CSNZ Junior & U23 Teams
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Arrived in Pau
We had a late pizza after last nights training, had hoped to catch up with the Aussie juniors but they arrived after 10pm so only a quick hello. It was a mission to pack and clean up but finally left the house about 11.15 then to course to collect boats. A 2 hour stop in Andorra with a cruise of the shops, then a 4 hour drive to Pau. We arrived about 7.30pm and were totally rapped with our small house. It is the gate house on a large property. The owners Andre and Ann are great hosts. in the fridge was a bottle of local Jurancon wine and we were delivered fresh cows milk full cream, non pastuerised. Our house is at the entrance to the property and is surrounded by large chestnuts, fig trees, large hydrangea bushes in full flower, all crockery is Portmerion and very English/ French decoration and enough to have a dinner party for 12. We have full washing facilities and outdoor furniture and a BBQ, so should be pretty comfy for the next 6 nights. Shaun, jane and I went for a quick walk and checked out the property. There is a large home of the owners, a winery building that has some Aussies staying and we are in the small (cheaper) gate house. There is a pool we can use and the view looks spectacular and we hope it stops raining tommorrow so we can enjoy it all.We cooked a late dinner of spag bol and all kids are chilling on internet at the mo. Tommorrow we head to Argeles Gazost near Lourdes to train for the small club race on Sunday. There are at least 6 courses in this area and Kidda has spent lots of time in this area over the years so the team will get some great training. We may even head to the coast- Biarritz which is only about 1 hours drive. Photos tmoro- hope the AB's win so we can stop the French crowing.
Friday, June 19, 2009
Thursday
This course is buzzing as always heaps of people around. Large fleet kayaks to learn on flat water, lots rafting and big restaurant area with free internet. Lots bus tours and people around all the time.
Went for a walk earlier with Jane and Aaron's girlfriend, Steph , into the town area. Some cute little shops and we bought arborio rice for dinner and some grated parmesan. It is great having the chance to cook as you have to shop in local supermarkets and speak with the locals. We have catered for the 4 day camp on 20 Euros pp and we have eaten delicious meals. The electric frypan and large pot that kidda had at his house in nottingham has been well used. Pancakes, french toast, herbie roast potatoes, rissotto with chorizo and veges, stir fry,toasties in the frypan and more. Large bags oranges at supermarket for 2 euro, melons, peaches, nectarines all in plentiful supply and good price.
Last training in Seu just about to start. Team doing full runs with Ozzie seniors and Italians, Molmenti and co. Still lovely and warm but our house is quite cool so hanging out inside quite alot. We have a paddling pool which Luuka has been soaking in. Will add photo. I had to supervise an exam for her today so she was happy to chill out afterwards.
Cooked early dinner (4pm) , rissotto as hard to juggle food around very early and very late training. We ate at 10pm last night.
Yesterday we went to Andorra to have a look at shops and arrived at siesta time so limited amount open. We were just finding some when it was meeting time. It is a tax free haven and large European clothing brand, Zara is made in Spain and some nice things and discounted. Will go back on the way to Pau tommorrow. We bought tapes and fire wire cable for laptop as someone had lost our other one.
Even boys were into looking as cheap skiis, cameras etc. It is only about 25mins from Seu so an easy drive.
We head off to Pau tommorrow ( 4 hours) for a small French club race in the weekend at Lourdes and then training at Pau the venue for first World Cup.
Hope all well in NZ.
Cooked early dinner (4pm) , rissotto as hard to juggle food around very early and very late training. We ate at 10pm last night.
Yesterday we went to Andorra to have a look at shops and arrived at siesta time so limited amount open. We were just finding some when it was meeting time. It is a tax free haven and large European clothing brand, Zara is made in Spain and some nice things and discounted. Will go back on the way to Pau tommorrow. We bought tapes and fire wire cable for laptop as someone had lost our other one.
Even boys were into looking as cheap skiis, cameras etc. It is only about 25mins from Seu so an easy drive.
We head off to Pau tommorrow ( 4 hours) for a small French club race in the weekend at Lourdes and then training at Pau the venue for first World Cup.
Hope all well in NZ.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
seu D'Urgell
Arrived in Seu at the course 8.30am this morning after a very early (5.30am) start. Great weather 36 degrees. Challenging course, have Aussies and Italians (Molmenti) in our session.
Found our house, 15km from town, and it is classic Spanish country, with old farm house furniture, we have beds for all 11, including seniors Luuka, Louise, Mike and Aaron. Drove up a tiny country road and then a dirt track to find a toothless old women in a pinny, gesticulating in Spanish. Think she is the neighbour, the key was in the door and so we let ourselves in.
It has tiles above the front door 'casa pallares' , a long wooden farmhouse table that seats 10, 3 bathrooms, old day beds outside, wrought iron balustrades, olives, grape vines, outdoor tables, old fire in the kitchen complete with chimney, plus a modern, electric oven ( thank goodness). Almost everyone found a spot for a siesta then we had early dinner outside and at course now with internet, for 8.45pm training session, hence internet, church bells ringing in background and still warm. photos later.
