To Cross the Moon "2XtM" Snowkiting Expedition across North Dakota to raise awareness for wind energy and alterative recreation,
Project Street Address
Project City
Project Province/State
Project Postal/Zip Code
Project Country
Sport
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Year the initative began (yyyy)
2006
YouTube Upload
View our latest video here
Project URL (include HTTP://)
Which of these barriers is the primary focus of your work?
Few effective tools for personal improvement
Which of the principles is the primary focus of your work?
Leverage the fun factor
If you believe some other barrier or principle should be included in the mosaic, please describe it and how it would affect the positioning of your initiative in the mosaic:
Lack of exposure to alternative sports. I was born in rural North Dakota; I moved to south Miami, Florida at the age of 4. I was rapidly exposed to a plethora of world cultures; this experience is fundamental to the development of my passion for new ideas and differing perspectives. I moved back to Crystal, ND at the age of 13, going from being part of an ethnic minority group to being a part of the overwhelming majority. The lack of cultural diversity and open minded individuals has led me to search for free thinking, innovative individuals that have the ability to make a difference; culminating in the desire to share my experiences and expose the Midwest to alternative lifestyles and extreme living with awareness. There are no natural recreational features in North Dakota, kids do not have equal opportunity to explore these life changing opportunities, because they are culturally unaware, they have no drive to seek them out. "out of site out of Mind" I want to empower the Midwest with the recreational opportunity's the rest of the country has at their door steps. Snowkiting is the answer to this turning the wind into a natural media of recreation more potential power than mountains, forests or beaches not to mention the ease of accessibility.
Name Your Project
To Cross the Moon "2XtM" Snowkiting Expedition across North Dakota to raise awareness for wind energy and alterative recreation,
Describe Your Idea
What is your signature innovation, your new idea, in one sentence?
To use our passion for extreme endurance activities and snowkiting to educate, inspire and motive others to see the benefits of renewable energy - specifically
Describe your innovation. What makes your idea unique and different than others doing work in the field?
We are bringing the message of clean energy and alternative recreation directly to a region previously thought to be void of natural features to recreate on. North Dakota is #1 In wind energy potential, meaning that the WIND can easily substitute the lack of natural features. We are combining Industry sponsorship(future retail partners), a for profit KiteND.com (funding), 2XtM snowkiting expedition (Media & Credibility), Documentary Film (International Awareness), Free Snowkite clinics(Tangible example of wind energy and future customers), and a extensive educational program with many national affiliations (AWEA, Will Steger Foundation, ND Climate, Windustry, Kid Wind...)
What are the existing barriers, the biggest problem, your innovation is hoping to address/change?
North Dakota has a great deal of wind energy potential and residents of the state want to see more wind energy development. Unfortunately, the political will doesn’t exist. There are a lot of excuses, but ultimately it’s hard not to conclude that the powerful coal and oil lobby that exists in North Dakota has created a hostile environment for wind and renewables. Considering our country’s growing energy needs, we believe there is room for all forms of energy. North
Delivery Model: How do you implement your innovation and apply it to the challenge/problem you are addressing?
To Cross the Moon (2XtM) is an eco-friendly snowkiting expedition across North Dakota to raise awareness for wind energy and climate change. From the U.S. - Canadian border in the north, to the state line in the south, extreme endurance athletes Sam Salwei, Jason Magness and Paul Cassedy will snowkite 390 miles across the frigid winter moonscape of North Dakota. Carrying everything they need on their backs for the three-week expedition, the trio will make the journey propelled solely by the wind’s energy. Driven not only by their quest for adventure and extreme challenges, but also by their passion for empowering and inspiring society to see the potential for wind energy as a meaningful and essential energy source in the fight against climate change.
How do you plan to grow your innovation?
The many distinct facets of 2XtM include:
• The Expedition – 370 mile wind-powered journey across the frigid winter moonscape of North Dakota from Canada to South Dakota. Athletes will be self-supported as they carry everything they need on their backs through a maze of barbed wire, power lines and jagged ice.
• Educational Presentations – Presentations targeted at middle school and high school students. There will also be presentations to community groups. Presentations will focus on global warming and North Dakota’s ability to provide a big part of the solution with its enormous wind energy potential. 2XtM engages people in a unique way that connects the science behind global warming and renewable energy to the everyday livelihoods of ordinary citizens.
