Superfly Open – Kiting Festival
The second annual Super Fly Open kiting festival was held this last weekend at Powder Mountain, Utah. Affectionately known as Pow Mow, the Eden based ski resort has an exposed ridgeline perched right at its summit which makes for perfect kiting conditions. There aren’t many obstacles to collide with and the wind can be moderated by going higher (stronger) or lower on the hillside.
The last leg of the fast & furious snowboard kiter-cross event.
The festival is a loose affair with a variety of freeriding, kiter-cross, cross-country, big air and rail riding competitions, as well as parties, a Best Girls talent search and evening presentations.
Floating effortlessly over the Odgen valley.
As a self-taught kiter, I like going to festivals like this as I always learn a lot. While I have no problem catching air, my landing sucess ratio is about 10%, so I tend to keep my skis on the snow as much as possible. Over the weekend I heard this referred to as “mowing the lawn” (going back and forth over and over) which seems humourously appropriate.
Jacob Buzianis, the man behind (literally in this photo) Best Kites in Utah. After setting up the demo kites, helping people get started and giving tips, he goes out and places in the top three of any of the events he enters, which is the sure sign of being a Super Ambassador for the sport. Nice job Jacob.
As one of the main sponsors, Best Kites had a quiver of demo kits available. The technology on these beasties is impressive and in the right hands there is no limit to where riders can go – upwind, downwind or extended flights.
Since riders discovered the kiting potential at Pow Mow a few years ago, the resort has fully embraced the idea by dedicating a chunk of their property exclusively to kiting and offering lessons and rentals through the Best Snowkite Center. Maybe they can teach me how to actually land standing up instead of on my head…
Closing in on the first mark of the men's kiter-cross snowboard division.
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Category: Events
