Ridge Soaring in Snowkiting: What It Is, and Why It Fascinates
Ridge soaring in snowkiting is probably the most spectacular thing the sport has to offer.
Watching a rider lift off above a snowy slope and stay up for several seconds often looks like paragliding. The principle behind it is quite different.
It takes excellent command of the kite and stays reserved for experienced riders.
So what exactly is ridge soaring?
What is ridge soaring?
Ridge soaring means using the combination of wind and terrain to leave the ground for a moment.
When wind meets a mountain or a hill, it is naturally deflected upwards. That rising air lets the kite generate far more lift.
By flying the kite properly and picking the right piece of terrain, a rider can lift a few metres off the snow, sometimes several dozen.
Unlike an ordinary jump, the flight can last several seconds.
Why is it called ridge soaring?
The shape of the terrain plays an essential part.
Without a slope, and without the right wind on it, this kind of flight is simply not possible.
The rider uses the natural shape of the ground to take advantage of the lift the wind creates against it.
It is exactly the principle paragliders and glider pilots rely on, even if the goals and the techniques are completely different.
Does everyone do it?
No.
And that is an important point.
The vast majority of snowkiters never go ridge soaring.
Most sessions are about exploring big snow plateaus, climbing back up slopes and simply enjoying the ride.
Ridge soaring is a discipline in its own right, and it belongs to a minority of experienced riders.
Is it dangerous?
Yes.
Ridge soaring raises the level of risk considerably.
Misreading the wind, a piloting error or a single gust can have serious consequences very quickly.
This is why it demands complete command of the kite, an excellent understanding of how air behaves around terrain and solid mountain experience. That is a long way from the risk profile of ordinary snowkiting.
It is never improvised.
Why does it fascinate people so much?
Because it looks like flying.
The silence, the snowy landscapes and the feeling of floating above the mountain make for a unique experience.
Videos of riders moving along the ridges are hugely impressive, and they do a lot for the popularity of snowkiting on social media.
It is worth remembering that those images show a very specific practice, and not the snowkiting that most riders actually do.
Can you learn it quickly?
Absolutely not.
Before even thinking about leaving the ground, you need complete control of the kite, of the power it delivers, of moving across every kind of terrain and of reading the weather. Our complete guide to snowkiting covers the ground you have to cover first.
Several years of practice are generally needed before this discipline becomes a reasonable idea.
Even experienced riders walk away when the conditions are not right.
Where is it done?
Ridge soaring only happens on suitable sites, where the air behaves favourably and the terrain allows a safe take off.
Not every snowkite spot lends itself to it.
Riders generally look for mountains with a regular slope, steady wind and wide clear areas.
The choice of site matters as much as the level of the rider.
Is ridge soaring part of Snowkite Sensation trips?
No.
The trips we organise are built around discovering the sport, progressing and exploring the finest snowkite spots.
The aim is to enjoy the ride safely, in conditions matched to the level of each participant.
Ridge soaring is a specific practice that calls for particular expertise, and it is not part of what we run on our trips.
A spectacular discipline, but one for experts
Ridge soaring is without doubt one of the most impressive sides of snowkiting.
It shows exactly what a traction kite is capable of in the hands of very experienced riders, in conditions they have read perfectly.
For the vast majority of riders, the pleasure of snowkiting lies elsewhere: covering immense snow plateaus, exploring exceptional landscapes and enjoying the freedom that only the wind can give.
That is the experience Snowkite Sensation shares on every one of its trips.
Further reading
If you want more information about the real level of risk in ordinary snowkiting, you can read our article Is Snowkiting Dangerous?
If you want more information about everything you need before your first session, you can read our article The Complete Guide to Snowkiting.