White Kite News

L'Aigle.

2012-02-09T12:07:00.000-08:00

Parti tôt ce matin pour le Connest.
Sur place, mer de nuages aux Arnauds, grand bleu sur les dômes, vent 15 knds nord.
Qui dit 15knds au parking dit 30 knds sur les crêtes, donc installation des lignes sur la 7m.
Avec les -15° et sans les gants (onglée aux dix doigts), ça me prend bien une demi-heure.
Après cet intermède, traversée du hameau, entre-temps la mer de nuages est montée fort d'un coup, il neige dans le pré du départ, on voit pas à deux mètres.
Cette mer de nuages, elle peut se dissiper dans la journée comme elle peut s'épaissir de plus en plus jusqu'à demain, et plus si affinité.
Donc, comme au poker je perds à chaque fois, retour à la voiture et route vers Lans pour rejoindre Lolo et Jahno.
Sur place à 12h30, Lans est au-dessus de la mer de nuages laissée à St Nizier, grand ciel bleu, vent bien de face à l'Aigle, pas super fort mais ça monte la pente sans temps mort, je dirais 10-13 knds.
Les vols sont agréables, vent stable, bien de face, j'ai l'impression que je sais voler avec un kite...
Après une douzaine de runs, Lolo et Jahno arrivent.
On fait une super session ensemble bien que le vent au long de l'après-midi tourne un peu Nord/Est, devienne turbulent en rouleaux, et faiblisse de plus en plus.
(C'était annoncé forcissant par nos amies les météos de tous horizons).
Avec ce vent devenu rafaleux et inconsistant, je vois qu'en fait je ne sais pas encore voler avec un kite...
(C'est bien ce qu'il me semblait).
On est rejoints par Francis et deux autres kiteurs (que je ne connais pas) et à la fin on n'arrive même plus à remonter la pente, le ventilo s'est éteint.
Quant aux vols, même en skiant à 80 km/h à la descente, on n'arrive plus à décoller.
Heureusement, on en a bien profité pendant trois heures.
C'est l'heure de prendre un café ou un chocolat à la Cabane de l'Aigle.
Arrive Jeff Marie juste quand on plie pour rentrer chez notre maison.
J'imagine que Jeff et Francis sont encore en train de kiter sous la pleine lune.
(On va bien voir si je me trompe)
Au final, une super session cet après-midi.
L'un des deux jeunes nous a dit arriver de Autrans où il y avait 25 knds minimum, super violents.
Et sur la route du retour à 17h, j'ai pu voir que la mer de nuages sur le Connest, eh bien elle s'était évaporée.
Donc, j'aurais pu gagner au poker, mais j'ai pas joué.
C'est pas grave, la session vol de pente à l'Aigle était carrément sympa.
Voilà.

Power of Three

2012-02-04T09:26:00.001-08:00

We were snowkiting at the Lautaret Pass on february the 2nd.
Pretty cold south wind.
Blue sky, 40cm fresh powder snow.
I met up-there a lot of my snowkiting friends and so happy about it.
In the afternoon came the Ride-Up crew, Johann Civel, Wareck Arnaud, Rémi Dinneur.
Wareck had an idea, he wanted to make a photo, with the high-mountains of La Meije in the background, two kiters going downhill straight with the kite pretty low close to the snow, and then having Johann Civel starting with the two kiters but instead of the downhill run, he had to make a freestyle trick just in front of his two friends.
Wareck wanted to get this picture, Johann high grabbing the ski and the two other kiters below on the snow.
We did it a few time in order to get the right timing.
I made this picture above.
And as well we did some video footage about the trick.

HERE IS THE LINK TO THE VIDEO CLIP OF THIS TRICK

Thanks for reading.
Let's keep in touch.
See you soon.

Cheers.

Pascal

Lautaret Pass

2012-02-02T12:24:00.001-08:00

A super session today at the Lautaret Pass.
So happy to meet all my snowkiting friends up-there.
Blue sky, 40cm fresh powder snow, gentle south wind.
We stay kiting around the Jardin Alpin area.
Lot of friends stopped early because of the super cold near minus fifteen.
A nice picture with the same video footage will come out soon.
:-)

SPOT # 6 : CONNEST

2012-01-31T13:58:00.000-08:00

:-)

LOOK AT THE VIDEO HERE

2012 Snowkitemasters VIDEO

2012-01-28T20:52:00.001-08:00

Hi.

LOOK AT THE VIDEO HERE

Les Françons Video

2012-01-27T06:50:00.001-08:00

LOOK AT THE VIDEO HERE

;-)

Les Françons.

2012-01-25T00:10:00.000-08:00

On a fait une session à Lans en Vercors avec Laurent Hemard.
Spot vraiment sympa en cas de vent de Nord trop fort pour les autres endroits plus favorables quand c'est Nord, comme Font d'Urle, le Connest, le Col de la Croix, où le vent était à plus de 35 knds aujourd'hui.
Ici aux Françons, sur le plateau de Lans en Vercors, c'est un bon 10-15 knds qui souffle, parfait.
Le spot est plutôt plat, avec de grands champs, limités par des clôtures et fils barbelés, faut trouver les passages ouverts pour pouvoir se promener en distance.
Il y a des petites buttes ou collines et alors on peut faire quelques sauts et s'amuser.
Voilà.
Et pas loin de Grenoble, donc excellent.
:-)

Connest preview

2012-01-19T01:43:00.001-08:00

READ THE TEXT WHILE CLICKING HERE

:-)

Lautaret Pass 01-15th

2012-01-16T00:34:00.000-08:00

CLICK HERE TO READ THE REPORT

:-)

Lautaret 15-01

2012-01-15T14:13:00.000-08:00

LIRE LE COMPTE-RENDU DE LA SESSION ICI

:-)

