d i s t i n c t ly m o n ta n a • w i n t e r 2 0 1 5
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I
n the winter Montana
is a cold, snowy state
with abundant wind.
With the arrival of the first snow storms, through the cold
smoke of January, finishing with the warm and sunny,
granular corn of May (and often June), snowkiting in
Montana is reliably an eight-month long season.
Many are learning that Montana is perfectly suited for
snowkiting. With help from the jet stream, the pressure
gradient along the spine of the Rocky Mountains creates
a giant wind machine. While some areas have too much
wind (and too little snow cover), the vast majority of
Montana kite spots have the right combination of deep
snow and strong wind. Conveniently, automated weather
stations provide up-to-the-minute reporting to help kiters
make the daily decision on where to session. Friendly
locals help out by routinely giving permission to kite on
their private land.
Montana farmers and ranchers are some of the most
obliging people I've ever met. Ninety-nine percent of
the time whenever I've asked, "Can I fly my kite on your
land", the answer is a disinterested "It don't bother me
none." However, once they see the size of our kites, the
fact that we're on skis and snowboards, the ripping speeds
and the huge boosts, they are no longer disinterested.
They will sit in their warm pickup truck or at their living
room window and find the spectacle of snowkiting ir-
resistible. After tracking out their ranch they are only too
happy to tell you about the neighbor's land or where it's
really deep and windy. In addition to the occasional beer,
I've had ranchers offer their snowmobiles for better access
to the high-country.
The U.S. Snowkite team
discover Mount Haggin
www.distinctlymontana.com/snowkiting151
DISTINCTLY MONTANA | DIGITAL
Snow
kiting
artICLE aND photoS
by Noah porItz
