US Open Snowkite Masters Recap Feb 27,28 & Mar 1st

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2009 US Open Snowkite Masters Recap

As the Sun dropped slowly over distant mountains to the west, the wind steadily increased to meet the coming darkness, while riders milled about packing up kites and sharing stories from another successful weekend of Snowkiting. It’s March 1st, and the 2009 Snowkite Masters has come to a dramatic end. For five years Snowkiters have gathered at Skyline to share their passion for winter Kiteboarding, each year growing in numbers and energy. Some riders come to race, vying for the National Champion title, while many choose to freeride and explore this massive mountain. Some Snowkiters are born to fly, and this year saw more kiters floating loftily in the sky, often higher than the trees and usually for great distances down the sloping hills that rise gently from the summit.

It began with a winter storm warning and white-out conditions that did not show any signs of riding. The forecast called for clear skies by noon, but in the meantime many kiters would head to an area lower on the mountain and beneath the clouds. By the time kites were in the air, skies cleared and the mountain was open with a fresh coating of snow. Kites began to fill the skies and shouts of exhilaration were heard from every direction. As the hours rolled by on the clock, the wind increased, and by mid afternoon the Winduro race was set to go. More than 35 riders were on the starting line with kites hovering overhead, including skiers and boarders of both genders. The wind began to lighten up as the start horn sang out to begin the race, and a spectacular visual of colors danced across the mountain as riders fought their way upwind and uphill to the first turn point. Many never made that mark, turning back with kites that were too small, or tired from working so hard amongst so many others hungry to win. Once around that first red Dakine flag, the going got easier and kiters could take advantage of the ridge top winds. One by one they past by rounding turn after turn heading farther out the ridge. The final point left riders with a mile of ground to cover and an open course where choosing the fastest line would win. Most would follow the wind and stay high on the ridge before being forced to jump down a small cornice and bee line for the finish. The results were varied and spread out. The first 10 riders to finish were all skiers, coming in as quick as 10 minutes. The first Snowboarder to cross the line was at 25 minutes, while the final Snowkiter came in after an hour on the course. Only 21 of the group would complete the task.

Saturday brought beautiful skies and little to no wind. Sucker gusts would tease riders out, and a few runs were had, but not enough to conduct races. Sunday would turn out to be the magic day of the weekend, with wind and sunshine. Kickers and rail slides gave entertainment in the background, while the Kiter Cross racing would offer the gathering crowd a dramatic visual of what Snowkiting is all about. Racers would go in heats of 6 heading up and down Bosco’s Hill and then tacking upwind to the finish. There was always a good spread across the course, with dramatic finishes with 2-3 riders on each others heels. There was excitement in each round, watching overpowered kiters sling around the high points on the hill, and then fly off trying to pass other racers with aerial tactics. The final heats would determine the 1st thru 3rd place National Champions, with 9 finalists battling side by side. From chaos on the start line with crossed wings, to crawling across the finish line with kites tangled on the ground, there was action and this was a great Kiter Cross Race Course.

With racing out of the way, most Snowkiters took to the hills in search of that perfect soul session. Kites waved in the air in all directions, from several miles down the main ridge to over the trees of Bosco. At one point there were half a dozen kiters gliding off the slopes at the same moment on different points of the hill. Weary and happy kites came down one at a time and were packed into there travel bags for the journey home. Awards were given for the races and prizes thrown into the crowd. Beers were popped in celebration and smiling faces milled about saying good bye to friends both new and old.

The Snowkite Masters vibe continues on and grew even more this winter with more riders and bigger energy. One needs to be in attendance to experience the music, the stunning imagery, the exchange of techniques, the camaraderie and of courses the nightly libations… if you weren’t there, you should have been there man!

A final thought… I always say it’s the people and the wind that make Kite events what they are… but this year the sponsors really stepped up to support the athletes and the scene. Everyone involved has dug deep into their pockets and soul to deliver the most they can. Huge props go out to Bill at Dakine, MJ at Zeal, Ted & Otte with Flysurfer, Tim & Tom with HQ, Jake & Best, Evan & Garret with Mystic, James & Dave from Drift Mag, Jay & Darrel with Kitesites, Matt & Forrest with SKA, DJ Ollie G, Jim & Brian at Kiteworld, Pistil Beanies, Ken with Snowaffair, Kenny of Rhodes Rolls, Chris at Mountain Hardwear, our friends at Rossignol, Matt at Ozone, Sam of Gokiburi, and Heather with Windzup.

