In this feature, Warek Arnaud takes us behind the scenes of Ozone’s Explore V3 shoot and shares the story of capturing IKSURFMAG’s first snowkite cover!

In 2003, we were lucky to cross paths with Matt Taggart and Rob Whittall, eager to develop ozone kites specifically for snowkiting. They joined our group of freeriders at the Col du Lautaret in the Hautes Alpes to make it happen.

The Lautaret, nestled between Serre Chevalier and La Grave in the Southern Alps of France, is legendary. It’s truly the Hawaii of snowkiting, and we’ve shared so many unforgettable moments there. Snowkiting in the mountains with friends is a privilege; we love every second of it!

We also launched the World Snowkitemasters, which brings together the best snowkiters for an epic freestyle competition. This year, we’d love for you to join us from January 9th to 12th. The meeting spot? The Lautaret Lodge and the Chazelay Bar in the valley—for the rides and, of course, the parties!

Our collaboration with Team Ozone has been ongoing ever since, helping to capture stunning imagery and test the latest products. This time, we teamed up with the Ride Up crew, including Johann Civel, Hugues Beaume, Didier Botta, Simone Borgi, and his son Tommy Borgi—for the Explore V3 shoot. The Explore V3 is a single-skin kite designed for hiking and snowkiting. It’s simple, lightweight, and super safe. Naturally, we couldn’t resist putting it to the ultimate test in extreme conditions—on glaciers, in storms, and beyond. I have to admit, it’s an amazing toy. It’s a finely crafted, versatile kit that will be a staple in our quiver this snowkiting season.

We’re stoked that IKSURFMAG is spotlighting snowkiting and giving it a well-deserved cover! Snowkiting is more than just a sport for us—it’s a way of life in the mountains. It’s about harmony with the elements, fueled by passion and a drive to push limits while staying safe. That’s why having gear that supports all our eccentricities is so essential!

We love experiencing the mountains in 3D—carving downhill on skis or snowboards after a kite session. The possible limits are still being defined, but Jo and Hug have already tackled 50-degree slopes.

For this cover shot featuring Johann Civel, the snowkite guide of Team Ride Up, we had plenty of stunning images from a glacier session at La Grave/La Meije. But I wanted to showcase that this kite isn’t just for freeride—it’s also perfect for freestyle and more daring moves. So, we headed to our beloved home spot at the Col du Lautaret, setting up under a beautiful cornice. The goal? Capture an epic photo without getting buried by the cornice or, worse, losing my head! Achieving this takes trust and coordination. I can’t see the rider coming, so I analyse the kite’s trajectory and rely on the rider to follow my instructions. Bim! Boum! Jojo nailed it. The shot was exactly as I envisioned—classy, dynamic, and ready to make waves.

We repeated the jump three times to capture the energy in motion, which was perfect for sharing in the accompanying video. Winter is shaping up to be epic. We’ve just received the Ozone Hyperlink V4, and it’s already sparking ideas for next-level snowkite freeride and freestyle sessions.

Here’s to an incredible season!

Peace & love

Videos

Start your backcountry adventures today! | Ozone Explore V3
Masterpiece by Ride Up Mountains
By Warek Arnaud

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