Snowkite in Corralco ski centre, Chile

In 2019 Corralco has returned to offer snowkite equipment to rent and guide. They will also host the annual snowkite festival 29 August- 01 September, where one can mix it with the small but dedicated community in Chile of kiteboarders/snowkiters, led by Ariel Blaschke. For participants of the festival Chile Wild mountain chalets are offering 10% discount off advertised prices, for details see here:

Snowkite is a sport developed from kiteboarding, a sport practised in the ocean and on lakes. In fact, it is recommended to learn kiteboarding prior to learning how to snowkite.

One of the benefits of the sport is that you can reach the tops of ski slpes without dependence on mechanical means, avoiding the queues and allowing one to go off piste and travel quite some distance. The downside is the dependence on wind, not too much and not too little.

Where should you begin?

First it is recommended to obtain a high level of ski or snowboard, once you have dominated this, one can add the kite. It is really necessary to practise with the kite, without the board to learn how to control the kite and be able to navigate with control.

It is very important to be able to read the climatic conditions and know when and where you can snowkite, in order to enjoy the sport and avoid accidents. Similar to other extreme sports, it is technical and potentially dangerous. If you take classes with an instructor and take care you will be able to enjoy to the maximum this sport which is growing in popularity worldwide.

The physical benefits of snowkiting include upper body strength, a workout for your gluteus muscles and cuadriceps. It is one of the warmest sports for winter that you can do.

In Corralco the cost of rental for snowkite gear is CLP$28.000 and a one hour class for up to two people will cost you CLP $50.000 (around USD $115 in total).