The event has just begun with the Sprint!
It has been an interesting event so far with total chaos in some respects and incredible organisation in others! We were given an awesome Opening Ceremony last night in the sports stadium in Inje town. It was attended by the Mayor and many dignatories, the IRF BOD dusted off their suits and joined them up on the stage.
Afterwards Willy Baxter summed it up by saying "Wow, that was amazing! And yet I can't get rope for the start banner!"
As we launch into the event the chaos is subsiding and everything is now coming together well.
Climate extremes have been evident here - last year floods at this time of the year wiped out roads and took 40 lives. This year .... the rains are late! Teams who arrived early did flat water training or went touring. A little rain eventually made the river just passable. Then two nights ago more rain fell and the river is runnable but sadly not the spectacular water we were hoping for. More rain is predicted for tomorrow which will be excellent as we'd be able to do the downriver on the upper section of the river as planned.
DAILY UPDATES!!!!
4 posts
• Page 1 of 1
DAILY UPDATES!!!!
by intraftfed » Sat Jun 30, 2007 1:44 am
- intraftfed
- Site Admin
- Posts: 261
- Joined: Thu Feb 15, 2007 3:53 am
by intraftfed » Sun Jul 01, 2007 8:08 am
End of Slalom day ...
Sprint yesterday went fine although it was a little disappointing in that the team that got to the start of the rapids first could not be over taken, so it was obvious they would then win, unless they unluckily got stuck on a rock. That did happen to the USA ladies team in the Time Trial which meant they did not even get to raced in the H2H - a great disappointment for them.
Today was a great day on the slalom course. It was technical and teams paddled hard. Just after gate 10 was a tricky drop with two choices - a slot or a slower route - most took the slot which resulted in a number of rafts being pushed onto a rock with 4 flips and 3 wraps on the rock! This quickly became the best place to watch and since the spectators were a few metres away from the spot it was GREAT!
It was a great spot in that you could see most of the course from nearly any point. And we were really close to the water.
River is still low but rain is predicted - so we still cross our fingers for more water so we can run the more exciting upper section. Check the official website for results under press.
Sprint yesterday went fine although it was a little disappointing in that the team that got to the start of the rapids first could not be over taken, so it was obvious they would then win, unless they unluckily got stuck on a rock. That did happen to the USA ladies team in the Time Trial which meant they did not even get to raced in the H2H - a great disappointment for them.
Today was a great day on the slalom course. It was technical and teams paddled hard. Just after gate 10 was a tricky drop with two choices - a slot or a slower route - most took the slot which resulted in a number of rafts being pushed onto a rock with 4 flips and 3 wraps on the rock! This quickly became the best place to watch and since the spectators were a few metres away from the spot it was GREAT!
It was a great spot in that you could see most of the course from nearly any point. And we were really close to the water.
River is still low but rain is predicted - so we still cross our fingers for more water so we can run the more exciting upper section. Check the official website for results under press.
- intraftfed
- Site Admin
- Posts: 261
- Joined: Thu Feb 15, 2007 3:53 am
by intraftfed » Mon Jul 02, 2007 2:45 am
The rains came! Well, enough to run the downriver on the upper section which is where we had originally planned to do it.
The teams are up there practising right now. Its the first time most of these teams have seen this section of the river so this is really going to test out their river reading skills. This section of the river is advantageous to the teams made up of river guides where as the lower section would have been better for teams with flat water racing backgrounds.
Its going to be an exciting event as it can go to any team at the moment.
The teams are up there practising right now. Its the first time most of these teams have seen this section of the river so this is really going to test out their river reading skills. This section of the river is advantageous to the teams made up of river guides where as the lower section would have been better for teams with flat water racing backgrounds.
Its going to be an exciting event as it can go to any team at the moment.
- intraftfed
- Site Admin
- Posts: 261
- Joined: Thu Feb 15, 2007 3:53 am
by intraftfed » Mon Jul 02, 2007 9:57 am
|Just had a GREAT down river! The river just kept rising so the river they trained on wasn't the same when they raced. Teams loved it and wanted to go again!
It was close to the road so we could drive along watch some teams pass and drive on to watch at another rapid.
Japan pulled a sneaky move by portaging over some rocks which gained them some vital seconds - much to the ire of Germany and Brasil. Most people felt that it was clever move by them, thinking within the rules.
No we're off to the medal ceremony and closing ceremony.
It was close to the road so we could drive along watch some teams pass and drive on to watch at another rapid.
Japan pulled a sneaky move by portaging over some rocks which gained them some vital seconds - much to the ire of Germany and Brasil. Most people felt that it was clever move by them, thinking within the rules.
No we're off to the medal ceremony and closing ceremony.
- intraftfed
- Site Admin
- Posts: 261
- Joined: Thu Feb 15, 2007 3:53 am
4 posts
• Page 1 of 1
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 0 guests