Frieira wave movie clip

(Un)Lucky trip to Spain

When I was booking flight tickets to Spain I hoped for good water level. We wanted to train In Ourense for European Championships which will be held there in end of July. We spent there 9 days. Because of cheaper tickets we flew to Portugal to Lisbon, which is 520km from Ourense. In that time were in Lisbon oil strike so our plain needed stop in Barcelona to tank. Because of it we were one hour late and we had to pay 30euro more for rental car. So our trip started quite unlucky. Then when I saw our rented car, I almost started to cry! It was nice city car- Fiat Punto but we had two boats and no roof rack. The roof was so soft that we couldn’t put it up without it, only chance was put it inside. I really don’t know how we did it and after one hour we were able to leave airport car park. Problem in Portugal and Spain is that no one can speak English and also traffic signs are in Spanish. We were looking for some fast food at 3 am but we lost. Afternoon we finally arrived to Ourense. To find theirs playspot wasn’t difficult, it is under very strange bridge. Unfortunately we didn’t have good water level, it was very high.

We spent there 2 hours but then we decided to move to Feiera, where was last year eurocup.

Next morning we had enough water for feiera wave. Peter was surfing and I took some pictures of him.

There is no edy service so he needed to climb up every time but once he slipped on rock and his boat fell to water and swam away. I was chasing it whole river, finally I got itJ After that we made a small break, but wave is right under the power station and they switched of water so we had stop paddling for that day. Next morning we had plan to train little bit on Feiera and afternoon to go to Ourense. But some keeper came and told us that we can’t paddle there without the permission. So we went straight to Ourense. There we had lower water level but I guess not enough so after paddling, totally mad, we decided to spent rest of our trip laying on the beaches. Our plan was to travel to Vigo and then looking for some nice beach to stay. We spent night in the forest near beach.

Morning we woke up to rainy day. We were very upsad. Everything what we had plan was broken. We were trying to find internet but it was very difficult in that part of Spain. After 3hour of looking for it we found one internet café. Like first we checked weather forecast. There was wrote; three days of heavy rain! I fell really tearfull. We didn’t know what to do. Only thing what I wanted was go ''home''. Peter finally decided to go back to Feiera. Like they said, it was raining hole day and also next day. Fortunately we took a tent with us. Morning on Feira we checked water level and for our surprise water was very high. Instead small wave there was big green wave with foam on top, like we remembered from 3years ago. Very happy we enjoyed it 2,5 hours until they switch off the water. I think it is the best wave in the Europe. It don’t have edy service but it is no problem because you can surf it as long as you wish. Normally, Peter had every ride longer than 7minutes and once he made 12minutes long ride with EVERY trick to both side and in huge air.

We were so excited that we immediately forgot everything bad what happened to us. So rest of our trip we spent in Feira perfect wave. Afternoon when they switched of dam, usually there was a hole where you can also paddle. But we did not because after paddling on our perfect wave we weren’t able to moveJ No one came again to ask us for permission so we were allow to paddle there every day. We slept in small car park in the middle of nowhere. First shop was 30km away. It was really strange trip but finally I have to say- We were paddling one of the best wave in the world!

The movie clip is comming soon.

See you

Nina & Peter

Freestyle kayak Graz competition 2008

Like every year, also this year was held in Graz Austrian championships in last weekend in May. Now it is a tradition for us to go there because this is one of the best competition in year. It is friendly event held just in Saturday. Usually about 50 people is competing, but every year there come more and more people. We came at Friday from Augsburg to train a bit but actually we were there last week when Peter had freestyle clinics there so we know that spot well. Friday we train just a while to improve some details because we didn’t have much energy after paddling in Augsburg. Evening we went to their local boathouse to joint barbecue party there. At midnight we went sleep. At Saturday at eleven o’clock have started competition with junior category then ladies, C1 and man category. Me and Peter we were helping as judges. So we were quite bussy that day but otherwise I very like that job even if it is not easy. In my category were 8 girls so we had just quail and final but in men’s were 30 guys competing, they had also semifinal.

After qualification I was leading with big score. That was because I made a nice air loop there what wasn’t easy. It was a small wave spot good for blunts, backsteps, or felixes but it was quite hard go to air there, but not impossible. Peter has make a cool air clean blunts and airscrews. I don’t understand how he could go so much to air on that small wave. His biggest rival was Daniel Herzig, a local paddler. He did a awesome helixes and huge air backsteps there! Guys had a hard fight. Finally Benjamin Kraler (AUT) took 5^th place, Simon Strohmeier (DE) 4^th, Luka Stricelj (SLO) 3th, Daniel Herzig 2^nd and Peter took gold.

It was really interesting to watch the final because everyone was trying to do well and you could see many different hard tricks. I also didn’t have a easy final. Every time I am in stress and it really don’t help meJ But I was trying to do my best and finally I got gold! 2^nd was Katarina Migdauova (CZE), then Katja Stain (DE), Gurdun Lehner (AUT) and Judith Prechtl (AUT). Prizegiving ceremony was in their local restaurant Shilling. We had a tasty dinner and after that they nominate winners. I won 100euros and Peter 250euros! Really nice J. The last week of July they have a second competition in Graz in hole spot so we are looking forward to go there again!

See you there!

Nina

Kuchl & Plattling - movie clip

Hi, I know it is little late but , we didn't had so much time for playing with movies. But now its ready.
Enjoy it>>>
Paddlers: Peter Csonka , Nina Halasova , Jan Spindler , Zdenek Spindler , Michi Strommer , ...
Location : Plattling , Kuchl