Snowkite Masters Day 1 et 2

Here we are, both feet in the snow, bundled up  in layers of layers to survive to the local temperatures. Tons of snow fell on the Lautaret Pass lately and were then blown around by the strong winds. The apocalyptic background is set, the 2012 Snowkite Masters can start.

Competitive first day with the opening of the France championships. All the big frenchy names are there, snowboard version: Etienne Lhote, Jeff Lilas, Alex Simonin, Mehdi Regragui an Didier Bota, but also ski version with Laurent Sublet, Johann Civel, Rémi Borgioli and Rémi Dinneur.

The conditions are also part of the game, with a solid 20 knots blowing the snow around and making the cheeks of spectators all rosy. The riders are there to warm up the scene and they don't fail to their task.

On the snowboard side, everybody goes for the new school style (grabbed flat 3, S-bend to blind, back rools) but also take advantage o the gusts to go fly up high and throw down some insane ktieloops. They're working hard in front of the camera flashes, grouped on top of the kicker. But even the slightest edging of kite flying mistake could be a hard hit, the snow is packed and not forgiving.

The finals is between Etienne Lhote and Didier Bota. Didier (fresh meat, very promising) takes the victory with style facing a pretty tired Etienne.

1- Didier Bota

2- Etienne Lhote

3- Jeff Lilas

On the ski level, the style debate is a bit more complicated. The crossed legs don't play in favor of beauty of the move... The riders express themselves nicely with some nice flat 3s, S-bends, all sorts of grabs and big kiteloops. The ski master was Laurent Sublet, followed closely by Mr Ride Up, Johann Civel.

1- Laurent Sublet

2- Johann Civel

3- Rémi Borgioli

Unfortunately for the women side, the North rider Estelle Lambelet was the only rider and the heat was cancelled.

The France championships then leave the scene to a 100% freestlyle show, with the well know international riders Zach Marek, Romain Luppi, Guillaume Chastagnol and the SKM organiser himself, Wareck Arnaud...

A bunch of very committed tricks go on over our flabergasted heads, giving the promise of very entertaining nest few days of SKM.

Tomorrow is our next date, don't miss it. Until then we won't get bored, we have a very hot night in perspective on the Serre-Chevalier side (did I hear nude fire eaters?). If you are very nice and polite, may be we'll bring some photos back for you!