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.