Montana 2007 – 2008 Snowkite Season

Well it’s almost coming to an end, another epic season of Montana snowkiting. Whenever this time of year comes around we like to sit back on those long no wind days and talk about the past season, the highs the lows and the in betweens. The most common saying this year was epic snow. Finally, we got a year filled with snow and wind.

This years snow season started out with a new event called the Georgetown Lake open hosted by, Cole Russell and the Underground Kite Sports crew, up in Philipsburg, MT. Along with Team Underground there were representatives and team pro riders and designers from Liquid Force, and Best Kiteboarding. Best brought down some sick new rails for everyone to try out but when the wind never showed we had to wait a little longer. Even with no wind the event went great. Team Underground hosted a party at the White Front Bar in the booming downtown metropolis of Philipsburg, MT. They had a huge raffle with prizes donated by Underground Kite Sports, Liquid Force, FLOW, and HQ Powerkites. Due to the lack of wind and a lot of drinking we all decided as we were closing down the bar to get up early and drive 4 hours to Island Park, ID. The trip turned out to be worth it. The wind was blowing steady and the snow was great. Best broke out the new rails again for us to ride and everyone was throwing down.

After the Georgetown Lake Open was over the Montana crew wasted no time getting out and tearing up some old and some new areas. Cole Russell of Underground Kite Sports introduced many Montana and Idaho kiters to Black Pine. This snowkiters winter wonderland called Black Pine is situated about 5 miles north of Philipsburg, MT and is virtually a huge terrain park for snowkiters. Boasting multiple cornices, road gaps, and hours and hours of terrain Black Pine is definitely one of Montana’s newest and best kiting areas.

This was the year of Idaho kiters in Montana and Montana kiters did everything they could to show their friendly next door neighbors an epic season. Once they got a taste of what Montana had to offer they became hooked. Dedicated to find snow they came week after week in search of good snow and wind. Many times driving for 4 plus hours just to get in one day of Montana’s epic snowkiting. Along with the new came many return kiters from Idaho as well, anxious to get out and have another great year here in Beautiful Montana.

You can’t talk about this past season without talking about the wind and snow. The wind blew harder on average more days this season than any of the past 5 seasons. Many kiters who had only used large 16m kites and bigger before now found themselves having to ride kites 12m and smaller. On one weekend all of the experienced kiters had to sit back and watch a newbie, Davey Heath, ride his 4m North Buster that he had won the previous year at the 4^th annual Montana Snowkite Rodeo since they all only had big kites. At that point many of us older kiters realized that maybe we were going to have to invest in some smaller kites for those nuking wind days.

As the season progressed on into January the snow kept coming and the wind kept blowing. Georgetown Lake had several large dumps of snow which made the lake a powder filled haven for many weekends. January also brought many great days up at Black Pine. Boosting off of the cornices quickly became many kiters favorite new trick. As January came to close everyone was all revved up for February.

February started out with another new event. This one was held out of state, but we won’t blame them for that, called the Super Fly Open which was put on by, Les Viera of Utah Kite Addiction, in Powder Mountain, UT. Many Montana kiters made the trip down to Powder Mountain to check out this new event. The weekend following the Super Fly Open was the 5^th annual Montana Snowkite Rodeo, hosted by Montana Kite Sports of Helena, MT. The event was located at Georgetown Lake, MT. After many years of bad snow, wind, and freezing temps, this year was epic. The snow was amazing the winds were cooking and the crowds were huge. As always the kiter-cross races were a huge crowd pleaser. On Saturday Nick Beuthien was the crowd stealer throwing down boosts as high as 50ft – 60ft. As usual the Saturday night party was a huge success. Kiters and non-kiters packed the Brown Derby Bar at Georgetown Lake ready to have some fun after an amazing day of riding. Montana Kite Sports held a raffle giving away prizes from sponsors such as, Underground Kite Sports, Best Kiteboarding, Slingshot, and Ozone.