• Snowkiting Demos and Lessons – Somewhere in North Dakota lies the Aspen of snowkiting. We will provide free snowkiting lessons in all the communities we visit giving people the opportunity to feel the power of the wind with their own two hands. People will have
Provide one sentence describing your impact/intended impact.
We will directly reach 10,000 people with our education presentations, plus millions more by means of media coverage; We will also be filming a documentary.
What impact has your innovation had to date/or what is your intended impact? Exactly who are the beneficiaries?
During the trial run we spoke directly to more than 2000 people statewide; we were covered by all major television stations, radio news, and newspapers in North Dakota. Our expedition was also featured on MSNBC. Several national magazines and newspapers also picked up the story, including USA Today, Backcountry Magazine, and Kite World. Based on our research we reached approximately 283,857.50 people locally and 13,115,834.50 nationally based on standard circulation and readership numbers. This project is not for profit; sponsoring companies will benefit from media coverage broadcasting shots of their products during the expedition. The primary goal is to benefit the students and citizens in North Dakota by educating them about their role in the solution to the climate crisis.
How many people have you served directly?
Minot
• Concert: 100 people (showed trailer, talked about expedition
Crosby
• Presentation @ community theatre (30 people)
• Snowkiting clinics at fairgrounds (20 people)
Williston
• High school auditorium: (400 9th and 10th graders)
• James Memorial Center: (50 people)
• Snowkiting demos: (25)
New Town
• 2 presentations to middle school students (120 students)
• snowkiting demos at casino marina (10)
Bismarck:
• Wachter Middle School (100)
• South Central Alternative High Schol (15)
• Century High School (100)
• Grimsrud Elementary School (60 5th graders)
• Horizon Middle School (7 periods of 7th grade earth science – 175 total)
• Rita Murphy Elementary – (25 5th graders)
• Capitol Building (3 days during 2007 legislative session, manned table w/ educational display set up in main hall visited by politicians, citizens, teachers and touring student groups (50)
• Snowkiting clinics (capitol grounds and Horizon middle school – 30?)
Fort Yates
• Ft. Yates Middle School (90 7th and 8th graders)
Grand Forks
• Post Expedition Party (50)
• UND English as a Second Language (30)
• UND Integrated Studies (spring) (70)
• UND Integrated Studies (fall) (75)
• UND ECO Hemp Party (fall) (50)
Dickinson
• Strom Entrepreneurship Conference (400)
Washington, DC
• Powershift 2007 Conference (120)
How many people have you served indirectly?
2007 Media exposure
Print 45 Publications- USA Today, Yoga Journal, Climbing Magazine, Kite Boarding, Kite World as well as five front page appearances in local papers.
Radio 10 Shows- 2 on NPR and prairie public radio as well as talk shows with follow up interviews
Television 15 Appearances- Many local features culminating with a 4 min Live Interview on MSNBC
Internet 50 Sites - Just Google 2XtM or Sam Salwei
TOTAL Impressions 25,000,000
Please list any other measures reflective of the impact of your innovation?
We are currently designing a way in which children can get involved in promoting wind energy in our state. We plan to offer a template for constructing wind socks, gather donated material and allow groups to make and distribute these windsocks as a symbol of support for wind energy within the community. This project will allow citizens to demonstrate their support from their own homes or vehicles, while giving young students an opportunity to get involved.
What are the main barriers to creating or achieving your impact?
Our primary barrier is capital. Our Impact is multifaceted.
Team Yoga Slackers - (the Expedition Athletes) Funding the extensive gear needed to traverse North Dakota.
KiteND.com - (Revenue) Initial investment to develop the web sales structure
Educational Presentations (awareness) Funding to create a fully interactive website and further develop our 40min educational presentation.
Documentary Film (International Awareness) Funding for Post production. All production time has been donated by Thrillhead Creations
Transportation (Practice what you preach) Hybrid vehicles for the education and Film Crews
This Entry is about (Issues)
How is your initiative financed (or how do you expect your initiative will be financed)?
