TRIP TO BUDAPEST

A trip to Budapest, Hungary was a well-earned timeout for the team.  Some of the seniors enjoyed a weekend break in the beautiful historic city, while the rest of the team piled into the vans for a day-trip on Monday.

It was a very hot day, temperature up to 35 degrees.  Hard to believe there's a wintry blast heading through New Zealand at the moment!  A Big Bus tour around to city gave a good overview of the sights and sounds of the city.  The team then split up to explore their own particular points of interest...

BRATISLAVA OLD TOWN / SPECIAL TREAT

On Friday 7^th July, the team based at Hotel Diamant enjoyed a visit to Bratislava Old Town.  A beautiful historic part of the city, with the lovely old buildings, cafes, and statues.  Bratislava Hrad (Bratislava Castle) stands on an isolated rock directly above the Danube River in the middle of Bratislava.

One of the world's narrowest houses - 1.2m wide

 

Bit of shopping time at Eurovea shopping mall, interspersed for some with a visit to the laundromat (nothing like having clean clothes!)  Well-earned rest time for the team.  Mixing it up with the training - bit of stretching time to ease those tired muscles…

WELCOME NEW NPS COACH / TEAM DINNER

Thursday brought the introduction to the junior team of our new NPS coach, Shaun Pearce, another experienced, and very accomplished kayaker and coach, who hails from Great Britain, and newly from the GBR coaching team.  

We are very fortunate to have the support of all of our coaches, Pierre, Miro, Shaun and Aaron, who are working together to cover coaching the paddlers, and doing a wonderful job.

Our first “Junior U23” team dinner was held at Attila Cunovaka Csarda, in Cunovo (near the course) – thanks Miro for the suggestion.   Great to have a get-together as a whole team.  A delectably fine meal was had by all, topped by a special congratulatory birthday cake for Callum A, Alex, and Josh, all of whom celebrate birthdays while on this tour.  

Special thanks to Sequal Lumber and Frostpine, who sponsored the dinner for the team.

 

TRAINING UNDERWAY...

Awesome experience to slalom a new course for the very first time.  The butterflies were flittering at the start, but paddlers took it all in their stride, and have been getting to grips with it.

The course is not for the fainthearted, and there are some real challenging bits.  The drop off is one of highlights of the course, and there are some very fast-flowing sections.

As the first few days of training have progressed, you can see how each paddler is better understanding the course, and improving with each session on the water.  We’ve been having 1-2 trainings per day; the schedule comprising some early starts, and some late finishes as well.

Lots of rest time in-between training at the beautiful Hotel Diamant.

There have been a few minor injuries and niggles that are being worked through, but all in all, training is going according to plan.

Days have been warm – between 25-33 degrees most days.  The odd thunderstorm, but mainly beautiful sunny days.

FACTORY TOUR / FITOUT

Monday 4^th July – Thursday 7^th July

Monday was a very exciting day for some of our athletes – picking up brand spanking new boats from the Vajda factory.  And for some their first new kayak, hot off the press!  Andrea and some of the production team from Vajda very kindly took them for a tour of their factory in Bratislava. 

The afternoon was spent fitting out boats with glue / foam at the Hotel Diamant in Dunakiliti, Hungary, where most of the junior team are based for the first week of the tour.  Each boat was customised for each paddler.  

Thanks to Pierre, Miro, and parents for helping out.   

And then, first training at the Bratislava course for the Juniors (and James).  Great to catch up with the senior paddlers who’ve arrived from World cups. 

James, Josh, Stewart, Jack, Annie and Casey at the Vajda factory

A masterpiece is created...

Annie loves her new Vajda!

Fitouts in progress...

Damian, with his new Galasport

Finn and Alex

First day at the course...