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Program

Friday 20 January

10.30am : snowkiting initiations with the Kite Unit instructors at the Petit St Bernard pass

Tests with : NORTHKITES, FLYSURFER, HQ POWERKITE, IKON & BLIZZARD skis

1pm : Freestyle FREE SESSION

6pm to 8pm : Inscriptions & Breifing

10 pm : Warm up night at Le Moobar

Saturday 21 January

10am : Breifing at the Petit St Bernard pass

11am to 3pm : French Snowkiting Open Distance Championships

In the resort : Animations

Workshop for children : 11H30 planes / 14H30 mini kites / 15H30 windmill

Wodden ski & snowboard tests with TARDY

6pm (Place des Eucherts) : brasilian balloons show

7.30pm (Salle Jean Arpin) :  Tartiflette Party

10pm (Place des Eucherts) : Live concert with Los Cobras au Moobar

Sunday 22 January

10am : Breifing at the Petit St Bernard pass

11am to 3pm : French Snowkiting Open Distance Championships

In the resort : Animations

Workshop for children : 11H30 planes / 14H30 mini kites / 15H30 windmill

Wodden ski & snowboard tests with TARDY

6pm (Place des Eucherts) : Final results

High-end accomodation and nightlife for the H2OPen Kite United 2012

Les Balcons de La Rosière & Le MooBar, main partners of the  H2Open Kite United since 2010, will welcome us again in La Rosière.

Thanks to them, the staff will have the chance to stay in some cosy appartments (but short nights..). The Moobar will be the central party area, especially on the Saturday with a Live concert from “Los Cobras”, followed by the local DJ mix.

Flysurf.com, partner of the H2Open Kite United 2012

Follow the H2Open Kite United 2012 on Flysurf.com from 20th to 22nd of January.

For the riders, a lot of Flysurf gifts will be offered :  Snowboard Nobile 157 cm NHP 2012, glasses RYDE, etc etc !

A NORTH EVO 2012 – 9m² kite + bar to win !

One more time, North Kiteboarding is joining the H2Open Kite United… and this year, they play Santa BIG TIME !

One EVO 2012 9m² kite + North 2012 bar, will be in the game.

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More photos on FACEBOOK

Summary

In the absence of the forecasted strong gust from North-East, a “blue sky storm“ hit La Rosiere this weekend. 85 competitors met in the heart of the magnificent Col du Petit St Bernard, facing Mont Blanc, to compete the first round of the 2011 Open Distance Snowkiting French Championships.

The first snowkiters arrived on site on Friday morning. The cool temperatures (-19 ° C) did not stop any of them, and it is with great pleasure that they spent their day discovering the spot. According to Romain Fabretti, freestyle world champion 2006 : “One of my best snowkite-touring session to date, on one of the most beautiful snowkiting spots of the Alps“

Meanwhile, free initiations to snowkiting were organized  to the curious onlookers, as well as free tests of 2011 gears, thanks to our sponsors North Kiteboarding, Flysurfer, and HQ Powerkite.

On Saturday morning, still freezing cold, the first rounds were launched. The north-easterly wind allowed us to propose a technical course with a downhill start, zig-zags and turns, before a long upwind towards the finish line. Aeolus having decided to be lazy, racing had to be stopped before the end of the day.

Further down towards La Rosiere, children were not forgotten. Kite building workshops were available there, as welle as stands to raise awareness of environmental protection or to test 100% wood made skis and snowboards.

After a beautiful Brazilian illuminated balloons launch, competitors met again in the evening under the live music of RAS, and the voice of their singer, Caroline, mounted on springs.

Sunday, still not a cloud in sight … The wind is always present, but  changed direction, leading to a modification and reduction of the course. Indeed, from the south, it is no longer possible to exploit the lower neck of the spot, as the wind is no longer strong enough unlike the previous day (Ah … Venturi effect …) The few races still non validated after Saturday are then validated in low wind, but still sufficient for most riders equipped with large ram air kites. Jeremie Eloy, who had raced on Saturday  with a 14m, then decided not to compete, stuck with only a 12m.

In the end, even if the wind was not very strong, it has allowed everyone to enjoy the Petit St Bernard pass, and perpetuate this beautiful atmosphere that has been the brand of the event over the past 4 years.

Results :

Vétéran Homme Ski  :
1.       Raynal Pierre Alain
2.       Boulgakoff Pascal
3.       Blanchemain Joel

Vétéran Homme Snowboard :
1.      Sandona Gilles
2.      Laboure Lionel
3.       Richard Maxime

Open Homme Ski :
1.     Jacquemond Nicolas
2.       Maton Sébastien
3.       Michea Antoine

Open Homme Snowboard
1.       Cottard Anthony
2.        Perrin Elie
3.      Lilas Jean François

Femmes Ski
1.      Nouar Leila
2.        Maffei Sandra
3.       Jamoneau Aurore / Virginie Kusi / Bonfini Marion / Merley Marie Emilie

Femmes Snowboard :
1.     Curtelin Perrine
2.     Lambelet Estelle
3.     Rouveyrol Anaïs

Jeune Snowboard
Botta Didier

Jeune Ski
Colas Antoine

Good luck to all on the 3 coming races of the French Snowkiting Championships:
- 5 & 6 February in Valcivières
- 12 & 13 February in Les Angles
- 5 & 6 Mars in Font d’HurleThe organisation would like to thanks again all its partners, sponsors, helpers and competitors who have made this event a success, once again !

