Bismarck Tribune - North Dakota News - Snowkiters adapt to lack of snow

Snowkiters adapt to lack of snow

Feb 26, 2008 - 04:05:39 CST

GRAND FORKS (AP) - Three men crossing the state in a snowkiting expedition to demonstrate the potential for wind energy are switching to buggies instead of skis and snowboards because of a lack of snow.

The expedition, called "To Cross the Moon," takes snowkiters Sam Salwei, Paul Cassady and Jason Magness across western North Dakota, from the Canadian border to the South Dakota border, camping along the way.

Snowkiting is a wind power sport that couples skiing or snowboarding with large kites, eliminating the need for a slope. The kiter is strapped into a harness and can snowboard or ski across the plains, relying on the wind.

Since there's not enough snow, the group is using a mountain board and three-wheeled buggies powered by wind.

Cassady will be using a mountain board, which is like a skateboard with big wheels. To use the buggies, Salwei and Magness will steer the front wheel with their feet and control the kite with their hands. The wind will pull both contraptions by kite.

"None of us have ever actually used a buggy," Salwei said. "It's going to be an adventure."

The men took off from Crosby, on Feb. 11 on their second attempt to make the 390-mile trip. The first one, last winter, ended early because of warm weather.

The three faced another set of setbacks this year. Salwei dislocated his shoulder about a week into the trip, taking him out of the expedition for a few days.

"I slipped on the ice with a 60-pound backpack on," he said.

Salwei had been riding with other expedition organizers and helpers in a vehicle a few miles behind the kiters while trying to heal. A tire was damaged on his rental car Saturday while he was trying to catch up and he was stranded on a country road "somewhere in western North Dakota," he said.

The men have eight days left in the expedition plan and a long way to go.

"Things go wrong," Salwei said. "We adapt and keep going."

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Comments

MHDA wrote on Mar 9, 2008 6:44 PM:

" The whole purpose of the 2XtM expedition was to inform the public of global climate change and North Dakota's potential to combat it through wind energy. Letters to the governor were encouraged, but not mandatory, and only if the students supported the cause. The athletic portion of the expedition was to catch people's interest through the media. Since snowkiting allows you to feel the power of the wind in your hands and thus literally feel North Dakota's potential for wind energy, the "hobby" and the "politics" are of necessity intertwined. "

Sam Salwei wrote on Mar 9, 2008 6:30 PM:

" create jobs in our state. So instead of our #1 export being our educated youth, North Dakota will have a fighting chance to be a leader in the new multi billion dollar clean tech Industry.
By now you may be asking what our motivation is? Well, it is our passion to spread the word about this great state and its enormous potential. We no longer want our greatest export to be our friends. We are the Saudi Arabia of wind; wind that can bring clean energy jobs and investment to our state. This world-class wind resource also makes North Dakota ideal for snowkiting, an exploding outdoor sport with both recreational and entrepreneurial opportunities. This expedition provides a chance to showcase those opportunities." "

Sam Salwei wrote on Mar 9, 2008 6:27 PM:

" I appreciate your comment. I don't think it is a very healthy practice to separate your life in to compartments: Job, Career, Hobbies, Eating, Children...everything is interconnected politics+hobby = Change. The sooner we as humans and especially US citizens realize this interconnection and that what we do has an effect on the world the more likely this world will be around for our future generations to enjoy. 2XtM is not a hobby it is a lifestyle we are promoting extreme living with awareness. We are bringing the message of hope both for recreation to curb underage drinking and genrel substance abuse and Industry to give "

HCW wrote on Feb 28, 2008 10:10 AM:

" My daughter said the "snowkiters" were at Horizon Middle School talking about their sport. It all sounded interesting until they launched into a diatribe about global warming. They also told the kids how to write a very specific letter to the governor about it. Too bad people can't separate their hobbies from their politics. "

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