Things to do in Antarctica when you can't launch a balloon

After 6 failed launch attempts for ANITA, and the forecast looking way too windy to even roll out for an attempt, the LBD crew and science teams needed some R&R. Most people slept in, rested up, or hung around McMurdo but SBI and most of the LBD guys were out at Willy Field (good thing too as it was steak for lunch, yummy!). Mark had brought along a power kite, a small trainer version of the kind used for Kite Surfing, but for practice and land sports where such a large kit is not needed. We headed out to the launch pad, a huge 1/8 mile diameter graded snow surface with an ATV, Power Kite, sled, and a snowboard.

Using the kite was not as tricky as I thought, but I needed a little more practice to get smooth power for a better ride. The problem was (a) the people who were more experienced flying the kite couldn't snowboard (b) the person who could snowboard (me) was a kite flying novice. Regardless, all of us could ride the sled with the kite, and I rode the snowboard behind the ATV. Good times were had by all.

Matt's photos:

12.14.06 - Kite Snowboarding

Hope we get a launch soon!