Speed Flying

[stevemayer]

We just completed our first speed flying clinic and it was a huge success, everyone lived, eveyone bought wings and we are ready to rock next week at skyline (when we get a bit more snow!).

check out http://www.para-noid.com/speedflying.mov if you are in the dark.. this was filmed at Snowbird (no they don't want us inbounds any more) end of last year. Mike Steen and I went on 2 trips to Europe to get dialed and learn the teaching system and all about the gear.

The response in the usa is unreal, look for some fun times. http://www.thewindyplanet.com and search for bulllet and hell racer for product info or to pre-order wings.

steve
cloud 9 powerkites

[lesvierra]

I cant wait to see it done in person. The above link only half worked on my computer, just volume. Here is another format/option.

http://www.para-noid.com/speedflying.wmv

On a scale of 1-10, how risky is the learning curve with out paragliding experience. I can picture some spectacular whipe outs since speed is a prerequisite to flight.

Here is another video,
http://www.speed-flying.com/node/90/play

[stevemayer]

to answer your question, on a 1-10 scale is is "as risky as you make it" hows that for a lame answer... I would compare it to what you know, if you are a kite surfer, about the same, if you are a wind surfer, a bit riskier. Here is the deal, you got to take some lessons, that is a must. The clinic we did last week was non flyers, what we did was do basic introductory paraglidng lessons on small paragliders, then worked with flying the kites standeing on the ground getting used to flying them.

the key is wide open terrain, not rocky clifs, to start out at. The funny thing is these fly at about 30 to 40 mph, when you bomb donw a ski slope the average "aggressive" skier or boarder is donig 40 to 60 mph, so you are flying actually slower than many would be skiing at.

give it a go! the snow mobile's are ready, just need more snow and we will do the second half the training at areas like skyline, not enough to snow kite, lets speed fly! http://www.thewindyplant.com

[lesvierra]

Steve, were would you speedfly in Utah. Obviously lift served terrain would be optimal. But that's probably not going to happen at our ski areas unless its off in the backcountry, where you might get one or two rides in. Backcountry touring to a launch would be alot of work for one or two rides.

Access with a snowmobile could potentially serve up plenty of rides on decent terrain.

Im just curious where a speedflyer is going to go after he's progressed passed short flights with big kites. Locally, is it worth it? What's your vision.

thanks..

[stevemayer]

First off, I am working hard to obtain insurance for speed flying in the usa, I think we got it solved, where then we can go to ski areas (some have already said yes! (but not in utah) if we have insurance, that is liability insurance, so if we crash into a chair lift, they are covered.

Anyway, for now there are 3 great options, first is hiking and flying down OR useing the wing like a big kite to pull you up the hill and fly down, we have been doing a bit of that at the Point and it works great, this is the "extreme" side in europe.

Second is snow machines, they get us where we need to be quicker than a chair lift ever can.

and third and most exciting is "back country access gates", The Canyons for example have back country gates that are open access gates, means they are always open, you leave and by bye bye, you left have a nice day, and at the bottom, guess what, there is another gate where you can re-enter the area. Already some resorts in Colorado are excited about us using there gate system to use the chairs and then go do it off there property, same goes for Jackson in WY. We have several large events and film deals we are working with that ski areas are bidding on to get the exposure.

Last for the rich guys, Helicopters! Working on some packages right now with one local company! keep you all posted.

BUT what it boils down to is YES, you have to work at this to get long rides, so it is not for everyone. The Speed flying companies TOTAL COMBINED, planned on selling around 30 to the USA this winter. We have already ordered more than that and half have been sold in the last 3 weeks and there is not even any snow yet.

We are stoked for a new sport, but I am the first to tell anyone, this is on the edge, not for the average joe the way we are doing it, but the way most in Euro land are doing it is MELLOW, they are going down basicly GREEN runs, just taking off for 10 or 20 feet, coming down and doing it over and over, that is super cool, what we are doing with these things is something else entirely!

Look for us at skyline soon and the new Ozone Bullet should be out in 3 weeks! http://www.thewindyplanet.com for all your kite skiing needs!

steve.

[lesvierra]

Thanks for the explaination. I'm excited for you and the sport, good luck.

[Kenny]

Steve,

Thank you for the lesson this morning. First time for me on a paraglider and speed flyer. Sure was fun. It is a bit different sensation than kiting, but I think it is something that a seasoned kite flyer can pick up as long as they are willing to carefully listen and obey. I can't wait for the snow to fall!!!

Kenny

[RickHeninger]

This looks really fun!

http://www.break.com/index/ski_gliding_mount_eiger.html

Irresistible in fact!

[lesvierra]

Steve,

How do we sign up for a clinic. Do you have to buy to get into a clinic or just show up.

How do these kites/wings differ from paragliding rigs? Are they just smaller. Seems like your doing the same thing except touching down occasionally. I havent seen such good helmet cam shots since the flying suit, but they cant touch the ground.

[stevemayer]

We do lessons days a week. Depending on your past expriance dictates what the first day will be about, idealy a windy day, so if you look and see "wind" in the forcaste, that is ideal. We do day 1 at the Point of the mountain, just need to call and schedule. Cost is $75 for that first lesson and most likely will be a small paraglider we use and then kite the speed flying wing.

We sold 7 this week and right now are out, even my personal one sold this am, so need to wait a week or so to actually get a speed flying wing, but that won't stop lessons (assuming you are not a paraglider pilot).

The company JN said "this year we should sell 75 total, well, the snow is not even on the hills and we have ordered 20 for the US alone! (europe is about 100X as big a market for PG so we assume the same for speed flying).

801-576-6460 shop number, but with Turkey day and I have a child due in 6 days, we will be hit or miss the next few days...

[lesvierra]

Two turkeys in the oven, heh? Congrats, hope the special delivery goes smooooth...

I'll call, thanks.

[Kenny]

The Eiger Descent is a must see. Rick, this link worked a little better for me.

http://www.acro-base.com/fr/imgs/galeri ... af-emb.mov

[JimSouthwick]

A couple more (probably dumb) questions: (1.) Are the hills around Strawberry steep enough for speed flying? (2.) Would speed flying work as a no-wind alternative to snowkiting (i.e. when we get up to Strawberry and find that there isn't any wind, would it be feasible to walk up the nearest hill and speed fly down)?

[Kenny]

Jim,

Those are good questions. I was thinking the same thing. Based on my very limited experience speed flying, I would give a tentative yes, some of the hills are definitely steep enough for speed flying. However, the climb up the hills is going to be a good workout, but I figure it is better than sitting around waiting for the wind. Skin up, fly down - sounds fun to me.

[jason morton]

Sounds like a great backcountry aid. Skin to the top, dig a pit, if it looks too unstable to ski, fly down and avoid the avalanche danger (except for the takeoff anyway).