Dom
While on our Summer ’07 trip to NZ for the ‘08 snowkite range photo shoot I had the pleasure of riding the Access XC in real backcountry conditions.
It was one of those days where we all started with the biggest kite we had. I was on the 13m Frenzy FX and after few hours we were far into the backcountry, had reached higher altitudes, and the wind had gotten stronger and stronger. I did not realize it straight away as I felt well powered up to get uphill. It was just at the moment on the next peak when the snow began to fly over the ground and I put the kite up in the air and felt really light that I noticed it was strong!
For cases like that I had the Access XC 10m with me and I swapped to it. I rode it all afternoon long and had the best backcountry ride in my life. Even on the 10m I was really powered up but still felt safe and under control. We went further around the hills and peaks and the Access XC took me anywhere I wanted. It was a time for me to relax and concentrate on the surface and landscape rather than always having to watch your kite and make sure you don’t make a mistake. The wind became gusty in the valleys we had to cross to reach the next peak but still the kite behaviour was calm and stable.
Even though I judge myself as a very experienced rider (7 years kiting) it was the moment I did not want to have any other kite. As I am more and more into backcountry I will always have a small size Access XC with me. I recon the perfect quiver for me will be an 11m Frenzy FX and an 8m Access XC … and mountains here I come.
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