These skiers really catch air

Snow kiters are featured at the Backcountry Film Festival next week

By Pete Zimowsky - pzimowsky@idahostatesman.com

Published: 10/31/08


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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

The film lineup

Here are the films scheduled for the Backcountry Film Festival:

"Ride it Out" follows snow kiters through miles of untracked powder and discovers the beauty and danger of an evolving sport.

"Hand Cut" is a film that explores the connection between the mining roots of ski towns and the present search for the powder that some cherish more than gold.

"My Own Two Feet" is the first action sports film shot entirely using sustainable production methods. The cast and crew walked 1,200 miles and camped for 30 nights in the mountains of California and learned that with a little motivation your feet can take you to unimaginable heights.

"The Pact" chronicles the tragedy and recovery of an above-knee amputee as he battles his way back from a devastating crash to making telemark turns.

"Fast Grass and Dirty Corn" looks at the lengths some hardcore Vermonters will go to in order to make spring turns.

Next Friday

Winter Wildlands Alliance Backcountry Film Festival, 6:30 p.m., , Friday, Nov. 7, Egyptian Theater; tickets $10; more information at www.winterwildlands.org

They dance in the blue sky against the backdrop of southern Idaho's snow-covered Camas Prairie.

We're not talking about migratory birds.

On winter days, colorful snow kites can be seen in the sky near Idaho 20 a short drive from Boise.

The sport is soaring each winter as more snowboarders and skiers discover the beauty, wind and deep snow of the high plateau between Mountain Home and Fairfield.

Snow kiting will be one of the subjects of the Winter Wildlands Alliance's Backcountry Film Festival, which begins at 6:30 p.m., Friday, Nov. 7, at the Egyptian Theater. Tickets are $10 at the Egyptian box office or www.winterwildlands.org.

"Ride it Out" is a snow kite film produced in Idaho by local snow kiters J. Clive Jordan and Darrel Thomas. The film emphasizes the earth-friendly nature of snow kiting and the freedom of wide-open spaces without lift lines. The filmmakers will introduce their film and discuss snow kiting.

"This is a wonderful way to explore Idaho's landscape from ground level or take off into the sky and explore it from a bird's-eye view," said Andrew Goldman, a guide with Snowkite Soldiers. "Winter playgrounds for skiers and snowboarders are now unlimited."

The Backcountry Film Festival is the Winter Wildlands Alliance's top fundraiser. The organization promotes human-powered winter sports, like backcountry and Nordic skiing, snowshoeing and snow kiting.

Funds from the annual event support programs such as the alliance's SnowSchool, which gives area students an opportunity to snowshoe at Bogus Basin and learn about winter and ecology.

SnowSchool is held in January, February and March.

For more information on SnowSchool, see the Winter Wildlands Alliance Web site: www.winterwildlands.org.

Pete Zimowsky: 377-6445

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