Going big at the Corona Tour Click on photo for more snowkiting pics Photo by David Sims

Editor's Note: If the halfpipe isn't crazy enough for you then snowkiting just might be. The latest extreme sport to hit the mountains, snowkiting is kiteboarding with a snowboard or skis - pioneered by diehard kite-riders who just couldn't sit through an entire winter without kite action.

Corona Extra Winter Tour

The first stop of the 2004 Corona Extra Winter Tour took place in France at the Col du Lautaret, from January 5 to January 10. This event was also the 2004 Snowkite French Championship. Eight nationalities were represented: riders came from Norway, Germany, USA, England, Switzerland, Spain, Denmark and France, and were divided in four categories (with 16 places each): ski, snowboard, women and juniors (first time in the Corona Extra Winter Tour's history that the juniors category exists). Thanks to great weather, riders ran two ski rounds, two snowboard rounds, two women rounds and three juniors rounds in fresh snow and with the sun shining. The second stop on the tour is in Jackson Hole on February 2nd.

Daily Recap - January 7

Today, the snowboarders are the first on the spot. The sun shines and everybody is ready, but the wind still sleeps. Until today, snowboarders only did qualifyers, so they can't wait to start their first round.

The contest begins at 11am. With a 10 to 13 knots of South-East wind, riders show the progress they've made: once again kiteloops (360s) are everywhere and the 2003 champions must fight against new challengers. In the final, the level is very high, but Guillaume Chastagnol (F) grabs first place.

The second juniors round starts at 3.30pm - Damien Pattou is powerful and wins. Right after, the women came in the race area. A new competitor arrived this morning, so two heats (instead of only one) are done. The girls are scheduled to run their final tomorrow, and the skiers will start their second round at 10am.

January, Friday 9

Yesterday, the contest was cancelled for lack of wind - riders, organizers and spectators enjoyed the sun until 3.30pm. Today, the Corona Extra Winter Tour wakes up to a snowstorm!

Everybody meets at 10am at the Bar de la Ferme, exactly situated on the top of the Col. The organizers move to the contest area to check the conditions up there and find between 7 and 30 knots of wind! They wait til 1.30pm and then they announce that the contest is once again cancelled for the day. The wind is too violent and gusty and its direction is constantly changing. For sure tomorrow, this brand new snow will give the riders a lot of fun!

January, Saturday 10

Riders and organizers meet this morning at the Bar de la Ferme. One hour later, the visibility gets better and everybody moves to the official site. There's fresh snow and the northwest wind is blowing between 10 and 12 knots.

At 11.30pm, the skiers begin their second round. The level is very homogeneous and the riders try new tricks. Fabio Ingrosso (CH) wins and the spectators are delighted with the show. Right after, women run the final of the second round they began last Wednesday. They put on a great performance, and Titaua Ropiteau (F) grabs the first place.

It's 2.30pm and there are around 15 knots of wind - The organizers want to run as many heats as possible, so the second snowboard round begins. The level of the riders is very close but Guillaume Chastagnol (F) wins once again. Last round of this great day is the juniors, won by Thomas Cocquelet (newcomer in snowkite's world but current Junior Kitesurf French Champion).

PROVISORY RANKINGS OF THE 2004 CORONA EXTRA WINTER TOUR
(After First Stop: Col du Lautaret)

Ski

1. Fabio Ingrosso/ CH (North)
2. Fabrice Tripier-Mondancin/F (Ozone)
3. Alex Peterson/US (Wipika)
4. Christopher Dons/N/F
5. Johann Civel/F (Ozone)
6. Bjorn Kaupang/N (Naish)
7. Torstein Greni/N
8. Jerome Josserand/F
9. Yannick Volle/F
10. Matt Taggart/GB (Ozone)

Snowboard

1. Guillaume Chastagnol/F (Ozone)
2. Sigve Botnen/N (Wipika)
3. Romain Fabretti/F (Air Evolution)
4. Patrick Koller/CH (Naish)
5. Laurent Benamon/F (Ozone)
6. Matthieu Blanchard/F (Ocean Rodeo)
7. Remy Meum/N (Wipika)
8. Aaron Sales/US (Windwing Kites)
9. Amaury Couvreur/F
10. Andre Natland/N (Cabrinha)

Women

1. Titaua Ropiteau/F (Ozone)
2. Agnes Fontenay/F (Air Evolution)
3. Zoe Parmentier/F
4. Kari Anne Tragethon/N
5. Fabienne Kaufmann/CH (Advance)
6. Estelle Lambelet/F (Ozone)

Juniors

1. Damien Pattou/F (Ozone)
2. Thomas Cocquelet/F (Cabrinha)
3. Sebastien Bubmann/D (Flysurfer.de)
4. Thomas Banks/ GB

2004 SNOWKITE FRENCH CHAMPIONSHIP

Ski

1. Fabrice Tripier-Mondancin/F (Ozone)
2. Christopher Dons/F
3. Johann Civel/F (Ozone)
4. Jerome Josserand/F
5. Yannick Volle/F
6. Yann Redouin/F
7. Olivier Jaumes/F
8. Jean-Luc Mansuy/F (North)
9. Hugues Beaume/F

Snowboard

1. Guillaume Chastagnol/F (Ozone)
2. Romain Fabretti/F (Air Evolution)
3. Laurent Benamon/F (Ozone)
4. Matthieu Blanchard/F (Ocean Rodeo)
5. Amaury Couvreur/F
6. Mickael Regnier/F (Air Evolution)
7. Thomas Bourdeau/F (Ozone)
8. Christophe Vieux/F
9. Luc Pivardiere/F

Women

1. Titaua Ropiteau/F (Ozone)
2. Agnes Fontenay/F (Air Evolution)
3. Zoe Parmentier/F
4. Kari Anne Tragethon/N
5. Fabienne Kaufmann/CH (Advance)
6. Estelle Lambelet/F (Ozone)

Juniors

1. Damien Pattou/F (Ozone)
2. Thomas Cocquelet/F (Cabrinha)
3. Sebastien Bubmann/D (Flysurfer.de)
4. Thomas Banks/ GB

— By David Sims. David is a professional photographer. Check out his site at www.davidsimsphotography.com.