Kitesurfers are expected to become accustomed to different types of surfing terrain, but there’s an annual tradition at Lake Silvaplana in Grisons, Switzerland, that offers a unique challenge.
Silvaplana freezes over in the cold months, but there’s a period between spring and summer when the ice begins to melt, and kitesurfers have become a welcome aid to breaking the waters back up.
Their tracks through the slush accelerate the process, and SwissKitesurf1 posted a video tracking the mesmeric process:
The lake is a regular hotspot for kitesurfers and windsurfers in the summer, but they return to Silvaplana early and help disperse the ice so it’s ready sooner for first-time surfers.
