August 8, 2008

By Clay Wright

Photos

Prague-nosis: perfect!

Imagine a tight little slalom course with a river on one side and a park for rollerblading, biking, and walking on the other. Where the camping is within sight of riverside bleachers and the weather is mid 70’s by day, mid 50’s by night. And it’s all within walking distance of a Crepery/Cafe, Pizzeria, bar, and a grocery. The playspots are small but good, and it’s all within an historic European city that’s clean, green, and filled with culture and a bit of ‘nuveau’ intrigue. Prague-nossis - this is going to be one great week!

The Hole:
2’ high steep drop into a 10 feet wide ‘pit’. There are no real shoulders, just thin fast downsteam jets between backwash and eddy so ‘spins’ take some skill and extended sidesurfing and ‘wa-thunks’ are the norm. It looks like ‘Loop-central’ and is for the careful, yet the artificial ‘jump’ that makes the hole also creates an ‘underwater eddy’ - there is little downstream current under the foam-pile so many loops end in stern-stalls or worse, you fall upside down facing downstream just as you miss both eddies and go off the next ledge! Luckily, it’s so sticky that Mcnasty’s and Phonics Monkeys come around to some degree most every time, so it’s just a matter of keeping it straight and getting some ‘pop’ to score big.

The Scene:

So far it’s quiet except for the nightime sounds off concerts and partys echoing across the valley from town. There are far more rollerbladers and slalom racers than rodeo kayakers (but that’s changing fast) so Spandex, Speedos, or Neoprene outnumbers Surf-shorts 2-1. I got a few shots off some of the more ‘interesting’ characters and though I had done quite well. But then we went to the Shopping Mall where EJ and Nick found some Euro-fashion that has to be seen to be believed. Today while paddling, spectating, playing frisbee, and just strolling the course they were sporting their ‘Euro-Speedos’ with pride; adding to the colorful culture of this place to a mostly appreciative audience. I’m not sure we’re gonna sell more kayaks this way, but they sure did get noticed!

Check out the shots - and stay tuned for more Prague-gramming from Team JK.

Clay Wright