Snowkiting is an outdoor winter sport in which a skier or snowboarder uses the power generated by a kite to propel them over snow or sometimes ice. With proper wind and terrain conditions, the kite can be used for jumps as well. The kite handling is similar to water-based kiteboarding. The kites used in snowboarding are identical or similar to the ones used on water, with a slight preference for foil kites, especially single skin foil kites. Since 2013, newly developed racing foil kites dominate speed races and expedition races, like Red Bull Ragnarok and the Vake mini-expedition race. Snowkiting differs from other alpine sports in that it is possible for the snowkiter to travel uphill and downhill with any wind direction. Like kiteboarding, snowkiting can be very hazardous and should be learned and practiced with care. Snowkiting has become more popular in places often associated with skiing and snowboarding, such as Russia, Canada, Iceland, France, Switzerland, Austria, Norway, Sweden, Finland and the Northern and Central United States. The sport has become more diverse as adventurers use kites to travel great distances and sports enthusiasts push the boundaries of freestyle, big air, speed and backcountry exploration.
Key Facts
| Subject | Snowkiting |
| Category | Using kite power to glide on snow or ice |
| Reading time | 1 min · Advanced |
| Key date | 2013 |
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Reference material for this entry is drawn from the open encyclopedic record, including Wikipedia , available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license. Images are credited individually beside each photo.