Words by Ken Lucas
I traveled up to the Valdez area for the 4th Annual Thompson Pass Snowkite Festival held in conjunction with the Tailgate Alaska event. We ended up with great conditions and amazing competitions: Kitercross, King of the Mountain (first one to the top using a kite), Sick Line, Big Air (glide) and Big Mt. Freestyle. I was super stoked to get 1st place in 2 events.
The Tailgate Alaska village/campground was a lot of fun with people camping in snowcaves, teepees, heated tents, and RVs. Using snowkites, we were able to access some of the premier mountains in the Chugach and ride untracked powder for hours. The highlight had to be the snowkiters putting on a Big Air/Freestyle session for all the Tailgate Alaska participants on the 500’ cliff band immediately adjacent to the village/campground.
Tailgate Alaska
Ascending Mt. Oddysey
Getting near the summit
Skiing down
Ascending with Tom already on ridge with his kite
Dropping
Annual Doug Coombs memorial party at Thompson Pass
