rc-kiterVraagstellerlid sinds 2002 · 2.248 berichten12 feb 2005 22:52
PRESS RELEASE
FRIDAY FEBRUARY 11TH 2005
This morning the Corona Extra Winter Tour awoke under falling snow. On arriving at the spot we quickly check the windmeter, which is showing 17 knots !... followed a couple of seconds later by 6 knots... !
The spot is evidently ride-able judging by the several kites that are already cutting through the mountain air. But the wind is dangerously gusty, visibility severely limited by the falling snow, basically it’s just too dangerous for the freestyle competition to happen giving the race director no option but to give the riders the dubious benefit of another rest day by cancelling the day’s activities. Some of the locals-in-the-know discuss the situation with the race director who gives everybody an early call time for tomorrow, 8.00am sharp on the spot.
A shame for today, but at least that gives us time to go and meet up with local rider Alain Hermann, one of the pioneers of snowkiting here at Col du Simplon...
“It’s a great pleasure for us to welcome the Corona Extra Winter Tour here at the Col du Simplon, to meet all the top riders, it’s a real boost for the development of snowkiting here.
Actually, 5 years ago I was the only one using the spot for snowkite, nowadays there are more and more kiters are checking out the spot : virgin powder everywhere on the mountains, no ski lifts and no money wasted either.
The Hotel Monte Leon is a great spot when the wind’s from the east or south. It’s like the perfect freeride playground, perfect for snowkiting anyway.
About 4 years ago we decided to open a powerkite / snowkite shop, then we set up snowkiting.ch including a snowkite school which these days is run by Pascal Nessier. In fact everyone’s working together to promote the sport of snowkiting and Simplon as a top snowkiting spot.
But we’re also starting to discover some of the other spots nearby, Grimsel for example, where you can go out exploring for whole days, a pure snowkite paradise if ever there was one.
It all comes down to a little bit of wind, a kite, and off you go...â€
So, rendezvous 8.00am Saturday on the spot, fingers crossed for that elusive wind !
FRIDAY FEBRUARY 11TH 2005
This morning the Corona Extra Winter Tour awoke under falling snow. On arriving at the spot we quickly check the windmeter, which is showing 17 knots !... followed a couple of seconds later by 6 knots... !
The spot is evidently ride-able judging by the several kites that are already cutting through the mountain air. But the wind is dangerously gusty, visibility severely limited by the falling snow, basically it’s just too dangerous for the freestyle competition to happen giving the race director no option but to give the riders the dubious benefit of another rest day by cancelling the day’s activities. Some of the locals-in-the-know discuss the situation with the race director who gives everybody an early call time for tomorrow, 8.00am sharp on the spot.
A shame for today, but at least that gives us time to go and meet up with local rider Alain Hermann, one of the pioneers of snowkiting here at Col du Simplon...
“It’s a great pleasure for us to welcome the Corona Extra Winter Tour here at the Col du Simplon, to meet all the top riders, it’s a real boost for the development of snowkiting here.
Actually, 5 years ago I was the only one using the spot for snowkite, nowadays there are more and more kiters are checking out the spot : virgin powder everywhere on the mountains, no ski lifts and no money wasted either.
The Hotel Monte Leon is a great spot when the wind’s from the east or south. It’s like the perfect freeride playground, perfect for snowkiting anyway.
About 4 years ago we decided to open a powerkite / snowkite shop, then we set up snowkiting.ch including a snowkite school which these days is run by Pascal Nessier. In fact everyone’s working together to promote the sport of snowkiting and Simplon as a top snowkiting spot.
But we’re also starting to discover some of the other spots nearby, Grimsel for example, where you can go out exploring for whole days, a pure snowkite paradise if ever there was one.
It all comes down to a little bit of wind, a kite, and off you go...â€
So, rendezvous 8.00am Saturday on the spot, fingers crossed for that elusive wind !
