Continueing the excitement and success of the 2008 Liquid Force Kites the Havoc and Session for snow kiteboarding and kite skiing, Liquid Force International Team Rider Jason Slezak checks in after a few days in Utah checking out Powder Mountain, the first ski resort to welcome snow kiters and the Ozone Skyline Snowkite Masters, the largest and longest running snowkite event in the US.
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In Jason’s Words…
While attending a recent WSIA (Water Sports Industry Association) conference in Park City, Utah. I had the opportunity to do some shredding at Park City and the Canyons with Tony Finn (LF Founder) , Don Wallace (LF VP Marketing), and some of the other LF Crew. We scored three GREAT days of conditions with two solid 8 to 10 inch dumps! After the conference I headed to Powder Mountain with the Finn man and a few other of my friends to ride some backcountry and check out the newly established snow kiteboarding program at Powder Mountain.
Welcome to Powder Mountain!
Powder Mountain has officially opened up their high elevation powder fields to snow kiteboarding for the 07/08 winter season. Unofficially, kiters have been riding there for a few years now. Most of the kiters using the area were season pass holders and many were even Ski Patrolers at the resort, said Carolyn Daniels (point person at Powder Mountain monitoring the snow kite program). Carolyn stated that the administration at Powder had been watching the kiters for a few years trying to decide how to handle them on resort property. With some educational help from the kiting ski patrollers, an open mind, and some research into their insurance program, Powder decided to open their fields to snow kiteboarding with open arms. They offer both a snow kite day pass and season pass allowing kiters to use and access their facilities and covering the resort for liability.
You need to pay to play… day passes available for snow kiters!
Powder Mountain was one of the first resorts to allow snowboarding in the 80’s and with that same vision saw kiting on the snow as just another great winter recreational activity for their guests to enjoy. Unfortunately for Tony Finn and me, our day at Powder was in the middle of a high pressure system that had rolled into northern Utah which resulted in little to no wind and blue skies. However we made the best of it and spent the day exploring the resort on our snowboards.
In my attempts to gather up a crew to come and session with Tony and me at Powder Mountain I put out an email to Billy Bordy and Jake Buzianas. Billy and Jake, are Utah local kites that Tekko, Julien, and I had met earlier this season in Montana. Jake was not around and Billy sent me info about the U.S. Open Snowkite Masters that was taking place about four hours south at the renowned Skyline Drive that very weekend. He said that most of the kiting community from the area would be there and that I should come and join them. I parted ways with Tony as he had to fly back to the LF offices, and I headed south to Skyline.
The event, organized by Heather and Brian of Ozone Kites, is in its fourth year with great success. The Snowkite Masters is based around a few different forms of competition including a freestyle/jumping event called the “Sick Bird”, a backcountry endurance race titled “Winduro”, a boarder cross format race the “Kiter X”, and a Magellan GPS sponsored event called the “Snowkite Masters GPS Challenge” in which prizes are awarded for the fastest speeds and longest distance traveled. If you are not into the competition side of things you can, as it is stated on the events website; “freeride ’til you can’t stand up! It’ll be a blast either way.”
Slezak rigs his Havoc 12m for the Skyline Masters Boarder X Event
Day one of the event (Friday) provided blue skies and light winds. It was perfect for all levels of snow kiters to get out and enjoy the day. The winds were a bit too light for the “Sick Bird” comp so it was a freeride ‘til you drop day for everyone! A few of the experienced riders, like Alex Peterson and Billy Bordy, were able to showcase their gliding skills staying in the air for 30 to 40 seconds at a time while soaring through the air. On Saturday the Kiter X was run as the start of the pre-frontal winds started to fill in due to an incoming storm system. There were different heats for skiers and snowboarders as well as separate divisions for men, women, and juniors.
Slezak cruises the upwind leg of the boarder X, on his way to 2nd place
The Kiter-X was a blast! All the competitors that were not on course for each heat, along with all of the other spectators were on hand to cheer on the racers. The course ran over natural terrain and around a series of flags, increasing the difficulty level and spreading out the pack in each heat. Liquid Force Snow Kiters held a place on the podium in all three divisions! Brad Gordon (Seattle) took first place for the skiers, Jason Slezak (Cape Hatteras, NC) took second place for the snowboarders, and Arla Funk (Hood River, summer and Park City, winter) took third place for the women.
Brad Gordon- 1st Kite Ski, Jason Slezak- 2nd Kite Snowboard, Arla Funk- 3rd Woman’s Snowboard, with their awards
All of the LF riders were loving their 2008 Havocs on the snow!!! All the participants involved in the Kiter-X showed incredible sportsmanship and kite skill throughout the event dealing with right of way, challenging wind conditions, and a few kite tangles.
Slezak approaches the Ozone rail…
After the race a handful of riders set up and sessioned the 20 foot Ozone flat bar rail. We all had a blast with every type of set up on the rail; snowboard, skies, teli skies, and we even convinced the only junior rider to charge the rail for his first time with a kite! 13 year old Kris Hasbrouck was killing it with a huge smile on his face the entire time.
…and styles a nice nosepress
As all the riders began packing up and the day was coming to a close the wind really started cranking! At about that same time Alex Peterson boosted what was the highest air I have ever witnessed! He was HUNDREDS of feet, 200?, 300?, 400?, not really sure but he stayed in the air for a few minutes working an updraft caused by a grove of Aspen trees and then touched down and cruised back to the main event tent with a smile that you could see for miles! After that I knew that I had to learn how to glide!
The third and final day of the event ended up being called off due to poor visibility and heavy snowfall. A few riders stuck it out and scored a beautiful sunset session in the final hour of day light. I chose to head back north to Powder Mountain again in hopes of getting better kiting conditions. We arrived at Powder early Sunday morning but were greeted with gusty shifting winds that were clearing out the passing storm. With sketchy conditions not favorable for kiting, a small group of friends and I made some snowcat/hike backcountry runs on the downwind facing slopes that were filled in with the wind drifted snow and called it a day. On the drive back I made plans to hook up with Alex Peterson, Billy Bordy, and Adam Koch to ride Strawberry Reservoir and learn how to glide from Alex!
Billy Bordy, Alex Peterson and Adam Koch, Hangin at Strawberry
The weather did not cooperate with us on our first attempt at Strawberry. Blue skies and high pressure left us drinking beer and talking kiting in the parking lot waiting for wind. Alex had to bail early and drive back to California, but not before I could pick his brain about how to glide! Then, on day two we scored the goods! The only bad thing was with the strong winds (lit up on an 8m!) came white out blowing snow.
Riding in the whiteout at Strawberry Reservoir
Adam broke out his studio strobes and we found an avalanche warning sign to jib. After a few hours we were both cold and my body was beaten so we started packing up.
Slezak jibs the avalanche warning sign with Adam Koch taking photos… look for them in an upcoming kiteboarding mag!
Just as we were about to give up on the day the sky began to clear and Billy pointed to a hill off in the distance. “Slezak, rig up your kite and lets teach you how to fly!”, he said! For the final two hours of light that day, as the wind died down, Billy and I traded off 30 foot plus airs that lasted for 20 or 30 seconds at a time. I was so stoked and could not stop smiling and thinking of each flight! All in all making for an amazing end to a great snow kiteboarding exploration of what Utah had to offer! I will be heading back next season to explore some more for sure!
Slezak gliding in the distance (far right)
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