Day 2 & 3 : Freestyle Prelims
The Freestyle event kicks off
So that was just day one of the world
champs, the freestyle had yet to begin and we were already winning.
No matter what happened the rest of the week. To me, Jez and my
family and friends this had already been an incredible event.
Luckily and rarely with the squirt
boating a stand alone one day event it meant I now had two full days
off. Perfect as I was exhausted from the excitement and madness of
yesterday. So I had the chance to enjoy watching and coaching the
other athletes and my friends.
Jez's OC1 Heats
Up first in the freestyle was Jez in
the OC1. After being so sick only 2 weeks ago it was amazing just to
see him out on the water and ready to compete. He had trained hard
during the week and had his routine set. Excited and ready to go
paddle the event kicked off and Jez nailed his rides super sweet.
But... something had happened in the last year … the standard of
OC1 wave boating had gone through the roof! Like the squirt boating
event runs that would have previously won or made the podium, this
year, didn't even let you make the first cut. The lads were throwing
Pan Ams, Back Pan Ams, Mc Nasty s and Helix's. It was ridiculous. Two
rides down (4 rides: 2 count format) we had to change strategy and
try to go for something big. Jez tried several times to set for a Pan
Am and Mcnasty but having never tried either of them before in an OC1
couldn't quite pull it off. But with some new personal best scores
for a wave worlds event (although a little disappointed to be the
bubble boy and just miss the cut) he was happy to place 6th
in such a strong event.
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| Jez drop in of MDR (photo by Phillip Robert)
|
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| Andrew (Canada) going for a pan pan am (photo by Phillip Robert) |
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| Brad (USA) going for an over vertical Pan Am (photo by Philip Robert) |
The Brits
The junior mens and junior women
classes were up next and the young Team GB athletes did incredibly
well with everyone making it through the first cut. With Hugo Scott
sat in first place.
 |
| Hugo Scott flying into finals in 1st place (photo by Dave Wortley) |
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| Charlie Brackpool hitting some massive moves (photo by Dave Wortley) |
A full day of mens prelims then passed
and I watched incredible ride after incredible ride as all the worlds
top men battled for a top 20 spot. It was hard to stay calm and relax
with all the excitement and with the standard again so crazy high it
was difficult for all the men to make the cut.
Team GB's Bren Orton
and Alan Ward did amazingly well to make it through. With Bren in
second place!!! Pringle, Dougie and Gav Barker also putting down some
amazing rides with Gav being the bubble boy fo the day just missing
the quarters cut.
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| Theres a big team behind every athlete at these events (photo by Dave Wortley) |
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| Massive thanks to Dennis Newton and Jacko Jackson, Sutty Sutcliffe, Bruce and everyone else who worked so hard all week to get us to our best for the event (photo by Dave Wortley) |
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| Gav may not have made the cut but he did massively impress everyone with his huge rides. (photo by Dave Wortley) |
I was now getting very exited and was
feeling ready to get back out on the water again.
 |
| Huge huge thank you to everyone who took photos throughout the event. Especially Dave Wortley, Jez Jezz and Peter Holcombe (photo by Phillip Robert) |
posted by claireo at
12:11 PM
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