SKM FIRE

2012-01-13T23:56:00.001-08:00

:-)

LOOK AT THE VIDEO HERE

SNOWKITEMASTERS # 6 ENGLISH

2012-01-12T10:18:00.000-08:00

Click the link below to read the report + image :

SNOWKITEMASTERS DAY # 6 ENGLISH

:-)

SNOWKITEMASTERS # 6 FRENCH

2012-01-12T09:58:00.000-08:00

Cliquez le lien ci-dessous pour le compte-rendu + image :

SNOWKITEMASTERS JOUR # 6 :

:-)

SNOWKITEMASTERS # 5 ENGLISH

2012-01-11T10:02:00.000-08:00

Click the link below for the report + image :

SNOWKITEMASTERS DAY # 5

:-)

SNOWKITEMASTERS # 5 FRENCH

2012-01-11T10:00:00.000-08:00

Cliquez sur le lien ci-dessous pour le compte rendu + image :

SNOWKITEMASTERS JOUR # 5

:-)

Snowkitemasters #2

2012-01-08T23:11:00.001-08:00

CLIQUEZ ICI POUR LIRE L'ARTICLE DE CETTE 2ème JOURNEE

:-)

Snowkitemasters #1 EN

2012-01-08T10:30:00.001-08:00

THE REPORT IN ENGLISH VERSION HERE

:-)

SNOWKITEMASTERS # 1

2012-01-07T11:42:00.000-08:00

CLICKEZ ICI POUR LIRE LE COMPTE-RENDU

:-)

Connest/Lautaret

2012-01-04T02:31:00.000-08:00

Hi.

TO READ THE REPORT, PLEASE CLICK HERE

Sorry, this is my first attempt for this kind of reports, so only the french version available today.
I will do it both french and english for next ones.

:-)

Pascal

01-01-2012 session

2012-01-02T09:19:00.001-08:00

Christmas Session.

2011-12-25T11:02:00.000-08:00

A super cool Christmas session in France.

READ HERE THE REPORT IN FRENCH LANGUAGE

:-)

La Pyramide

2011-12-23T12:37:00.001-08:00

Bonne session au Lautaret ce vendredi 23.

LE COMPTE RENDU DE LA SESSION ICI

:-)

Le Connest presque :-)

2011-12-20T22:28:00.000-08:00

Un compte rendu de la session pas terminée à cause du brouillard :

LIRE LE COMPTE-RENDU ICI

:-)

Le Connest grisou :-)

2011-12-17T22:30:00.000-08:00

Une session au Connest mais dans les nuages brouillard :

LIRE LE COMPTE-RENDU DE LA SESSION ICI

:-)

Snowkiting Spot # 4 : Pierre Plantée

2011-12-15T10:18:00.000-08:00

LOOK AT THE VIDEO HERE

:-)

La Pierre Plantée

2011-12-08T10:21:00.000-08:00

North wind session in France, Matheysine, spot La Pierre Plantée.
Cool.

:-)

White Kite # 4 Décembre

2011-12-07T07:38:00.000-08:00

Le numéro de décembre de White Kite journal

LIRE LE JOURNAL ICI

:-)

The White Kite Journal # 4

2011-12-06T10:01:00.000-08:00

The december issue # 4 of the White Kite journal is online.

CLICK HERE TO READ

:-))

VoldP

2011-11-29T00:22:00.000-08:00

A short movie about our session on the 29-11-2011 at the Lautaret Pass.
Not so much snow at the moment.
We are looking for the next snowshower.
We went to the pass with the aim to reach the high-mountain spot Trois Evêchés but the wind direction wasn't the right one.
So we staid near the pass.
The snow was super icy.
Lot of grass parts and rocks around.
The wind really light and a little bit gusty as well, large rotors coming down from the Galibier ridge.
The sessions are the same for the last past month, same wind, same snow conditions, same idea to reach the Trois Eveêchés due to the weather forecast and same end of the story as keeping stuck near the pass with so hard snow.
That's what it is.
Here is the video of the day :

THE VOLDP VIDEO HERE

:-)

Cool Gliding

2011-11-24T00:14:00.000-08:00

A short movie about our session on the 24-11-2011 at the Lautaret Pass.
Not so much snow at the moment.
We are looking for the next snowshower.
I used the GoPro camera for some parts of this movie.
We went to the pass with the aim to reach the high-mountain spot Trois Evêchés but the wind direction wasn't the right one.
So we staid near the pass.
The snow was super icy.
Lot of grass parts and rocks around.
The wind really light and a little bit gusty as well, large rotors coming down from the Galibier ridge.
Here is the video of the day :

THE COOL GLIDING VIDEO HERE

:-)

11-11-11 session at 11h11mn11s

2011-11-11T00:31:00.000-08:00

We went to the Lautarert Pass on the 11-11-11 for a cool snowkiting session.
The wind was the right one on this special day as it was blowing south-east so allowed us to reach the mythical spot Les Trois Evêchés. Up-there we found super good fresh powder snow. Perfect 5knots wind. Amazing high-mountain landscapes all around.
For sure an unforgettable session.

MORE INFOS HERE

:-)

The USA series # 1

2011-11-08T08:08:00.000-08:00

First movie of the USA Series from our journey along Utah and Colorado last february.
Issue n°1 is called Skyline #1.

