Snowkite gliding advice

[Paul Donnolo]

Hi,

Any experienced gliders who are willing to give some tips and advice? I did my first two small glides, thanks to David from Skyline (yeah boy!), and have the gist of the art but am especially curious about what backup safety you use? I just saw a video where guys are in a climbing harness and hook a climbing carabiner to their chicken loop in case their harness hook or harness breaks. Any advice on this? What to buy, where to buy, what else is good practice, any flying tips???? Anything would be helpful!

Thanks,

Paul

[Jacob Buzianis]

Hi Paul,

Before you buy anything I will need to see your bar and kite set up. Also, what's your kite skill level at? You will need one on one instruction. Finding info. on forum won't be enough for your safety. I'm happy to give you glide lessons, glide safety tips, and back up system set up advice. Remember you might go over several hundreds feet in the air without planing for it from a small take off. Are you ready for that?

Jacob

[Jacob Buzianis]

Also, with the snow condition right now isn't the best idea to practice gliding on your own. I might be able to show where the safe place to do it.

[windzup]

Speed is lift. Fly fast, send kite high. close your eyes. Gear doesn't seem to matter, as no one has fallen out of the sky yet.

But Chasta pioneered the technique using a climbing harness as back up to his dakine waist harness. Carabiner helps prevent accidental c-loop release. Fly on new gear and replace your lines after half-dozen glides, or any time you fear they have been weakened or knicked somehow. Any spreader bar , kite bar, or lines can fail, so be prepared.

Look for low angle hills to practice low altitude glides before going high. Get some good life insurance.

Windzup,
Brian Schenck

[David Kyle]

Hi Paul,

Before you buy anything I will need to see your bar and kite set up. Also, what's your kite skill level at? You will need one on one instruction. Finding info. on forum won't be enough for your safety. I'm happy to give you glide lessons, glide safety tips, and back up system set up advice. Remember you might go over several hundreds feet in the air without planing for it from a small take off. Are you ready for that?

Jacob

I rode with Paul at Skyline one day and I don't think skill level is an issue. I demonstrated a couple glides
and he pulled it off just fine on his own on a small scale. Yeah Paul, you had the takeoff technique just right, you just need to
practice in small steps until you are comfortable with going big. He might glide different than I but I'd have to dissagree with Winzup
a bit. Yes speed is the key but I rarely send the kite unless I want a shit tun of extra lift at the begining of the glide. Also in my opinion replacing
lines every half dozen glides seems like overkill. Every other month, once a month if you glide a lot (just my opinion).
On non gusty wind days, you are putting less strain on your lines hanging from the kite
than pulling hard uphill kiteloops. Another key is to stay calm, when learning it is comon to over rotate
when going into a glide. Most people get dissorientated and tend to overstear the kite when that happenes which can lead to a nasty fall.
When chosing the correct direction for gliding I try to glide close to (directly into the wind) but far enough (side wind) as to be able to gain good downhill speed
before lift off. Landing can be tricky at first. At first you will most likely land backwards and eat some snow but dont let your kite overtake your position because
it can easily fall out and crash upwind of you with your lines drapped across your body. If you can, get a quick lesson from Jake, Billy Bordy or Kenny, those guys
have been around quite a bit longer than I.
One more important thing is snow coverage. I just broke my tailbone by not playing it safe and gliding in a minefield of rocks.

[Kenny]

Dave,

windzup's post was oozing with sarcasm. Brian chooses not to glide because he thinks it is dangerous, and he is right. I wouldn't do it if it wasn't so much fun.

The snow conditions are so hard right now that it is a not a good time to learn how to glide. Like you said, one mis-step and you have a serious injury or worse.

Kenny