Posted on Mar 08, 2006 by Brian
By Eric Byers
On my flight back from the Kitestorm in Vermont, I was astonished. Normally, I�m forced to explain what snowkiting is when I use the term. But this time the flight attendant, who had inquired about my visit to Burlington, knew all about snowkiting. This alone was enough to interest me, but when I looked to my right, I noticed a picture of blue skies and six kites over Lake Champlain; The Burlington Free Press had posted a huge photo of the Kitestorm on the cover of its living section on Monday. The Kitestorm left a mark when it hit Vermont.
Even with light winds, visitors ventured onto clear ice Saturday morning to receive an introduction to snowkiting, kite demos, and complimentary cookies. Beginners flew trainer kites with their feet placed on grippy Astroturf. Meanwhile a line of onlookers waited anxiously to get off the slippery ice and grab the kite-bar. I had my own fun. After getting a running start, I dove onto the ice and slid on my belly for over twenty-five feet. Others armed themselves with GPSs and took speed-runs on their skis, aiming to win the Peter Lynn that would be awarded to the fastest. Because the sport isn�t called icekiting, we invited the snow that began to fall around noon. As the flakes accumulated and the wind picked up, an unprecedented variety of kites filled the air: Ozones, Peter Lynns, open-cell foils, closed-cell foils, C-shape, bow kites, single skins; trainers & kites the size of paragliders; several pushed the limit of what could be considered a kite. All the while, kiters were experiencing the Kitestorm in their own exciting way.
That evening, the group rallied at the Monkey Bar to converse and numb their aches with a drink. �The Next Chapter� and Ozone snowkite videos played in the background as Rachael tossed goodies to deserving patrons. �If you�re the girlfriend or wife of a snowkiter and got dragged to the Kitestorm, raise your hand!� she half inquired. After throwing out some swag, she continued, �Ok, if you�re a snowkiter that dragged one of these women out here, raise your hand!� With a chuckle from the crowed, she threw out some more rewards. Later we talked kites and sampled �Frenzy,� a drink named after Ozone�s most popular snowkite. Others checked snowkiting forums and played pool. Locals showed up sporting glitter-covered masks and Mardi-Gras beads and we were reminded of the dual celebration. Having followed the festival down town, several of us ended up at a jam�n reggae show.
Fresh powder and strong winds greeted us at the lake the next morning. Soon the assortment of kites was back in the air. This time they flew against the backdrop of a bright blue sky. Visitors looking for intro clinics arrived in greater numbers. One student from the University of Vermont peddled miles down icy roads with a snowboard strapped to his back, energetically anticipating a day of riding. As more kiters hit the lake, non-kiters found ways to take part. A local man unloaded his home-made iceboat from the back of his pickup and began cruising, while kiters scrambled to keep their lines clear of the runners. A Vermont Public Television crew mounted a camera on snowkiter Zeb Jacob to film an insider�s view. This prompted him to boost even higher above the hard ice and shallow snow. When the gusts picked up in the afternoon, lessons had to be cut short. Only the brave souls put up their smaller kites, but the ice-boater continued to scoot along as if the gusts were routine (he had over a decade of experience). As I packed up, I reflected on how young snowkiting is and where it will go.
On the flight from Burlington to Chicago, I wondered how Jake Burton felt when someone first recognized the word �snowboarding� independent of explanation. (*Vermont was where modern snowboarding first hit the slopes.) I�d imagine he was about as surprised as I was. I�m certainly no Burton, so it�s great to see a committed individual like Rachael fostering the development of snowkiting in Vermont. And Vermont, which placed its bet correctly on snowboarding two decades ago, is certainly embracing snowkiting today.
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In attendance were three representatives of Ozone: Tech. Rep. Matt Dominouski, Northeast Team Rider Zeb Jacob, and Event Manager Eric Byers. After an introduction to kiting, visitors were able to demo Ozone�s 2006 Access fleet. �With the winds as they were, the 10, 8, and 6 meter Accesses were in high demand,� said Eric. Attendees watched Zeb throw three-sixties and backrolls as they waited their turn on the trainer kite. Working closely with Vermont Public Television, Zeb�s footage will likely air in the coming months. An estimated one hundred to two hundred new kiters were introduced to the sport at the event.