LOOK AT THE VIDEO HERE

:-)

Légendes d'automne

2011-11-02T14:01:00.000-07:00

We had one more snowkiting session at the Lautaret Pass on the 1st november.
Not so much snow remaining after a couple of days with warm south wind blowing.
Anyway, we managed to have a great session, with some cool flights.
We went cruising around as well.
Super blue sky, autumn colors everywhere in the mountains.
Few friends here to share this perfect moment.
Snow shower is due to next friday, so we keep our motivation for the further sessions coming soon.
:-)

LEGENDES D'AUTOMNE VIDEO

26/10 Lautaret Pass #1

2011-10-26T11:20:00.000-07:00

First session at Lautaret Pass.
Cool fresh snow.
Light wind.
Some smooth flights.
:-)

White Kite magazine # 3 October

2011-10-18T10:24:00.000-07:00

The 3rd issue of White Kite Magazine is out now.
Available here :

WHITE KITE MAGAZINE # 3 OCTOBER

I hope you will like it.
Thank you for reading.
:-)
Cheers.

Pascal

Unhooked backroll

2011-10-12T01:16:00.001-07:00

Yesterday afternoon, on the Lake Monteynard, near my place in the french Alps, cool kitesurfing session with the autumn feeling, we had 8-10 knots like every day :-)
Many thanks to Marion Pillon (TEKNIKITE) for the picture.

:-)

Pascal

Spring Affairs.

2011-10-11T10:06:00.000-07:00

Here is the video about our last 2011 session at Lautaret Pass on april 20th :

SPRING AFFAIRS VIDEO

It was a super last snowkiting session, although the snow was melting very fast. We went to Les Trois Evêchés, cruising near Chaillol ridge where we climbed a very steepy route in the middle of the rocks. In the afternoon we spent two hours around the summit for a real cool flying session. When we went back down to the cars, we had to hike through the grass fields with spring flowers, but Johann decided to fly from the last snowfields, flying really high, and landing so easy on the last parts of snow. Very impressive. Well, have great moment watching the video and don't hesitate to let a comment on the Vimeo page.

Cheers.

:-)

Pascal

CROIX de FER #2 VIDEO

2011-10-10T02:16:00.001-07:00

The movie about our session from yesterday sunday october 10th :

CROIX DE FER #2 VIDEO

:-)

Croix de Fer #2

2011-10-09T06:47:00.000-07:00

First real powder snowkiting session today.
Gusty wind and flat light but cool moment anyway.
Report and video coming soon.

:-)

CROIX de FER Video

2011-10-06T08:55:00.001-07:00

The movie about our first snowkiting session in the french Alps :

CROIX DE FER VIDEO

May be you already read the report at White Kite magazine.
See the post below about it.

:-)

Pascal

2011 Erciyes Snowkite Festival. Full movie.

2011-10-02T03:03:00.000-07:00

The movie about the 2011 Erciyes Snowkite Festival in Turkey :

2011 ERCIYES SNOWKITE FESTIVAL MOVIE

:-)

Cheers.

Pascal

Erciyes Snowkite Festival TEASER # 3

2011-10-01T01:14:00.000-07:00

Teaser # 3 of the 2011 Erciyes Snowkite Festival in Turkey :

ERCIYES SNOWKITE FESTIVAL TEASER # 3

Full movie coming tomorrow.
Stay tuned.

Erciyes Snowkite Festival TEASER # 2

2011-09-29T01:37:00.000-07:00

The 2nd teaser about the 2011 Erciyes Snowkite Festival in Turkey.
One further teaser coming soon.
Then the full movie will be available on sunday october 2nd.

ERCIYES SNOWKITE FESTIVAL TEASER # 2 :

Cheers
:-)
Pascal

Erciyes Snowkite Festival TEASER # 1

2011-09-28T00:43:00.000-07:00

The first teaser about the 2011 Erciyes Snowkite Festival in Turkey.
Two further teaser coming soon.
Then the full movie will be available on sunday october 2nd.

ERCIYES SNOWKITE FESTIVAL TEASER # 1

:-)

Pascal

Col de la Croix de Fer

2011-09-25T11:47:00.000-07:00

Deuxième numéro de White Kite Magazine, le Col de la Croix de Fer, ici en version française :

LE COL DE LA CROIX DE FER SNOWKITE

:-)

Iron Cross Pass

2011-09-22T01:49:00.000-07:00

The issue #2 of WHITE KITE MAGAZINE is out now.
Report about our first snowkiting session here in the french Alps.
Have a look at the pages on issuu.com

IRON CROSS PASS

:-)
Cheers.

Pascal

The september OZONE newsletter

2011-09-20T23:22:00.000-07:00

Have l look at the

SEPTEMBER OZONE newsletter

:-)

The 2012 OZONE brochure snowkites.

2011-09-20T23:16:00.000-07:00

Hi all.

OZONE 2012 BROCHURE SNOWKITES

Check out the 2012 OZONE brochure snowkites.
With the NEW Frenzy LIGHT.
And some great ITW :-)

Super snowkiting winter coming soon.

2012 winter first snowkiting session :-)

2011-09-20T09:51:00.001-07:00

Today, september 20th, I had my first snowkiting session this winter.
It's not really winter yet, just the first snow-fall, a few centimeters near 2.000m elevation so we went with my friend Lolo owner of the shop Kites&boards to La Croix de Fer, France.
Not really great powder, but cool for the first session, nice landscapes, and great to start cruising with the 2012 Frenzy.
Text/photos report and video coming soon.
:-)
Cheers.
Pascal

My friend Lolo having fun with some smooth flying runs.

Lolo on the way up snowkiting from down the road in the valley.

Classement Championnat de France Open Distance

2011-09-19T03:39:00.000-07:00

Et woilà !!!

LE CLASSEMENT FINAL

Nickel

:-)

White Kite Magazine #1

2011-09-18T18:48:00.000-07:00

The first attempt of White Kite Magazine is online.
With the ERCIYES SNOWKITE FESTIVAL in Turkey.
I had to learn how to work with inDesign software while editing the pages, so you might find some mistakes and few infos missing.
Anyway, this is a good job to do, and I'm happy to show our snowkiting sessions as a magazine style look.
The french version is coming soon.
Next issues will be available on further weeks with Utah and Colorado reports.
You saw some News about this journey we had with my friend Chasta at the wonderful Brian & Heather Schenck place in Mount Pleasant.
As soon as the snow arrives here in our french Alps, the new 2012 sessions will be spread out on the WK magazine.
And before the 2012 snow arriving, I won't waste time and for sure will edit some recent sessions like the last one we did in Lautaret Pass in may, and other ones.
Well, I hope you'll enjoy this first issue.
Cheers.