Sunday at the Rodeo was another great day. The winds were light but were good enough to keep the 14m and larger kites in the air without a problem. Many people headed out to Mt. Haggin Wildlife area to ride on Sunday and man oh man did they miss out on another great day. While the people out at Mt. Haggin were sitting around getting skunked by the wind, those of us that were patient and waited at Georgetown Lake had it great. With so many kiters away at Haggin we had little traffic to contend with on the lake. Again Nick began throwing down huge airs with Bob not far behind. With the rodeo behind us and several months of snowkiting to go many local Montana kiters, and of course our newly found Idaho friends, began meeting up each weekend at Georgetown Lake and Black Pine for some more epic days.

As we moved into March the wind began to slow and the snow began to fade, but those of us that are true snowkiters knew that the season was still not over. During the previous year Dr. Dan Prideaux, Lisa-kay Keen, and others were still riding on Georgetown Lake on the 28^th of April. As the month drew on the wind returned and the snow began to make its way back. Each and every weekend you could find a handful of kiters hanging out and cruising around Georgetown Lake, MT. March wasn’t too kind to Black Pine. Much of the lower portions of the area were getting balder by the day. Cole Russell of Philipsburg, MT, and Paul Donnolo of Coeur D Alene, ID where the last two to get out and ride the epic terrain of Black Pine, MT so far this season, and with conditions the way they are Cole and Paul will be the last, at least for a while.

April brought us some of the most fun kiting days of the year. Amazing snow was the reel treat. The snow lasted all month and the ice at Georgetown Lake was fantastic. The days were long and the weather was beautiful and sunny. The wind only let us down a few times, but we all still made the best of those days, with relaxing in the sun and drinking ice cold beer. Speed was topic of April with Cole Russell hitting a whopping 45.7 mph and Lisa-kay Keen close behind with an amazing 38.9 mph.

Well for those of us that love the thrill of snowkiting the season will soon be coming to a sad end. That is of course if you only ride in the lower more common areas. If however you are an adventurous kiter then you still have a month or maybe even two left to get out there and do some sick back country riding. Of course this isn’t for the lazy kiters out there, like so many of us are. This is for those of us who are kiting addicts who actually miss and crave that one more snow session so bad, we actually get our butts up and start hiking, driving, and doing what ever else it takes to find even the smallest snow fields just so we can have at least one more ride.

Looking back we can’t forget to remember those kiters who got injured. From Cole Russell of Philipsburg, MT and Team Underground who started the season out by tearing his abdominal muscles and missing out on a month of riding, to Rhett Sanborn of Whitehall, MT and Team Underground member who shortly after the return of team mate Cole Russell launched off of one of the many cornices at Black Pine and fell 20+ft injuring his knee stopping his riding for a few weeks, to Matt Werner from Coeur D Alene, ID breaking his leg while skiing and missing out on the end of a great season. For those new kiters out there or for those of you looking to get into the amazing sport of kiting don’t be afraid. These injuries are few and far between and are the result of pros just trying to go bigger and better than the next guy. Kiting is a fun and sport that does have its dangers that come with it, but then again so does waking up and going outside each day, so don’t let fear keep you from trying this amazing activity.

Now that May is here all of us snowkiters must come to the realization that winter is quickly fading away, leaving behind with it a lifetime of memories. The snow is melting and soon there will only be remnants of a season past. All is not over though for us snowkiters. The spring and summer bring with them many other ways for us to have fun with our kites. Soon you will see people with kites riding on buggies or landboards screaming across fields just as you saw them with their skis and boards on the snow. As summer comes closer many of us will be getting ready and anxious for the water season to begin. Kiting is a year round sport for some and just a seasonal sport for others, but no matter which category you fall into we are all part of one big family of kiters.

So I guess the time has come to say farewell to the snowkiting season and welcome to the spring, summer, and fall kiting seasons, at least for a few months anyways. It’s been another epic year for Montana snowkiting and we all look forward to seeing everyone again next year at the season opener, the Georgetown Lake Open on December 5^th, 6^th, and 7^th at Georgetown Lake, MT. Until then have a good time doing what you love, for me it will be kiting every chance I can.