Moving to MN

[Kidkernow]

I'm moving to Minnesota for 2009, from the U.K.

I'll be living in Northfield, and am looking for some locals to hook up and go kiting with.

Would be great to hear from any local kitesurfers/ snowkiters.

Over and out,

Jamie

[steveb]

depends on where your from in the UK?.

[Bill S.]

Hey Jamie, welcome to the USA! I live near Northfield and ride the local lakes all the time. There are two lakes within 15 minutes of Northfield that work for all wind directions except northwest, in which case there are sites an hour away. If you've got the time, Lake Mille Lacs and Lake Superior (three hours from Northfield) offer "blue water" riding, sometimes with large waves and swells. Northfield is a great town. Look me up when you get here and I'll help connect you to the community.

Bill Sonnega
St. Olaf College

[Tighe]

Ride on

Look forward to meeting you. There is a small community of riders in your area and just south a bit in Rochester. The majority of the state's riders are in the Twin Cities but there are riders scattered all over....did you hear, we have 10,000 lakes?

We have a few summer and winter events that bring riders together from around the region...always a good time to hook up with the community. Also any good weekend, there usually are a few dozen kiters converging on the lake of choice (based on conditions). Check this site to see where people are headed.

ride on

[Kidkernow]

Thanks for the speedy, informative, and friendly responses! Seems like there's quite a kiting scene in Minnesota.

I'm moving from Cornwall in the U.K., if that makes a difference.

I hear you guys have 10,000 plus lakes. I'm looking forward to kiting on snow too... that'll be a first for me.

Bill and Tighe... I look forward to meeting you guys too. Incidently Bill, I'm gonna be at St. Olaf for 2009.

Thanks again for the friendly responses! I'm really looking forward to spending a year in Minnesota.

J

[Michelle]

Cornwall?
Thats not England, its practically the Mediterranean :)
Well, at least Steve will have another Brit to hang out with when I leave.
Michelle
(fellow Brit)

[Stroh]

I thought Steve Blain was Australian.

[steveb]

Stroh ...you're one of the walking dead.
J...welcome, as you can see there's little respect for imports here.
No beautiful cornwall beaches here either, but you'll find Minnesota fun. Although the license plates call the place the land of 10,000 lakes it's my understanding there's actually over 14,000 of them. The good news is there's some dry land in between.
We have quite a crew of normal people here and on Lakawa, by normal of course I mean Europeans. I have to give the Yanks their due, even though one of thems going to get his butt kicked the next time I see him,you'll find the people very friendly. Lakawans even more friendly. It's quite a community of wind freaks who always welcome everyone. ( I'm getting all teary eyed)
So let us know when you're going to get here and you can hold Stroh for me. A little GBH is in order.

[Kidkernow]

Thanks.

It's great to know that there's such a friendly kiting community in Minnesota.

I'm touching down on January the 5th. Should be a bit colder the sunny Cornwall, I'm told.

Looking forward to sessions with fellow Europeans and natives alike.

[steveb]

At one of the Crossing Events we counted the nationalities attending, if I remember rightly we got to 21. I don't remember that including a Croatian so heaven knows how many countries are represented by transplants now. More than one.
January 5th is solid water snow kite season, I hope you've had a little time on skis or a snowboard, if not you're going to be busy when you get here.
Northfields kind of in the middle of some of the most commonly used lakes, either Waconia or White Bear Lake are going to be approx 30 minute drives for you. ( both have directions and details in the Lakes Section)
Safe journey.

[Kidkernow]

Thanks Steveb, sounds like there are some great spots close by. I went skiing when I was 15... that was a long time ago!

I have kites/ harness/ and snowboarding jacket. Any tips on what I'm gonna need to keep warm... and how much I'm looking at for a snowboard, would be much appreciated.

Think I'm down with keeping warm in the warm... just riding across that top of it that's the issue.

Looking to spend as few $'s as possible really.

[steveb]

Well one of the nice things is if something costs a pound it typically costs a $. So with the exchange rate the states is cheap.
We have the biggest snowboard dealer in the country in St. Paul http://www.the-house.com you could find a twin tip snowboard for kiting from them.
I'm sure someone has used skis etc. for sale.
You dress similar to skiing/ boarding. So jacket and good waterproof pants.Polar undies and some kind of fleece jacket. Butt/hip , elbow and knee pads are highly recommended. Helmets pretty much a must with goggles.After that stuff your regular kiting gear is all you need.
Snow sking is much easier with a kite than snowboarding, but if you water kite already the board will feel closer to your water riding stance.
Many of us use both depending on the conditions. Marginal snow skis have the edge, deep powder snow you got to ride the snowboard if you have the choice. Unfortunately the snow conditions vary on the lakes day by day depending on what the weathers been up to.But it's all fun.

[Kidkernow]

Thanks for the information Steveb, that's really useful.

Can't wait!

[Kidkernow]

Well, I made it to MN!

Any kiters local to the Northfield area, it would be great to hear from you.

My e.mail is parkbeard@hotmail.com


Over and out,


Jamie

[steveb]

Jamie...welcome, sorry it's so brass monkeys.
But there's snow on them there lakes.
Looking forward to seeing you out there, let me know if I can help while you get settled. My e mails on my lakawa sign in address.Home 715 248 7643.

[johnz]

Can't wait to meet you, Jamie!

C'mon over the pond.

We'll go out and get pissed, but by then we'll be quite knackered and a touch hexy.

Then we'll go send it

(by the way, Steve really IS from down under - he's just in denial...)

Stroh was right!!!
- z

[scottman]

Jamie, I have a few snowboards with bindings and boots if your feet are not larger than a 10.5 in mens size that you are welcome to use any time I'm out. This is really probably the best community I have heard of in the USA as far as a forum goes with great info on places to kite not only here but everywhere in the world. The age group here is from 6 years old to I think Steve B is like 90 now or something like that..just kidding, great group of people and check out the events section we have some good events coming up look forward to meeting you.

Ride til it hurts!!!

[Kidkernow]

Thanks everyone, and everyone who e.mailed me. I'm feeling the love for sure.

Thanks also for all of the contact details, and offers of kit. Really does seem like a great kiting community!

Looking forward to coming out and riding with you all.