Snow Kiting Distance World Record Smashed

Sebastian Copeland, and his partner Eric McNair-Landry (pictured right) have just smashed the Snow Kiting world record by traveling over 595 kilometers in 24 hours.




The two are currently on trek across Greenland to raise awareness for global warming. The team had experienced some bad weather that saw them pinned down in their tent for 6 straight days earlier in their expedition.

Waking up the morning of June 5th they had near perfect conditions of moderate winds and good snow. After the first hour they had covered nearly 100 kilometers putting the record in reach. “Let’s go for it” said Eric and they did.

Kiting for 2 hours at a time and taking 15 minute breaks for food and hydration they continued on throughout the night. With the old record held by Norwegians Hugo Rolf Hansen and Bjørn Einar Bjartnesat standing at 518 kilometers they had a daunting task in front of them.

Seventeen hours later they had the record in hand but only after having to switch to smaller kites due to the increasing winds. With muscles aching and 5 more hours of kiting in front of them they switched to 45 minutes of kiting and 15 minutes of resting. Sebastian (46) and Eric (25) had been awake for over 31 hours and now kiting for 24 hours straight and when they stopped to look at their GPS the reading was 595 kilometers - a new world record.

The team collapsed into their tent and proceeded to sleep 13 hours straight. But sleep is something of a luxury on an expedition like this, so they rose the next day to press on. The team still has 16 days left and 750 kilometers to cover in order to make their pick up zone in Qaanaaq, Greenland. When the expedition completes they will have covered over 2300 kilometers from their starting point in Narsarsuaq.

VIA: Technorati.com

Dibutil: I wonder, what was the previous record and who set it?

Sailing on Sunapee

Annie Skiing Video

Annie Tuthill presents:



Nice operator's work and skiing too!

Simon Gill wins World Champion title in Kite Class

Simon Gill

Simon Gill of Montreal has clenched the title of World Champion in the Kite Class for a second time! In addition, he is also the winner of the Coupe de Quebec - North America's most advanced snow kite racing venue. This is also Gill’s second time winning the prestigious Coupe de Quebec.

What is interesting about this story is that after his win at Val Brilliant, Quebec in 2008, Gill seemed a shoe in to take the title at WISSA 2009 in Riga Latvia - only I knew better.

Call it schadenfreude, but I was certain that the supremely talented Russian kite sailors would give Gill the competition that had been lacking in his previous victories. The cost of overseas travel prevents keeps some of the best sailors out of competition, and that is why WISSA World Championships alternate between Europe and North America each year. I knew that the talented Gill had not been truly tested going into 2009, and for me, it was fun to watch.

I knew that the Russians were good, but even I was surprised at the final race results. Gill came in 10th place behind - all Russians and one Latvian (Gatis Satiks – 6th place).

Elf kite with Peter Lynn and Concept Air

A less evolved competitor would have behaved badly or tried to rest upon previous achievements, but Gill reached out to those who defeated him and forged a friendship with Roman Lyubmitsev of Elf Kites. It turns out that Roman’s mother is French and Roman and Simon Gill shared the French language in common.

A friendship developed, and shortly before WISSA 2010, Simon took possession of an Elf kite.

Had the winds been different, (i.e. stronger!) this kite would likely not have been a factor. As it turned out, the kite was perfect. The unlikely partnership of Russian kite maker and 10th place ex World Champion turned out to be a winning formula!

It just goes to show - you can’t deny talent. I just want to see what will happen next time North America’s best racer - Simon Gill, goes up against the best Russian, and European racers. With luck that - and many other compelling things will happen at WISSA 2011 to be held at Saimaa Gardens in southeaster Finland.

Better late than never, Will.