For most of us, during winter, the days are too short and the sky normally
gets dark around 4 or 5 PM making it seems impossible to kite after work.
Fortunately, the combination of white snow, city lights (and the cloud that
bounce them back) or the moon or star lights makes it possible to kite in
the evening or at night.
Powder snow, moon, star lights and kites, what a combinations!
Photo by Brent
The Condition
To kite, one needs light to see the kite. Fortunately, the white snow
reflects much of the lights it encounters such that it is often sufficient
to kite at night on snow. The following conditions are best for night
kiting:
-
An overcast night near or inside the city
-
A
clear, full moon night
-
A
snowy night near or inside the city
That's said, kiters have known to night-kite no problem in
other less than ideal lighting conditions.
The Equipment
You can go night kiting on snow using snowboards, skis, snowblades or
telemarkskis. The techniques are the same; the only difference is that
you have less light and your eyes need to adjust to the low light level.
"Go for the moon; if you miss it, you will be among the stars"
Photo by Paul
If you go night kiting with a number of other night-kiters, each one of you
may want to have some headlights or some reflecting band on your helmet to
avoid collision in the dark. This headlight can also be useful when
you need to sort out the lines or look for the equipment in the dark.
Headlight for night kiting (red or white lights)
The technique
Toe-down night kiting
Photo by Brent
Except for the lighting condition night kiting techniques are similar to
those of day kiting. The main difference is actually in landing.
As you don't see the "ground" well when landing, it is not easy to land big
jumps.
.jpg)