FlyOrDie

I was wondering if anyone travels with their kiting gear. I just got an Ozone Access 6m snowkite and am planning on playing with it this winter in AK.

ASpilot2be

I know this is an old thread, but I thought I would chime in.

I have been playing around with my 9 foot kite for a couple years. I havent gotten brave enough to hop on a board with it yet. I have considered using a plastic sled though.

atpcliff

Hi!

My brother kiteboards, and travels to Hawaii, among other places, ususally once a year.

He used to be on the pro windsurf circuit, and travelled with his gear all over the place. It was a PAIN. I believe that the Kiteboard gear is much more compact, and easier to handle.

cliff
GRB

__________________
TRY.

whiskeycharlie

I love to kiteboard! I am currently flight instructing, but I hope to move close to the coast wherever I eventually end up.


Cliff, I noticed you shared some input on the Cape Air thread last month. May I ask, do you work for them? Seems like a great operation based on everything I've read in the forums. I was wondering if people do much kiteboarding on the east coast/caribbean. My ultimate dream would be to fly and go kiteboarding on my days off. Is that asking for too much?

atpcliff

Hi!

No, I just know/knew 4 people that flew there, and I've been trying to get an interview.

The best place to kiteboard/windsurf in the US is "The Gorge", which is the Columbia River Gorge between OR and WA. Hood River, where my brother lives, is actually the best place in the WORLD for consistent winds, and the ability to do windsports 12 mos of the year. The winds are consistent and strong because of the terrain.

My brother usually goes on 1 trip a year to Baja and Hawaii, also. But, if he goes at the wrong time, he may have no wind for a week to 10 days.

It is DEFINITELY worth a trip, if you are that into it. There are TONS of stores and highly skilled people there in wind sports. Mt. Hood, which is next door, also has year round snow sports, so there are TONS of outdoor athletes of all kinds based in the area.

My CEO works out a LOT! She is 49, 5'10", about 135, and wears a size 6 tall dress. Last year she was ranked 55 in the US (#1 in WI) for women's racquetball. When we went to Hood River, she said she felt like a fat sow, because she was so out of shape compared to my brother's friends she met in Hood River.

cliff
GRB

__________________
TRY.

whiskeycharlie

Yeah, I too will be looking to get an interview with them when I have built a little more time. I have been fortunate enough to kite in both Hood River as well as Baja once each. I learned in Hatteras, NC and that is the only place I've kited out east. Where I live, there is actually a fair amount of snow kiting, but I haven't taken advantage of it. Water can be a little more forgiving than hard-packed snow
Best of luck in getting an interview! I wish I knew someone who worked for them to use as reference or walk in my resume, but I live far from their operations. If you don't mind me asking, how long ago did you put in your app?

FlyOrDie

Heads up for the few kiters that have been reading this.

March 25-29 is the Thompson Pass Snowkite Festival in Alaska. Check out the link. Should be awesome.

Thompson Pass Snow Kite Festival Home Page