The Beginner Series
Each student takes different amounts of time to master the kite skills in the beginner series. The beginner series is designed to get you snowkiting safely and includes learning to set up the kite, launching, flying the kite in power strokes and landing as well as learning to use the kite's power to move across the snow and make turns.

The Classroom
We will start the first lesson with a discussion of how to move the kite to generate appropriate levels of power. You will learn much more quickly with a clear understanding of the relationship between the wind and the kite and how that relationship is affected by the movement of the kite in the sky, and your movement across the snow. We will cover evaluating snow kite locations and conditions, setting up your kite, launching and landing practices, kite theory, as well as a safety discussion. You will also learn about the specific exercises that you will be using during the lesson designed to develop critical skills. These exercises divide the skills you will need into individual elements and lets you learn complicated actions in small controlled steps. This careful approach allows you to stay in control throughout the lesson process.

Kite Control
Once you have a good grasp of what you are trying to do with the kite, we can get out on the snow and put a kite in the sky. You will start by learning to setup the kite and operate it's safety systems. As you become familiar with the control of the kite, you will develop a number of skills that allow you to fly the kite through specific patterns in the sky to generate more power in lighter wind, and to shed the power in stronger wind. You will learn to launch and land the kite as well as relaunching the kite after it hits the snow. Some students develop these foundation skills and are ready to move across the snow in the first three hour lesson. Other students will need an additional three hour lesson to learn to control the power of the kite. There is no advantage in setting off across the snow without good kite control. These kites can generate huge power and your safety depends on your kite control skills.

Snowkiting Across the Snow
Once the power source is under control you can start working on learning to move across the snow under the kite's power. The transition from controlling the kite when standing still, to controlling the kite when moving across the snow, can be quick or slow depending on your ski/snowboard skills and the snow conditions. I encourage students to work with skis for their first snowkiting lesson because when you are standing still or moving slowly you can just lift your foot and move it under you if you start to fall over. When both your feet are attached to a snowboard you tend to fall over when the kite stops pulling or pulls hard unless you are moving at a good speed. Skis are a lot easier than a snowboard on your first day and on days with very gusty winds.

Snowkiting Turns
After you learn to move across the snow you will learn to turn. Turning requires correct timing and a balance between your speed, your turn radius, the kite speed, and the turning radius of the kite. I will show you how to generate smooth power throughout the turn.

Snowkiting Upwind and Downwind
Learning to go upwind and downwind at controlled speeds is the final skill in the beginner series. We will work on refining your kite's movement through the sky and your body position to allow you to hold your line as you move upwind. Learning to generate the right amount of power when going downwind will allow you to move down wind in control.

Locals’ Beginner Clinic
This clinic is designed to introduce students to snowkiting. We will cover some of the basic info and start teaching kite control. The clinic will be held on the first Tuesday of each month at 1:00pm.