This is the height of the ski season and around the country, some of the popular ski resorts are doing all they can to add enough snow to tempt downhill skiers. 
Some skiers have started looking for other ways to enjoy their favorite sport. Downhill skiing is far more exciting than cross country skiing – usually. Because there are far more places where you can enjoy cross country skiing, some skiers have added a variation that makes cross-country skiing much more of a thrill.
Kite skiing is not new but many skiers haven’t tried it yet and might want to learn more about it. Ethan Todras-Whitehill writes about a variety of uncommon snow sports he found in Alaska where snow is pretty easy to find for several months of the year. Where else would people have extra snow on their hands long enough to come up with some of these variations? Ethan tried his hand at kite skiing and writes about it along with details on snow biking – using oversized motorcycle type tires for better snow contact – and ice climbing. Ever thought about climbing a frozen waterfall? In Alaska where glaciers are not that far outside civilization, it is an art.
Cross-country skiing with wind propulsion is sort of like windsurfing, needing only 5 to 20 MPH winds for a good speed. Kiteskiing takes a little getting used to, 
the controls are short bars connected to either end of an elliptical kite, but with some practice, you can find yourself suddenly airborne and ejoying jumps not too different than you can get on a good downhill run.
If you live in flat snow country your weekends can get more exciting with the addition of a kite to liven up your cross-country afternoons! With the decline of snow levels at the big hills, it is a great way to beat the crowds and costs and head off for ski fun for a much longer season. Ethan offers plenty of how-to and ideas on where to go an what to do to fight off winter boredom and add new skills to your winter sports schedule:
•Surfing Alaskan fjords in a heavyweight wetsuit at surfalaska.net
•alaskakiteadventures.com shows how bored skiers can take their skiing to new heights: kiteboarding on snow..
•articcycles.com shows you how to adapt your mountain bike to snow and ice – with motorcycle tires..for those who just can’t wait for thaw
•skijoring.org offers tips for cross-country skiing drwn along by sled dogs or a horse (if you can find a horse that is inclined to dash through the drifts
•Can’t wait for the greens? Try ice golf, an excercise is high scores playing golf on sea ice in Nome, Alaska.
•Rock climbing is too tame for you? Try a little ice climbing on frozen waterfalls and glaciers – learn how at wildalpine.org
•Need more danger in your hypothermia? Try dry suit diving in the crystalline, near slush waters under icebergs, tips at divealaska.net
Ethan’s article has some great images by Tara Todras-Whitehill for The New York Times. Images shown here are property of Bengt Nyman
You can see some of Prism Design’s Tensor Kites and find out how to order yours here!