Chris Hilliard, a veteran snowkiter and outdoor product designer, recently led a team of extreme skiers to explore the fjords of Canada’s remote Baffin Island. The expedition was sponsored by EMS, (Eastern Mountain Sports) who used the expedition to test tents and bags in this harsh arctic environment. The team chose Ozone Frenzy’s as the ultimate snowkite to power their journey.

Chris and his posse spent 17 days out on the sea ice, of which only 3 days were not kite-able due to extremely strong winds. The team established base camps and used the Frenzy’s to pull themselves across frozen sea ice, as far as five to seven miles to the base of the granite spires, searching out first ski descents of steep couloirs in the Sam Ford Fjord area.

Due to the prevailing wind direction the group dealt with a head wind every time they moved base camp, making travel difficult with the sleds. But the team were rewarded with an amazing down-winder on their last day, Chris and the boys loaded up the sleds and covered the 22 miles of the exit route in only 1 1/2 hours. The top speed during the trip was 38 mph.

“We didn’t scratch the surface. The potential for epic XC rides is there” says Chris Hillard.

Ozone and EMS are teaming up for a `Back to Baffin 2005` trip where the team will lead a new group on a snowkiting adventure through Baffin’s back country.

Sounds amazing….!!

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