The list of awesome places to kite in Alaska is growing, so if you don’t see your area listed here, let us know.
The map above is provided by Localkitespots.com and it includes a 6-day forecast for many spots listed!
Another great resources is TheWindMap and http://www.kitebeaches.com
A new addition is KitesurfingMap.com…check it out!
This review from Drift Snowkiting Magazine of Alaska Snowkiting spots is pretty good.
Anchorage
Turnagain Arm, 20 Mile Creek, Thomson Pass… if you are from Anchorage and provide us with a little write-up, we’d appreciate it. Let us know your story…
- Check Localkitespots.com for specifics…
- Check TheWindMap.com for specifics…
- Local’s tip: South end of Jade street. You can take a trail down to the mouth of campbell creek Through the woods. Lots of area to snowkite. We probably were a half mile out and kited down to Kincaid Park…
Haines
Haines has excellent kiting all through the summer and winter. The only months that aren’t as convenient (ie. too cold or a bit of drive involved) are October/November and April. The rest of the time, Haines kiters can kite very close to town and the road system.
- Check Localkitespots.com for specifics…
- Check TheWindMap.com for specifics…
- Local’s tip: park by the pump house on the town side of the golf course and walk the half mile out to the river for snow-kiting
Homer/Kenai
2010 Update: Deep Creek on the Kenai peninsula is the hot spot for this summer. Gets a much bigger swell than homer on our new dominant south wind, but has some crazy currents on incoming tides.
Homer has a good group of kiters and a very good day breezes. In 2008 Homer hosted a kite festival that went really well at summer solstice. The organizers are looking to the 2009 kite festival at the same time. The winter crew in Hamer is snow kiting on Beluga lake.
Juneau
There is great kiting in Juneau in the summer in the Gastineau Channel, Sandy Beach, Mendenhall wetlands, and out the road. And great snowkiting on the Juneau Icefield in the spring, and good snowkiting on Mendenhall lake in the winter as well as some other smaller spots such as Twin Lakes.
- Bill Glude’s site shows all the ins and outs of Juneau kite spots….
- Check Localkitespots.com for specifics…
- Check the TheWindMap for specifics…
- Local’s tip: Sandy Beach on Douglas is an excellent summer spot.
Skagway
Most of the Skagway winter kiting happens up on the White Pass, just over the border in Canada, but there is good water kiting by the airport (stay out of the way of the approach) and over in Dyea.
- Check Localkitespots.com for specifics…
- Check the TheWindMap for specifics…
- Local’s tip: the Dyea Flats is the best summer kiting spot.
Valdez
Valdez has an active year-round kiting scene. Check out the The Valdez Kiteboarding and Snowkiting Association website for information about this spot and some awesome images.
Whitehorse
It’s not Alaska, but the folks at Kite Yukon have a great thing going on.