Sopac & USA Trip!

04-05.08 Had place last Sopac Rodeo.  The competition had been going on for 7 years in old firemans pool. There was build a platform where water was pushed through by two big engines from Tatra car and screws from motor boat. This artifical construction was the only one of this type in whole world. Unforgivable atmosphere was always provided by people who came partying next to famous tank and tradition of throwing boats at party to the pool just side by big air and slope style ramps. Alot of people arrived to celebrate the last event at this place.

The event lasted two days and was also 3rd event of CNAWR Rodeo Cup. For this event came even guests from Ireland, Sweden and New Zeland.  There were over 40 competitors starting in 5 categories. Except main event there jumps from big air not only with boats but also bmx show and slopestyle. Awesome thing were evening sessions with car lights on and alot of paddlers having fun in the hole. At evening there was big party where  everybody were recalling good times spent at Sopac rodeos.  Sunday was day of finals. Unfortunetly only Honza and me got in from Pirate-Production as Ondra dropped out at 7th place. On the end Honza for the first time finaly got 1st historical place at his own playspot making him Sopac champion forever now.

I think everybody will remember this awesome place made and run by Spindlers family for people so everybody could enjoy freestyle kayaking in this awesome way, thanks!

Straight after finals i had to leave home becouse i was leaving to America in two days.

After Marathon of packing my staff and making my boat size of creeker with all the plastics and styropians around it i was ready to go.

The Flight was really long thing. I was traveling with Iza from my club, we went first from Cracow to Frankfurt where we had to wait 18 hours for another flight, then to Philadelphia  where we had another 2.5 hour stop and on the end to Atlanta. All together it gave us over 30 hours . We flought with LOT and US Airways paying 150 euro for boats.  Happily when we arrived we found out nothing was missing and we met Marcel Bloder – first member of our USA trip VAJDA crew.  We picked our luggage and waited for others – Peter Csonka and Nina Csonkova to pick us up from the airport with awesome car they managed to get!

That was not end of our trip yet, there was still almost 4 hours of driving to NOC  at Nanthala river where last member of crew was waiting for us  - Tomas Andrassy. When we arrived we met our friend from Russia Stas Vasilyev, was nice to see him again after so long time from Uganda. Becouse there was no camping possibility yet and staying at cabins was too expensive for us, we left Iza at camp and went back to the mountains to National Forest to sleep there.

 That was pretty fun experience – getting my first night in States in wild forest where you could meet bears, snakes spiders and other animals. The thing that shocked me at begininng – was meant to become our standard for rest of the trip so we just got used to that. It turns out that this part of America is same dangerous as Uganda. You have to watch out for Poison Ivy all the time, look out for snakes, spiders and alot other staff. But with my crew I’m feeling good and when we are together it’s not that big deal.

We had one session at NOC in Nanthala which turned out to be quite easy playspot, similiar to the on that we know from Slovakia – Cunovo. After it we went to Rock Island, Tenesse as we found out that there will be good water level – which is not  so sure becouse it depends on water level at lake and dam release. It was also around 4 hours drive and when we arrived it was already getting dark.  First night we spent in field  not far from playspot.

 Safety is most important at Rock Island

 Surfing upper wave at Rock Island

 Next day we went near spot and i’ve seen twin falls for the first time. There are really beatiful! And what’s even better – playspot seems to be just under them so all the time you are surfing wave at Rock Island you are watching waterfalls on your right side, so breathtaking! The wave/hole was pretty hard but after some time we all learned how it works which provided us alot of fun! In the evening we met Jacksons family and they adviced us to go to nearby campground located just few miles away. The water at rock Island is changing in daytime – as they switching amount of water going from generators.

Twin Falls

 It can be one or two running with different power. At evening Jacksons were so kind to invite us over for dinner. Which was awesome!  They prepared typical tenesse meal – cooked pork with barbecue sausce in roll – which tasted delicious! But that was just a one part. Even thought it was great i think i will never forget about ribs they grilled ! They were so great that i cannot even describe it i never ate that much of meat in one evening but i just couldnt stop myself! After great evening we spent together we got back to our camp.

We stayed there till Monday and then moved to Pigeon as dam here is running only at Tuesday-Thursday and Saturday, we decided to enjoy this 3 days as nobody of us have been here before! Thanks to kindness of NOC boss in Pigeon we could stay at their property just near the playspot! Spot here is quite easy but requires from you alot of power to make every trick. Making everything provides good fun and it’s even better if you are here with friends! Jacksons came here also and – who we didnt expect – Polish guys Tomas and Zosia who took a stop before Rock Island.

Staying here till Thursday, who knows what happens next, closest event in 2 weekends! Stay in touch for updates!

Our Car loaded and ready to go!