Snowmobiles and Kite lines

[Tom Reynolds]

I witnessed some pretty poor etiquette lately, and thought about talking with those involved, but passed in favor of not getting involved, and just kiting instead. A few days ago, at a popular snowkite/ and snowmobile area, there were at least two incidents with snowmobiles and kite lines which appeared confrontational to say the least. Snowmobilers ran over kite lines - kiters freaked out, screaming, ranting and raving. Part of the problem was the fact that at least one kiter laid out their lines directly across the snowcat groomed snowmobile "road", right at the parking lot/ trailhead. IT'S A ROAD. Who's fault? Set up away from the road or parking lot, set up, and launch, don't leave lines on the ground(kiters will run them over too). It happened at least twice that day. Snowmobilers yelled at twice, and the second time, it was a young not even teenage kid riding the sled who got yelled at. Freaking out like what I saw just makes us all look bad. I agree, it sucks when your lines are run over and destroyed, so set up quick, and away from traffic as best you can, and chill out with the other user groups. I wave to sledders all the time- they've towed friends back to the parking lot before when the wind has died - hopefully it will happen again, if they dont think we're all a bunch of dicks

[Marty Lowe]

Nice post Tom.

As a kiter first, sledder second,
let me tell you my thoughts.
First off..as a kiter
ROLL YOUR LINES UP...
you take up to much area for others.

Second...as a sledder
ROLL YOUR LINES UP...
you think your lines are expensive,
how about a repair bill on suspension rollers,
after the lines destroy seals on them.

The sled registration is the reason we have some of the parking areas.
There is a sled forum also, I doubt we want a rant about how the kiters
are doing damage to any sleds, or verbaly abusing the younger generations.

Third..
If you have white lines instead of colored
it is just a matter of time, kiter or sledder,
they are gonna get it. Still...
ROLL YOUR LINES UP...

Prety easy solution...
IMHO

ROLL YOUR LINES UP...
ROLL YOUR LINES UP...
ROLL YOUR LINES UP...

and..tell your friends to,,

ROLL YOUR LINES UP...

Marty

[JCRicketts]

As a kiter and a sledder....the sledders don't even know what a kite is. If they do know what it is, they certainly don't know about the lines, they don't intentionally run them over. I think they are just trying to see what you are doing, so get your lines out the of the way if you don't want them ran over. Second, sledders don't think so much about right-of-way because they can maneuver at will and assume you can too. Third, when you yell and scream, they can't see or hear you. They don't usually have mirrors and you can't even hear yourself yell over the noisy motors. I've had my lines ran over by kiters and sledders, it sucks, move'em out of the way.

[Todd Jacques]

Good shit! even when you kiteboard roll your lines up. I have seen lines all over the place in the summer. Good habbit to allways roll up.