3.01.2010

Snowkite Wyoming and Idaho... lots of videos.

Wayne Phillips kiting high above Togwotee Pass.  Photo courtesy Will Taggart.

The kite community in Jackson Hole grows every year and they're putting out some impressive videos documenting the progression of the sport and the perfect terrain throughout Wydaho.

Locals like Will Taggart, Wayne Philips, Andrew McGarry, and Chaz Symons have been pushing themselves (and the boundaries of the sport in North America) for the last several years.

Pascal Joubert is a French pioneer in the world of snowkiting and speedflying.  We're lucky to have him in Jackson Hole this winter.  These first few videos are of his adventures this winter.  I'm pretty sure he's in his 40s... and killing it.

Pascal Snowkiting up and Speedriding down at Craters of the Moon.  That's a 3500 foot peak he's on.  It looks like a good place to learn to Speedride... not too steep and a consistent pitch.  No trees either.
Wayne, Will, and Pascal at Craters of the Moon.  Photo courtesy Will Taggart.

This next video is from Sublette Peak above Togwotee Pass..  I was kiting below Pascal when he flew next to the cliff.  I'd never seen anything like that and was pretty sure he was going to die.

Good kite terrain on Sublette Peak.  Photo courtesy Will Taggart.

Interesting angles and exceptionally good snow at Sublette Peak.
PoW PoW @ Sublette Peak from Pascal Joubert on Vimeo.

Snowkite Heaven.  Photo Courtesy Will Taggart.

Wayne, Will and the rest of the JH Kite Mafia flying over Bondurant last winter.

Wayne kiting Ririe on a -30F morning when I frostbit my face badly.  It was blowing 30mph so the wind chill was ridiculous.

More from Wayne.

Paul Podell's well-made local kite movie.

Once Upon a time in the wind - HD from Paul Podell on Vimeo.


Check out the funky Patagonian Trees and Terrain in this video... they're not Wyomingites, but we're all dying to kite Patagonia. Been there, done that, but it looks like these guys had a better trip.

snowkite Patagonie from Civel Johann on Vimeo.

Skiing GTNP has been so fun lately that I've been neglecting to kite. There's been perfect, untouched snow consistently despite the skinny winter.  Powder days?  Every day.

Now that we're entering the spring melt/freeze cycle, the powder days will be fewer and farther between but the wind will keep blowing.  Kiting corn snow is about as good as it gets. These movies, all made by local kiters, are getting me stoked up to go exploring with my kite this spring.

For more info, check out Snowkite-Wyoming.

Definitely more fun than skinning.  Photo courtesy Will Taggart.