Youngster Camp Pirate-Production

At the weekend of 21-23.09.2012, we were holding the Youngsters camp at Prague kayak channel, Troja. It was hosted by Pirate-Production and suported by friends.  We had 29 participants, training in 3 main groups divided at smaller ones, from beginners through advanced ending up with experienced.   

We started at friday evening with first lecture led by Honza according equipment, which was followed by video evening. With good mood and positive mind sets we started next day early at 10am going with big warm up for everybody and spliting tasks between groups. Beginners starte dat flatwater gates, advanced went for small waves and eddy ridings and last group after waves went for hole riding. We were recording everything for our evening analyse. As performance of our groups was really good, we were really happy, noticing progresses already at second afternoon session. Also after it we’ve been holding fun slalom for beginners (which was gate riding at top of the channel) and kayak cross through channel for others! At evening we had second lectures led by Bartosz according rules which was followed by videocoaching.

At Sunday i heard from friend that he thought that we switched groups, but they just did so big step ahead! Everybody got familiar with channel already learning tricks with tips and getting good fun! After first session we had small rodeo event where everybody could try their strength in 45 second rides prelims. Rules were prepared specially for YOUNGSTERS so everybody got some good points ! For last session we did short lecture about safety and rescue and tried some of it at wild waters of kayak course.

It was great experience for me to participate in holding camp like this, as we love to teach others and share passion. We heard alot of positive comments and i think everybody was satisfied and it was that’s what it’s all about! We hope for next year to see more people attending to this great event!

Thank you very much to our sponsors, without them it wouldnt be possible ! For WRSI and HIKO who provided us great prizes! And for all who supported the event – Boulder v Siti, HG SPORT (For renting us camp and area!), HYDRO magazine, CNAWR, RISE UP production, Sandiline and GoPro. Also thank you very much to people who helped us with it – Stepan, Milos, Jarka, ygst cptn Zobak for preparing and mostly for all of you who joined us at it.

Thanks all and i hope to see you next year!

World Cup #3, Nantahala

The last event  of World Cup took place at Nantahala River, at NOC near Bryson City. Thanks to kindness of our friend Zack and his wife we stayed at his backyard so we didnt need to sleep in forest anymore! All week there were team trainings, we were having them together – Poland, Slovakia Austria and our Spanish and Irish friends. Thanks to Spanish coach who help us with timing at training we could train our runs all the time.

 Competition started at Friday,  i made it to quarterfinals from 7th place, Tomo was 11th and Peter again took 1st. Scores to make it to quarterfinals were sick again, you needed  1065pts for 20th place!  On the same day i had also squirt prelims – where i came 5th making it to finals on Sunday.  Saturday were quarterfinals with also really high bar, 1450 points for top 10! Peter and I made it through and after only 2 hours break we had another round. Unfortunetly i ended up at 9th place but Peter made it again staying on the lead. In evening we had really nice party from kokotat with some loterry and great band providing us alot of fun!

Sunday were finals, i started in squirts and missed medal by just a little bit ending u pat 4th place behind Tomasz Cz. Nina in her finals made it to 4th place, gold was taken by Claire O’hara with insane run of 668 pts! Great Job there! But the biggest entertainment was provided by Mens again, all rides were awesome,  Nick Troutman set bar really high with his first run to 970 but Peter respond was short and clear – 1246pts! He stayed in the lead till last run of Dane where he kick the bar to 1316pts! But when i seen Peters face i knew that he’s not giving away 3rd gold and his ride was just crazy! He did nearly every move possible scoring 1538 pts! Great performance of his was awarded wit 3rd win in World Cup making him overall champion! There was small ending ceremony afterwards. After  it most of people left home or for Gauley Festival.. We went back to our place to celebrate and chill with friends and prepare for leaving at Tuesday.

For some up of trip wait you have to wait one more week! In 2 weeks we will be holding youngster camp in Prague by Pirate-Production! Catch us there!

World Cup #2, Pigeon River

Pigeon River, Hartford, TN. The hole which was said to not be known before. Was being hidden by locals to world. Like El Dorado for Freestyle. And it definetly deserved this name! The hole is wonderful! Made of Stones collected from all the river. Created nice, friendly weak and easy hole to play which is perfect to learn! When i get back home i will do my best to make a hole like this!

The competition started at Tuesday! So you we had only one day of rest after Rock Island! What was even more untypical, the water there was running only 6 hours, Tuesday-Thursday and Saturday so competition time was pretty long! We started with our prelims on Tuesday and all of our Vajda team made it through, placing Peter 1st, Me 8th, Tomo 10th and Marcel 19th. Afterwards there were Womens and Nina made it on 3rd place to the next round! Insane thing there were scores! To make top 20 you had to go over 1000 pts! Wednesday was our day of after party and beer pong classes, in this day all other categories were having there qualifications. I did also squirt boating this time and made it to 3rd place behind Clay W. and Dane J. and next to Tomasz Cz. and Joaquim F.!

Thursday was quarterfinal. And again scores went just insane! To make through you had to score in two of three rides  atleast 1900! The show was awesome, competition even better.  I made it with Tomasz Cz. in second five and to top five was Tomo A. and Peter Csonka who killed it getting first place again! We had only 2.5 hour of break before semifinals, but before it Nina made it in her semifinal to next round getting 4th! After Womens was our time. Scores went huge and for top five you had to score over 1000 ! Unfortunetly only Peter made it, Tomo placed 10th and me 9th.  Top 5 was James B.,Steven W.,  Joaquim F,Peter Csonka and Dane Jackson!

Saturday, after one day of break was last clash. First we started with squirts, after womens where Claire O’hara dominated it as always came our turn. After really tight runs i got 3rd again scoring 545 points in last ride just next Tomasz and Joaquim, this time Dane won winning with Clay who had his arm damaged but still did a great job! After 2 more categories we had our finishing ceremony with flags and introduction which was really nice. I got really nice medal and great memories. But there was no time for celebrations as there was women class up! After great rides Nina came 3rd, after Emily J. and Claire O.

But the biggest show was about to come. We were expecting huge rides and we got them! Awesome performance of top guys gave us great show especially until last rounds when Dane was on the lead with sick score 1373 and Peter went for his last one scoring insane 1416 ! Emotions werent down until Danes last ride where he correct his score to 1380 but still Peter took the Gold! We were really happy for him but also for other guys, Joaquim who took 3rd, Steven 4th and James 5th! Great Job guys!

After Ceremony we had small party as most of people left already to NOC to train and in the morning after nice breakfeast with hosts we left to NOC for last event. Now we are here at Nanthala, having national trainings and looking forward for Fridays competition start of last world cup event!