Monday, March 7, 2005
Basic equipment totals about $300.
AKRON (AP) -- Flying a kite isn't just for summer anymore.
Windsurfing enthusiasts are using kites for a winter sport known as snow kiting, where a gust of blustery air can propel you up to 50 mph across a frozen lake or snow-covered field.
"Everybody can't wait for spring to come, can't wait for winter to end," said Dan DeHoff, 30, of Coventry Township. "But there are four or five guys who are waiting for cold, windy days. We want ice. It's so fun just to get out there."
Snow kiters wear ice skates or skis or ride a snowboard while strapped to a 20-foot kite that resembles a parachute.
Experimenting, assisting
DeHoff and brothers Ted and Doug Pinkerton, both of Hudson, were snow kiting on the East Reservoir in Coventry Township on Thursday. Doug Pinkerton was experimenting on a snowboard, while DeHoff was assisting his fellow adventurers in getting their kites in the air.
"The best thing about this is the speed, the power of the wind. It'll pick you up off the ground," DeHoff said. "It feels like it will pull you up to the moon. That's the most exhilarating thing: the power of the kite."
DeHoff has been snow kiting for about three years and has windsurfed for about 10. He learned the sport while living in Oregon and said he is surprised so few people in Ohio know about it.
Doug Pinkerton said he expects the Buckeye State to catch up. "With all the fields and lakes that we've got around here, with some more exposure, this sport is ready to explode," he said.
Equipment
Basic equipment, which includes the kite, nylonlike lines, a steering bar and a harness, costs at least $300, but is easy to order online, DeHoff said.
But the sport isn't easy to master.
"You have to get instruction to learn how to control the kite, in order to stay on the ground," DeHoff said. "You can get out here, with the equipment, and probably get up, but you have to be careful and have some idea of how to control the lines."
Strong gusts can lift snow kiters off the ground. Skilled riders use those types of winds to perform flips and spins.
Doug Pinkerton, who has windsurfed for 20 years, said the kites can also be used on water, using wake boards.
"Water is more forgiving if you crash," he said.