This day has provided the best snow kiting conditions in general for the past few years. In the mountains there’s a metre of snow topped with a layer of powder up to knee level. The temperature is -4C, the sky is blue, the sun is shining and the wind is blowing at 8-9m/sec. During the day there were moments when the wind would strengthen to 11m/sec or weaken to 6m/sec but mostly it would maintain an average of 8m/sec.
This morning we got out of bed at 6am as we are meeting TMAX at 7am at Cernak. It’s dark and I’m grumbling about what a stupid idea it is to get up that early! As we head towards Krusne Mountains we can see a lovely cloud resting on the cliffs. It looks like there’s going to be some fog and no wind at all.
Around half 8 we reach the top of the cliffs. Above the clouds, the sun is rising but we can’t see any signs of wind. We grab our tools and start to climb up the hill looking out for the wind. We’re sinking up to our knees into completely fresh light powder. After about 100 metres I start to feel the wind, strong enough for us to stop walking up the hill and unpack our kites. The journey to the top would normally take 10 minutes without the kite. It was 30 seconds with the kite. When we get to the top the kite is straight away in full power and in front of us we start to see infinite meadows, hills, ravines and valleys basking in the sunrise. The board is flying like crazy. Every carve or turn throws a geyser of powder snow up in the air, it even covers my open mouth.
We are the only 3 kiters in an area of about 40km2 of untouched powder snow. TMAX wants to go and switch to 9 Frenzy because the 13 is dragging him down. My brother and I are waiting on the top of this little hill from which you can send fantastic flights down to the snowed stream. It feels like we are landing into a duvet, no matter whether you end up on the board or your head. My brother was enjoying one of his megaflights so much so that he actually forgot all about preparations for landing and ended up right in the middle of the stream where he got nicely splashed with water. However the level of adrenaline and overall enthusiasm was so high that he did not care about getting a soaking and we were soon ready for another dose of cross country freeride. My brother has discovered a great overhang which we just have to try out. This season overhangs are really thick. As we were making our way, we came across 5 amazing overhangs which if joined together would create a massive avalanche. The sun is shining strongly and the wind has now strengthened to 11m/sec which means we can now ride through the deepest ravines and swerve through the trees. The powder is absolutely fabulous, glistening like diamonds, acquiring a golden touch in the sunset. Our bodies have been totally exhausted from a long time ago but our brains and the strength of the kite are inexhaustible. When we decide to pack it up for the day, it is nearly dark. We fold the kites into our backpacks and snowboard all the way down to the road.
It’s the beginning of winter and a complete start to the snow kiting season. The conditions are genial. If it carries on like this, 2012 could be the best SNK year ever.