Pascal

LA VERSION EN FRANCAIS ICI

:-)

2012 winter coming soon

2011-09-15T15:30:00.000-07:00

Hi all.

After a cool summertime working and having some cool kitesurfing sessions on my lake in the french Alps, it's time now to prepare the further snowikiting season.
New website at boulgakow.com with link to the video channel White Kite on Vimeo, link to this blog for fresh live news along the days, link again to the White Kite News facebook page for news coming from all snowkiting facebook friends round the world, and coming soon a special online flapping magazine called as well White Kite Magazine.
The first report at WK mag will be about our journey in Turkey with Marek Zach, Chast family and Murat Bukey for three incredible snowkiting days in Erciyes.

Sorry for the news which stopped about last mid-march, my laptop crashed while travelling in USA, and we went to Turkey right after, I stayed more than one month and half without my snowkiting photos and video footage available. All is going right now.

Stay tuned dudes as I'm editing the 2012 videos about our sessions with Chasta in Utah and Colorado.
Really cool moments that will can be seen as well on the White Kite Magazine right after the Turkish report.
Well, all is right though.
Exciting season is just kicking off at least on the web.
Snow is due to less than one month here in our french Alps.
Have great time mates.
Cheers.

Pascal

Chasta towing daughter Kailea in Erciyes, Turkey, 2011 march.

Skyline sunset.

2011-02-28T20:06:00.000-08:00

Chasta & Jake.
Sunset in Skyline.
Utah.

Warm memories.

2011-02-27T07:02:00.001-08:00

Twelve hours driving across Colorado-Utah.
As amazing as the snowkiting sessions.
Oh, man...

Moab desert. Utah.

2011-02-25T22:26:00.000-08:00

Crossing from Durango, Colorado to Mt Pleasant, Utah.
We stopped at the Moab desert right for the sunset.
Good timing, Brian.
Tomorrow, snow shower is due so may be a short rest before the further sessions.
Cheers.
Pascal

Colorado snow shower coming.

2011-02-25T03:55:00.000-08:00

Colorado high spot.
4.100m elevation.
Chasta in the super gusty wind at Molas Pass, somewhere between Durango and Silvertown.
We had to stop the session early because of the snow storm coming fast.
:)

Colorado spring.

2011-02-24T05:00:00.000-08:00

First session on the Colorado fresh powder.
3.700m elevation.
But, actually, my mind is a lot higher in the clouds.

;-)

Utah. Skyline.

2011-02-22T19:34:00.000-08:00

First session in Utah, Chasta charging the Skyline powder.
Moving forward to the northern Colorado tomorrow.
Life is hard.
:-)

2011-02-18T14:22:00.000-08:00

Hauts-Plateaux

2011-02-13T10:25:00.000-08:00

Cool session, Lautaret Pass, south-east wind, perfect for cruising up hill.
Really light breeze but enough to reach the summit.
Snowstorm announced by the forecast on further days, let's wait and see.

The wind wasn't strong enough for self-filming today. Hopefully friend Francis Richard was here, near the top.

Vent de sud, parfait pour s'échapper sur les hauteurs du Lautaret.
Un peu light, bien plus que prévu par le Guru du wind, mais la voile tractait juste assez.
On se retrouve que deux en haut, les autres ont lâché l'affaire dans les verrous de la montée.
Faut vraiment un vent rilax pour tracer cette crête, là, pas si souvent.

:-)

2011-02-12T10:48:00.000-08:00

2011-02-12T01:16:00.000-08:00

Sunset.

2011-02-09T10:08:00.000-08:00

The sunset view from my window.
Sweeeet.
Sunrise is great as well.
May be later, I recon.
Stay tuned.
:-)

Soon on the road !

2011-02-08T03:01:00.000-08:00

Well, ticket flight booked for Salt Lake.
All right.
Three weeks in Utah, Idaho, Wyoming with the best snowkiting guides ever, what can I ask more ?
Chasta, Rob Whitall, Brian Schenck, two huge 4x4 cars, all the best for perfect road trip video.
MP4 english lessons through the Scullcandy all the day long already. Night and day.
Not sure to well understand all the time what my friends mean.
Rocky Mountains, here I am.
First time, is always so strong...
That's what it is.
:-)

Two pics from AK last spring, but same spirit coming further weeks.

Les Trois Evêchés. Chandeleur.

2011-02-02T10:57:00.001-08:00

Super session once again from Lautaret Pass, route towards Les 3 Evêchés.
I went up with only one friend, Gauthier.
All the wide area covered of fresh powder for us.
Blue sky, gentle south-east breeze, perfect conditions.
I took this pic below from my video footage, self-filming.

HAVE A LOOK AT THE VIDEO HERE

No more snowkiting now as my 3 daughters come to my place for the week-end.
How happy I will be !!!!

:)

Les Trois Evêchés. Video Spot.

2011-02-01T04:28:00.000-08:00

Here is the 3rd movie about the Snowkiting Spots.

Route to Les Trois Evêchés, mythical spot from Lautaret Pass.

All infos in the video.

VIDEO 3 EVECHES HERE

:)

Cheers, Pascal.

No 2011 ETNA volcano.

