A champion handisport specialist kitesurfer
Chris Ballois was born on June 15, 1972 without a left forearm. Rather than turning it into a handicap, he has turned it into a strength, devoting himself to handisport sailing sports, in parallel with his status as Handiconsulting Manager since 2014. After a title of World Champion of speed in Handisport sailing since October 2014 established in kitesurfing (42.94 knots [79.52 km/h] average speed over 500 m), he has been competing and setting records:
- 4th of the French Kite/Foil Championship 2015 among the valid ones
- 9th Guyader Challenge: race against multihulls (2016)
- Record of the crossing St Malo / Jersey (2016) : 2 h 4 mn
- Record of the St Malo / Jersey round trip (2016) : 137 km, 4 h 19 mn
- 7th of the 2016 World Speed Kitesurfing Championship among the valid ones
An ambitious challenge: 260 nautical miles on one arm
From 3 to 10 June 2017, Chris Ballois will be taking on a new challenge around the Îles du Ponant, a distance of over 260 miles (460 km/h), which he will complete with one hand. He will complete this course in kitefoil from Brest to Lorient via Molène, Ouessant, Sein, les Glénan, Groix, Belle-Île en Mer, Hoëdic and Houat in one of the most complicated sailing areas due to its currents.
Values and sharing
Through this challenge, Chris Ballois intends to convey many values, starting with his role as sponsor of ASSEDEA: French Association of people concerned by agenesis (absence or malformation of members).
- Following your dreams by taking on ever more ambitious challenges
- To promote the integration of people with disabilities in civil society and within the company
- Highlight the performance potential of a person with a disability,
- Show the importance of teamwork,
- Raise awareness of the beauty of Brittany's maritime heritage (Breton islands on the Atlantic coast as well as the cities of departure and arrival and share it with their inhabitants)
- Revealing the full potential of new technologies, especially foils
- To make people want to practice an ecological outdoor sport powered by the wind
- Focus on the importance of safety at sea
A safe crossing
To accompany Chris in his challenge and ensure a safe crossing, he will be able to count on the support of the SNSM. Several boats will be chartered for safety, routing and press throughout the course and a team of several people will be mobilized: pilot and crew and technical assistant kite and routing.
