by Contat Fred - Posted on 1/1/19 || Modifié le 2/19/24
Probably!
I have practiced and still practice a lot of different sports, and snowkiting remains and will remain for a long time in my top list of the coolest sports. When I imagine snowkiting, I never see flat spots by the roadside, but rather wild spaces, endless climbs, and epic sessions with a few friends. The search for the most beautiful spots and sometimes the rarity of great sessions are part of my motivation, the freeride and discovery aspect is one of the major strengths of this sport for me. Snowkiting also offers a good balance between adrenaline and risk-taking. You can always manage your commitment and risk-taking. You can have mellow sessions with zero risks or more challenging sessions with jumps, flights, and freestyle. But in any case, it's the rider who manages their session!
All experienced kiters will tell you, snowkiting is a technical sport that is learned in a school. It's not a difficult sport, but it requires knowledge of how a traction kite works in all possible situations, the main safety rules, and all the little tricks that will make you enjoy practicing instead of being afraid to launch your kite. Learning with a friend who quickly shows you the basics of the sport is rarely a good idea (unless you have a good foundation in kitesurfing).
To understand the principle of traction, when you are properly "powered" and you have your kite at zenith (above you, in the non-power zone) and a strong gust lifts you slightly, at that precise moment, the kite has already pulled your weight + the weight of your equipment while it is in the non-power zone. Imagine the power that a kite can develop in the power zone (we call it the window).
My goal is not to scare you, but to make you aware that kiting is something that is learned. A school will start with a small kite size, they will also teach you how the safety systems work, and train you on how to use them under stress. And gradually, depending on your progress and evolution, the kite size will increase, your mastery will also increase, and of course, your enjoyment!
It takes about 3 hours of lessons at the fastest pace to start making your first runs, and about 10 hours of lessons to become 100% independent. Don't hesitate to consult the directory to find a list of snowkiting schools and find the school that suits you best!