The second part of the H2Open Kite United, on water this time, will be help from 6 to 9 October 2011 in Perros Guirec (Bretagne). Riders who will have participed to both races (snow + water) will compete for the overall title !
More details are still to come… so stay connected !
- on the Blog
- on Facebook

Girls SPECIAL ! HQ Powerkite challenge

During the H2Open Kite United, HQ Powerkite is offering an APEXIII 10m to one of the unsponsored girls who will be competing….

So Ladies, send us your inscription ASAP !

What’s up ? Here’s the program…

FRIDAY 21 January

***11h – 15h / Petit St Bernard pass

FREE snowkiting initiations with instructors

FREE tests of 2011 snowkiting and kitesurfing gears thanks to NORTH Kiteboarding, HQ Powerkite and FLYSURFER.

FREERiding and FREEStyling demos. Freestyle free contest.

***18h / Place des Eucherts

Validation of the inscriptions for the French Snowkiting Open Distance Championships + Briefing at the Moobar

SATURDAY 22 January

***10h – 15h / Petit St Bernard pass

French Snowkiting Open Distance Champ. – DAY 1

FREE snowkiting initiations with instructors

FREE tests of 2011 snowkiting and kitesurfing gears thanks to NORTH Kiteboarding, HQ Powerkite and FLYSURFER.

***10h – 16h / La Rosiere bottom of the pists

Sponsors village : Tardy wooden skis on tests

FREE children activities : kites and brasilian ballons  buiding

*** Place des Eucherts

18h : Brasilian ballons show

20h30 : H2Open Kite United special dinner at La Grange Restaurant

22h30 : LIVE concert with “R.A.S.” (Rock Pop Funk) at the Moobar

SUNDAY 23 January

***10h – 15h / Petit St Bernard pass

French Snowkiting Open Distance Champ. – DAY 2

FREE snowkiting initiations with instructors

FREE tests of 2011 snowkiting and kitesurfing gears thanks to NORTH Kiteboarding, HQ Powerkite and FLYSURFER.

***10h – 16h / La Rosiere bottom of the pists

Sponsors village : Tardy wooden skis on tests + Moutain Riders Eco stand

FREE children activities : kites and brasilian ballons  buiding

***18h / Place des Eucherts

Final results of the French Snowkiting Open Distance Champ (La Rosière 1st round)

Jeremie Eloy : back to Petit St Bernard !

Back in January 2010, Jeremie had agreed to swap his board-shorts with a down jacket, and flip flops with snowboard boots, during the time of  a weekend facing Mt Blanc (See video). Who knows what he has liked the most: the powdery snow of the Petit St Bernard pass, or evenings at the MooBar? Anyway, just returned from Maui (where he went to shoot a video that rips), Jeremie said he will be with us in January 2011!

Accomodation in La Rosière

As for the past 4 years, the Tourist Office will offer a helping hand to accommodate the time of the weekend, at the best prices. To do this, you must group by 4, at least, to fill the apartments.

Reservations are not open yet (I’ll keep you posted soon on this before Christmas, but do not worry, there will be homes for all). However, this does not prevent you already try to get together!

So .. you have no friends, or you are looking for a 3rd and 4th, etc. … whatever the situation, contact each other you with the dedicated post on Facebook, by leaving your email or phone no!

Carpooling !

Whether you are competitors, coaches or spectators, please join the site coriding.com to share your vehicle, so transportation costs, with other riders. In addition, do your bit for the planet!

You can also join the discussion on our Facebook, to find your co-riders !

Junior Challenge – 14 to 17 years old

On the occasion of the CFSK 2011 in La Rosiere, the best junior will be rewarded, thanks to our sponsor North Kiteboarding, with a board Team Youngblood Series 2011!

“Coup de Coeur 2011″ from the Nicolas Hulot Foundation

As kite enthusiasts, we are sensitive to respect our environment, whether on a snowy pass or on at the beach. During the 2010 edition already, then called 2S ECHO, we chose to pay attention to the eco-responsibility of our event.

In 2011, with the Kite H2Open United, we will confirm this by providing:

• The establishment of an carpooling support among participants and volunteers
• A meal of local produce, and use of reusable or biodegradable dishes
• Eco-Stands
• Posters printed in limited quantities and on recycled paper
• Promotional ecofrienly tshirts, (70% bamboo + 30% organic cotton) with our partner KITADDICT

And it is with great pleasure that we are awarded as “Coup de Coeur 2011″ by the Fondation Nicolas Hulot.

H2Open Kite United : the Eco-friendly event of kitesurfers and snowkiters

In January 2010, we gathered nearly 100 competitors for a round of the French Snowkiting Championship “Opendistance” at the Petit St Bernard pass, facing Mont Blanc. In good humor, and despite a little wind, we have all benefited from this great event!

After this good start on the snow, unfortunately we have not confirmed the next step on the water. But our organization is tough … so here we are ready for 2011! The event changed its name to the H2Open Kite United, and the dates of the two Snow / Sea events are validated and adopted this time!

** La Rosière – Col du Petit St Bernard: 21-22-23 January 2011

** Perros Guirec – 6-7-8-9 October 2011