News
SKM - Final Reckoning
The contest on day three of the SKM was postponed as the northerly wind direction blew straight off the mountain, making any sort of competition difficult and dangerous. Many riders however found a flat spot close to Monetiers Les Bains for a freestyle/freeride session. We've been told that the Serre Chevalier/Col du Lautaret area basks in sunshine for over 300 days a year. Our current tally is 7/7 and 6/7 days with wind rideable somewhere in the area. Pretty damn good in anybody's book.
Day four saw a race competition take place with riders making their way up the mountain, passing three marks before screaming back down the face (with some opting to fly back down!) to the finish line. The spirit of the SKM, however, is to promote all facets of snowkiting, and by the time the race contest began in the afternoon a lot of riders had disappeared up over the huge mountain to the right of the contest zone and were having religious experiences in fresh powder, blasting from peak to peak, almost in another world. Words cannot describe the mind blowing possibilities with this sport. Listening to stories of riders from Russia, the Czech Republic, Norway, France and the USA this week, I've come to realise that I know less than little about snowkiting. As I gingerly carved up and down an area that felt big to me, I watched the ease with which the competitors use their kites like an extension of the body, covering huge distances with a little fine-tuned technique and then seeing the huge grins slapped across their faces when they come back, I urge every kiteboarder to think about learning more about this sport. You'll never look at a mountain (or chair-lift filled resort) in the same way again.
Better still, come and absorb the euphoria of the SKM next year. Head to the official website for more updates and the many images of the week from Berti Boone by clicking here
For now, here's out final gallery from the week. For more reaction and extended views, news and breathtaking images, get Kiteworld issue #38, out in March.
Click a thumbnail or the first image to start the gallery slideshow. All photos William Milne
Day four saw a race competition take place with riders making their way up the mountain, passing three marks before screaming back down the face (with some opting to fly back down!) to the finish line. The spirit of the SKM, however, is to promote all facets of snowkiting, and by the time the race contest began in the afternoon a lot of riders had disappeared up over the huge mountain to the right of the contest zone and were having religious experiences in fresh powder, blasting from peak to peak, almost in another world. Words cannot describe the mind blowing possibilities with this sport. Listening to stories of riders from Russia, the Czech Republic, Norway, France and the USA this week, I've come to realise that I know less than little about snowkiting. As I gingerly carved up and down an area that felt big to me, I watched the ease with which the competitors use their kites like an extension of the body, covering huge distances with a little fine-tuned technique and then seeing the huge grins slapped across their faces when they come back, I urge every kiteboarder to think about learning more about this sport. You'll never look at a mountain (or chair-lift filled resort) in the same way again.
Better still, come and absorb the euphoria of the SKM next year. Head to the official website for more updates and the many images of the week from Berti Boone by clicking here
For now, here's out final gallery from the week. For more reaction and extended views, news and breathtaking images, get Kiteworld issue #38, out in March.
Click a thumbnail or the first image to start the gallery slideshow. All photos William Milne
RESULTS
MEN'S FREESTYLE SNOWBOARD:
1 Sigve Botnen (NOR) Ozone / Brunotti
2 Heinar Brandstotter (AUT) JN
3 Remi Meum (NOR) Nobile
MEN'S FREESTYLE SKI:
1 Bjorn Kaupang (NOR) F-One
2 Fabio Ingrosso (SUI) North
3 Johan Civel (FRA) Ozone
WOMEN'S FREESTYLE SNOWBOARD:
1 Tatiana (RUS) Ozone
2 Titaua Ropiteau (FRA) Ozone
3 Sheryl Confue (UK) Flexifoil / Turbulence
WOMEN'S FREESTYLE SKI:
1 Cristelle Baud (FRA) Flysurfer
2 Kari Schibevaag (NOR) Ozone
3 Johara Sykes-Davies (UK) Flexifoil / Turbulence
MEN'S RACE SNOWBOARD:
1 Simone Borgi (ITA) Ozone
2 Denis Soverini (ITA) Ozone
3 Marek Zach (CZE) Ozone
MEN'S RACE SKI:
1 Ludek Koecny (CZE) Best
2 Jerome Josserand (FRA) Airush
3 Alexandre Robin (FRA) Flysurfer
WOMEN'S RACE SKI:
1 Cristelle Baud (FRA) Flysurfer
2 Kari Schibevaag (NOR) Ozone
3 Tatiana (RUS) Ozone