It's been a while since my last post, and there's so much to tell.
The first week of this month we (Arjan, Johan and I) have been paddling in france with good waterlevels, although we arrived too late to paddle Hawaii. Nevertheless we've been paddling at Roger Wave and had a couple of verry good sessions, There's a lot of video footage and pictures to sort out. Will be posted here soon.
16 and 17 april the dutch championships took place at Zoetermeer. I subscribed in the Freestyle and boatercross competition. In freestyle, i had the chance to qualify for the next europeans in Lienz, later in June this year. Although i trained a lot, mostly on waves, I really wasn't proud of my performance friday evening. This wasn't my time and place to be. No Europeans for me, better luck next time.
Boatercross is a sport where a couple of paddlers start at the same time, heading downriver, having to perform a couple of tasks during the game, and get to the finish in first or second place. In the final game it's all about the first place.
In boatercross I managed to succeed the prelims to win one race and became second in the second race behind Kees van Kuipers. Not to bad at all.
Saterday the finals took place. In the first run I managed to beat Remi Wegman, Raoul Collenteur and Tim Uneken in a really exciting run.
In the final run they changed the boatercross to 8-ball as a surprice. I had to beat Rene Boom, Kees van Kuipers en Raoul Collenteur again. Two extra paddlers in a love boat (kind of a topo duo, sitting back to back) where obstructing the course. After the first rapid, I went upside down under the loveboat. When I game up again I was surprised to be in first place with still 2 tasks to go. Because of the loveboat again I wasn't able to get to the first remaining task in the shortest way. Rene Boom managed to overtake my first position, but I was able to manage my second position.
Now today I'm preparing to take off to Metz and Italy. In Metz this weekend there's a freestyle competition. After that I will be going to the Sessia area for a week full of creeking, kayaking and fun. Afterward I will stay for another week in the alps and find some cool freestyle spots to stay. Maybe Kuchl, Plattling or Graz. Let's hope for a bit of good wheater and lot's of water.
To end this post. I bought myself a new Camper/Van. It's a big VW LT truck, already completed as a Camper. I'm planning to change the inside to make it a real Kayak and Surf Van.
I'll try to post a couple of reports whenever i've Internet within reach of my Van.
Stay Tuned!!