With summer approaching fast, it`s hard to imagine that just over a month ago, Frank (1967) and Maarten (1963) returned from arctic temperatures. These dutch adventurers were in the northern most part of Europe, more then a 1000 kilometre north of the Norwegian North Cape. Here, at the rim of the polar pack, lays the archipelago of Spitsbergen or Svalbard, home of the polar bear. Next stop, the North Pole.
Under these deep-freeze circumstances (-12șC to -30șC), Frank & Maarten set out to visit friends onboard of the Noorderlicht, a schooner rigged sailing ship which spends the winter frozen into the ice, to accommodate tourists in search of ice-cold beauty.
Instead of a snow-scooter, Frank & Maarten took their ski`s to cover the 90+ kilometre of snowy white mountain terrain. As they had 7 days to reach the ship, there was plenty of time to pursue the other goal: to do some serious kiting under arctic conditions!
For that purpose they brought an Ozone Frenzy05 each, knowing very well that the choice for just one Frenzy per person (10/12 sqmrt), would limit the usage of the kites to 3 and 4 Beaufort. A wind speed lower or higher than that, meant walking. They simply couldn`t squeeze more kites into their packs!
But even as they knew the limitations, most days, they tried anyhow. Or listened for the wind to lessen or to speed up. But when the wind was right, it was party time, gently cruising through pristine white valleys or speeding over the ice floor of a frozen fjord, laughing and yelling at each other.
Kiting under arctic conditions is very do-able. With a bit of attention, the cold is manageable. But you have to make a principle choice: will kiting be your main goal or is your kite a tool to expand your horizon, while on tour.
Frank and Maarten choose the last. They call it “tourkiting, the art of snow travel”.
Special thanks to Zenith who provided the Frenzy`s and Sunny Camp Zeist (NL) for all the stuff that kept the Svalriders warm and alive.
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