Jim on the hydro-lake in Whitehorse
Jimmy ripping it up in Haines Summit
Cath landing in the fresh
The Kiwi called this trick "Road
Kill", not recommended unless you build your own skis... as he does.
TRICKS & TIPS
Once you master the basics, you may then want to start overcoming the constraints of gravity by learning a few tricks and techniques. The lakes and hillsides then literally become one huge terrain park. Before we start jumping in an area we first and foremost do a few laps to get a feel for the snow and the lay of the land, ensuring we have a good run-out and that the are no hidden obstacles just over the lip. Here's what we have learned.
"Kite-Up/Ski-Down"
This is where the true potential lies with foil
kites! They are light enough and small enough to carry in any normal day
pack and we now consider them an essential part of any backcountry trip,
not only for access but also for climbing.
Firstly you need to find a slope to windward or with a decent cross wind. Often we will kite up a different slope to the one we want to ski as it may be on the wrong aspect or we simply want to leave the run untracked for the ski down. Now all that is needed is to fly the kite across the power zone creating enough pull to start climbing. The climbing angle will depend on wind strength, kite size and technique. You need to keep the kite flying low across the power zone and away from the zenith. We have experienced that as the kite approaches the zenith it tends to go behind you and will pull you off and down the slope - a hard situation to recover gracefully from.
When landing the kite close to the top of the slope, we always pull the de-power release as a safety precaution. We also now land the kite with a good safety margin before the wing crests the ridgeline. The wind is compressed as it pushes up a slope and there is often a violent downdraft off the crest of the ridge. Again we have had some close calls and learnt this the hard way. Think of it in terms of driving a car - in control, a car is an indispensable tool for transportation. Loose control and that tool becomes dangerous and unpredictable - kiting is no different.
Once near the top and depending on the slope angle
or exposure we try to avoid taking off our skis and instead wind up the
kite toward us by firstly taking in 5 metres on the lines of one side
and then winding the remaining lines in together. This ensures the kite
effectively remains a flag and will not do an unexpected launch. All that's
left is to cut some sweet lines and then do it all again.
The Basic Jump
Start by having good controlled speed and the kite
flying low on the edge of the power window. Dig in your edges and turn
up wind to create extra pull against the kite. You then become like a
coiled spring. Now aggressively steer the kite up to the zenith and you
will create the pop needed to lift off. Now you have two options;
One - Just as the kite reaches the zenith steer it equally hard back to its original position on the edge of the power window. The complete path forms a figure of eight motion. This will create a long jump by pulling as much as lifting and means that when you hit the landing you hit it with speed rather than dropping like a stone.
Two - Allow the kite to pass the zenith before recovering, which creates a slight pendulum effect. This maximises the lift and is good for doing spins and flips in the air.
Once in the air lean back and allow the harness to take the weight - there is no need to have a death grip on the bar. By relaxing you will tend to lay on you back slightly and be in a better position. As the kite starts to recover the power then pulls you forward and back upright to take the landing with speed. Remember to always allow for downwind drift in any jump.
A long gentle downhill slope is the best if the wind is a little light. It allows you to get tonnes of speed by creating apparent wind and gives a good transition to the landing.
At first this all happens pretty quickly but after a while you get the feel for the speed and timing needed.
Drops
To jump lips and drops you actually want to avoid
taking the kite to the zenith. As you drop off the any feature a kite
at the zenith stalls, which turns you into a giant pendulum and swings
you back into the slope with a thump. Trust us - we've crash tested this
technique too often. To avoid this you need to have some downward pull
on your leading hand which steers the kite in your direction of travel
and maintains the wind and hence power in the kite.
Spins & Flips
Start with the basic technique as set out above.
Just as you are about to lift off, drop your leading shoulder and effectively
dig in the tips/tip of your ride. This initiates the spin by stalling
your lower body. You now need to be fully committed to coming around -
do this by looking over your trailing shoulder to spot your landing. What
this will do is counteract the body's natural tendency to resist the spin
by maintaining the twist in your body and the momentum from the kick off.
The kite should also be steered back into the power zone by pulling down
gently on your leading hand throughout the whole movement. It is best
to try and visualise this trick beforehand. Put the idea of crossed lines
out of your mind as the bar will still steer the same. You can uncross
the lines by spinning the bar once you are back in full control.