First off, I am working hard to obtain insurance for speed flying in the usa, I think we got it solved, where then we can go to ski areas (some have already said yes! (but not in utah) if we have insurance, that is liability insurance, so if we crash into a chair lift, they are covered.
Anyway, for now there are 3 great options, first is hiking and flying down OR useing the wing like a big kite to pull you up the hill and fly down, we have been doing a bit of that at the Point and it works great, this is the "extreme" side in europe.
Second is snow machines, they get us where we need to be quicker than a chair lift ever can.
and third and most exciting is "back country access gates", The Canyons for example have back country gates that are open access gates, means they are always open, you leave and by bye bye, you left have a nice day, and at the bottom, guess what, there is another gate where you can re-enter the area. Already some resorts in Colorado are excited about us using there gate system to use the chairs and then go do it off there property, same goes for Jackson in WY. We have several large events and film deals we are working with that ski areas are bidding on to get the exposure.
Last for the rich guys, Helicopters! Working on some packages right now with one local company! keep you all posted.
BUT what it boils down to is YES, you have to work at this to get long rides, so it is not for everyone. The Speed flying companies TOTAL COMBINED, planned on selling around 30 to the USA this winter. We have already ordered more than that and half have been sold in the last 3 weeks and there is not even any snow yet.
We are stoked for a new sport, but I am the first to tell anyone, this is on the edge, not for the average joe the way we are doing it, but the way most in Euro land are doing it is MELLOW, they are going down basicly GREEN runs, just taking off for 10 or 20 feet, coming down and doing it over and over, that is super cool, what we are doing with these things is something else entirely!
Look for us at skyline soon and the new Ozone Bullet should be out in 3 weeks!
http://www.thewindyplanet.com for all your kite skiing needs!
steve.