Ice Screws and Snowkiting!

[crabnebula]

here is a link that I made "quickly" to help all snowkiters understand a little more about ice screws.

It is VERY crude in a way what I am showing but....after the last 10 years on frozen lakes, Ive broken a few ice screw hangers and WORSE.....sound ice screws stuck in the ice with broken hangers....sticking out of the ice like a "trap" to catch the unknowing snowkiter, snowmobile rider etc.

It is not to be said that this is THE 100% way to do things but after teaching ice and rock climbing for a living (I am AMGA Rock Instructor certified) for the last 14 years.....I can only help but cringe at the occasional mis use and misunderstood use of ice screws in snowkiting.

Enjoy!

[crabnebula]

Sorry did not know the link was a temp. link.

Facebook search SnowkiteNH and check out the Album titled The dope on ice screws.

[BWD]

Um, need to make public. and permalink please.

[CaptainArgh]

Topic is interesting, but can you share the information locally or in a non-facebook link?
(facebook is blocked from many office connections, that thankfully still support kiteforum.com!

[Toby]

the link does not work, I took it out.

Just post it on here, so everyone can see it?

Thanks
Toby

[Uride2]

not finding it on you FB. interested...

[eree]

well, who cares about facebook (probably in a couple of years nobody cares about it)? not everyone lives in it. i mean what is the point to write about something without actually writing it, but referring to the page with limited accessibility and popularity?
write it right here!
but anyway, for the three years now i didn't miss the ice screw for the one moment!
if you have snow, kite bag, snowboard or skis you don't need the ice screw really! besides, kites parked to ice screw occupy too much valuable "parking" space on the spot and increase the risk of somebody to cut parked kite's lines with their board or skis.
i understand if you ride only on ice with little snow conditions then you can use the ice screw. but then use the real one. best to use is the rock climbing ones. they are more expensive but they are reliable and most probably not gonna to break.
and if you "park" your kite on the ice/snow, try to do it in the place everyone usually "park" them.

but again, better not to use them. anyway, avoid riding the places where others usually park their kites and try not to ride places where under-ice-fishermen bore their holes and leave their garbage. or you risk to ruin your board/skis.

[john a]

have to agree with eree, you don´t really need these ice screws. I have never missed them on my 8 years on snow... Just learn how to use the kite and you´ll be fine Everybody that kites on snow should know how to land and launch their kite on their own without help!
Normally over here you would have to dig for "a couple of hours" to use the ice screw anyway hehe And if you kite on only ice, and need to secure you´re kite well you´ll still have your harness and skies/ board to lay on the LE to keep it down...

[Burness]

Here in Eastern Canada we seldom get dumped on without the snow blowing around leaving patches of ice between drifts on the larger lakes.

I these conditions, ice screws are essential as your kite will simply blow away as there is basically no friction regardless of what you put on it- including sand filled kite weight bags.

I know how to self launch but not how to control the weather.

I am very interested in hearing about your ice screw experience.

Brad

[crabnebula]

Hey all..sorry about the crappy link....I was trying to get the easiest way to show this info to you all.....I am not super computer savvy....but here are the images and bare bones words as to what is going on....Please all be careful what you do with ice screws.....

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l251/ ... wintro.jpg