Festival entrants getting air time

RODMAN — The Tug Hill region's snow-covered hills have turned into playgrounds for extreme skiers and snowboarders over the long weekend.

The third annual East Coast Kite Skiing Festival has lured skiers from far and wide, including Canada, Vermont, Virginia, North Carolina and Washington, D.C., said Robert C. Diehl, Lewis County trail coordinator.

"We're even expecting a group from California," he said Sunday.

The three-day festival, which concludes today, is being held at several locations along routes 177 and 155 in the towns of Rodman, Pinckney, Harrisburg and Martinsburg. Registration is at 9 a.m. each day at the Deer River Ranch site on Route 177 in Pinckney and the Honeyville site at Route 155. Kiters will be skiing until dusk and spectators are welcome.

Kite skiing was brought to the north country about eight years ago by Mr. Diehl and Jan J. Brabant, owner of T.I. Adventures, Clayton, after they saw the extreme sport at an outdoor conference at Lake Placid.

"I was in quest to find something to do on the snow," Mr. Brabant said. "I saw this, and started meeting people and soon found out that it's amazing what can you can do on a kite."

Skiers strap into a harness attached to a kite, which becomes an engine for those seeking the thrill, such as New Hampshire resident Zebulon Jakub. He said he's nearly mastered the sport, being able to fly and flip through the air nearly 6 feet off the ground on skis. He has been giving lessons for the past eight years.

"You have to be very focused on what you are doing," he said. "It's very physical, but anyone can do it."

Robert A. Lussier, 52, Beaver Falls, said he loves to fly kites, but that when he was introduced to the sport by Mr. Brabant, he needed to learn it.

"It's my third winter trying it," Mr. Lussier said. "I love it, but I'm not good at it."

Jackie M. Pitts, Alexandria Bay, said that for her, kite skiing is a way to relax. "You can go out by yourself and, man, it's just so quiet and peaceful as you glide along," she said.

Michael D. Marchand traveled all the way from Springfield, Va., to shred some snow.

"There is great snow here, and the wind, can't beat it," he said. "And of course, now the wind is starting to pick up, so I'll probably be jumping to the moon. This kite will launch into the sky."

For beginners who want to give kite skiing a try, Mr. Brabant said the best thing to do is start by taking lessons.