thinking about doing a season next winter but not sure where you can and can't kite before i start to look for work . if you kite do you have to get a season lift pass , are all resorts open to kiting in n.s.w. and vic proberly thinking of thredbo as i have not done a season there but that can change if i cant kite.
are there many other kiters out there who kite this area

Hi, sorry about not replying to your post, it got under my radar.

You only need a season pass if you will be going for roughly 10 days this season for eg Thredbo is $1108 for a season pass. Daily its about $97 this year, do the math but if your going to ski over 11 days this season a season pass would be better value.

Not sure about VIC, but the guys from Kitepower had a very successful trip down last year and its going to be on bigger and better this year also.

The best place is in back country just above Crackenback (a short walk over the back) with the right wind conditions I am sure (above the fall line of skiers) you could launch your kite and kite up the hill, once over the top you end up on the main range, kiting heaven from what I heard from last year.

Stay tuned :)

I have said this before but Charlotte Pass is flat for miles before you get to the Chalet. You wouldn't even need a lift pass. I will try and post some photos when I get there.

There is a few kitesurfers here who are going to give it a go. I will try and get some piccys.

If you turn right from where that photo was taken and walk up the hill Mt Stillwell is a really good spot it is exposed to most wind directions and you can access the whole range from there.

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tim111 said...

If you turn right from where that photo was taken and walk up the hill Mt Stillwell is a really good spot it is exposed to most wind directions and you can access the whole range from there.

Yes ,bit of a mission .If the snow is good and hasn't been blown away you don't have to go all the way and can get going and then access the main range kiting upwind and uphill which means its all down wind and downhill at the end of the day (beware of line and kite eating rocks there are plenty ..Had a go down in that valley on a windy day .Wind was all over the place (kind of like in front of perisher next to the car park)

I still don't get why the valley below the chalet is not ok??? no walking no lifts and plenty of snow right now. I've done the walk to stillwell, just to ski, in ski boots and carrying skis. It was a huge mission. If I was a snowkiter I'd go the valley. But I'm guessing there's a reason why not?

Susie, in the right wind you can easily kite from the top of the main chairlift right to the top of stillwell and beyond. It depends on the wind direction. The whole area you are talking about down on the flats is in a wind shadow if the wind is blowing from the north or west. It is a big flat area but a bit of a dead end if you want to tour with a kite. The village itself is in a huge wind shadow so even if you wanted to kite the flats for sure you'd have to hike somewhere. To get to the good exposed spots at Charlotte Pass you have to be prepared to hike or to at least ride the lift. Either hike or kite from the top of the lift (if possible) to Stillwell or cross the snowy and you can go anywhere from there.