I don’t know about you guys but I’m getting so stoked on this years snowkiting with all the new kiters this past year! Kite Island, Calhoun, and the Bear are going to be packed with color.
Anybody know where the SS Greenhouse is?
SEND IT!
WINTER!!!!
Moderator: MK
WINTER!!!!
Slingshot Kiteboarding/Midwest Mountaineering Regional Team Rider
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steveb
- Posts: 2146
- Joined: Wed Nov 27, 2002 3:31 pm
- Location: sblain@frontiernet.net
I was just thinking it's time to start waxing some stuff......
If any one wants to get a Venture Helix twin tip snowboard let me know, I should be able to save you money on a great board for snow kiting. http://www.venturesnowboards.com I'm still the local rep .
If any one wants to get a Venture Helix twin tip snowboard let me know, I should be able to save you money on a great board for snow kiting. http://www.venturesnowboards.com I'm still the local rep .
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steveb
- Posts: 2146
- Joined: Wed Nov 27, 2002 3:31 pm
- Location: sblain@frontiernet.net
Darlene..I have not met your husband so I don't know if he is the same size as you.
Typically snowboards are sized to the rider and the conditions you're going to ride. I'm guessing ( from seeing you briefly on the beach and on the water) that you're 5'7 to 5'8 probably 125 to 135lbs I'd guess size 8 to 9 feet, all guesses forgive me if I'm wrong. If you were looking for a board to ride around here,based on my guesses, I'd steer you towards a board in the 151cm length with a 24cm waist ( narrow spot in the middle) with a softer flex so your body weight will get the maximum flex in the board when turning getting the maximum edge in the snow.
If you want to use the board for kiting you should lean towards a twin tip design. If your husband is going to learn to kite this winter I'd probably suggest getting him a pair of old skis and comfortable boots. It's much easier to learn winter kiting on skis, your kite handling skills developed this summer will make it easy for you to use a snowboard, but it would be a challenge using a snowboard for your husband as everytime he lost the power in the kite he'd be on his butt,on a pair of skis he would just slow down as his weight would not be committed to the edge the same as boarding.
I will make the same offer I did last year, Nancy and I are certified snowboard instructors, if people want to learn to snowboard let us know and we'd be happy to meet and get people riding.
Typically snowboards are sized to the rider and the conditions you're going to ride. I'm guessing ( from seeing you briefly on the beach and on the water) that you're 5'7 to 5'8 probably 125 to 135lbs I'd guess size 8 to 9 feet, all guesses forgive me if I'm wrong. If you were looking for a board to ride around here,based on my guesses, I'd steer you towards a board in the 151cm length with a 24cm waist ( narrow spot in the middle) with a softer flex so your body weight will get the maximum flex in the board when turning getting the maximum edge in the snow.
If you want to use the board for kiting you should lean towards a twin tip design. If your husband is going to learn to kite this winter I'd probably suggest getting him a pair of old skis and comfortable boots. It's much easier to learn winter kiting on skis, your kite handling skills developed this summer will make it easy for you to use a snowboard, but it would be a challenge using a snowboard for your husband as everytime he lost the power in the kite he'd be on his butt,on a pair of skis he would just slow down as his weight would not be committed to the edge the same as boarding.
I will make the same offer I did last year, Nancy and I are certified snowboard instructors, if people want to learn to snowboard let us know and we'd be happy to meet and get people riding.
Snowboard
Check out the Forest Lake HS snowboard / ski swap. It's huge. Lots of good deals - get there at the open. It will be on a Sat within the next month. You will find anything you need. For kite, don't need anything fancy. If anybody is interested I can post the exact date.
http://hs.forestlake.k12.mn.us/ACTIVITI ... vents.html
looks to be one day: Oct 30 8:00 AM to 1:00PM
looks to be one day: Oct 30 8:00 AM to 1:00PM
Hey Darlene
you might also want to check with Powder Ridge they have a swap every year also. not sure of the date or selection.
are old skinnys the way to go? I can understand not wanting to much sidecut but my I think my old skis were 210's? I was thinking of looking for a shorter ski, not to turny but something that can be moved around in the air.
Rick
you might also want to check with Powder Ridge they have a swap every year also. not sure of the date or selection.
are old skinnys the way to go? I can understand not wanting to much sidecut but my I think my old skis were 210's? I was thinking of looking for a shorter ski, not to turny but something that can be moved around in the air.
Rick
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Dean Rizer
- Posts: 319
- Joined: Mon Mar 03, 2003 3:52 pm
I sold my Mertz surfer and snowfer both were really fun on black ice. I hope I can find something to replace them when kiting cuz that's my only option now. Only one concern; somehow I always felt a bit safer if I had to skid into open water without skis and boots on. The last two winters I rode my old Rossi slalom skis on the snow; 207s very stable at speed. I understand there are some very good newer / shorter ski and board options for ice that are really stable but I don't have a clue as to what to look for. The Guy who makes the Snowfer makes the UNI Board, but it's pricey. I think Jeff Adamski has ridden it. Slip in not lock in bindings. Has anyone ridden Todd's switchblade? Big learning curve, difficult to control? There's a fly on the outside of my window with a spider chasing it and I'm thinking about winter??
