Friday

The heavens opened up last night and coole theair temp which was nice. Headed back up to Roudnice for the last day in this training block. The team split into two groups and did split sections of the course - Kidda calls it speedie tech. that took a couple of hours and as we had to hang around Roudnice we decided to go to the Pizzeria for lunch, staying dry.
The afternoon was based around a wrap up of the former 7 sessions and those that wanted to practised different parts of the course. Most opted for the stopper above the big drop and then ups in the drop. Bridey has a strained arm muscle so is resting and the C2 and Sth Island Calum sat it out too.
At the end Kidda was very complimentary to the group as a whole as to how the block at Roudnice had gone.
Headed back to A1 in Prague via Veltrusy and a factory outlet shop, and Lou the master chef cooked 3 roast chickens, with the works. Currently a self saucing choc pud in the oven in a large pot as no suitable dishes. We had fun guessing what was baking powder in Czech and the internet went down so I was unable to access the recipe so who knows if it will be edible. We think we have cream " Smetana" to go with it!
Tommorrow is the Veltrusy race and then I have booked the team into a restaurant in Prague so everyone can have a look at the magic of Prague at night.
Early start the next day as we are heading to Augsburg to get a World Cup experience and support James and Louise who have made semis.

Hot hot hot

I know it is the last thing enyone wants to keep hearing, but brilliant blue skies and 34 again today.
W stayed overnight at Roudnice and did a race simulation today. 2 runs, demos and start times. All the team were very focussed as did really well. Kidda well pleased. packed up from hotel at lunch time and back down for the final of the 3 tech sessions, this time on the top section of the course. Kidda has been great and splitting the team into two groups which means a full 2+ HOURS for him and I in the sun, this arvo. My arms are nearly black...

Everyone packed up and back for vid review at A1 in Prague while Lou and I headed to the supermarket. Have to say it is great having another support person and Lou is fantastic.
Tommorrow last training in this block at Roudnice and then race on Saturday at Veltrusy. Not even going to practice on the course as the objective is the start line rather than the result.
Anyway seniors racing in Augsburg tommorrow- looks like strong fields so we wish them well.
Cheers
sue

Wednesday

Today another 2 very full training sessions at Roudnice. It was stinking hot and everyone fairly jaded by the heat. The tan is coming along well ( the arms at least) especially with nearly 4 hours of videoing today. We are staying overnight in Roudnice and have revisited the Pizzeria for dinner. 12 of us ate and had a drink each for 1666CZ I guess that is about $150 so great value.

Ben and Bradyn had a swim today and have been doing boat repairs- they blamed it on the T grip of their paddles.....???

Calum Brash had us calling the police for his missing ipod, but good sense set in and Lou had a women's look and it was found. malcolm had a bit of an upset tummy but Gorians are made of tough stuff and he battled through it. Seems Ok tonight as he ate a big dinner.

Otherwise all great in sunny Czech.

Kidda has set a full runs course for tommorrow morning and he did demos so making it as close to race conditons as possible. Back to Prague after the afternoon training session . John Snook is in Prague ( at Hodneys) so Kidda will head out with them and Lou and I may take the team for a night time look at Prague.

Bay of Plenty Times Article

Click here for an article on the junior team tour.

1st day training Roudnice

We woke to another hot sunny day and after brekkie we headed north of Prague to Roudnice which is where the Junior Worlds will be held. Everyone excited to finally be paddling here and those (Ella & Shaun) who had been here last year back into familiar territory. We had two sessions, 10am and 3pm. The first was just getting to know the course and the second a techie session on the bottom third. In between we laid our tarpaulin out under trees and most of us fell asleep. A few of us have bad colds ( sue, ella and shaun) so obviously needed the kip.

The second session at 3pm was a techie on the bottom third and everyone getting to grips with Roudnice. We packed up and headed back to the apartment at Prague via Tesco. Lou and Sue cooked a killer stir fry and currently video review in action.

By the way the boys have bought new underwear, and some today decided to do their first washing in the bath. See photo.

We have a great roster going and everyone has a job, ranging from charging cameras to water and making sure we have repair gear. We did fail on repair today as someone left it all under a tree and kidda and Bradyn had to drive back to pick it up so C2 could fiz their paddle. as Kidda says we are ironing out all issues before it really counts.

Tommorrow we will stay at Roudnice for one night to famil with hotel and Pizzeria before we come back for Junior Worlds later in the trip. The other drama is Ella leaving her passport in hotel at Ceske B so hopefully that will arrive by courier tommorrow. ( at least we have located it) Everyone is in good spirits, hope the same in NZ.

Ceske Krumlov

Our day off today and after packing up we went to the gorgeous town of Ceske Krumlov.

Everyone loved it and took lots of photos. From Ceske Krumlov to Prague , with a minor hassle of one of the roof racks coming off. All sorted and no damage done. We are now in A1 apartments for the rest of the week. Got boats and paddles repaired this afternoon in preparation for this week. We will commute to Roudnice most days and stay one night there. It will be an intense hard training time period to really get to know the river.

Last day in Ceske Budejovice

Today was our last day in Ceske B , it was hot and sunny and the team had two really good sessions. First up a techie session on the bottom half of the course, then wave surfing and then jumping into the wave with our Czech friend Daniel. We came back to the great news that Luuka had qualified a top 15 nation spot so fingers crossed the NZOC will send her to the Olympics.
The afternoon session was a progressional course in 3 parts and Lou and I took times. Team all very happy and Ceske B was a great way to break into the Europe tour. Vlada from Galasport was also staying at the river witrh the junior group he coaches so he gave some feedback and lots of encouragement too. Nikki and Ella decided to run back as tommorrow a rest day. Lou and I had walked from the hotel along the river to the course earlier so the girls ran the same route.
We met Daniel at a Czech restaurant and all had a fun night learning about growing up post communism and getting a local perspective . It was great as always the fun times when travelling are meeting locals. Daniel and his friend Miroslav both commentate the World Cups in Prague and will be at junior worlds so will catch up with them again then.

Ceske B Saturday

Another gorgeous sunny day and the non race still had 40 people in it, with some pretty good paddlers. Everyone enjoyed their full runs and all did at least 4.
The inevitable trip to Tesco for lunch food, a picnic lunch in the courtyard by our hotel and then back to the course for another training session.
Pizzeria again for dinner and jetlag catching up with most of the team and fairly early to bed.
Cheers for now