2011-01-29T09:58:00.000-08:00

We've got the sad news today.
No more session this winter on the Etna volcano with the Ozone Italia crew.
Unfortunately.
That was cool, two years, we went first to the summit with Chasta on 2009, then with Dom as well on 2010.
I've been first telemaker reaching the main cratere Bocca Nuova.
So warm memories, friendships, italian food, Red Bull girls, and the parties in Catania, crazy.

Well, just can have a look at the movie from last session :

ETNA VOLCANO SUMMIT VIDEO

We go to Idaho, Wyoming, Utah, instead.
Not so bad...
Flight on the 20th february.

Stay tuned.

:-)

Issue #2 Snowkiting spots. Col du Petit Saint-Bernard.

2011-01-25T23:55:00.000-08:00

Well, here is the link below to the issue #2 about the snowkiting spots.
A movie made on last friday from La Rosière ski-resort and introducing the famous spot Le Col du Petit Saint-Bernard.
Not really perfect yet, still lot of things to be improved, but better than the first issue about Chazelet I recon.

THE VIDEO COL DU PETIT SAINT-BERNARD

:)

Kiteworld mag

2011-01-24T06:52:00.000-08:00

Yes, double-page intro Gallery in the last issue of the european mag KITEWORLD, Johann Civel massive kiteloop at Lautaret Pass (Pic Pascal).
With Marc Ramseier on the front cover, surfing the barrel in Indo with the Zephyr (pic B. Thouard).
Whaw, Ozone rules !!!
;)

Championnats de France Open distance. La Rosière.

2011-01-23T13:50:00.000-08:00

En tête du Championnat de la France distance !!!
Mais y a trois soucis.
1-C'est en vétérans. Ils ont pas voulu que je courre avec les seniors. Ils m'ont dit t'es trop vieux, tu cours en vétérans, et tu discutes pas.
2-Je me suis fait battre par un Suisse spécialiste de la race sur le flat (skis de descente, voile de buggy, poignées) et c'était du flat... Fuck the flat. Mais bon, à la régulière, rien à dire, respect.
3-Y a encore trois étapes à courir pour avoir le titre, et je pourrai pas aller aux trois.
Voilà le bilan du week-end.
A part ça, c'était super sympa comme ambiance.
:)

Là, c'est une photo prise des rushes du vendredi, je vais faire un film sur ce spot sympa, en allant un peu dans les pentes. La course, c'était tout en bas, sur le F... the flat.
:)

End of the Snowkitemasters.

2011-01-15T09:01:00.001-08:00

Well, the 7th Snowkitemasters here in Serre-Chevalier are near to be over.
One day remaining for the French Snowkiting Championships Freestyle.
Yesterday, the International Snowkitemasters organized a Race around the Lautaret Pass.
60 competitors, ski, snowboard, girls, boys.
I ended 2nd in Ski just following my friend the viking Bjorn Kaupang from Norway.
Snowboard winner was Marek Zach from CZ and Chasta 2.

Well today was the first day of French Championships but the snow was so hard, at least like concrete, they can't run the contest.

A Race was set up instead and I won it, whow.
First, just few seconds before Laurent Sublet french champ for last two years.

Cool day indeed.

Tomorrow is the last day of this perfect week.
For sure one more cool session with sun, snow, wind, friends.

Cheers.

,

2011 Snowkitemasters 7.0

2011-01-11T13:08:00.000-08:00

Only a warm-up free session on the first day.
And then, no more snowkiting, no wind, or snow storm.
Still no competition.
May be tomorrow... Let's wait and see.

La voile du lac.

2011-01-11T00:05:00.000-08:00

Rien à voir avec le snowkite et la neige en cette saison.
J'ai récupéré la semaine dernière la meilleure voile pour notre lac où le vent souffle à 8knds toute la journée...
Carrément un bon deal, merci Nico le team-manager !
Surprise au sujet du modèle en 21m dès les premières sessions sur la flaque.
Disons, mi-avril.
Les tirs en unhooked, ça va envoyer dans le light wind.
:)

2011 Snowkitemasters 7.0

2011-01-10T00:20:00.000-08:00

One full week in Serre-Chevalier Valley for the event Snowkitemasters.
Let's spray for wind as fresh powder snow is already here and the advert says 360 sunny days a year in Serre-Che.
Some more infos coming soon.
Stay tuned dudes.
:)
Cheers, Pascal

Chazelet Emparis

2011-01-06T12:13:00.000-08:00

I'm starting up a new serie of videos about the snowkiting spots.
The aim is to introduce each spot where I go snowkiting with some tips like the location, the level, the danger, the best wind, the possibilities, the special informations as all spots let their own marks in our mind.
This first one is about the Emparis plateau, beginning near the Chazelet village, just a few kilometers far from La Grave, France.
The movie is definitely not perfect, it's far to be, I will do my best to improve the further ones.

;)

Ready for the 7th SNOWKITEMASTERS.

2011-01-03T03:37:00.000-08:00

Last week free before the super over busy SKM week for me.
This year, I will have to do the photos for the mythical event here at Lautaret Pass, Serre-Chevalier Valley.
And as well a daily report for the web.
May be a short movie but I don't think to be free enough for it.
Let's wait and see.
The forecast announces huge snowfall for the further days.
So perfect conditions for the event next week.
I hope to meet you all there.
Here is the poster below and you can reconize one of my watercolors mountain paintings.
I was asked by Régis and Wareck to draw some kiters into the frame.
Drawing people is definitely not within my skills, sorry for the not super good kiter doodles on the poster...
Anyway, let's pray for a super event, like we spent all of them since the first one in 2005.
:)

Lucky new year !!!!

2011-01-01T03:31:00.000-08:00

Yes, I wish you the most important thing in our life, LUCK.
Think that the passengers on the Titanic were all in a good health...
;-)

Here is a bacic shot to start the 2011 new year the right way :

One of these super super super super light wind blowing days here at Lautaret Pass on 2010 december.
At least it was blowing...
With so many other ones with no wind at all.
Let's hope that 2011 will bring better conditions.

