South African K4: 2011

Friday, 19 August 2011

Days Results

Yesterday Gavin and PW took part in the 1000m K2 event. It was always going to be a tall ask as there first international K2 event ever to pull something out the bag. As this being the olympic qualifications everyone from around the world came out firing. They made it through a difficult heat into semis where they were unfortunately knocked out. They raced a brave race and have alot to take home with the experience gained.

Today the K4 took to the water with another dreaded draw for there heats with many of the top international crews lining up along side them. They raced a brave race to make it through to the semis where they were unfortunately knocked out. Its been a tough year for the K4 with alot of ups and down and change of combinations but they still in there early stages as a sprinter and have gained alot of experience to help them take the next step.

Nick Stubbs took 3rd in the 1000m C-Final where also put in everything he had and finished off a brave race. Bridgett Hartley finished in close 5 in here semis to qualify for the womens 500m k1 B-final which takes place later today.

Tomorrow Greg takes part in the 200m K1 and 200m relay with Shaun Rubenstein and Mike Arthur take part in the 200m K2 as well as in the relay. We wish them the best as its one crazy fast event to take part in.

Tuesday, 16 August 2011

Some Photos From this past weekend

This past weekend we went off to Budapest to watch the tri-nations rugby game between SA and AUS at Champs Sports Bar. Its owned by one of the local canoeists so we got to watch it on the Big screen while all the other sports were viewed on the smaller TVs around the bar. On sunday we spent some time cruizing around on the motor boats with the British 200m guys, Kristian Reeves and Andy Daniels.

Monday, 8 August 2011

Weekend Off and Budapest

After a hard weeks training the coach gave us the weekend off to recover for the weeks training ahead. As there isnt much to do in this town we spend most of the morning sleeping in and lounging around all day. Saturday night we went out for dinner with the British 200m guys and there support staff. They a good bunch of guys and we can learn alot from them as one of them is World Champion and two of the others are World Champ Silver Medalists.

Sunday morning we went off to Budapest to do some shopping and lunch. Feels really good to know where we going without struggling with maps. PW is our dedicated driver for the tour so we get to sit back and admire the scenery. Budapest has to be one of the most beautiful citys we've been to

F1 Hungarian Grand Prix

This past weekend we all went off to watch the F1 Grand Prix at the Hungaroring race track. The track is only an hours drive from where we training. Unfortunately the weather didnt play part so we went off to buy big umbrelas, blankets and food to last us a week. For the most basic tickets they cost R1000 but as its a once in a lifetime opportunity we had to do it. We sat on a hill not far from the track but where we could see most of the action. PW and Chrisjan had bee there the year before so finding the right spot was easy. Being at a live F1 event was amazing but you do lose site of whats happening in the pits and all the real action. Jenson Button took the lead from the start and completely ran away with it to the finish with Vettel in 2nd and Alonso in 3rd. After the race everyone has the opportunity to run onto the track and watch the podium ceremony up close. The four of us cramped up between hundreds of fans stood at the gate to have the best opportunity to be as close as possible. Once the gates open its complete mayhem with everyone trying to be in front. Thanks to our morning running sessions we were fit enough to be able to be up front. PW and Greg had a dice of there own as to who would cross the finish line first and PW just snuck ahead. We all jumped on the pit wall fighting with photographers for space to be less than 20meters away from the podium. Definately a memorable experience.

Wednesday, 27 July 2011

So today the sun finally came out from behind the clouds and made training so much more pleasant. This week we will be working on boat set up as we have two boats to choose from. Spoilt i know so looking at our options. All has gone well so far and looking forward to getting deeper into training and getting faster. A average day consists of a run before breakfast then a paddling session before lunch, another paddling session in the later afternoon and a gym session to follow. This is all we do all day and everyday, eat, sleep and train. Its our lives and we love it.

Sunday, 24 July 2011

NEW K4 Combination and Road to World Champs

After months of back and forth traveling to training camps in Durban we have finally selected the K4 which will be attending World Champs in Szeged, Hungary. The athletes competing will be Chrisjan Coetzee, Pieter-Willem Basson, Gavin White and Greg Louw. The team will be leaving SA later this evening where they will spend 3weeks on a training camp in Dunavorsany and the last week in Szeged for race week. The Szeged Olympic training venue has been noted as one of the best venues in the World as far as racing goes as well as for Spectators. The Organisers of the event have put up grandstands 800m long which will seat over 20 000 people. This defiantly makes it for one of the most exciting events to attend. The whole hype behind this years event is due to the fact that its the Olympic qualification event and there for everyone will be in high spirits and look for the vital spot to attend the 2012 London Olympics.