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steveb
- Posts: 2146
- Joined: Wed Nov 27, 2002 3:31 pm
- Location: sblain@frontiernet.net
Switchblade...not hard to use once you have it tuned , if you have too much blade down it's very hard to move out of a straight line.
But when tuned it's just snowboarding on ice...fast!. It's very well thought out, well made and makes ice days fun. What I love is how easily it handles the ice and snow days, goes through the snow fine then hooks up on the ice when you hit the bald patches, no more sideways at 40 mph.
But when tuned it's just snowboarding on ice...fast!. It's very well thought out, well made and makes ice days fun. What I love is how easily it handles the ice and snow days, goes through the snow fine then hooks up on the ice when you hit the bald patches, no more sideways at 40 mph.
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Dean Rizer
- Posts: 319
- Joined: Mon Mar 03, 2003 3:52 pm
With a person who has only water kiteboarding experience would you recomend the switchblade? Is there a steep learning curve? Do you need to have snowboard bindings or would tight slip in type bindings work? Is there a specific type of snowboard, length, side cut etc. that the Switchblade is more suited to. Last season I ran into a lot of mixed ice, pack and 6" snow or drift conditions. The switchblade sounds like a great option for all conditions assuming I can learn to ride it.
You definately need full bindings because all your weight is directly on the trailing edge of your board. No snow is under your foot, so the switchblade is tiring on your calves. I rode with mine on all winter, and there were days were I was seeing guys skiding out all over the place and I was holding my edge easilly. That was on what looked like great snow (3 to 4 inches) over smooth ice.
The switchblade hooks up great and like Steve said, feels just like snowboarding when it is adjusted right. No learning curve at all if you know how to snowboard and have an old switchblade wiz adjust it for you. Well worth the money, and really fun on smooth black ice like we get when the lakes first freeze up.
The switchblade hooks up great and like Steve said, feels just like snowboarding when it is adjusted right. No learning curve at all if you know how to snowboard and have an old switchblade wiz adjust it for you. Well worth the money, and really fun on smooth black ice like we get when the lakes first freeze up.
Eric
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Dean Rizer
- Posts: 319
- Joined: Mon Mar 03, 2003 3:52 pm
Last winter when Steve put together a Snowboarding clinic I think I decided to ride my skis instead. So it's square one for snowboarding again. We had to edge the Snowfers up on one blade to get max speed and performance. So hopefully Snowfer edging combined with some water edging experience will get me started down the learning road. Last winter I noticed a lot of butt prints in the snow. Is that part of the learning curve or just resting? How often can one expect to be pulled forward off their edge? I saw a few riders bouncing along on their hooks, that had to feel good!!
Here's another option. http://www.antigravityboards.com/
I prefer skis in the winter. Snowboards are fun when there is a decent amount of snow, but for me I just prefer skis for crude. Then again I have 30 years of experience on skis and only about 4 years on a snowboard.
It is not as similar to water as you would think...I don't think.
I prefer skis in the winter. Snowboards are fun when there is a decent amount of snow, but for me I just prefer skis for crude. Then again I have 30 years of experience on skis and only about 4 years on a snowboard.
It is not as similar to water as you would think...I don't think.
Tighe
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steveb
- Posts: 2146
- Joined: Wed Nov 27, 2002 3:31 pm
- Location: sblain@frontiernet.net
Dean, your water time will really help you if you decide to try a snowboard, however mounting a switchblade requires drilling holes in your board so it becomes a very kiting dedicated board. For a switchblade it's best just to find an old board to mount it on and that become the crud board. As Eric says you can use it all the time but I like to have one sans switchblade snowboard for those lovely snow days.
I would happily teach you to snowboard, the oldest person I've taught was 72 so you're still a kid. The snow is on the hills before the lakes are ready so it would be easy to learn before the kite season really kicks in.
I think you could just go out on a snowboard and kite with water experience, but it might be a little more of a beating than if you had some snowboard time in your legs.
With the AASI methods learning to snowboard is quite painless and a person with average athlectic skills can be linking turns in an hour and a half from the start of the first lesson. Someone with a strong ski background like you Dean tends to learn even faster, I don't have to teach you how to use the mountain etc.you know all that stuff already.
To be honest the hardest thing to learn is pushing yourself around on the flat snow with the board on one foot, the riding is quite easy.
I would happily teach you to snowboard, the oldest person I've taught was 72 so you're still a kid. The snow is on the hills before the lakes are ready so it would be easy to learn before the kite season really kicks in.
I think you could just go out on a snowboard and kite with water experience, but it might be a little more of a beating than if you had some snowboard time in your legs.
With the AASI methods learning to snowboard is quite painless and a person with average athlectic skills can be linking turns in an hour and a half from the start of the first lesson. Someone with a strong ski background like you Dean tends to learn even faster, I don't have to teach you how to use the mountain etc.you know all that stuff already.
To be honest the hardest thing to learn is pushing yourself around on the flat snow with the board on one foot, the riding is quite easy.