2009 US Open Snowkite Masters Race Results

KITER – X
Men's Snowboard Kiter-Cross
1st Jake Buzianis - Best, Utah
2nd Ettiene Lhotte - F-one, France
3rd Billy Bordy - Ozone, Utah
4th Bret Hasbrouck - Ozone, CO
5th Murphy Marek - Ozone, Czech

Men's Ski Kiter-Cross
1st Patrick Nedele - Ozone, CO
2nd Tom Reynolds - Ozone, Utah
3rd Loren Glick - Ozone, UT, CO & AK
4th Brad Gordon - Cabrinha, WA & OR
5th Christian Balmer - Ozone, Canada

Women's Snowboard Kiter-Cross
1st Heather Schenck - Ozone, Utah
Tie for 2nd Monica Masuda - Ozone, Utah
Tie for 2nd Clarrisa Hempel - Cabrinha, Brazil
3rd Arla Funk - Liquid Force, OR/UT

Women's Skier Kiter-Cross
1st Monica Bassett - Ozone, OR
2nd Alicia Harmon - Ozone, New Zealand
3rd Susie Williamson - Best

Winduro Race Overall results
1st Patrick Nedele - 10 minutes
2nd Lorne Glick
3rd Tom Reynolds
4th Jerome Josserand
5th Steve Mayer
6th Christian Balmer – 15 minutes
7th Ken Lucas
8th Brad Gordon
9th Stumper – 25 minutes
10th No Number
11th Billy Bordy
12th Jason Morton
13th Jon McCabe – 35 minutes
14th Jake Buzianis
15th Murphy Marek
16th Paul Macaj
17th Jeff Kafka – 40 minutes
18th Anton Rainolds
19th Martin Florek
20th No Number
21st Alicia Harmon – 65 minutes

Winduro Race Category Results

Men’s Ski
1st Patrick Nedele - 10 minutes
2nd Lorne Glick
3rd Tom Reynolds
4th Jerome Josserand
5th Steve Mayer

Men’s Snowboard
1st Billy Bordy – 30 minutes
2nd Jake Buzianis
3rd Murphy Marek
4th Paul Macaj
5th Jeff Kafka

Women’s Ski
1st Alicia Harmon – 65 minutes

[windzup]

Here are some more pictures from the Snowkite Masters taken by Gustav Schmeige!

[Jacob Buzianis]

What awesome event Brain and Heather did and keeping the stoke high.

The Enudro race and the KiterX turn out to be a great race set up and challenging.

Looking forward to next year event.

[Leo Chan]

Seriously, Brian and Heather did a wonderful job. I couldn't imagine a better sport event. It has activities for just about every one, and pros and newbies can share the same playing field. Thanks again.

[RickHeninger]

Brian and Heather Shenck do an amazing job with this event. I decided to make a weekend trip of it this year and stay at a friend's house in Mapleton, (1hr drive to Skyline from Mapleton). As Mark said, many went on Friday and got some epic wind apparently, I arrived on saturday and it was fun despite the lack of wind. A lot of learning opportunities when the wind is down. It was a chance to become familiar with safety issues and gadgets if you were a newbie and to hang out with a fun crowd. Tons of sponsors and great food... Plus Marty was giving free tow rides up to the top of Bosco Hill for people to ski/board down with his snowmobile.

The party saturday night was a super fun event... So, I'd suggest you go to this next year if you haven't been. It's worth making a long weekend trip out of it. Friday was apparently awesome for wind, Sunday was fun, best in the AM, and went until sunset with a perfect little break mid day. The Kiter Cross races are incredibly exciting to watch. Billy Bordy's announcing skilz made it quite entertaining, (when he wasn't racing). This is to the point that it'd be fun to make a trip down to see even if you don't snowkite.

Nice pics!

My most valuable bit of info that I learned is that most people use a climbing harness of sorts (seat harness) to keep it out of your ribs and from pulling up your coat etc.

[bordy]

Great time lots of fun.


There was no finisher between stumper and my self???? I finished right after stumper we had the entire course to our selves??/

Of course the man is always trying to keep snowboarders down... Keeping them out of the top ten by making up stuff????

Damn the man.