02/18/2007

Record-Eagle/Jan-Michael Stump
Craig Norconk of Traverse City catches some air off of a jump during Saturday’s Kite Derby on Lake Leelanau.

Derby snowkiters harness the wind

Event draws 50-plus competitors to Lake Leelanau

BY GARRET ELLISON

gellison@record-eagle.com

BINGHAM TOWNSHIP — For Julian Hills, there's no comparison between snowboarding and kiteboarding.

"You don't have to buy lift tickets and stuff,” the 14-year-old Benzie student said Saturday, gesturing at the open expanse of a frozen Lake Leelanau. He was getting instruction in the art of snow-kiteboarding at the Kite Derby, held on the 8-inch thick ice.

Overcast skies and below freezing temps didn't keep the 50-plus kiters away from the derby, an annual event hosted by Grand Bay Kite shop in Traverse City. Dozens of multicolored kites swooped through the air during the afternoon as pros and would-be kiters from around the Midwest gathered for the Michigan's largest winter kiteboarding event.

The Bingham boat launch was overflowing with cars sporting an assortment of kiteboarding stickers, some with license plates like "skygod,” and "flyn4hm.”

Clay Couturier, 25, of Cedar, warmed himself with some hot chocolate in the registration tent as people streamed on and off the ice. Several children were in attendance.

"There was a 4-month-old out there — the mom was boarding,” he said.

Couturier got into the sport in 2000 and said riding the wind can be a zen-like experience. He tries to get out whenever he can, but the weather and equipment cost can be troublesome.

"That's the only limiting factor,” he said.

Many first-timers begin with used equipment, which can be found for around $300 if you're lucky. Some rigs top $3,000.

Instructor Alex Bethke said lessons are a must to limit potential injuries.

"It's a real dangerous sport unless you take a lesson,” he said.

At 15, Bethke might seem young to be teaching, but the Elk Rapids sophomore started snowboarding when he was 3 years old and picked up kiteboarding at age 11.

He showed Justin Payne, of Cedar, the ropes.

"Your wind zone is 12 o'clock to 2 o'clock,” he said, standing next to Payne with one hand on the kite bar. "It's kind of like riding a bike.”

He demonstrated the kite movement with a twist and turn of the control bar, the red and black fabric swooping loops in the sky.

"You can do it with just one lesson,” he said, usually lasting four hours. "You won't be great, but you'll be able to get up on the board and go.”

Private lessons range from $350 to $500, depending on length and complexity. Grand Bay Kite in downtown Traverse City offers summer and winter lessons, as do Broneah Kiteboarding on Grandview Parkway in Traverse City.

Previous experience with skis or snowboards helps.

On the lake, the sun peeked out a couple times, but it was mostly overcast skies. Ferris State University student Noah Penn wished the light would've stayed.

"It helps you see the details in the snow,” he said. "It's not perfectly smooth out there.”

Penn slid up to the staging area after spending a couple hours cruising the lake. Holland-based boarder Andy Bolt rushed over to help Penn with his kite.

"It's really strong out there,” Penn said about the wind. "It's gusting into the upper 20s.”

Bolt helped Penn wind up his kite lines. He said the camaraderie is a big draw.

"That's what's so cool,” Bolt said. "Events like this bring everyone together — people you only see a couple times a year.”

Grand Haven hosts a large water event, the King of the Great Lakes, in September.

The sport is relatively new, but growing. The trick is to competently pilot the kite in the sky, while controlling your board in the water or snow. Much of the terminology sounds like sailing jargon, with kiters "thatching,” "reaching,” or "tacking.”

"You are kind of doing what a sailboat does,” Bolt said, by crossing the wind.

And it's not for couch potatoes, either.

"I was out there sweating and unbuttoning my jacket,” he said, despite below freezing temperatures coupled with a harsh wind chill. "It's a good workout.”