pondělí 13. května 2013

Crews for life

C2 crew
Baillie-Stott
olympic winners



Friend crew
Boža-Ada
aka
Hradilek-Sehnal

  


lifetime crew
Mrs. and Mr. Baillie
I'm lovin it!


My first olympic selections...something what I forgot to publish last year :))

First time for me it was in 1996. Well, I just did the same race, but clearly I didnt race for olympic t shirt. Though there were three places for K1w to go, I simply havent even think about it. My sister did.

It was my first year racing czech national cup. Ceske Budejovice. Maybe mid April, maybe little bit later.
I remember how I went to warm up to start. And the start was up there, where the course begins, not where is now, in the middle just above the walking bridge. Walking in the snow. And more snow was falling down. Than wind came. I couldnt see the first gate from start pool. Yet it was qualification for summer olympic games.
And than I saw somebody running up to the start and girls started to got out of the boats.
I was still waiting in the start gate. Not knowing whats going on. My sister yelled at me: „come on, get out, lets go run to get warmer! they interrupted race, judges cant see the gates!“
So we were running there and back around the start pool. Still in paddling gear. In our neoprene shoes. Nobody told us whats going on, whether they are going to postpone it of just interrupt or what.
Snow storm was gone after 20 minutes. So why delay the race more, if the judges can see clearly...

I dont remember how I raced. I just remember how glad I was that my sister was there and despite the running, how cold I was.
She didn`t make the olympic team and I think she retired that year or maybe year later.

There are going to be two selection races again in Ceske Budejovice. Again mid April. Though the course is brand new, by Scott Shipley`s concept.
I hope it won`t snow again.






sobota 11. května 2013

Flat water

Photograph by Richard Avedon ...so simple


Aya Tsuchihashi:
"This photo makes my heart so calm.. "

True. Wild water, wild heart.
But we have to warm up on flat water first!

čtvrtek 9. května 2013

Peace in soul

Tomorrow starts selections into Czech national team for Worldchampionship 2013 which is held at home field.

I'm not racing. After 21 years...

I quit!

.....

Since I was 16 I raced on Czech cup. First time I made senior team I was 17. I was quite lucky and I LOVED easy smooth moves which water gave me.

Years passed and I had never won a race (maybe some but not those which I wanted ;D).
I tryed to work harder, but it didn´t help at all ... frustration came, ups and downs...
Than came an injury. I had to travell to Penrith (met Jacqui!) to find out how serious it is and that not being pation can affect rest of my life, real life.

But still I wanted one of those medals with five rings.

I was pation, I worked hard. I have had really tought times, because I knew I can't train what I needed. Than I realized that I have to train what my BODY needs.

I hoped for miracle. I went to prepare for olympic selection to Brazil. I have had really great time there. Saw Sarah again. She was, once again, very supportive, thought it was her olympic selections.
Met Ettore and chicos, who taught me to do it your way.
I raced in Brazil. Well I tryed to race. After two years of preparation, and my body told me I should not spin any fast? Though I haven´t hear it yet.
I still wanted that medal, right?

Than came selections 2012. And I heard it, and felt it aswell. I felt like a piece of shit!
So I quit, with tears of pain and a bitter feeling.

......

10 months after olympic selection I gave birth to our daughter.

.....

I´m packing to see my husband having fun this weekend. Racing at Trnavka! Our favourite course.
It takes ages, I'm not used to nappys, little clothes, toys and all those other crazy little stuff.




I'm not having medal with five rings and I never will. 
But it was plesure to be in!
I know now how much have I learned and that paddling intensifyed my deep trust in "mother nature" and justice.
And I´m quite sure that its not coincidence that I feel that I share this oppinion or life philosophy with other former paddlers (Jacqui, Kate, Sarah, Paul, ...) and with recent kayakers (Angela, Alberto, Alexander, Vavra, Ciaran, Mike, Tim&Etienne,...) and hopefully also with those who come in future.

I also hope that we will be able to transfer this philosophy to other people...

(btw. isn´t this great marketing potential of canoeing? sport&nature? can anybody hear me? ICF?)

PS:
this is what I do now (next to brestfeeding ;)):

philosophy of BIOFA 




and obligatory


Trnavka from Ciaran