The initial investment is high(83,000). We have utilized the marketing budgets of interested Outdoor Industry members (20,000). We have received (23,000) in Donated professional services. We have solicited passionate individuals for tax free donations(5,000). We have sold related products to generate(3,000). We have personal invested 1000's of hours and over $8,000. the remaining $24,000 will help us overcome all barriers described above, creating a sustainable model for positive social change with a powerful new sport at the heart of it.
If known, provide information on your finances and organization.
We have a set system to handle all finical transactions.
Fiscal Sponsor: Northern Great Plains a 501c3 handles all donations to the 2XtM education and awareness projects
YogaSlackers LLP and NHRG LLC handle Kite and gear revenue
Initial investment
Cash:10,000.00
Full time:2
Part time:2
Volunteers:35
Sponsors: 25
Product Donation: 20,000
Revenue Generated 3,000
Start up budget $83,000.00
Annul budget: $15,000 (sustained from a matching grant from ND Tourism and Kite sales)
We will not hire any employees. Any individuals doing work for kitend will do so as volunteers or as contracted independent agents.
Company philosophy, principles, and standard practices will be thought to volunteers and independent agents through a one-page company policy document, online videos, and face time with the company leaders
What is the potential demand for your innovation?
North Dakota has shown positive interest in snowkiting. Nearly 40 people signed up for free kite lessons at last year's Boost at the Moose Event. The North Dakota market is currently wide open. It has the greatest potential for snowkite growth in the nation. The wind and ground conditions are ideal. With over 600,000 residents spread across the entire state in conveniently sized towns, seeding organic snowkite communities of 200 people or less will be relatively easy.
What are the main barriers to financial sustainability?
• Wind Power Sports is a online kite shop and kite instruction business. It is based out of the owners home.
•Our advantage: The shop is not a brick & mortar operation, and therefore doesn't qualify to sell kites by many distributor standards. Also, the owner is older and has a lack of vision for the sport in North Dakota.
What is the origin of this innovation? Tell us your story.
Jason Magness and I are always dreaming up extreme endurance activities from competing in 10day long adventure races to attempting to bike 112 mile single track trail in the badlands of North Dakota in 24 hours, to packrafting class 4/5 during 21 day backcountry expeditions in the NWT of Canada. We are also seeking to align our passions with extreme endurance athleticism to environmental activism. We would like to align our accomplishments with causes far greater then our personal fulfillment.
I seriously considered to possibility of crossing the state in September of 2006, serious planning began in November 2006.
Out-migration, underage drinking, Entrepreneurship opportunities wind energy & snowkiting, ND Pride, potential for annual extreme sports event in ND, Climate Change awareness, answer misconceptions about wind energy, Boosting image of ND…
Armed with these issues I set out to create an awareness building campaign. My original plan was to use my passion for extreme endurance activities to show case North Dakotas’ potential to be come a leader in renewable energy. I had very little knowledge on this subject all I knew at the time was that ND was #1 in wind potential, and more importantly at the time, seemed logistically feasible to cross the entire state using snowkites, snowboards and the wind. I was hoping to find a larger organization to align with in order to accomplish the message side of the project. Planning a 14 day winter expedition in less than 3 months was enough
Please provide a personal bio. Note this may be used in Changemakers marketing material.
Born in rural North Dakota; I moved to Miami, Florida at the age of 4. I was rapidly exposed to a plethora of world cultures; this experience was fundamental in developing my passion for new ideas and differing perspectives. I moved back to ND at age 13, going from ethnic minority to an overwhelming majority. The lack of cultural diversity has led me to search for free thinking, innovative individuals to help me make a difference.
How did you hear about this contest and what is your main incentive to participate? (this is confidential)
I found this amazing opportunity through the THINK MTV website. "By now you may be asking what our motivation is? Well, it is our passion to spread the word about this great state and its enormous potential. We no longer want our greatest export to be our friends. We are the Saudi Arabia of wind; wind that can bring clean energy jobs and investment to our state. This world-class wind resource also makes North Dakota ideal for snowkiting, an exploding outdoor sport with both recreational and entrepreneurial opportunities. This expedition provides a chance to showcase those opportunities."
We feel that "The Sport for a Better World Competition" offers the perfect solution aiding us in overcoming our biggest challenge, capital acquisition. We are able to highlight our skills and dedication to our grass roots initiative, further refining our idea as well as increasing our chances of success. Thank you for your time and consideration.
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