Czech championship in Pilsen.

This weekend we headed west to Czech industrial city Pilsen. 

Local kayakers has build a artificial playspot at the old Mill. It is quite unique construction with very specific hole.

Pilsen is not that far from German border so few Germans, one Austrian and even one British paddler, took part in this small “local” event. 

As I have mention Pilsen’s  playspot  is very specific. It is powerful and tricky. You can paddle 30 minutes and you are dead for rest of the day :)

It was very good opportunity to train in different hole however it was quite frustrating sometimes.

Saturday started with all the prelims. I started also in mens category to have more starts in one day. I finished first in woman category and somewhere around 20th place in mens. 

Actually I was quite nervous because I could do only my basic moves as loop, cartwheels or splitwheels. I practiced my phonic monkeys and mc nasties but I wasn’t able to stick it in the hole. At least I saw that guys had big problems to stick it there as well.

Sunday morning has finals started. I tried to do my best but I did only my basic routine and than I flashed with every attempt of phonic monkeys. Other girls paddled good too and at the end three of us had almost the same score. I missed the first place only by 5 points! This year it is already second second place for me. Hopefully I can change it and take gold medal home too. So will it be in two weeks in Lienz? Keep the fingers crossed for me!

See you!

Nina

Eurocup Plattling

The competition season started with Euro Cup in Plattling, it was the German Championship and German team trials for Worlds as well. Paddlers form 11 countries came to fight for medal. Peter still can not paddle so he changed the role for while and took a part as a head judge.

The weather in Plattling was crazy! One day it was hot and sun was shining and next day it was raining and mud was every where. You could see many paddlers to come few days in advance to get use this specific Plattling playspot. The water level was still rising and hole became more tricky but on the other hand it secured huge air for loops, space gozilas or back loops.

Friday started with men's and junior men's prelims. I had runs on Saturday. I did well in prelims and ended up at first place. Semifinals was a bit harder for me so I took third place. To secure place in finals wasn’t easy. Girls like Claire O’Hara GBR (World Champion), Maria Lindgren SWE, Katy Kulkova RUS or Anne Hubner GER paddled very well and did pretty awesome rides.

Guys had pretty tough semifinals too. The order in prelims, semifinal and final has completely changed.

Sunday unlike Saturday started sunny. I started to be nervous as finals came closer. 

The water level rise very quickly and the hole has completely changed. I tried my routine in my first two rides but I couldn’t stick my Phonic monkeys as the level was more flushy. I was still at fifth position so I had my last ride to changed my final position. I reorganized my ride to be able to get higher score. It helped a lot but still it wasn’t enough to beat Claire, who actually won her gold medal here two years ago. So I placed second and Katya was right after me. In mens the gold took young german paddler Paul Meylahn, second was Bartosz Cauderna POL and third took James Bebbington GBR.

Second Euro Cup will take a place in Prague, CZE in end of July. I am already looking forward!

Nina

Pictures by Nuria Fontane Maso and Jan Spindler