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For many people that live where lakes freeze and snow covers the ground, outdoor winter activities are limited to the weekend ice skate or pilgrimage to the local ski/snowboard or cross-country resort. For a growing number of winter wind riders the thought of frozen lakes and snow covered terrain is welcomed with anticipation and excitement. It’s time again to sharpen your skis, wax your snowboard and check the lines on your kite. Did you say kite?

There are many forms of winter wind riding, but the predominant one at this festival is based on using kite power to pull an individual across the snow and ice on skis, or snowboard. It is very similar to sailing a boat or wind surfing. The rider generally travels perpendicular to the direction of the wind, but can gradually move up wind or down wind by zigzagging back and forth slightly off the wind; a sailing term called tacking.

Sometimes when the kite generates a bit more pull, the rider can even perform short maneuvers in the air. Basic traction kiting can be learned safely in a few hours under the supervision of an experienced instructor. The training can be given in almost any open area with a bit of wind. After some basic sailing principles, the student is ready to harness the power of the wind with their kite and translate this pull in to motion.

This is usually achieved within the first few days of instruction. The required equipment is a traction kite (CDN$200-$1100), skis or snowboard, and a harness. You’ll also want some knee and elbow pads and a helmet. As for clothing, Layer! Layer! Layer! Many beginners tend to overdress for this sport. The amount of exertion a typical rider experiences is similar to that of a long distance runner. A typical wind rider usually acquires 2-3 different sized kites in the first two years for different wind strengths. Depending on the type of kite, it can be used for other wind powered activities in the summer, like kite surfing or kite buggying.

A kite surfer sails on the water using a short board, somewhat like a small surf or wake board. In kite buggying, the rider uses the pull of the wind to power themselves while seated in a three wheeled buggy they steer with their feet. It goes without saying that any activity in which an individual interacts with the unpredictable forces of Mother Nature, in this case the wind, can be inherently dangerous. If you’re just starting out, please do some research and work with an experienced instructor. Not only will this protect you but others around you and in the end you’ll spend less time struggling and more time enjoying yourself.