August 9, 2008

Photos

As in any flight from North America to Europe, involving an overnight flight, lack of sleep, jet lag, and dehydration, you get tired, really tired, by the time you arrive anywhere. In our case we arrived at 7:40am, and the customs in Munich, Germany was like going through the welcome wagon reception line; smiles, "welcome to Germany, and come on in and have fun". Hint, hint Americans- we are becoming a police state for reasons of paranoia (remember the 50's fear of communism?).

We rented vans, which took Dane and I a long time to find a shuttle bus, get on it, and then get the two vans, which didn't have roof racks. We managed it, and just got loaded and ready to drive when I decided I was really tired. Clay and I are the only drivers. We started off on what we thought was a 2 hour drive to Prague, but ended up being a 4 hour drive with three 5 minute naps (literally) on the way. I drank 4 Red Bull Colas over a 2 hour period and really added to my need for water.

When we arrived in Prague the only directions we had were, "go over the bridge called #$T%$%$# (can't remember) and go right along the white wall past the zoo and turn down the road near the river". The rental car place didn't have a map and we ended up limping along in downtown Prague until we picked up two hitch hikers who got us there. The boarder between Czech Republic and Germany was a drive through at 100 miles per hour border.

Our first session we met a guy who is on Team JK in France who was scouted out by YoYo and Ludic (French Team JK managers) named Maxime. Maxime was going OFF! His righty Phonix Monkey is REDICULOUS! So huge on the air and so consistent that we got really scared that we were going to run into a barrage of super freestyle athletes that came from nowhere. We found out that he had the highest scores in the junior, but also the senior classes in the European Championships. That means that he is the guy to watch and watch we do! He is super friendly, a great athlete, very cool.

There are two guys from Poland training here in a Riot boat and a Dagger boat. They are both also quite good, like can place in the USA Nationals good on a good day.

Many of the European Freesytle paddlers were off to the National Championships of Slavokia, which borders Czech (remember when it was one big communist country called Chechoslavakia? It is open to any country so many of the top boaters went there for a "world cup warmup".

Our living situation is quite good. There is a campground that was formerly the "Czech Slalom Team Boathouse" that is 1/2 way down the course and about 50 yard from the hole. It is about 1 acre and has a clean, nice bathroom with a shower, and 10 small cabins with two beds in them, but no electricity. It isn't free but the best we can do here to save money. Don't forget that the USA is now the place that Europeans go to get away for a cheap vacation. The USA dollar was once equal to a Euro, but now is only worth 1/2 of a Euro. This means that a Big Mac cost twice as much in Europe as in the USA or Canada, for example. Hotels and restaurants are very expensive here when you come with the dollar. Camping is the way to go.

I have been "sleeping under the stars" for two days now. It has rained twice in a row! Each night I fall asleep looking at the stars and wake up to rain on my face. Luckily I have the tent set up and Dane is small enough for me to join him.

Once again it is 72 degrees out, and partly cloudy, but mostly sunny. I am committed to another night under the stars. We'll see how that goes.

The All-Star is perfect for this hole as it is weird and needs a big looping boat to go big. It also needs a good slicey boat to make the moves go through and it excels there too. I am glad we have the right boat!

I have had no communication with home yet and haven't gotten online. (of course if you are reading this, I have succeeded!)

Tomorrow may be the last day of good training as about 200 athletes will be here training instead of 15. Thanks for the Slovakian Nationals!

:) EJ