Iāve dreamed of crossing an ocean for as long as I can remember. Now itās time to do it š¤
Iāve been thinking about this project for years.
On January 3, 2027, it officially begins.
It might still seem far away, but for the team and myself, itās already very close.
Behind the scenes, weāre working hard to make this happen. Step by step, everything is coming together and I really want to take you along in that journeyāØ
A 5,000 km crossing, from the Canary Islands to the Caribbean. 8 to 12 hours on the water. Every single day, 100 to 150 kmā¦ again and again. What an adventure and Iām realy looking forward to it.
Some days will go well, others wonāt.
Follow @koendarras for more updates about the crossing
Website Atlantic Crossing by Kitesurf š > Link in bio
This is only the beginning š³
It took me 45 years to make this video, but I finally did it š¤
Who am I?
Why am I here?
A life with ups and downs,
but I always followed my heart š«¶
Itās my mission to see the world through the eyes of mountains and oceans, and enjoy every second of the process.
Because in the end,
limits are only invitations.
Do you know what you really want?
HOW I BECAME AN ADVENTURER š
I didnāt grow up traveling the world.
My life started very small on a little farm in Belgium, surrounded by sheep, chickens and nature.
I spent most of my childhood outside and also a lot of time with my grandmother while my parents worked hard.
At 14, I joined a hut trek in Italy and climbed my very first 4000m peak in Italy (Grand Paradiso) š®š¹ That moment changed something inside me forever.
A few years later, after heartbreak and feeling lost, I booked a one-way ticket to Brazil when I was 18 years old. That decision completely changed the direction of my life.
Since then, adventure slowly became a way of life. Backpacking, mountains, oceans, wild camping, different cultures, freedom and the unknown.
Looking back, Iām grateful for every step of the journey.
And honestlyā¦ I still feel like Iām only getting started.
Whatās one moment that changed your life forever? šš
Postcards from Dakhla š«¶
Iām still processing everything that happened during those weeks in Dakhla.
Endless kitesurf sessions, driving through the desert with my old 1997 Nissan Patrol āOne Loveā, sleeping in the middle of nowhere, buying local food, meeting beautiful local people, friendship, eating fresh fish and chicken, laughing around the fire, getting lost in the dunes and watching sunsets that didnāt feel real.
The list goes on and on.
Dakhla is one of those places thatās hard to explain if youāve never been there. Overthere itās not only about kitesurfing. Itās the atmosphere, the emptiness, the slow rhythm of life, the feeling of being far away from everything that normally fills your head.
Unforgettable moments, hope you like it šāļø?
This is the route: From Europe to the Caribbean šļø
Iāll follow the trade winds for weeks, maybe months.
Adapting to whatever the ocean gives.
Some days will go well, others wonāt.
An entire ocean crossing, step by step.
Every kilometer has to be earned and will be officially tracked.
Follow @koendarras to see how this unfolds š
More updates coming soon.
POV: this is what training for an ocean looks like š«£
Iām Koen Darras - training for a worldās first āAtlantic Crossing by Kitesurf as a solo riderā
I love speed and long distance kitesurfing.
And sometimes I crash super hard š¤Ø
@weareclubnorth@northkiteboarding@mysticboarding
How do you get to a magical place like the White Dunes šļø?
Some locals told us about a place called the White Dunes (Dunes Blanches). They said you could drive thereā¦
even kitesurf there.
You have to admit āThe White Dunesā that sounds pretty tempting, right? So we went for it š
With our old 1997 Nissan Patrol āOne Loveāit already felt like an adventure getting there. But there was one thingā¦At high tide, the dunes turn into an island surrounded by water. No way out!
And stillā¦ we decided to stay. We drove onto the dunes and waited until the ocean slowly closed in around us.
That night, we saw one of the most beautiful sunsets Iāve ever seen, made a fire, did some meditation, watched the stars and talked about life āØ
We were so deeply in the moment
Thx @thomas_gonesurfing
No excuses and beast mode is on, love itš„š
Itās not always easy and itās not always fun.
But doing something every single day, thatās what builds you.
š What sport are you doing today?
How are you going to spend your life?
YouTube short film is now LIVE š¤
Itās only 4min30, but it comes straight from the heart.
šlink in bio
I have so much more to tell you: about this massive expedition, the team, the vessel, and everything behind it. Step by step, I will let you know more about it
