Kari Schibevaag has gotten a taste of adventure, and she’s hungry for more. After her epic snow kite trip in the Arctic this winter, she’s ready to plan her next big trip, but not after spending a little time on a sunny beach with clean, peeling rights!

Kari Schibevaag is a prolific kiter from Norway, she’s equally at home in the waves as she is the mountains and her snow kiting escapades in the Arctic are becoming legendary. Find out what drives this Norwegian rider to be a success at everything she turns her hand to in our Female Focus this issue…

Congratulations on the release of your new movie, Breathe In. Could you tell us a bit about the making of the film? Any crazy experiences while filming?

Thanks. Breathe In is a documentary about snowkiting that was filmed in April of 2017 in Svalbard /Spitsbergen in the Arctic. It was made by Shutterbird Production and featured me and four of my friends: Jørgen Faksvåg, Cecilie Rydberg, Tom Magne Jonassen, Lars Oven Pettersen. Our focus was on exploring the Arctic glaciers, climbing mountains with only the force of the wind.

The film is about working together as a group in extreme conditions, coping with dangers and camping with polar bears.

We had some crazy stories with one of our teammates going through the ice. We had to rescue her and all her gear from the icy water. This could have been a perilous situation, but we managed to heat her up in the tent and got her warm.

Also, out there with such cold conditions, it is always a mission to try to fly drones. We put a lot of effort into this. Filming in cold conditions is hard. The camera and camera batteries get cold and don’t function. Also, when we are on this trip, it’s not like we can just turn around if we want to film. We were each dragging 90 kilograms sleds behind us, stopping to film always took a little longer!

Ultimately, it was a dream come true to be involved in this trip.

Can you describe your childhood for us, from growing up in Norway through to learning how to kiteboard?

Growing up, my family consisted of my mother, father, two brothers and me. I come from an outdoor family, so I am used to a lot of action. When I was young, I tried everything — swimming, football, singing, gymnastics, running, skiing, etc. I loved sports. Athletics were always my favourite part of school. Although I hated school because I always wanted to be outside playing.

I was a handball player, but I injured my knee, so I had to stop. After this, I felt my life was over. Then, I spent five years studying sport and pedagogy. I was working with kids who had problems with drugs and anger around the time when I started kiting. I became hooked on kiting and all my spare time was about finding the wind. After three years of work, I took six months off to focus on kiting. I never got back to work.

Are there any pieces of Norwegian wisdom or common sayings give you motivation? 

There is no bad weather only bad clothing.

You’ve had a lot of competition success, which accomplishments are you most proud of?

I’m most proud of my overall world title.  For me, this shows that I can do different things with the kite, and it represents what my life is all about. Competition has made me want to become a better kiter, and it helped me get to a point where I can be doing what I’m doing today.

What sparked your interest in adventure kiting and adventure travel? 

I have been outside since I was born, and I dreamt of being out in the Arctic for longer stretches of time. I’ve been on a lot of smaller trips, and I know this life is for me. My last trip to the Arctic will not be my last expedition of this nature, and I hope the next will happen soon.

What’s your favourite season? Why?

I like real summer and real winter. I need both of them. I can’t stand to only be in the sun or snow. The change makes the year perfect.

Do you have any advice for the softer kiters in our audience who shy away from cold, winter days?

It’s not too cold when you have the right gear. If you know how to dress, then being in the cold is a ton of fun. Also, the head plays a significant role in staying positive.

Describe your all-time favourite kite session.

My all-time favourite kite sessions include powder, mountains, sun and a few friends. Climb the mountain and enjoy perfect powder on the way down. What could be better? Maybe perfect waves from the right, strong wind, and sun. These two options are the best conditions I can imagine, and when I find them my smile stays for a long time.

Tell us about the business side of your life. How do you support your adventures?

I’ve started a water sports centre in Lofoten/Flakstad called Schibevaag Adventure where I have my business. I offer kiteboarding, SUP, kayak, snorkelling, boogie boarding, and surfing and for all levels and ages. I also put on kite camps, write travel stories, give speeches, produce films, and more!

What is your quiver of choice, and why?

I use the RRD Religion kite for waves together with the Maquina and C.O.T.A.N. directional boards. In the snow, I use Vision and Passion kites. I use the Bliss Kiss twin tip for freestyle, and my harness of choice is the RRD Sense. I usually wear the Fahrenheit 6/5 woman’s wetsuit with a hood. It’s a great winter suit. For me, this setup is the best.

I love RRD, and and I am just super happy that I can ride this gear and also be part of the team. This team is special, and Roberto and his family are not people you meet every day. They are an incredible family.

What’s the next big adventure you want to check off your bucket list?

I want to travel more in the Arctic and do more expeditions similar to the one I did in Svalbard. I hope it will happen soon.

Do you have any advice for young kiters who want to follow in your footsteps?

Just do it. Be yourself. Don’t try to copy anyone else. If you are yourself, then you will for sure find gold. You can only be you, and you are capable of doing anything you want.

Videos

Breathe In - Official Trailer
Kiting under the Northern Lights in Tromsø, Norway
Orca and SUP
By Lindsay McClure
Lindsay is a pro rider from Hood River in the USA, she works for IKSURFMAG as our Features Editor and is an integral part of the team. Lindsay is really into wakestyle riding and can be found in the Hood River Slider Park during the summer months, she also travels all over the world with the World Class Academy helping younger riders develop through kiteboarding!

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