Cheers all.

Pascal

:)

Hard december conditions.

2010-12-27T03:10:00.000-08:00

Here is a short message about the snowkiting conditions here in the south-eastern Alpes.
After a very cool snowfall end of november we were so happy with so many cool spots around for huge sessions.
But a super warm south wind was blowing for one week.
All the snow disappeared under 2.000m.
Now, for one month the only one spot remains the Lautaret Pass.
It is 2h30 driving from my home...
That means 5h00 hours driving every session I plan to do up-there.
It's already hard but came harder when I drive so long road and meet wrong conditions so no kiting session.
What a pitty.
The forecast was quite every day wrong.
So I went for no kiting at least 8 times...
I missed some pretty good sessions when the very bad weather was announced and the conditions were OK though.
Anyway, here are some facts :
-We never get to the mythical spot Les 3 Evêchés since end of october, when the snow came here in our mountains. This is near incredible, we need the south-east wind and we can say that it never blows this direction for two monthes and half.
-Chasta came from Tahiti on the 6th december, and since this date, I made a short movie, but no photo at all. Because we never got any session for at least a basic picture. So many super stormy days, foggy, or sometimes blue sky with no wind at all for the whole day.
-We didn't go kiting the usual spot called "Le grand virage" for more than one month, I mean for all december month. This is as well really incredible as this good spot is normaly the main area for snowkiting here at Lautaret Pass.
-We are loosing now the Combeynod area, very good spot and the only one when the north-west wind is blowing. The rangers from the Natural Park came and told that they won't allow us to go kiting this area any more. They were pretty cool during the end of last season but now they will fine us if we go kiting there.

So, even when we are free to go snowkiting every day, it's not sure we'll get the perfect conditions for cool videos and photos promoting our sport.
That's wat it is.
:-(

I made this picture yesterday, we were waiting all the day long without any breeze, speaking around near the car park, then we could feel the air starting to move very very very very slow. We set up our gear and I could have a 20meters run for this pic. Then the wind stopped.

Vosges Snowkiting Cup. Open distance.

2010-12-26T02:59:00.000-08:00

My friends from the event in the northern country of France set up a snowkiting race Open distance in the mountains of Vosges.
I was asked for a painting due to illustrate the tee-shirt of the event.
Here is the painting, watercolors, from a picture of the real spot, photo from J.B. Foliguet :

And then, here is the tee-shirt picture :

:)

Autrans

2010-12-25T02:29:00.000-08:00

A super warm wind was blowing for one week, all the snow was melting under 2.000m elevation.
It was such a pitty as we got huge snowpack around there, enough for snowkiting near 1.000m which allows us for lot of super cool spots about only one hour driving from home.
Then the cold north wind came, bringing -20°c temperature and a very small amount of fresh powder due to the special icy fog.
So, no more snowkiting here, as all the spots had grass ground and stones everywhere.
Very surprising was the plateau near Autrans, a little ski-resort in the Vercors Natural Park.
It seems that the warm wind didn't reach this area, and a good snowpack was still covering the fields.
Autrans remains for few weeks the only one spot near Grenoble, avoiding the 2h30 driving to the Lautaret Pass.
Here is a short movie below about the session and you will see a part introducing how to fly softly with a kite.

The AUTRANS video

:)

KITESURF mag France.

2010-12-23T03:09:00.000-08:00

Chasta crossing a river in Thompson Pass, Valdez.

Cool december issue of the magazine KITESURF France.
A complet subject about how to start snowkiting, text & photos from my friend Bertrand Boone.
And as well a 10 pages report about the ALASKA session during 2010 april with Chasta.
If you can check it out while coming to France, don't miss it :

This is a self-shot on the Sargent Glacier, Chughachs Mountains. I use the remote control on my EOS Canon camera and a tripod.

I can't explane my feeling when I made this picture of Chasta kiting up with the unforgettable background of huge alaskan glaciers.

:)

Kailea snow towing.

2010-12-23T03:00:00.000-08:00

What a great day when you can go snowkiting with your children.
Not old enough for kiting, they can go for a skiing session.
Just bring them to the top of the hill while towing with a rope and a custom bar.
Then, let your child skiing downhill.
You can do it again, and again.
It seems this is a perfect way to spend super session with the family.
Here is a short movie showing our friend Chasta and daughter Kailea :

KAILEA SNOW TOWING VIDEO

:)

Pascal

Mister W

2010-12-13T08:36:00.000-08:00

It was a super cloudy session at Lautaret Pass.
Very cold, about -18°c but super light fresh powder snow.
We went to a special spot called Les Clochettes, with my friends Wareck and Régis from Snowkitemasters event.
The first session of the season for Wareck.
Check out the video I made about one of his run really funny :

VIDEO MISTER WARECK

The session was cool, but the best thing was to be with super good friends.

:)

Pasal

Kiteloop session.

2010-12-13T05:48:00.000-08:00

Well, two days ago, I had a session at Lautaret Pass with the snowkiting guide Johann Civel.
The wind was super gusty, near to be dangerous.
The snow really hard, icy.
Johann went for a kiteloop session, I was only making snapshots, no movie unfortunately.
Here is a pic from the session, Johann is going to the right (his left hand) while the kite make a loop like the clock.
It seems I pushed the button a little bit too late, the kite was more down 1/50 second earlier.
Anyway, I like this pic, not so usual to see the kiteloops from the top.
I wasn't flying above Johann, no, I just went hiking to the top of the hill and the view from upthere was perfect.
A few other moves were more extreme but this one is my favourite as we can see other guys on the ground and that angle gives the power to the picture.
During this session I made probably the best kiteloop picture I ever done, so I keep it for worldwide mags and try to not spread it on the internet.
As soon as the printing is ready with the mags, I will add it here on the blog pages.
:)

Chasta first 2011 Session.

