Kiteboarding takes flight

EDEN — Arla Funk was hooked on kiteboarding. "I wanted to be in the water at all times," said the Hood River, Ore., native. Winter weather, however, can be tough for those who love water sports. That is, unless you're talking about kiteboarding.

"About two years ago, I started to snowboard with a kite," said the 38-year-old who was at Powder Mountain on March 13-14 for the 2009 SuperFly Open. "I keep everything as if I am on the water."

About 50 of the world's best snowkiters gathered at Powder Mountain to compete in several different competitions, including freestyle, Big Air and several races.

Most of those who snowkite have a background in either snowboarding or kiteboarding on water.

Jacob Buzianis, 32, started on a frozen lake in Tooele. Then he took lessons in 1994, but didn't really get into it because there weren't a lot of places to do it.

Since 2001, he's been an avid snowkiter and found several places in Utah that allow it.

"It's awesome," he said of being able to use a kite to lift himself off the ground long enough to do tricks or maneuver a course. He said it is remarkably easy to learn.

"If you're a good snowboarder, skateboarder or skier, or you have any of those ski skills, you'll probably be able to pick it up no problem."

Jason Slezak, 31, of Real Watersports, said Utah has become a draw for snowkiters from around the world.

"The Salt Lake City area is a mecca in the U.S. for snow kiting because of Skyline Drive, Strawberry Reservoir and Powder Mountain. Powder Mountain is the first ski resort in North America to provide an area for snowkiting," Slezak said. "They also sell a kite pass. They're the first to try and regulate it."

Snowkiters normally take flight on private property (with permission, of course) or public lands. The nice thing about Powder Mountain is that snowkiters can build their jumps and have their fun while enjoying all of the support services a resort provides to patrons.

Not only do snowkiters need a lot of space, they need constant wind. Unlike water, where the wind generally stays constant, the breeze in the mountains or in canyons comes and goes and often changes directions.

Powder Mountain's second annual SuperFly contest attracted snowkiters from Norway, Colorado, North Carolina, Washington, Oregon, Wyoming and Idaho.

Slezak also started kiteboarding on water and then nine years ago took up snowkiting.

"Because on water the wind is more consistent, this is very challenging to be in a canyon where the wind changes," Slezak said. "That's the other fun part about it — the difficult conditions."