Watertown, SD Terrain and Lake Kampeska

[Matt V]

8 kiters including myself hit Watertown, SD for some insane terrain and some of the best flat riding I have had in a long time. I was up there from Tuesday until Sunday and enjoyed all of the good and kited in some way shape or form every day. The crew was made up of 1 trainer kiter getting her first rides on a depower foil, a few beginners, and 4 of us equipped and capable of handling the terrain that Mazeppa GPA/Meyers Lake WPA had to offer. Lake Kampeska had perfect snow and great wind for just plain JUMPING on Thursday. Saturday was the lightest wind day but I was still able to crawl along with a 6m Ozone "Access XT" on the flat while demonstrating to the beginners that you can still kite underpowered in 10mph of wind (I weigh 220lbs).

The lessons for the trip were

1. DON'T GO INTO THE CATTAILS!
2. DO NOT TRY TO KITE THROUGH THE CATTAILS!
3. YOU WILL GET STUCK IF YOU TRY TO KITE THROUGH THE CATTAILS!

I found that the snow would swallow you 3 ft deep if you did not have enough uplift from the kite to make it through. Then the snow and buried stems of the cattails would snag you like a net. Later I learned that turning around was not a good idea as that was the cause of me being eaten the second time. The third time if fell in? Well I thought I could make it that time. Another kiter found cattails that had 5 ft of fluffy snow in them. Only his head was sticking up. A warm spell would be nice to harden up the snow on top so you could ride over them without the "trap door" effect. Snow cover on the lake and terrain was averaging 6-14inches wind blown soft stuff.

Other than the stoke the terrain supplied, and the night life, a treasure hunt of sorts took place as one of the kiters lost his keys out on the terrain. The best trick I pulled off the whole trip was finding them on a ridge top.

[pongnut]

Cattails... yeah, I don't think I'm quite ready for cattails yet, maybe next year

Sorry I missed you terrain-trekkers on Sunday. I joined Greg out on the north end of the lake. You were right about the conditions on Kampeska - 3 inches of snow glue and 6 inches of soft stuff - add 16 - 23 mph wind out of the ssw and it made for an awesome afternoon on the lake!

[Dakotakiter]

Awesome. I have wanted to go up there all year. Let me know if you are going again!

Thanks for the info

[Matt V]

Dakotakiter,

Snow and wind here at home in Omaha, NE all week so I may postpone until after the Crossing. It would be a great treat on the way back.

Where are you located?

[Dakotakiter]

I am in Sioux Falls. Was at lake all weekend w perfect snow. No wind! Text or call. Lets meet up.

Greg
605-728-4999