2010-12-10T19:10:00.000-08:00

Just back from Tahiti two days ago, Guillaume went to the Lautaret Pass for his first 2011 snowkiting session.
Although the great blue sky, the wind was crazy gusty, the snow really hard and icy.
Anyway, Chasta was happy to meet the new 2011 FRENZY and the 3 dimensional kiting way.
You can check out the session on the video below.
A smooth session, no extreme freestyle, but we really like kiting cool and relax you know.

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE MOVIE

:)
Cheers, Pascal.

Alaska 2010.

2010-12-07T05:58:00.000-08:00

Good memories from a session on the Sargent Glacier, Anchorage, Alaska, 2010 april.

Now, it's time to go for the same runs, here in France.

:)

The Boolgyloop

2010-12-05T00:46:00.001-08:00

Here is the link to a video explaning how to go uphill with a kite on the snow.
You will see three ways about the kite to go uphill.
The third one, called the Boolgyloop is a special loop with three good points.
1-no twisted lines, 2-as many loops as you want in the same direction, 3-you can pull the frontlines to help the kite flying in really light wind.
I call it the Boolgyloop because I find this way by my own on 2005, I never see anybody doing it before.
But may be someone, in his corner, decided to make the same move, it is not impossible.
Anyway, now we call it Boolgyloop and so that will remain in our snowkiting sport :)

Well, let's see the movie here :

THE BOOLGYLOOP

Have great time.
Cheers, Pascal.

2011 FRENZY # 2

2010-11-20T11:16:00.000-08:00

The 2nd movie about the new 2011 FRENZY.
With some tips about snowkiting skills.
Few fresh powder runs.
All footage from the last November 11th.

Look at the movie here : CLICK !

I hope you will like it.

Montfroid.

2010-10-28T11:03:00.000-07:00

Well, late october, I had my first 2010/2011 snowkiting session.
With a couple of friends of mine, we went to Le Col de la Croix de Fer, France, a super spot not so far from Lautaret Pass.
It was the first snow-fall two days ago, so the 30cm of super light fresh powder were directly on the rocks and stones so it was not so easy to cruise around.
The north wind was super light.
But anyway, we spent a super autumn session, and here is the video, it's my first movie from this new winter, so thank you for your understanding, all is not super perfect :

http://vimeo.com/16258965

OK, I wish you the same cool first session as soon as possible.
:)

Pascal

Alaska. 22nd april.

2010-04-22T11:40:00.000-07:00

Hi.
Lot of cloudy weather days here in AK.
Many days without any idea for snowkiting session because of such flat light.
Anyway, the AK way of life is really amazing for the frenchy Pascal...
We went yesterday to Willow Range or a snowkiting session, expecting the better weather in the late afternoon.
A super valley, long muggy road along a clear river, with some gold mines around, and a very large terrain for snowkiting.
Unfortunately, grey sky, snowy, wind blowing down the valley.
But great route of snowkiting in the bush, lot of white grouses flying around, river gaps, canyons for playing up, super good session actualy.
Fresh news coming soon.
:)

Here is the link to a slideshow about the trip :

SLIDESHOW

Don't hesitate to check it out every couple of days.

Alaska rules.

Alaska. 20th april.

2010-04-20T10:37:00.000-07:00

o
o

Well, the blog has been out of order for few days.
Don't know why.
So here are some fresh news now.
No real snowkiting session yet.
All the time bad weather or no wind.
We moved from Anchorage to Big Lake, one hour driving to the north.
A short session on the lake but the rain arrived suddenly.
Yesterday, shooting session with all the guns available here from the crew...
Even the AK 47 !!!
Chasta is stucked in France because of the volcano in Iceland.
Let's see further on for next sessions.
:)
Pascal

Alaska. 14th April

2010-04-15T09:32:00.001-07:00

Anchorage Airport

Well, sorry I miss few days, few weeks, about up dating this page.
I will try to add the latest news soon.

So, now I'm in Alaska for snowkiting sessions.
Arrived yesterday 14th in Anchorage, stay in the Captain Cook Hotel.
Fresh infos evry day if I can connect.
Stay tuned.
:)

A view of the Alaska mountains from the window during the flight from Seattle to Anchorage.

Lautraet Pass.

2010-02-21T00:36:00.000-08:00

I go for the fresh powder windlip !!!

Powder session with my friends GG and Johann.
Lot of people on the roads because of the winter hollidays.
N/W wind 20 knds, very cold light powder, super snowkiting session.

GG & Johann in the Combeynod ridge.

Chastadays2010. Abruzzo # 3

2010-02-18T05:32:00.000-08:00

Here is the 3rd movie about our week in Italia, Abruzzo, Ovindoli ski resort, Park Hotel.

CHECK OUT THE VIDEO HERE

:)

See you soon.

Chastadays2010. Abruzzo, Italia.

2010-02-13T01:06:00.000-08:00

We've been in Italia for one cool week, near Roma, the Abruzzo mountains.
In the resort Ovindoli, at the Park Hotel where all the Ozone Italia crew was chilling.
Awsome place for snowkiting.
Very wide landscapes and lot of snow.
Depending of the wind, we went to some different spots and that was a new kind of session every day.
The best is Monte Freddo ridge at the top of the Monte Magnola gondola.
Unfortunately, the wind for this huuge plateau was really light, less than 5knots, so although the viewes are great, the action moves are too slow for sure.
Anyway, that was a super event, and we all thank Stefano Gigli from ozoneitalia.com and Maximiliano the big boss of the resort.
The italian way of life is super amazing for us and we are always really happy to spend some days there.
I was stoked to meet my friend Massimo Di Ponzio and his family.
Massimo is a very special snowboard guide and you'll never forget him once you meet around.
Well, now I'm back home, and working on the videos from this wonderful week.
Check them out :

CHASTADAYS2010 ABRUZZO #1

CHASTADAYS2010 ABRUZZO #2

And now, it's time to enjoy the incredible fresh snow here near my village.
New movies coming soon.
;)

ETNA Summit, second day.

