Claes Lundin interview - Site officiel
ClaesLundin Pro rider Snowkite.
un Norvegien pas comme les autres
Claes Lundin interview
New snowkite superstar
Have you been following Corona Wintertour last year? Or, even better, have you watched the snowkite movie Entropy?
The beggining of that movie is fantastic - guy walks to his snowboard, gets in bindings, rides downhill with a bar in his hands and effortlessly self-launches the kite. That got the crowd on Zagreb premiere crazy! One guy is allways there in the middle of best action - pro snowkiter Claes Lundin! Last year 3rd overall on WinterTour, one of the superstars performing in biggest snowkite video hit of this season. His schedule is quite busy filled with riding and promoting the sport. We had a chance to ask him few questions for this exclusive interview.
AK: How and when did you start with snowkite? What pushed you into the sport?
CL: I’ve been kiting since 2002 and got into snowkiting by coincidence in the winter of 2005 when a friend needed a snowkiter for an advertising campaign. I’d just got home from Cabarete and didn’t really feel like jumping straight back onto the school bench, so a week in Norway sounded like a cool alternative, even if my view of snowkiting at the time was a bit different than today. With a background from over 10 years of snowboarding I felt at home on the snow from the first day and just cruising through the challenging landscape made me realize the huge potential of the sport.
AK: In all the time you are doing snowkite you passed a lot of spots, which area or spots do you find the best?
CL: Without a doubt the best snowkiting area I’ve come across so far is the Hardangervidda Plateau in Norway. The area has unlimited possibilities, whether you’re up for wakestyle, just riding, flying of hills or hitting backcountry kickers with your friends. Especially this year when most of Europe are still green, Norway is the place to be with more than 10 feet of snow in the highlands.
AK: How do you train during summer months? How do you find the relation between water and snow riding?
CL: Last spring I had a bit of bad luck and injured my knee, which kept me away from the water almost the entire summer. Otherwise I ride most parts of the off-season on water. From water to snow you find lot o similarities, but also some major differences. It’s much harder to get the pop on snow but on a perfect day the feeling is very much alike. What you never will be able to experience on water is the terrain, steep downhill landings, natural quarter-pipes and giddy height differences from take-off to landings.
AK: In last year the level of snowkiting exploded, handlepasses and wakestyle tricks came. How was that transition for you?
CL: I haven’t been in the sport for too long. I got into it just when wakestyle started to be the dominating influence off the top riders. Coming straight from water I just kept on working hard and together with the Norwegian crew try to push the limits of the sport and gain as much influence as possible from our surroundings.
AK: Where do you see the sport in the future looking from perspective of riding? In what direction does it go?
CL: What we’ve seen the last years on water is more and more riders dedicating their time to wave riding, while others keep on developing the wakestyle on perfect flat water. I think we’ll see even more similarities on snow the coming seasons with back country riding strongly influenced by modern snowboarding on one hand and freestyle in well groomed parks using elements like rails and kickers on the other hand.
AK: Corona wintertour unfortunately got canceled? What is your opinion on contest situation at the moment?
CL: The Corona crew have done a great job getting media coverage and even more important putting on blasting events for the riders, so I think everyone will miss the tour. But looking at the other competitions and events around the world, it won’t be any problems staying busy another winter. In Europe there are plenty of events with Austria Open and Nordic Masters as some of the highlights.And if you are willing to cross the Atlantic you can easily fill the coming 5 months with competitions and events.
AK: Some kite brands recently said that they will not support snowkiting because it is too dangerous. What is you opinion about that?
CL: From my point of view snowkiting practiced on safe spots and with modern equipment isn’t any more dangerous than riding on water. I’m riding the Cabrinha kites and I feel totally confident riding close to obstacles and flying high with the total depower controlled with the bar. So as long as you ride responsibly and on your own level I don’t see any reasons for worries.
AK: This year special snowkite snowboards and bindings came to the market. What is the philosophy behind it, specially in terms of shape and construction? How it benefits the rider in your opinion?
CL: Different "snowkite boards" have been around for a while and the thoughts behind the shapes vary. Some are shorter than usual snowboards, some wider and some with less side-cut (straighter out-line) giving a bit smoother ride on hard snow. I prefer a board with the outline of a more traditional snowboard, giving you nice carves and also increases your balance and ability to save a sketchy landing by turning in under you again when you lean, a characteristic lost with a straighter out-line. Concerning bindings there’s no doubt the patented Flow system (even used in the Cabrinha Effect binding) is the most trouble-free product on the market allowing you too easy and fast step in and out with the kite in the air.
AK: Snowkiting opened huge space and created a link between snow sports and kite/wake communities? Do you feel that the sport will be accepted among snowboarders, skiers and wakeboarders?
CL: I’ve received a lot of positive response from people who have watched Entropy, so I think we are on the right track. Snowkiting has had the reputation of being a bit dull, but it has started to change, the media’s eyes are turning towards the sport and the terrain is out there so now it’s just up to us riders to prove the opposite.
AK: What is your favorite session and equipment setup?
CL: On the plateau surrounded by the guys on a sunny day with the Empire board on my feet and fresh snow under it. A well powered 10m Switchblade 2 in my hands and warm clothing to keep the mood up all day.
We advise you too follow closely his progress on world snowkite stage.
For more information about Claes, pictures, videos and his plans for the saeason go to his website: ClaesLundin.net.
Claes is sponsored by: Cabrinha Kites & Boards, Flow, POC Helmets, VonZipper, Billabong, XTravel.se
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