Kites: Not just for getting stuck in trees

Unique sport holds local, rider-judged contest at Grand Beach

A brave kiteboarder.

On a day when most people are watching the cold wind blowing against frosted windowpanes, more than a few adventurous souls harness that frigid northwest breeze to power a unique sport.

Mark Koenig, owner of Boost Kiteboarding, had a lot to do setting up a hospitable reception for the people who came out to watch or participate in the third annual Boost Winter Kiting Contest on Saturday, Feb. 28. Despite the -27 C temperature, over 20 riders showed up with skis, snowboards and kites of all shapes and sizes at Grand Beach, where the contest was held.

“[Kiteboarding] is a mix of windsurfing and downhill skiing or snowboarding,” explained Koenig as he set up one of the youngest riders with the harness needed to hold onto a kite. “And it’s more fun than both.”

Though harnessing wind power with a sail has been practiced since the 12th century, the modern incarnation as an extreme sport has only been around since the late 1990s.

Tyler Grey owns The Sand Bar Motor Inn at Grand Beach and has been kiting for over a decade.

“I live out here… and saw [some kiters] on the beach one day,” said Grey, “My family owns a sailboat shop so we decided to bring some stuff in.”

It’s more the adrenaline rush that everybody’s going for. There’s nothing like it on the planet.

Tyler Grey, kiteboarder

“I go across the lake three to four times a week,” he added. “Usually about once or twice a month I head up to the North Basin [on Lake Winnipeg].”

The chefs at The Sand Bar have even created a burger named for the sport, the Kite Burger. Grey’s support of the sport has led to the annual competition growing and taking place on the frozen beach.

“In the winter you’ve got speed running, adventure riding where you go for days on end … and then there’s these guys that like to do what you call free-ride,” said Grey, “Just doing the big tricks and jumps and stuff, showing off and showboating. In the summer time that’s the big appeal, the amount of air you can get, you shoot straight up do double loops and stuff.”

With a style of kiting for every rider, the Boost Winter Kiting Competition consisted of two sections – starting with a loosely timed free-ride event followed by a short speed event through a course set up with cones.
The free-ride was judged by the participants who watch each other and give points to each other for smooth turns, tricks and big air.

“You just gotta hook up with our community,” continued Grey. “That’s the nice thing about kiteboarders: We like to train people in the safety of [kiting] and how they work and you ride as groups.”

“It’s more the adrenaline rush that everybody’s going for. There’s nothing like it on the planet,” he said. “You don’t need a lift ticket, either.”

Published in Volume 63, Number 22 of The Uniter (March 5, 2009)

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