22
DISCOVERING CORFU’S
VIBRANT EXTREME
SPORTS SCENE
There could be hundreds,
maybe a thousand rock
formations to jump and dive
off in Corfu. The island is
covered in rock formations
that jet out into the water
and form the coastline.
There are a few popular
spots that attract the tourist
crowd, but most take some
work to get to and are in
places only locals know of.
Spiros launching one of the
many cliff dives on Corfu.
While learning about Corfu, I discovered the
island had a small but highly dedicated and
vibrant extreme sports scene. The leader
of the scene was a man named Spiros
Badios. Spiros and I instantly became pen
pals. While on the island he would become
my guide to adventures, to meeting other
Greek athletes and now I call him a friend.
Snow in Greece? you
bet. On the mainland in
north-central Greece, there
are a number of ski areas,
backcountry spots as well
as mountaintop villages
to shred through. At the
closest point, Albania is
only one nautical mile from
Corfu. Across the water, you
can see the snowcapped
mountain most of the winter.
On Corfu, the usual is frosty
mornings that melt away
with sunshine. Otherwise
it rains a lot in the winter,
giving Corfu the name, “the
green island”. From time to
time the upper mountain of
Corfu gets some snowfall.
This is when the locals jump
into action because they
know it’s a very short win-
dow. Spiros 50-50’s a guard
rail on Mt. Pantokratoras.
P: Fabio Kraniotis
Left: Hike to the top, again and again. Mt.
Pantokratoras. P: Yiannis Michalas
Above: Marina Badiou at Mt. Pantokratoras.
The Snowcat. P: Spiros Badios
Above: I brought a few gifts from Bend with the intention of giving them away to the most stoked
people I could find. While warming up for the “dry ramp” session at Spiros’s house, these two, Alex
J and Nikos, started lifting some makeshift weights that Spiros had laying around. They were doing
squats, curls, and overhead lifts. The first thing I thought about was, Greek Strong Men. Here Alex
J Pappas and Nikos Gogos, beekeeper and a chef, in need of some snow or waves and beer.
Left: Fabio Kraniotis and Nikos Gogos snowboarding in the alleys of Strinilas Village last winter.
Mount Pantokratoras. P: Spiros Badios