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by: Jessica Valenzuela

The Ripping It feature is dedicated to the pro-athletes of the kiting community or those aspiring to be pro-athletes. We’d love to feature you! Contact us.

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Jerome Josserand, Free Ride World Champion, photo courtesy of Wareck Arnaud

Quite fitting for a President’s Day post. The next entry reminds me of our previous US election juxtaposed with SNL material…then again which US election or presidency isn’t? When I think of Russia, I think of Sarah Palin’s infamous line during the Charles Gibson interview on September 11, 2008 on World News.

CHARLES GIBSON: What insight into Russian actions particularly in the last couple of weeks, does the proximity of this state give you?
SARAH PALIN: They’re our next door neighbors. And you can actually see Russia from land here in Alaska.

Sarah Palin obviously forgot to glance at her redneck teleprompter when she blurted that statement. Did you know that Russia has so much more than a Palin misnomer? I know you do! Jerome Josserand, our Ripping It feature this week, a professional snowkiter will give us a peek into Kamchatka. An adventure to break his world record in flying 450 meters high with his snowkite known in the industry as “big fly.” Excited to learn more? I am right behind you!

They say every person has a book in them…maybe a film? Little did Jerome know that seven years since falling in love with kiteboarding in Corse, better known as Corsica, a gem of an island west of Italy, southeast of the French mainland that he would be starring in a film that tells the story of snowkiters. Yes, kiting is an all year round sport – fyi to those of you are non-kiters yet!. The winter following his kiting discovery in Corsica, Jerome’s exuberance and dedication to snowkiting ensued. After three-months of training in his backyard (some people are born with bigger backyards than others) Jerome joined the World Championship for snowkiting in freestyle. At this event he realized that freeride and extreme ride is more his cup of espresso. Jerome adds “making your passion a part of your daily life is quite fulfilling. It takes you to places you otherwise would not have visited and meet likeminded people who are equally passionate about the sport.” Snowkiting for Jerome is the culmination of his two beloved sports – paragliding and skiing. Why enjoy one when you can have both in one? Haha…every man’s dream. Jerome’s passion for snowkiting has brought him to the top!

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Jerome Josserand's Kamchatka, photo courtesy of New Partisan Cinema, FilmIT.si

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Jerome is considered one of the world’s most daring snowkiters. He will prove this to the world on Kamchatka, a feature documentary film in pre-planning phase by New Partisan Cinema (Sports Division). Kamchatka Peninsula is a 1,250-kilometer located in the Far East of Russia with an area of 472,300 km². It lies between the Pacific Ocean to the east and the Sea of Okhotsk to the west. Its landscape is peppered with over 200 Kamchatka volcanoes, some of which rise up to 4000 meters and with constant seismic activity sets it to be one of the more inhospitable and captivating places on Earth. The Kamchatka Peninsula is considered a UNESCO World Heritage site. Its primal weather conditions and vast landscapes of wild flora and fauna is heaven to extreme Earth explorers. For Jerome it is heaven specially in the winter season. We asked Jerome why this journey and documentary is a big focus for him, “I’d like to demonstrate how snowkiting is revolutionizing the access to mountains by offering supreme freedom of the movement to its practitioners, using only an unlimited natural resource, the wind.” To most this idea may sound incredulous and unnecessary. Wind as a renewable energy resource has been used by the Chinese and Babylonians 4000 years ago to irrigate crops and in the middle-ages to grind corn. Sailboats use it to travel around the world. I remember playing with paper spinning wheels and flew two-line paper kites in the fields as a child. So why not use wind to reach the peak of mountains?

How do you get to Kamchatka? In July 8, 2008 travel adventurers going through the US can take a bridge flight to Kamchatka on Vladivostok Air. We got you covered!

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Jerome Josserand's Kamchatka, photo courtesy of New Partisan Cinema, FilmIT.si

A few definitions to help our non-kiting readers. Like skiing and snowboarding, freestyle riding in snowkiting is equivocal to terrain park riding - riders/skiers ride/ski within a certain set of elements. While freeride snowkiting is like back country riding/skiing – flying off powdered covered steeps, fields, bouncing off rocks – err only when you know what you are doing! Best not to try snowkiting without the basic lessons first, if you have not tried kiteboarding or kitesurfing prior. One of the main differences between kiteboarding/kitesurning and snowkiting are the type of kites used. For kiteboarding/kitesurfing we use tube kites (we need to pump air into it before taking flight), while snowkiters use foil kites. Though, most snowkiters prefer to maintain the use of tube kites, which is what I will try for a snowkiting trip to Utah next week!

Kiteboarding or snowkiting is perceived by many as an extreme sport. When non-kiters see kiters go for big air, make their loops, raleys and unhooked tricks over water or snow it looks extreme. Though unknown to many it is not that extreme for as long as you know exactly how to harness the power of the wind with your kite, while balancing on your board or skis (for snowkiting). Jerome teaches children (I’ve seen a three-year old in photo fly a kite with his dad – can’t wait to share this one with you!) and folks who are 70! Follow the basics in our Recipe for UnKitermares, make sure to take lessons, always have a buddy when you ride and you will be just fine!

Who is Jerome Josserand?

Jerome Josserand, World Champion Snowkiter, photo courtesy by Warek Arnaud

Nick-name: GG

Kiting birthday: June 2003

Quiver: Airush Crest and Varial

Favorite kiting quote: 12sq²

Kiting homebase: Col du Lautaret , French Alps

Kiters are natural multi-sport athletes: Paragliding, climbing, skateboarding, riding horses

More of Jerome Josserand’s kiting adventures and Kamchatka in our Flickr set. You can also preview his previous snowkiting adventures here.

Jerome and team at the New Partisan Cinema, Film IT good luck on Kamchatka! We’re surely proud to be part of the team! Intrigued? You can get involved in the filming of Kamchatka ask how now. Contact Mavin Digital, Inc.!

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Are you a pro-athlete kiteboarder or are training to be one? Write to Jessica Valenzuela to request for an interview. We’d love to hear from you!

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