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Forums > Kitesurfing General

Snow kiting

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Created by Ellobuddha > 9 months ago, 16 Jun 2013
Ellobuddha
NSW, 625 posts
16 Jun 2013 11:52PM
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Hi,

Looking for some info on snow kiting in NSW. I know there are some guys on here that are into it.

Please advise locations, kite sizes, access points to locations, tips etc. We have a few lads interested in giving it a try down this way.

Cheers,

EB

cracknback
NSW, 56 posts
17 Jun 2013 9:19AM
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I would probably be packing a mountain board, not a snow board or Ski's at present as there is not a lot of snow...

AntoineS
NSW, 122 posts
17 Jun 2013 10:55AM
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We (a bunch of SUCKers www.facebook.com/groups/sydneyunicrazykiters ) were planning on going snowkiting this weekend but eventually decided to stay in Sydney and enjoy the southerly as all the snow melted last week.
In NSW Thredbo is the way to go, taking the Kociuszko Express chairlift then Karells T-Bar to reach the top, then reach the northern side and walk up a bit to reach that big flat area.

Smaller kite size are preferred as you need very little power to start moving on the snow and you can reach high speed easily. But then it's also easier to edge hard so you can handle quite a lot of power, so depend on your level and experience.

Thing is weather can change quickly in the mountains, and wind is usually super gusty because of the landscape. Also be careful if it gets foggy, being out of the resort it's easy to get lost if everything turns white and you can't even see your buddies' kite 20m away.

As for the feet, skis are a good choice make it easier to go uphill and move around when the wind is light. Snowboard is a bit more hassle but more kitesurf-like feeling and great for jumps and tricks.

Enjoy!



Ellobuddha
NSW, 625 posts
18 Jun 2013 4:13PM
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Cheers mate,

Thanks for the info. Will check it out soon hopefully.

polykarb
VIC, 284 posts
18 Jun 2013 4:49PM
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60cm at OHAU ski field in New Zealand wish I was there right now with more snow on the way!
Ski fields not even open yet, would be epic.

AntoineS
NSW, 122 posts
18 Jun 2013 5:39PM
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Digging on seabreeze forums (www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Land-Kiting/Snowkiting/snow-kiting-areas-nswvic/ ) here is a great map showing most locations: www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=11n7mwwJHamkUuTbKn_p2vYNFsRc&ie=UTF8&hl=en&safe=on&msa=0&ll=-36.361034,148.493958&spn=0.350572,0.707932&z=11

The big flat area I mentioned is that blue one called Cock's harbour. It's really not easy to figure out how to get there just from the flat satellite imagery and pictures as the weather and snow changes the landscape, hopefully it is nice and sunny and you can find it.

Here is a video from our trip last september, you can sort of follow the way from the chairlift at 1:23 to the plateau at 2:00



See also
from 0:33 by the guy who made the map, big thanks to him! I'm not sure which part of the walking track it is exactly but these red poles are where it's at!

diamond2001
WA, 436 posts
18 Jun 2013 5:39PM
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Do you have to pay for a full day lift pas just to get up the to the plateau probably once for the day of snow kiting on the plateau.I know aussie resorts are some of the biggiest rip offs in the world for lift tickets.I would suck to pay over a $100 just to go up once!

eppo
WA, 9579 posts
18 Jun 2013 7:00PM
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Love to do that, looks sooo much fun!!

Ellobuddha
NSW, 625 posts
19 Jun 2013 1:10AM
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Select to expand quote
diamond2001 said..

Do you have to pay for a full day lift pas just to get up the to the plateau probably once for the day of snow kiting on the plateau.I know aussie resorts are some of the biggiest rip offs in the world for lift tickets.I would suck to pay over a $100 just to go up once!


You can walk up through dead horse gap - after walking it I know how it got its name. (Too outta way, good walk in summer though)

PGS
NSW, 69 posts
19 Jun 2013 10:07AM
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Yo yo,

Good to hear there are a few more of you keen and getting out there.

I just updated the map with a few more access notes on getting to Cock's harbour. Take a GPS and mark waypoints every few minutes on the way out so you can follow them home if the cloud level comes down.

www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=11n7mwwJHamkUuTbKn_p2vYNFsRc&msa=0&ll=-36.481484,148.274918&spn=0.228844,0.445976

Unlike Vic, you have to work a bit harder to access the snowkite spots in NSW.... But when you get there they are 10 times better in quality and 1000 times bigger in size.

There is also a great walk-in spot North of Guthega, Backcountry cruising vid here:



Lots of discussion about this on ski.com.au: forums.ski.com.au/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=1143304#Post1143304
But these blokes are experienced backcountry travellers looking at getting kites rather than kiters looking into backcountry kiting.

PGS
NSW, 69 posts
19 Jun 2013 10:08AM
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PS: I could basically have painted the whole range blue on that google map, but it's really just to get people started safely and give them an idea of the possibilities

Ellobuddha
NSW, 625 posts
20 Jun 2013 9:05PM
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PG

Select to expand quote
PGS said..

PS: I could basically have painted the whole range blue on that google map, but it's really just to get people started safely and give them an idea of the possibilities


PGS,

Excellent map. Thanks very much mate. Greatly appreciated. Hopefully get up there in a fortnight. Keen to give it a try.

EB

Mr float
NSW, 3452 posts
21 Jun 2013 9:22AM
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Select to expand quote
diamond2001 said..

Do you have to pay for a full day lift pas just to get up the to the plateau probably once for the day of snow kiting on the plateau.I know aussie resorts are some of the biggiest rip offs in the world for lift tickets.I would suck to pay over a $100 just to go up once!


No you don't.get a Kosciusko express only ticket.you won't be able to use any t bars with that ticket (they have access gates that wont let u thru)so if you want to get to the cocks harbor area you'll have to walk but it's worth it .alternately get a lift pass and do some kiting on the side when the wind and weather are good.i usually set up at the top of karels and head sw towards dead horse gap and then up th first ridge up to cocks Barbour area in the predominantly westerly wind.it can be pretty gusty with some nasty wind shadow areas too but and be quite a challenge and dangerous as ther are plenty of rocks .the safest option is to walk up from the top of karels (about 15 mins) whichever gets you onto the plateau and nice smooth wind.

Porkyhorse
NSW, 23 posts
23 Jun 2013 9:09PM
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Tell them at the ticket office you are heading Backcountry and you just need a one ride job. I think they call it a scenic pass or something these days. It's around $33 bucks and if they tell you it's not possible or you can't take skiis etc, ask for the manager.

A lot of people seem to ask and get told there is no such thing but it's likely just new staff for the season.

If you still have trouble (be nice about it) ask them how all the regular BC people get to the top. It will only get you to the Eaglesnest and it's a walk from there.

PGS
NSW, 69 posts
1 Jul 2013 9:35PM
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Forecast starting to suggest a possibility of golden conditions in the NSW mountains this Sunday/Monday (7-8th July) coming.... Cold airstream with snow followed by a W-SW wind for a day or so. In my experience this is as good as it gets in July, (usually it's rock hard and icy up top at this time of year.)

So, as long as the forecast holds, who's keen to head down from Newcastle/Sydney? Porkyhorse is busy, Floaty is in Fiji... come on you mob. I can show you all the choice spots.

Dave Whettingsteel
WA, 1397 posts
1 Jul 2013 8:16PM
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Looks great! As a experienced life long skier and developing kiter I can see this could be a really good combination I might have some laughs in



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"Snow kiting" started by Ellobuddha