WordsAfterWorlds

I wrote it on the train while going back – seems forgot to post it ^^

Long preparations. Hopes. Chances.  Lost ? Is it?

There could be a lot of excuses, explanations, few points of viewat story.

Late preparations, studies, strange virus sickness from exhaustment. This is one side of coin.

Whatever had influence on result is left behind. Only story stays.

I started my trip with flight from Vienna, through Frankfurt to Atlanta. In Frankfurt I’ve already my journey partner – Stas Vasilyev. We arrived to Atlanta at 16^th of August. After over an hour of bargaining for best offer we got our car which we really loved – dodge avenger. We were very tired after traveling but there were still over 3 hours night drive ahead. Stas – as he’s 25 the Car was on him so he was the driver – was bravely driving us to Nantahala even though I was falling all the time asleep. First night we spent sleeping in car as we were so tired that we didn’t care for comfort.  Next day we met with everybody and moved to camping where we stayed till end of competition. Then routine began. Getting up, preparing meals, training 1-2 times a day. Trying to get as much as possible but also making it very carefully as most important thing was to don’t get over trained. Which I have to say – I’ve failed this time but it wasn’t only fault of kayaking. I was exhausted after few weeks of working, traveling and even got this bad virus which tore my immunity upside down. Anyway. Between training we were playing chess, monopoly, playing on slack line and hanging out with our friends from Slovakia and Czech but also with everybody else who were arriving – as Worlds are the only opportunity to meet your friends from all over the world.  Definitely one of best days was when we went for rest day in big international group to Six Flags Over Georgia – huge fun park in Atlanta.

It’s very funny feeling over there. As Clay Wright perfectly expressed it – you meet somebody for the first time barely able to make conversation while waiting for your turn in huge eddy– then paddle with them for a week and feel as if you were best friends knowing each other for years!

As for trainings.. trying some staff on beginning , then slowly getting your routine to work as team trainings were starting at last week. Then just making it perfect. Sounds easy. Even worse – it was easy for most of the time. When I got my routine I was getting it 4 of 5 times in training runs. Each of those would put me straight into final. Then last 3 days of trainings it stop to work. Didn’t get any run, couldn’t decide if rest or not – felt like trying it again but couldn’t make it better.  Well, there was still hope that one day between last training and first start will be enough.

So it all begun. Huge opening ceremony as I already said in previous posts – greatest I’ve been to. Huge crowd greeting us at street of Bryson, cheering and wishing us good luck. Was also great to see Polish people coming to us and wishing us great starts. It was lifting the spirit.

Then day off and start in Squirt. Well. Squirt category in floating boat.  Actually Squirt went really good for me from beginning. I had two different plans – I wanted to see what judges are going to score. I really liked to show my clean initiation flatwater McNasty which got appreciated by judges and crowd as well.  As my first ride got good score and I didn’t want to risk semifinals I changed it only a little bit and got similar amount of points at second one on the end placing me at 5^th place – highest among normal boats. As if somebody was against squirt in normal boats I think that there still can be place for it. The routine I presented was based at flatwater granting some high points but also it wasn’t possible to beat squirt ride with mystery move. Anyway.  There were other things concerning me then – K1M finals prelims next  day.

I was starting in 2^nd heat.  Even though I did small mistakes where I had to repeat initiations again I got most of my ride there. The small surprise came when I’ve seen the score -  730. I wasn’t sure which of moves they didn’t count as they felt pretty good. I decided to keep on to my run and try to do them more precise – it wasn’t the time for changes. In second run I was focused even more and had good feeling after it – I was already predicting that I need at least 100-200. I was sure I got it. But the judges had different opinion –scoring me 736 pts which gave me 1466 in 2 rides. I’ve had  the bad feelings  that I will be probably 21. And this was the position I ended up at. After watching my runs I presume that they didn’t score my phoenixes (again) as I’m going really stipe at beginning and then lowering it to get some big air. But at video when I watched it im not getting lower than 45 degrees at any point.. well they just don’t like it this way. I wouldn’t complain about it but I seen some super low phoenixes being scored which wasn’t too nice, but this won’t be ever objective sport. It only motivates me to make them look better now. So knocked out at 21^st position. 20 men going to quarter – first one to drop. Then at other rounds 9 of 20 go a lot lower scores  making semi seemed not that hard. Wasn’t easy to watch. Then semifinals – In Night. Great show. That was my small dream to compete there as I was sure from beginning that It will be great entertainment. And I was right it felt even better to watch then to compete but still would prefer to be on the other side.

