Zurich, 20.02.2013. Two
dentists from Zurich have negotiated the 560 km long Strait of Magellan on
kiteboards, setting a world record under extreme weather conditions and taking
the sport of kiteboarding into a new dimension. Maurice Lacroix supported the
venture under the slogan “YOUR TIME IS NOW.”
Strong winds, icy temperatures and persistent poor
visibility certainly created difficult conditions for brothers Geza and André
Scholtz, two dentists from the city of Zurich who are passionate about kite
surfing. Their great dream – to navigate the Strait of Magellan by kiteboard –
became reality on January 7, 2013. “We congratulate the expedition team,
who have proved once again that we should always hold on to our dreams in order
to make them come true. In spite of the difficult conditions, the time was
right for the team to rise above all the challenges,” says Marc Gläser, Managing
Director of Maurice Lacroix SA, which supported the project.
The Strait of Magellan
lies between the southernmost tip of South America and the island of Tierra del
Fuego. It is named after the Portuguese mariner Ferdinand Magellan, who, in 1520,
was the first to sail through the strait in the course of his voyage around the
world. Since the opening of the Panama Canal in 1914, the strait has been used
only by large transport vessels that cannot pass through the canal. With its
icy water temperatures, roaring winds and poor visibility, the strait is
regarded as one of the most difficult and dangerous navigation routes. The passage
demanded full commitment from the entire team. A record achievement in terms of
sporting endurance, bringing with it the reward of a place in history as the “Maurice
Lacroix Strait of Magellan Expedition”.
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