Photographer Lance Koudele moved from Jackson Hole to Portland, OR eight years ago. As he says, “After completely rebuilding both knees, a shoulder, and a number of other injuries I knew it was time to move on from the competitive side of sports to the creative side. I wanted to capture the essence of why we do these sports and I attended the Art Institute of Portland to learn how.” Seems like he’s learned, as evidenced by this Snaz portfolio. Of this image, Koudele says, “I’d flown in helicopters in Valdez, but never before hanging out with my feet on the skid shooting my friends smack double overhead swell. A true kiter, like Dano See, moves the kite as an extension of himself.”
Aussie Ben Wilson is amped to test the Oregon waters, though with a slightly thicker wetsuit than he’s used to.
Five time PKRA World Champion Aaron Hadlow feels the vibration at California’s Sacramento River delta.
Small swell, soul session, super stoked – Sky Solbach solo.
Youri Zoon sends it in the Outer Keys of Florida, less than 200 miles from Cuba.
Koudele: “Youri Zoon breaks the law in Ft. Lauderdale. We had maybe 20 minutes on the water before someone told us that the cops were on the way. Evidently kiting along the pier was not legal. Felt like I was a kid skating all over again.”
Aussie Ben Wilson smacks the lip strapless on the North Oregon Coast.
At the Columbia River Gorge, Belgian kiter Ruben Lenten only starts getting interested when winds hit 30 knots. Here the gusts were pegging 40 plus.
Koudele: “When Ruben Lenten is stoked and conditions are on, it’s matrix time. Things move in atypical ways, the impossible becomes possible. I think he dodges bullets too but probably won’t test that theory.”
Koudele: “Take a 30 minute boat ride with Key West resident Sean Reyngoudt and he’ll take you to the end of the world. The place is called the Great White Heron National Wildlife Reserve and it’s a kiter’s dream- clear blue water, white sandy beaches, steady winds and butter smooth water. Home to over 250 different species of birds (and a few nesting turtles),you’d be pressed to find another human amongst the 200,000 acres of open water and islands. Known locally as the Backcountry, we spent a couple days exploring the area, kiting deserted beaches, laughing, and sipping rum while looking for the shadowy lurk of nurse sharks.”
For more of Koudele’s work, check out his site.
Lance- these are beautiful of course.
Love your work for something new every time I see it.
stunning! congratulations. Interested in your course work at the art institute as i’ve considered the same.
hank
wow… beautiful pictures