Polar Training - Kiting

Dates: April 26 to May 8, 2010

Must arrive on April 25

Cost: $3,500.00 plus GST (5% tax) Canadian Dollars

From Iqaluit , Nunavut

Kite skiing has opened a whole new form of polar travel making longer un-resupplied expeditions more obtainable. Don't be seduced into thinking that this is the easy way; there are no free miles in Polar travel. You still need the skills to survive in extreme temperatures plus excellent kite-skiing technique.

Your skill level will determine whether you will have an exhilarating or a frustrating/dangerous nightmare.

Difficulty

The more comfortable you are on skis, the faster you will learn to kite ski. You will be cross-country skiing and/or kite skiing pulling a pulk with 150 lbs. of camping supplies and extra kites, 6 to 8 hours a day.

Course Description

The program is divided into two parts:

1. The first 6 days the focus is on skill & technique development. When the winds are down we offer workshops on clothing systems, cold weather injuries, navigation, understanding wind, kite design, theory of flying traction kites, etc. When the winds are good we head out onto Frobisher Bay starting with basic kiting techniques, introduction to kites & skis, downwind turns, kiting upwind, kiting with pulks, etc.

2. For the second part of the program we head out on a mini expedition, haul our supplies in pulk (sleds) on windless days, kiting when the winds are good and camping on the ice. The emphasis is on "putting it all together"; efficient & safe polar travel with kites, keeping a group together while kiting, camping procedures, navigation, etc. During the entire course, participants sleep out in expedition tents to gain valuable "sleeping in the cold" experience.