Snowkiters coming to Williston next week

Williston will again be one of the locations encountered by a group snowkiting in the The "To Cross the Moon" expedition this month. The group begins its second trek in northwest North Dakota, just below the Canadian border, on Feb. 11.

This is the second attempt by the group to travel 390 miles via snowkiting from near Fortuna, and then mostly follow the Missouri River to near the South Dakota border.

The sport of snowkiting uses a large kite to pull a person on skis or a snowboard. In its debut attempt in 2007, the group launched their excursion at midnight on New Year's Day. They advanced as far as Garrison. There they encountered open water, and determined it was not safe to continue.

Still, expedition member Sam Salwei, of Crystal, said that first attempt has accomplished many of its multi-faceted objectives, including ecological possibilities.

"It emphasized community wind energy and how that can empower a community," he said. "Secondly, it put a focus on the recreation potential and tourism potential for bringing snowkiters here. Thirdly, it brings positive national attention to North Dakota through the documentary."

He said the 2007 expedition was featured in six national publications. Representatives of the group have spoken at multiple conferences including one in Washington D.C. and an entrepreneurial conference in Dickinson.

An education team will explain the "To Cross the Moon" expedition to communities and schools along the path of the trail the extreme sportsmen will be following. This year, they will arrive in Williston Feb. 12 and 13. They will be speaking at Williston High School on Feb. 12. Times and other speaking dates are still being firmed up.

Clinics on snowkiting will be held after school between 3 p.m. and dusk on Feb. 12 and 13 at Thompson's Landing.

Salwei estimates they talked to 5,000 students through their efforts with the first expedition. That included various parts of the state.

"We taught hundreds to snowkite," he said. "They could feel the wind and how much power it has."

The education teams come to area schools and discuss the mission of "To Cross the Moon," wind energy, and using this to go green. Another crew demonstrates snowkiting. Salwei said the education crews will allow a few hearty people try their hand at what is still a novelty sport here.

He explained this year the expedition team wanted to start the journey later in hopes there would be more snow.

"This year, it was colder longer," he said. "We will have a documentary film crew following us."

Salwei said the group is aiming to finish the 2008 feat in three weeks.

"We would like to be done March 1," he said.

Joining Salwei are Jason Magness of Grand Forks and Paul Cassedy of San Diego.

Among the aims of the mission is to raise awareness about the potential for communities to develop wind farms in a state known for its high volume of abundant gusts.

"This should bring a different spin on North Dakota and show us in a positive light," said Salwei. "It's wind energy and youthful people doing something positive about the danger of climate change."

He added presentations also will focus on how the "clean energy revolution" is a positive thing for North Dakota jobs.