Lewis Crathern - The Man that Touched the Sky
Stuart Rolt
Jul 17
|18:31
Lewis Crathern - The Man that Touched the Sky
Local Kitesurfing legend Lewis Crathern soared over two of the South Coast’s most loved landmarks and into news reports all over the world. Now a film has been released showing the human story behind the extraordinary fearless Worthing and Brighton pier leaps.
Directed by Johnny Brooks, The Man that Touched the Sky also shows how Lewis is now using kitesurfing as a tool to promote wind energy. “England is the windiest country in Europe and the UK South Coast, especially our area, has the highest stats for wind anywhere,” says Crathern. “It’s crazy that we aren’t harnessing all this free energy.”
But what possess anyone to try and jump over 50ft of pier? “These are my local landmarks; it’s inevitable as humans that you consider doing these things,” Crathern calmly explains. “I looked at things long term. Someone was going to do this within 100 years. I’m good enough, so I wanted to do it.”
“It’s a bit of a rebellion, if you like, from the competition scene. I really feel that the competition scene doesn’t promote the sport as well as they could.”
Despite being viewed by many as foolhardy, these pier leaps were favourably received by most people. “I got a really positive feedback from it,” Crathern recalls. “What surprised me most was the older generation were behind me saying: ‘Yeah go on! You only get one chance in life’, whereas the middle-aged people have been a little bit more anal about it.”
He originally started his sporting life as a diver, but found his skills could be easily applied to kitesurfing. “I picked up a windsurfer by chance and tried that for a bit," says Crathern. "I’ve always been a very sports type guy, then I saw kite-surfing take off. I found I was pretty good at it after a few years. That’s how I started this journey.”
By 19 Crathern was British champion, a title he claimed on another three occasions, but in 2009 he turned his back on competing so he could concentrate on promoting the growing sport.
“It’s just so accessible now. Every country you can think of is getting into kite surfing. Iran, Israel, Egypt, it’s crazy how these places are all taking off.”
Crathern still lives in Worthing and now works as a kitesurfing coach, and presents events all over the world. He also tours schools to spreading the kite surfing message and promote a wind powered lifestyle.
“I can’t stop talking about how good England is for kite surfing,” Crathern says. “It’s currently the most rapidly growing water sport in the world. Getting lessons is the number one thing, if you’re getting into it. A kite is pretty powerful. It’s amazing what putting a kite in someone’s hand can do.”
Infamous daredevil, kite surfing icon and local hero… So what could be next for Lewis Crathern? “I’ve got some big things planned,” he laughs. “But I do have to keep them to myself. You’ll see it on the news I expect.”
By Stuart Rolt
Watch The Man that Touched the Sky at:
