Austria trip report!

[Seth]

Sorry this is a little delayed i've been really busy working can you beleive it!

This is a prelude to why, and how I got to go on this trip to the world champs if you already or are not interested you can skip down to the next paragraph, which is about the trip it self.

Last September, Heather and I traveled to the Ottawa River in Canada for US team trials. I really wanted to make the C-1 team I trained at the features where the competition was going to held for about 2 weeks before the competition. And competed to the best of my ability, which was only good enough to put me in 6th place, (two places short of a spot on the team.) I was slightly disappointed, but I just kind shrugged it off and decided I would try again next year. October came and was time the US National Championships. The C-1’s competed on the first day, and I came out in last place. Which was pretty disappointing after having done so well the rest of the year. So I thought my competitions had come to a close for the year on a not so pretty note, but I was wrong that evening I was talking to Eli Helbert (2-time OC-1 world champion.) As it turned out the OC-1 team trials where going to held at the Nationals. They would be held over the next 2 days at 2 deferent play holes both of them on the Ocoee. I had never practiced in open canoe, but I decided to compete anyway. Because I figured it would be fun. I competed both days in two deferent boats they were both borrowed. I ended up coming in first place, which put me on the team, which was awesome I was so exited to be on the team and go to worlds in Austria. When I got home and started planning this trip Austria for the worlds I realized there some things I needed that I didn’t have yet like: A canoe, money for plane ticket and lodging food etc. Luckily I got robson to sponsor me a boat, and loads of friends, and even some people did not know helped me financially which made the trip possible, so thank you so much.

My mom, dad, and I flew to Vienna Austria on May 19. I tried to sleep on the flight over, so I would be rested, but the attempt was useless I couldn’t sleep at all. When we arrived in Vienna we found are way to the train station and caught the train to the city of Graz where the competition was held. As it turned out it didn’t really matter that I got there when I did because robson was supposed to have a boat there for me, so I didn’t have to ship mine. But they had not delivered it yet, so I spent my practice week resting hanging out with old friends, and friends I met there. Also experiencing the culture, taking borrowed C-1’s down to the practice wave (so I could keep myself relaxed, and keep my muscles warmed up.) I was also trying to get psyched about competing in the gnarly hole that the competition was in. It was two days before the competition, and was thinking all the practice I had done over the winter was just going to go to waste. Because I was going to have to borrow a different boat then the one I had trained in, but finally I got in touch with some one at robson’s kayak shop in Germany. They had one of there German team members bring me the boat that day, and that was just in time to outfit and have a day of practice in the hole.

The OC-1 class went first, on the first day of competition. I was so glad that I was in the second heat! I had not, had very much time to practice in the hole, so I had not yet figured out if my ride plan would work or not. I spent every practice session over the winter, and spring trying to figure out how to stick the loop in a OC-1 I was sticking them fairly consistently my couple of practice sessions before I had gone over to Austria. I really wanted to do one in the competition, but this hole was next to impossible to loop in, and I had only stuck one in practice. So it was a really iffy move to try, and I would have to do it right away or else my boat would be to full of water. The first heat was almost over, and I still hadn’t decided what I was going to do. I was really nervous now, and I was getting very tense. I just kept saying to my self relax, relax. It time for my first of two 45 second rides. I wasn’t thinking very clearly right then, but I decided to go for the loop, but when I entered the hole I got surged over to where it’s impossible to loop, so I initiated a right cartwheel I got two ends and then flushed. I knew that the most points I could have gotten for that ride was four. My goal was to make top five. Which also the cut for finals, and that ride wouldn’t put me close to that. But I really wanted to be in finals, so I got really charged, and ready for my second ride. With hope I would do a lot better. And I did do a lot better infact I stayed for in the hole for my entire 45 seconds, and was the first person to do so. A few minutes after my ride the results where in, and with my low score, and highscore combined I placed 5th. I was so excited I had met my goal, and now I could only move up because I got the last finals spot. Finals where a week away which meant I could watch the competition, rest, practice, and enjoy being at some place so pretty, and deferent. Or so I thought!? The next day I didn’t feel to good that evening I found myself puking my guts out. That night was the only time I threw up, but from then till the night before finals I had diarea, stomach cramps, and a fever. Which just drained every bit of strength, and energy I had.

Final’s day came, and I was so weak, and tired I decided to not even take a practice ride I wanted to save every bit of energy I had for the competition! The format for finals is everyone takes one ride and you drop the lowest score, and then everyone takes one ride again, and you drop the lowest score, and so on until there’s only two people left and they compete for 1st and 2nd. It takes energy, and consistency to do well in finals. I definitely did not have energy, but like I said before I could only move up from where I was, so I went into my first ride confidently, and it was really solid, so I advanced into the next round. But my first ride took all my strength, so when my second ride came around I was so tired couldn’t do a thing, and I flushed quickly. And I was way to tired to paddle back the eddy, so that was it for me 4th place, but I took it proudly I wish, I hadn’t of been sick though. Because then I could have competed to my fullest potential, and it may of good enough to put me on the podium. But I was so happy to see my friend, and fellow US team member Andrew Bell take second because he deserved it. After the competition was over I went to the closing/medal ceremonies, and then went, and had dinner with US team. Which a lot of fun, but after that the next day my parent’s, and I took the train back to Vienna where we spent two day’s sight seeing at many of the beautiful, and amazing cathedrals, and palaces, it was a good end to my trip. I ended up coming away from this trip with some cool new gear, some great new friends, and some awesome memories I will have for the rest of my life.

Now it’s time for me to train as much as I can, and hope fully I’ll be able to go to the next worlds in Penrith, Austrilia.

Seth

[Space Canoe]

Thanks Seth! Great report and all of us "Wannabe's" are glad to get the Skinny! What got you sick; food, stress, nagging parents (HEEHEE!)?
Ric Taylor

[PAC]

Thanks Seth
I'm glad to see you posted this. I'm sure others are as interested in your experiences as I was.
It was nice paddling with you and your folks a couple weekends ago (on LY).
Sorry I had to bug out form Swimmers early (after only a couple hours of playing there - )! But the Ks were the shuttle and I guess they were getting board waiting for me!
Take care and let me know when your in the area again.

[Sir Adam]

It was great to read how it all was first person! Great job, especially competing when you didn't have much energy left!

[aldenb]

Seth,
doing a loop in an open canoe. dam. who would have thought.

so when will the day come when we are doing loops off the lips of waterfalls? in open canoes.

alden