9.10.2014

Polish Championships in Cracow!

Hua, So it's been a while again and alot of staff has happened. After Europeans i've head back to Cracow as i had few exams at university to fix but also the very important event for me was upcoming in big steps – Polish Champs. Those Championships were very special for me as we finally managed to get them to Cracow for the first time but i had to look up on everything and it turned out to be alot of work there especially as we still werent sure about water levels of the Wisla river and how it affects current bottom hole.

Luckly just after getting back we agreed to work on the hole and to introduce the plan i've been thinking through all summer – based on Millau feature we made the changes at top part of the channel making blockade from obstacles and with few bottom obstacles we formed in few tries amazing playhole! This was big relief for me as i was quite worried for the previous trasher we had , anyway everything turned out well and we've awesome regular hole with two nice shoulders which is deep for carbon boats for all the moves, you can go huge in air and clean on moves. Also last time the event got moved becouse of most of the channel got flooded, now thanks to positioning hole at the top of the channel we've lowered the risc of that possibility!

I've been quite busy and had only few opportunities to train but it was lifting the heart when i've seen more and more people coming to test out new playhole and have fun there together! Althought it gave us less rides – it was so cool to meet up with 15 people in the eddy at casual tuesday evening and see how everybody's enjoying new playground. Also becouse of those changes whole course got different – water goes now faster and twirls more which is making it even more fun and inspired me for nice track for kayak cross.

Event took place on 13-14th of September we've had an amazing amount of participants registred - 37! I dont remember an event in Poland that had so many participants, great succes we had also in kayak cross where 44 people registred! It's showing great potential of Cracow for kayak development in this area especially as we were honoured with numerous public coming along and enjoying the show. We had alot of TV and radio stations coming, one of the reports you can watch here from 8th min:

http://www.tvp.pl/tvp-regionalna/programy/rusz-sie-czlowieku/wideo/20092014/16923103?fb_action_ids=1537454526483750&fb_action_types=og.likes

We had 4 categories running: K1M, K1K, K1J and for the first time in Poland – Old Bastards. The last one was fun category based on youngsters rules to encourage people that quit freestyle competing scene already to come back and have fun together.

Whole event went very smooth but was very exhausting for me as i've been everywhere from kayaking through doing the speaker job, playing music judging and doing all the staff around but from here i'd like to thanks everybody who gave me a hand running through it and supporting wherever it was possible all in all i've seen people smiling and having fun which was biggest award for me :)

From competitive side it went great for me as i sat on lead from prelims on ahead of my team member from pirate-production.cz – Ondrej Krivanek. So i took gold again, then probably the biggest battle got played for 3rd place between Adam & Michals but Adam left no doubts taking solid bronze. Catching vice Polish champion. Great succes for me was making Junior category happen – as not only Maks Drak & Michal SJ competed but also few other juniors from my club and i had pleasure of seeing all of them at podium steps and enjoying the event. Maks took gold and Michal SJ was 2nd after well planned and performed rides. I was very proud seeing their high performence at the end of the season and i have to say that they were doing very well after only one season of trainings with me! Im looking forward to see them come up at european and world scene in time, remember those names ;) As team we also took


I was very happy everything worked out and on the end i've heard alot of positive comments. Im looking forward for the next events at this wonderful place coming!


After Championships i took some time off for rest and went for holidays. Remember – part of training has to be regeneration and same as you have to know how to train same you must to know how to rest.

Just after i came back from my holidays my friend Stas from Russia came for trainings with group, i had a pleasure to work with them for few days – was great to meet and traing with new paddles. It was big satisfaction for me seeing them progress fast and enjoying our playspot and trainings here, hope to see them again soon!



Now Im heading for almost last event of season – flatwater championships of Mazowsze – looking forward for this technical and fun event to meet up with friends again and then.. time to start off with trainings again! Can't wait!









new bass band

Pirate Production!

Maks going for gold

Chillin between the runs

getting wings

Adam "Dzik" Dziking around

Always look at bright side of life ;)

No idea

Ashaming nearby airport

Part of public ;)


Russian crew trainings