The 2012 Snowkite Masters this year provided some epic conditions for the riders, but with the changing conditions, several dangerous point were highlighted. The good guys over there took some time out of their day to tell everyone a little about the dangers involved when riding on caring terrain in the snow. There's also a heap of cool action in there too. 

This time of year heaps of people head either south or east, not in search of warm weather and blue water, but in search of cold weather and white mountains. It's a stark difference not only in the weather, but in the dangers involved, catching many kiteboarders who usually ride on water unaware. Most of these dangers are from the wind being turbulent and not always flowing horizontally, the other is the snow itself. Here's a few of the tips, but check out the video below to see it all in detail. 

Remember the terrain isn't always even, and wind can't flow through solid objects. If the wind is blowing up some kind of slope, there will be an updraft which can (and does) lift kites faster than they glide down. While this is all well and good if you're paragliding, it's not so cool when you're just trying to ride along. Take note of the wind and slope direction. 

Also consider the downdrafts and turbulence behind ridge lines and tree-lines. Wind hitting objects or curling around a ridge can stall your kite, or drop you like a rock if you're jumping. Be observant and if your kite is getting knocked around more than usual, get out of there! 

Snow is just as dangerous as water, just because it's solid doesn't mean you're safer. When riding watch out for breaking jagged blocks of ice off ridges, you might bury a rider underneath you, or even cause a small (or big) avalanche. When riding in snow, always carry a beacon, and make sure your friends also carry one. 

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