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| 2012 GB Freestyle Kayaking Team |
Training has been going really well.
Despite the extremely fluctuating water levels I've managed to settle
into a good routine of short, effective sessions intermixed with
active rest. Lienz is an amazing venue for an event, ok the feature
isn't great but the facilities around the feature are brilliant.
Across the road from the river is an amazing outdoor swimming pool
with slides, diving boards, massage jets, volleyball and football
courts. There's perfectly level bike paths along the river and a
lovely town with the best ice cream shop ever, all surrounded by one
of the most impressive mountain ranges i've seen. So each day between sessions I would
join Den and the rest of the European athletes playing football,
mountain biking and cooling down in the pool.
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| Active rest Lienz style |
As the competition drew
nearer I was feeling pretty happy in the hole. I was beginning to be
able to throw all my main moves and some of my newer ones but I did
have one major concern... the feature at Lienz is super feisty and
had constantly been changing during training so my consistency rate
on hitting my moves was really low. During training this wasn't a
real problem but as we drew closer to the event it became more of a
concern. I knew my base moves were solid (ish) my loop and my felix
but the rest would just come and go for no particular reason! I
wasn't the only paddler with this concern, it was the nature of the
hole. But leading into a major international event not being 100%
happy / confident the you can hit your run is definitely not ideal.
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| Claire O setting up for another big move |
The event kicked off on Monday with our
first official training slot. Every year at these major events the
days directly before the event starts are set aside for official team
training. Each team is designated a period of time exclusively for
them to train. This year we (Team GB) have a 92 minute slot, 3 ½
mins per paddler! Luckily we have an afternoon slot so levels are
good and the weathers nice too. I'm first in, in the first group with
the Junior Men, Women and OC1's. Training goes really well and
everyones paddling great.
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Team Training Begins
Monday evening comes and we all head to
the Lienz castle for the opening ceremony. It is one of the most
beautiful opening ceremony venues I have ever seen. This quaint,
traditional castle hosts several big music festivals and events
through the year.
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Opening Ceremony at the Castle
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Tonight the 2012 European Freestyle Kayaking
Championships is officially opened here. There are loads of speeches
and free beer. I am invited up on stage to say a few words of thanks
on behalf of all the athletes. Then the entertainment begins. The
entertainment is brilliant, 4 local musicians play a set by drumming
on two old kayaks. Its awesome and a perfect launch for the event.
Its also great having my mum and her friend Carol here supporting me.
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| Who would have though it ... freestyle kayak drums |
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| GB Girls |
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| Me and Mum at the castle |
The next day its team training again
this time in the midday heat. Then we have a lovely team meal in
town. Hippy Dave (GB Team Manger) gives us a motivational speech and
then its an early night as tomorrow we compete.
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| Loving Lienz |
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