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Got skis? Got a board? Head for the lake!

Posted Saturday, February 20, 2010
— Alpine / downhill skiing

Skiers and riders harness the wind on Lake Champlain.

Kitestorm continues on Sunday, February 21.

Today we went to the beach.

We were spectating at this weekend's Kitestorm event at Sand Bar State Park on the Causeway in Milton. The temperatures were comfortable for standing on the snow-covered and frozen Lake Champlain, and watching as skiers and snowboarders worked to get their kites aloft in light wind. The folks who made it out farther on the frozen lake were rewarded with decent wind and they were moving right along.

This is one of North America’s biggest and longest running snowkite events. It includes racing and demos. The event is put on by Rachael Miller of  Stormboarding, based in Burlington, Vermont. She is is the country's first instructor to be certified by the Professional Air Sports Association as both a snowkiting and kitesurfing instructor. Impressive.

The Skimeister took a clinic with Rachael a few years back. He thought it was pretty darn cool. We've since seen YouTube videos of Europeans with their kites in the high mountains—flying and spinning in the air and touching back down for turns. Amazing stuff.

The event continues on Sunday for those who are interested.

Go fly a kite.

 

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