LOCAL KITE SKIER WINS FIRST PLACE AND TAKES HOME $1500:
WAYZATA, MN - January 15, 2002 - On February 14-15 Red Bull Kite Freeze,
North America's freestyle winter kite boarding and kite skiing event took
flight due to perfect weather conditions. The 10-degree temperature set the
stage for this inaugural event on Lake Minnetonka, MN. After last years
event had to be cancelled due to unusually warm weather, participants
arrived from all over the world such as France, Hawaii
and Canada, determined to bear the extreme cold and execute their skills
for a piece of the 3,000 prize purse. At the days end it was local kite
skier, Alex Peterson from Long Lake, Minnesota who battled and won his $1500
cash prize with the skill and technique of a true champion.
"I can't believe I won against all of this competition.people have traveled
so far for this event and I live one mile away.this feeling is
unbelievable", said Alex Peterson when asked how he felt after winning first
place at the event. ULTIMATE COMPETITION AT SPIRIT ISLAND
The sky was filled with an array of brilliant colors of flying kites. The
first day of competition was an informal jam session where participants got
a feel for the conditions and the course that extended as far as the size of
four football fields. On the day of the event athletes pushed themselves to
the limit in an attempt to dominate the obstacle course, which featured rail
slides, kickers, and challenging jumps. Vojta Cervenka (Wayzata, Minnesota)
course designer and the leader in the evolution of the sport and Paul
Macaj (Boulder, Colorado), whose recent knee injury took him out of the
competition helped to judged the competitors on the following criteria;
height, fluidity, control of motion and course, and difficulty and quality
of trick. The watchful eyes of about 500 spectators throughout the weekend
also helped to raise the energy level of the competitors as shuttles ran
back and forth between Wayzata Marina and Spirit Island for those seeking to
view the event up close. "I have been snowboarding since I was two years
old. This is the first time I have ever seen an event like this on a frozen
lake. I am overwhelmed by this experience.it's brilliant, this is the
perfect place for this, " said an excited Guillaume Chastagnol, this year's
3rd place winner who traveled from France to compete.
WINTER KITE BOARDING: THE EVOLUTION OF A SPORT
Red Bull Kite Freeze featured athletes from a multitude of disciplines;
including skiing, snowboarding, kite surfing and windsurfing from around
North America and Europe. Some call it "snow kiting"; others tag it "winter
kite boarding"; others "kite skiing".The many names reflect the many faces
of this rapidly - emerging and ever-evolving adrenaline sport.
"This year's competition almost didn't happen.but we prayed for snow and
our prayers were answered. It's not often one can be a part of history in
the making. This event was destined to bring all of these various
disciplines together and drive the sport further along than we ever
expected, " said VojtaCervenka when asked why he was thrilled to judge the
first ever Red Bull Kite Freeze.
http://www.redbullkitefreeze.com/
More photos there....