Snowkiting Argentina

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Hola chicos, chicas

We have been in Argentina for 10 days now. We have been at first in the famous ski resort Las Leñas. First day, the wind was not here but we decided to walk up a super nice face, after more that 6 hours walking and just 1 500 m upper, we enjoyed a great ride in the powder. At the end our kites help us to cross the long flat Area.
The day after, it was super windy and gusty (wind was turning around 180 degrees), we all used our safety systems! Las Leñas is not the place, so we left.

After 2 days in the bus, we reached Caviahue, 700 km more in the south and are now in Patagonia!!! Usually the wind is West in The Andes but this morning is blowing East direction. We start kiting around crazy trees Araucarias. Valere with the Frenzy 11, Remi with the Frenzy 9 and I with the Manta M3 12. After only few minutes we reach the top of the mountains near Copahue Volcano where a long couloir was waiting for us for a first free run in the Andes… I mean true backcountry skiing without walking, snowmobiles or the need for a Helicopter, all we need is our Ozone Snowkites!!!

We carry on our way straight to the top of the volcano near an incredible acid lake directly into the crater. This real first day of snowkiting was unbelievable, the area is huge, we cannot compare with our mountains in France.

The next day the wind was blowing from the West around 30-40 knots. I start kiting in a gusty wind going down the mountains. I used the 6m Access XT, but the size was too much because of the lake of snow. We all connect our 4 m Access XT. It was amazing, this kite is super safety and really comfortable in strong and gusty wind. I love it!
Thanks to our 4m we discovered a hot lake in a strange place and we all have a bath in 40 knot winds!!! perfect

The new Access XT now has the double pulley speed system, exactly the same as the Frenzy FYX and Manta M3, amazing in such a entry level kite at such a low price. The double pulley sped system makes the Access XT much easier to use (less physics and turning faster), mesh on the LE avoids the powder to come inside, and 4 special pressure release valves on the under surface avoid the over pressure in case of strong frontal crash. The XT has top level performance and incredible features, an incredible kite for sure.

The M3 12m is still my favourite kite in Ozone’s range, so much performance yet still easy to ride. I tried the FYX 9m on the top of the volcano. You can do what you want with this kite, so easy to use and so safe and confidence inspiring in strong conditions.

The bag design is bigger than last year. There is a special pocket for the safety equipment >> shovel, probe, and space for food, water, camera. Plus the compression straps on the outside allow us to strap on an extra kite for when we go for a serious backcountry session.

Thanks Ozone for your great work

Johann “el rubio”
Valere “el flaco”
Remi “ el pelado”