Prolimit Missions: Winter Edition
Issue 95 / Wed 5th Oct, 2022
Groundbreaking winter wetsuit technology begs to be paired with extreme conditions, and that’s what the Prolimit team was in search of on their latest Prolimit Mission. Join Kim Douma as she meets up with Ben Beholz and the crew in snowy Switzerland!
After last winter's Cape Town adventure with our Prolimit team, we decided to visit our riders who stay close to home and brave the cold every winter. One spot had climbed to the top of our "must-visit" list: Lake Silvaplana, Switzerland. Our team rider, Ben Beholz, calls this place his home spot in the winter, and he's filmed some epic videos and shot stunning photos in this spot, the destination for this Prolimit mission.
An adventure of this nature requires truly adventurous people, so we called on German freestyle kiter Ben Beholz and windsurf legend Julian Wiemar to join our crew. We were full of excitement and curiosity to discover this spot and experience something completely different from the norm.
Ben assured us that this was the place to be in April despite the chilly temperatures. Of course, we had seen the spot featured on Ben's vlogs before, but we decided to do a bit of research and look it up on Google, and we couldn't believe our eyes. Lake Silvaplana and its surroundings have everything an adventure enthusiast could hope for; you can kite, ski, snowboard, and camp, all in one small area!
Linda van Lakwijk, and I, Kim Douma, loaded the van with Prolimit's new winter collection, switched on the motor (and the heater!) and began the long drive to Switzerland. It was a 12-hour journey, and we finally arrived after what seemed like an endless road. However, we would need to be a bit more patient, as it was already well past dark, and we couldn't enjoy the view quite yet!
While it was a cold night, we received a warm welcome, with Ben and Julian greeting us with a cold beer. We were all staying together as a group in one house. Of course, van life master, Ben Beholz, parked next to the house in his RV, where he, his girlfriend Sarah, and their dog Lincy would sleep.
We drove our vans to the spot at 7 am the following morning, and I can tell you it was worth the wait; the view was far beyond our expectations. The water was flat like a mirror, and the sun was shining on the mountains; it was breathtaking. The team was complete with Ben, Sarah, Julian, photographer Fabian Gattlen, and videographer Floris Tils. The one thing missing, however, was the wind! Luckily, Prolimit has a wide range of waterwear for a variety of sports, so we started the day with a SUP session in the Prolimit dry suits.
At 1815 metres above sea level on a frozen lake, it's hard to imagine that a thermal wind is even possible. Yet, it is. As long as the land masses are no longer covered by snow and can catch some sun, the wind will kick in at 12 o'clock every day. Lucky for us, it did, and it was a very special feeling. At 10:30, we were still enjoying the nice weather in our Prolimit sweaters, but after 12 o'clock, with the wind blowing, it felt like -20°C. We could even see people skiing from where we stood at the kite spot. How crazy is that?!
Once the wind had filled in, Ben, Sarah, and Julian changed into our new winter collection wetsuits and went out for a session. All of our winter wetsuits are made for these extreme conditions. The Vapor, Mercury and Oxygen wetsuits feature Thermal Rebound technology, an extra layer between the neoprene and Zodiac. Thermal Rebound technology goes back to the mid-1970s. At the time, NASA developed thermal blankets for their missions into space. The same principle has been adopted at several sports events where athletes are wrapped in these shiny blankets to help regulate their body temperature, which can drop to dangerous levels when they stop moving. We use this technology in our wetsuits for protection against the cold.
When we first arrived at the lake, there was only a crack in the ice, barely wide enough to pass through with a twin tip. After a week at Lake Silvaplana, almost all of the ice was gone. We were super lucky with the timing of the trip, and it was incredible to watch the lake change from winter to spring. If you would like to see this phenomenon, I highly recommend planning a visit in April. You can check the webcam of Lake Silvaplana to see if the crack in the ice has already formed.
Kitesurfing with snow and ice around you must give you an extra dose of adrenaline. Seeing Ben's happy face, I'm sure he wholeheartedly agrees! It was amazing to see him enjoying the frosty conditions. We didn't try it ourselves, but we'll definitely go out next time! It's really cool that Ben is pushing the limit for himself but also for Prolimit. We are driven to innovate so that riders like Ben can enjoy the extremes. It was so nice to see his stoke in real life!
One morning, we did a 7 am ice bath in the mountains with some of the team. In the beginning, we could hardly breathe while we were in the water. Now, more so than before, I understand the importance of a good wetsuit if you want to enjoy a longer session in cold water. It was a good thing we brought all of the winter wetsuits with us!
After the long and cold days of shooting, most of the time, it was snowing by nightfall. So, we chilled in the house with the whole crew. It almost felt like going on a ski holiday with friends - super cosy! One night, Ben cooked rosties for everyone, which were delicious! If you're curious, you can ask Ben for the recipe. 😉
After the last session in Switzerland, we made a bonfire to end the trip properly. We learned a new game there, Ollie boellie, which is something to do with marshmallows. If you want to laugh, check out Ben's vlog, 'I Kitesurfed This Ice Crack.'
We had an amazing time at Lake Silvaplana, and we would recommend everyone to go there to see and experience this breathtaking natural environment for themselves. Just make sure you prepare yourself well! You will need a thick wetsuit, cap or hood, gloves and boots to conquer the cold.
That place is so peaceful and quiet in the winter. It was special to see how Ben and Sarah live up there in the winter; they are so dedicated to their passion. I find it amazing that they have built their life like this, and at the end of our visit, I truly understood why Ben comes back year after year.
With that, we've added another unforgettable adventure with the Prolimit team to the memory books! We are planning some more new and exciting Prolimit missions with our team riders, and we can't wait to share them with you. Until next time!
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By IKSURFMAG