Found our house, 15km from town, and it is classic Spanish country, with old farm house furniture, we have beds for all 11, including seniors Luuka, Louise, Mike and Aaron. Drove up a tiny country road and then a dirt track to find a toothless old women in a pinny, gesticulating in Spanish. Think she is the neighbour, the key was in the door and so we let ourselves in.
It has tiles above the front door 'casa pallares' , a long wooden farmhouse table that seats 10, 3 bathrooms, old day beds outside, wrought iron balustrades, olives, grape vines, outdoor tables, old fire in the kitchen complete with chimney, plus a modern, electric oven ( thank goodness). Almost everyone found a spot for a siesta then we had early dinner outside and at course now with internet, for 8.45pm training session, hence internet, church bells ringing in background and still warm. photos later.
Monday, June 15, 2009
Finals
C2 make finals and finish in 8th.
The finals course was testing and many top competitors got 50 second penalties including the kiwis, however they did enough to move up their placing to 8th in the final.
The event doubled as a pre junior world championship event for juniors and their qualifications result ranked them as 5th although they were the second fastest juniors in the final
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Semis
2009 Foix Semis - [ Sunday, June 14, 2009 ]
The C2 crew of Ben Gibb and Bradyn Church squeaked into the semis in 10th place.
Posting a solid run without any major errors they had an anxious wait while they saw how the rest of the crews fared on the tricky course. Lots of drama as the British crew had a popped deck and sunk. They looked like they had missed out until the top qualifiers from yesterday , Troquenet and Voyemant (FRA) rolled and the French crew's chances were over.
Luuka Jones didnt quite get the start she wanted and was off the pace, with an added 4 touches to finish in 14th. The women's tp qualifier from yesterday- Stephanie Horn also had a couple of 50's and she was always out.
Finals racing is live on the internet from 1pm-4pm French time ( 11pm NZ?) Ben and Bradyn runs will be about 2.50am http://team.sports.orange.fr/videos/orange-sports-tv/lives/index.php
The C2 crew of Ben Gibb and Bradyn Church squeaked into the semis in 10th place.
Posting a solid run without any major errors they had an anxious wait while they saw how the rest of the crews fared on the tricky course. Lots of drama as the British crew had a popped deck and sunk. They looked like they had missed out until the top qualifiers from yesterday , Troquenet and Voyemant (FRA) rolled and the French crew's chances were over.
Luuka Jones didnt quite get the start she wanted and was off the pace, with an added 4 touches to finish in 14th. The women's tp qualifier from yesterday- Stephanie Horn also had a couple of 50's and she was always out.
Finals racing is live on the internet from 1pm-4pm French time ( 11pm NZ?) Ben and Bradyn runs will be about 2.50am http://team.sports.orange.fr/videos/orange-sports-tv/lives/index.php
Sunday, Semis and Finals
Yesterday another toughie, with the C2 getting a 50 in their first run but then having a goodie in their second run to finish in 12th.
Callum didnt race to his potential in his first run and but not fast enough to make the cut for semis 103.97 His second run quicker (108.49) but a 50 ( that was marginal and we queried of the chief judge) in the same area that has got many people at some stage during the racing.
The junior competition was pretty intense with the fastest junior posting a time of 98.15. Sebastian Combot was the fastest K1 senior with 95.55
A great days racing ahead as the French fight out their championships and the ICF race runs parallel to that. Luuka and C2 are ready after watching demos last night and then reviewing the video tapes before dinner. The course is challenging with the hard stagger changed into an even harder stagger in a similiar position on the river. 20 in each class in semis and then 10 in finals.
Last night we had a BBQ in the back garden and then Jindrich and a couple of his Slovak friends came to visit . He had seen on Jane's facebook we were in Foix so stopped off for a few hours to see us en route from Lyon to Biarritz..... he says he is missing kiwis.
Callum didnt race to his potential in his first run and but not fast enough to make the cut for semis 103.97 His second run quicker (108.49) but a 50 ( that was marginal and we queried of the chief judge) in the same area that has got many people at some stage during the racing.
The junior competition was pretty intense with the fastest junior posting a time of 98.15. Sebastian Combot was the fastest K1 senior with 95.55
A great days racing ahead as the French fight out their championships and the ICF race runs parallel to that. Luuka and C2 are ready after watching demos last night and then reviewing the video tapes before dinner. The course is challenging with the hard stagger changed into an even harder stagger in a similiar position on the river. 20 in each class in semis and then 10 in finals.
Last night we had a BBQ in the back garden and then Jindrich and a couple of his Slovak friends came to visit . He had seen on Jane's facebook we were in Foix so stopped off for a few hours to see us en route from Lyon to Biarritz..... he says he is missing kiwis.
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