IT’S OVER!
USSKM 2008 Recap
Over 100 Snowkiters gathered together atop Skyline for the 4th annual Snowkite Masters. Coming from as far as North Carolina and Tahiti, there was a variety of kiting styles represented and plenty of Utah powder for all to enjoy. The Kiter-Cross races gained the most popularity as participants and spectators were entertained by a fast and dynamic course.
The terrain created unique challenges for competitors, with quick downwind-downhill runs and technical upwind-upslope reaches. Gusty conditions on Saturday forced racers to choose the proper kite size or face the chance of being blown downwind and off course. After several heats for each category, the semi-finalists went head to head to determine the final winners of the 2008 US Open. Many Snowkiters chose to freeride and explore the miles of open terrain, finding untracked lines and new features formed by evolving wind drifts. Winds peaked in the 30 mph range during the weekend, allowing skiers to hit over 50 mph on their GPS units, a new record for the area.
Some ambitious kite-pilots chased the gusts and combined them with jumps to create huge flights, possibly some of the highest kite jumps ever and easily record hang times lasting over a minute long. A surprise snowstorm that brought in the stronger pre-frontal winds, also dropped fresh snow into Sunday morning, post-poning the Winduro race for another day. With the race cancelled due to white out conditions on the ridge, riders headed out in search of their own treasures.
Those that stayed for the last drop were rewarded with an epic sunset session of blue skies and clearing winds. This years Snowkite Masters continued to stir the positive vibration for Snowkiting, and the stoke is even greater than before. Thank you to all who have supported this event and made it the enjoyable experience that it has become… See you all next year!
Kiter-X Race Results
Men’s Snowboard
- Tamatoa Gillot
- Jason Slezak
- James Brown
Men’s Ski
- Brad Gordon
- Kevin Steen
- Rob Whittall
Women’s Snowboard
- Heather Schenck
- Monika Masuda
- Arla Funk
Women’s Ski
- Monika Bassett
Youth Snowboard
- Kris Hasbrouck
Website: Snowkitemasters