so hard that the plow truck keeps making passes just to keep the road open.

My first session is with my 7 Frenzy and I�m seriously overpowered in the gusts. After ten minutes, I drop down to a 5 and find that it�s perfect as the gusts are hitting 50+. I know that there is no option for screw-ups in this environment, there�s conspicuous grey mounds under the snow: granite. These boulders are easy to steer around, but I definitely don�t want to t-bone one.

The kiting was superb. Super lit on my 5, I could climb with ease. The descents were scary fast. With the kite just off neutral, the wing would build huge amounts of apparent wind, propelling me down slope faster and faster. I would rip into the bottom of the basin and crank carving high speed jibes. I was possessed. Powering back up the slope, laying hard into my edge, I�d boost lazy, floaty air. Over and over. I�m shredding smooth wind-laid powder, dodging rocks, boosting on the lulls and finessing the gusts. It�s my personal snowkite nirvana.

After a while, I kite back up to the truck, take a break, eat some food and chat with the snow plow guy. He says that it sure looks like I�m having fun out there. I agree. He also tells me that he�s going to lock the gate six miles down and that I need to leave by 1:30 p.m. Since I�m fully provisioned, I say, �Is there any problem with me spending the night up here?� He says, �No problem.� and off he goes, down the mountain, plowing the wind drifts. Later on, he waves. Now, it�s just me and the mountains for the night. Ya mon!

So I go out for another session and it�s as good as the first, maybe a little better as I�m really getting tuned. It�s such a rush to be up there, no one around for miles, redline snowkiting.

Session three comes around at 3:30 p.m. and I know that this will be my last one of the day, and probably my longest as I want to milk it for all it�s worth. The wind seems even stronger as I triple check my lines before pulling the trigger. It�s another first class session. The gusts are dangerously powerful, blowing snow completely obliterating the view of the ground in front of me. I rage throughout the basin, ignoring the occasional core shots. Boosting with the 5 Frenzy is intensely cerebral. Hell, it�s just a little bigger then a trainer and I�m flying! Kiting in gusty mountain wind takes a sensitive touch on the bar and an acute awareness to the kite. There is no room for error. Rhythm comes from having done this so many times. It�s not for everyone, but I like it.

After two hours, I cruise downwind towards a small pass and find another ballroom of powder waiting for me. I'm having one of the most extreme high wind sessions of my life and all of a sudden: sirens go off. Literally. I look over towards the road, a half a mile, away, and there�s a Montana Highway Patrol car and a truck from the DOT, too. Their lights are flashing, the sirens whooping and I�m getting the message. I�m thinking, �They aren�t applauding my kite skills. They probably would like to see me, up close and personal.�

So, knowing that the show will be over soon, I take off, out of view. I kite around a small peak, enjoying the last bit of snowkite paradise. I go further around the peak and come up on them from downwind.

Arriving at the MHP car, I drop my kite and am greeted by a big cop who says �Let�s see some I.D.� He�s been watching me for at least an hour; he�s already run my license plate, so he knows who I am. But, he wants my driver�s license anyway.

With no outstanding warrants, he tells me that I have to get off the mountain and that I am to follow the DOT truck down and he�ll follow me. My party of one is definitely over.

The DOT guy is in charge of plowing. He tells me that with the high winds and an impending snow storm, the road will probably not open tomorrow. There�s a chance, but not much. I can camp below the gate, and I do. By nine the next morning, I�m sure: There�s no kiting for me today. Off I go, back to Bozeman.

Now, the rest of the story�

I�m getting on Interstate 90 by Columbus, MT and a Montana highway patrol car pulls out in front of me. He�s going 80, and I settle in at 75. After about ten miles he starts to slow down, 70, 65, and 60. He�s in the passing land so I nervously pass him in the slow lane. Right away, he pulls in behind me and his lights go on. He�s pulling me over! Now what? So, he gets out of his cruiser, and walks up to my passenger side window holding a brown manila envelope. Now I�m really wondering, �What�s up�?

�Good Morning Officer.�
He says, �Do you remember me from yesterday?�
It�s the same cop! I say, �Yes.�
�When you were out on the mountain I was trying to find out who you were and I got this magazine from the back of your truck. I was going to mail it to you today, so here you go.� He then hands me the envelope, addressed to me, with postage, ready to mail.

Apparently The Man had gone into the back of my truck, opened a cargo box and lifted my latest issue of SBC Kiteboard! Not only that, he kept it overnight!

Now I�m wondering if he�s gonna��

�start kiting?

See ya out there,
Noah
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