2010-01-29T14:36:00.001-08:00

We went today once again to the summit of the ETNA volcano.
Same wind conditions than yesterday, but the gondola was working.
The snow is getting hard with the strong wind blowing all the night long.
We went really near the crater today and Chasta had fun with some freestyle moves along the endless slopes here on the volcano southern area.

Reaching Mt ETNA volcano summit.

2010-01-28T22:14:00.000-08:00

CHASTA during our last runs at the sunset.

2010 CHASTADAYS, organized by Stefano Gigli, Mt ETNA event, Sicilia, Italia.
After one week without the right conditions for snowkiting here on the volcano, finaly we got the wind/snow/sun during the 28-01-2010.
Last sunday, Chasta and Dom Zimmerman managed to reach the summit, but the wind stopped before they arrive at the top.
Anyway it was a super trick they did, as was staying stuck at the bottom with really difficult gusty wind and a very great amount of unluck.
Well, yesterday was THE day, just before leaving the ETNA place tomorrow.
It was the first day with sunshine after three days of a big snow-storm on Sicilia.
We went to the Catania city on the 26th and that was rivers in the streets because of the incredible rain.
So, yesterday, the gondola which is due to carry us to 2.400m was closed for the day before clearing the icy cables.
The wind was not the best to start from the refuge, but that was the only one solution then.
West wind blowing completely downhill, so lot of distance to do for climbing our way.
But the more we were snowkiting up, the best wind we found.
I changed four times my size of kite, 12 Manta III and 6 Access XT as the wind was really stong in the Venturi pass and pretty slow in some large valleys underwind.
At the end, I managed to join Chasta and Dom Zimmerman who went straight from the bottom with 10 and 12 Manta III.
They are real alliens, for sure.
Then, Chasta was flying around in a strong wind, even flying above the summit cratere expectorating his huuuuge toxic steam.
This video image will be really impressive, I guess.
Well, impossible to write about everything happened during this wonderful day.
We went snowkiting untill the sunset, and I was filming the last sunlights before the night coming.
The red, yellow, pink, colors were amazing, and so was the quality of snow while freeriding downhill from 3.400 to 1.900 at our refuge Sapienza, Etna Sud, Nicolosi.
No fast connection here so we'll have to wait a little to have a look at the video coming soon about this super session.
Dom was carrying a GPS and the track was showing 112 km and 7.200m of climbing up and freeriding down as we did it a few times.
Now, let's move to the Abruzzo mountains, center of Italia, for great sessions as well.
See you soon.
:)
Pascal

On my way towards the Mt ETNA summit, enjoying every cratere slopes.
Self-filming, and the wind sometimes was blowing the camera/tripod in the snow...

:)

SNOWKITEMASTERS 2010. FINALES INTERNATIONALES

2010-01-17T00:59:00.000-08:00

:)

VOIR LA VIDEO EN CLIQUANT ICI

Vendredi 15 et samedi 16 janvier.

Finales SNOWKITEMASTERS 2010 Internationaux.

Les deux derniers jours, perturbés par la météo. Vendredi à cause du vent capricieux malgré un très beau soleil. Vent qui démarre, s’arrête une heure, repart une demi-heure et ainsi de suite. Malgré tout, de très beaux heats ont pu se dérouler et ce jusqu’aux finales SKI Garçons et filles ainsi que SNOWBOARD Filles.
Donc pour le samedi et dernier jour du SKM, il ne restait que le SNOWBOARD Garçons à valider. Mais là, changement radical de lumière, tout gris, brouillard, peu de vent mais assez régulier, mauvaise visibilité à cause du jour blanc. Beaucoup de heats à courir alors le spectacle fut excellent. Je crois qu’un Russe a replaqué un KGB. Les demi-finales voyaient s’affronter Chasta contre Etienne Lhote puis Sigve Botnen contre Roamin Luppi. Deux incroyables combats qui laisseront des traces dans les mémoires. La finale opposant Sigve Botnen à Chasta était très serrée mais les juges rejoignaient le sentiment du public en nommant Sigve Botnen vainqueur.
Voilà, ce fut le dernier acte d’une semaine magnifique.
La remise des prix au FROG à Villeneuve voyait donc couronnés quatre Norvégiens aux quatre titres de Snowkitemasters 2010. Ils ont tout raflé les Vikings, ski garçons et fille, pareil en snowboard. Ils assoient ainsi leur suprématie sur le snowkite mondial. Notons que Kari Schibevaag est donc Championne du monde kitesurf KWPT et Championne du monde snowkite. Bravo à tous les participants. Un énorme merci aux nombreux bénévoles qui ont fait de cet événement une vraie réussite.
Wareck et Régis resteront dans nos cœurs pour toutjours après cette sixième édition du SKM ici à Serre-Chevalier.
Rendez-vous pour le SKM 2011 !!!!

Vimeo page stats

2010-01-15T23:23:00.000-08:00

The number of viewes on White Kite News Vimeo page stays around 10.000 per week.
2.300 on thursday. 2.600 yesterday.
That means around 40.000 per month.

It's only about snowkiting.
So, good news, isn't it ?

Above all, MANY THANKS to you all.

:)

SNOWKITEMASTER 2010. Internationaux. VIDEO

2010-01-14T09:13:00.000-08:00

Here is the video about the first day International Competition at the SKM in Serre-Chevalier.

LOOK AT THE VIDEO HERE

:)