In squirt however I lost one position to European champion from Britain and got 6^th place – I was very happy with my score – guaranteeing me highest floatboat position.

Then finals –  I was cheering very hard for Peter and was happy for my country mate Tomasz to make it. Even though it was great show and scores were pretty close – I was a little bit disappointed. They were quite low – 1240? Over 250 lower then last year. I was expecting ~1700 to win – basing at training rides. Before competition the level looked ultra high! So I’m still not sure what has happened. Probably Dane was quite tired after 3 previous categories, Matt Dumolin from France – one of favorites got knocked out at semifinals and Peter… well he did great rides over there with a lot of tricks, I’ve to say that his score was a little bit questionable for me.  And one more thing to think about.. One paddler doing ~13 tricks and one does ~8 but they score the same.. That’s true some of them are looking wonderful as they are fully aerial and huge but I keep wondering is it or is it not alright? What do you think?  

Also after my squirt semifinals we wanted to go to Pigeon hole – but as we weren’t sure of water we decided to go for Ocoee river for hellhole. We’ve had some problems finding it but after this we were surprised with instead of hole – really fun wave. Probably not the best – but for sure fun! It was great  change after so long trainings only in hole. We liked it so much that we went there also second time – early morning at day of finals. 

My plan and small dream was to go for Green river. Everything was fixed  - was about to go with DemShitz which made me feel really comfortable about it. (especially after seeing video of saving Bren by David) Matt Anger fix boat for me and came to pick me up.. unfortunately we found out that the schedule got changed and instead of full day release it was only half day..  And as it was already late we didn’t make it.. Quite sad on this one – but for sure,  I’m going to come back  - and run it in future! 

Ah, one more thing I wanted to mention. Stas asked me to train him so  I was helping him to prepare his trainings and rides which gave him the result he is very happy with – beating his last year score and becoming highest ranked Russian in the world!

So we changed green plan into 2 sessions at NOC and next day we started slowly to pack our staff then left for Atlanta.  We arrived in night at Atlanta airport parking and as we had quite nice place between lantern and fence we decide to risk sleeping in hammocks. That was great idea which gave us some good rest until 7am,then guard woke us up and just kindly asked to don’t sleep here so we just hidden in car for  a little bit longer nap. We split with Stas at airport as I was going through Chicago to Vienna. Then after the flight I caught the bus to train station and at the moment I’m sitting in train to Poland.  Hopefully to finish my 2 days trip soon and get some rest.

So if you ask me if it’s lost – I Will say YES it is – because medal was really in my range.

But NO is my final answer. It’s another experience I’m happy to take even if it’s bitter. Instead of blaming myself or finding other things to blame for it – I will focus to embrace the anger and use it for motivation. I’ve learned a lot, loosing is just lesson of humility, which can make you stronger if it’s properly embraced.

There are a lot of things I’m looking forward now. First is of course to improve and now as my rides are already really full and repeatable to make them perfect for every judge. When? No it won’t be one week or two. Even though upcoming Polish Champs are of some importance for me and I do care a lot about Euro Cup which I’m currently leader of – it’s too less time for it. I will try to show my performance which I wanted to present at worlds. Then there comes time to take up new challenges. Winter preparations, training even harder and mastering every single detail. Im already looking far ahead to challenge myself for even bigger workouts. I’m also very excited for new weapon which will be slowly revealing itself.. New boat from Peter Csonka which I’m sure of that it will be insane help with my trainings when I only think of newest changes that will be there.

On the end I would like to say thanks for everybody who supported me on my way to worlds every single person and every sponsor that made it possible. There is no medal however I’ve learned a lot and it’s worth also a lot. With this I’m stronger and will use it to achieve future goals!

Right now Im on the road again with Adam - we are preparing for Polish champs. Updates will come soon also finally great surprise, stay in tune!