For those who both ride waves in the ocean and powder in the mountains, the parallels between both disciplines are clear. Throw in the ultimate crossover – powder surfing – and the connection is even more obvious. Point is, surfing and snowboarding will always be inextricably linked, from history to the feeling of laying into a turn.
It begs the question, what sort of surfing offshoots could be adapted to achieve similar feelings in the mountains? Answer: windsurfing.
Levi Siver may be an obscure reference in mountain circles. But the guy’s built an incredible reputation as a competitive and freestyle windsurfer.
Born in Ketchum, Idaho, Siver lived there until he was 11, when his family moved to Maui. It was there he was able to pursue his passion for windsurfing full time.
Perhaps as an homage to the mountains he was surrounded by as a kid, Siver recently hatched the idea of taking his windsurfing to new heights, literally – the mountains.
Levi Siver poses for a portrait near the summit during the Stream Mountain project on Rishiri Island, Hokkaido, Japan on March 11th, 2017 Photo: Jason Halayko/Red Bull Content Pool
“The idea for this project stemmed from the vision that we could transfer the elements of windsurfing onto a mountain and create the same exhilarating experience the surfer gets on the water.
“I’m always trying to find ways to challenge myself, but this project really sparked my curiosity,” said Siver. “What would happen if I were to combine snowboarding and windsurfing? After all, I have enjoyed both of these sports for a really long time.
“I wanted to be the first person to try alpine windsurfing on a finned board. Using a snowboard would actually be optimum for performance, but I really wanted to recreate that unique sensation of windsurfing and to do that I need to make (something) between a snowboard and windsurfing board.”
Levi Siver rides his windsurfing board down Rishiri Mountain during the Stream Mountain project on Rishiri Island, Hokkaido, Japan on March 8th, 2017 Photo: Jason Halayko/Red Bull Content Pool
Five years in creation, Siver ultimately took his specialized, finned mountain windsurfer to Hokkaido, Japan in some distinct terrain where you can see the ocean from the mountains.
Shooting would consist of a two-hour hike, then waiting for up to three hours at a time for optimum winds.
“[The board] has straps and its ridden with surf boots so on the drop in you get the same feeling as when you’re windsurfing. But you’re looking down on a mountain, not the ocean,” said Siver. “I got this exhilarating feeling that I can’t even really describe.”