Wednesday, 1 June 2011

Szeged Training Camp

SZEGED Training Course

We here in Szeged, Hungary for a 10day training camp. The first 3days have been really hard on the body getting back into gym and longer sessions. We going back into more of a base fase and building on our strength. The days are really warm and we enjoy every second of it as back home it sounds that conditions arent so good and its been really cold there. The afternoons are prity crazy with big storms blowing over and loads of thunder and lightening around. Its prity exciting to watch but not when we on the water as happened yesterday. Had to cut the session short as the lightening came way to close for comfort. Rather get off alive and make up the session another day. Tomorrow we fortunatly get the afternoon off and do some other activities around.

Saturday, 28 May 2011

8th in B-Final

Today didnt go according to plan but we gave it our best. For the entire race possitions 6-9 were all neck and neck but we just didnt have it on the final home stretch as we finished with in 1 second of each other. It was good to be racing all the top crews and may lessons learnt. On monday we head to Hungary for a 10day training camp where we will relook at what went wrong and what went wright and figure out how to better it in the future.

Friday, 27 May 2011

PHOTOS

B Final

This morning we woke up feeling alot more confident with life and ripe and ready for racing. With us only racing in the late afternoon we stayed at the hotel till the last minute. It had been raining on and off with huge gusts of wind the entire time. We had received messages from the others that the conditions werent great and to dress warmly. In the morning Nick Stubbs raced into a 1000m K1 B-final, Bridgette Hartley made the 500m K1 Womens A-final and Jen Hodson the 500m K1 Womens B-final. They had set the standard and we were to follow. We had a good heat getting through to the semis. We had a tough line up but if all cylenders were firing we reconded we had a shot at a A-final. We raced as best we could with a strong head wind we struggled to keep up. But none the less we did well enough to make it into a B-Final. Tomorrow is another day and we hope to be racing in the front of the B-Final.

Thursday, 26 May 2011

Final race Prep

This week has gone by so fast as race day is upon us. Tomorrow we take part in the last and final Sprint World Cup for 2011. We had our last session late this afternoon and everything felt perfect. The boat is combining perfecting and we looking forward to racing. Unfortunatly the weather has turned for the worst with strong side winds and rain predicted for tomorrow. This wont change anything for us and we will be ready for whats handed to us. We will be racing heats at around 5pm and semis at 6.30pm.

Boat Combination Change

Duisburg RACE COURSE

Since we arrived in Duisburg Germany we have spent the last few days playing around with different combinations in our k4. Coach Zoli had felt that if we switch around a bit we could be a bit faster. Yesterday we finalized the combination with PW staying up front with Grant moving to second, Greg into third and i went back to my original spot from last year in the back. With video footage and some fancy gps gadet from Sports Science which gives stroke rate, speed, and velocity we are confident with our change. Our times in time trials are good and we all are comfortable in our new seating arrangement.

Its less than 27hours till we will be back on the water getting ready for the big race.

Monday, 23 May 2011

Race Disapointments

So its been a while since we've updated our site but unfortunately we lost all Internet access at the hotel and at the course. But we back online and here's what went down.

So after being all pumped up and race ready we lined up amongst all of last years World Champ A finalists for heat 2 of the 1000m K4 event. This had to be one of the toughest draws in ages but we were up for the challenge. We lined up in lane 4 in the centre of everyone. We went off to a good start and kept up with the other crews for most of the way. We had Hungary to our left and Poland on our right. We knew all we needed to do was to beat one boat to get through to the semis. With 300m to go they all kicked and got a bigger lead making it tough to return but we surged back and gain ground but in the end it was not enough. We lost it by a near 0.4seconds. It has to be the worst way to end a World Cup. If only we were drawn in any of the other 2 heats we would of finished in the top 5 securing us a semi final but unfortunately that's racing and you have to take the rough with the smooth. We will keep our heads up high and keep pursuing our goals.

We arrived in Duisburg, Germany earlier this evening and hope to better our results this weekend.

Till then.

Adios

Friday, 20 May 2011

The Morning of.....

So its the first morning of racing here in Racice, Czech Republic. The K1 boys and girls are at the course getting ready for their races which kick off at 09h40 this morning.

Its a crispy and fresh morning with sunny blue skies and not a breathe of wind.

Perfect for racing!

We are afforded the luxary of sleeping in and having a big breakfast to get us ready for our two big races this afternoon.

Our heat is at 17h00 this afternoon and appears to a pretty jam packed heat at that.

We have some really strong countries such as Spain, Portugal, France, Hungary, Slovakia, Belarus and Poland in our heat, but we are feeling confident and ready!

To get through to the semi-finals we need to place somewhere between 2nd and 7th, with straight qualification to the final going to the winner of the heat.

Our semi-final is at 18:30 this evening, with the first 3 boats going directly to the final from each
heat and the first 3 boats from the 2 semi finals going through to the final, we are going to have our work cut out for us, but we have done our preparation and hard hours.... SO HERE WE COME!

The K4 1000m final is tomorrow (Saturday) at 13h00.

Wednesday, 18 May 2011

Race Prep

So we've been in Czech now for 3days and have slowly got rid of jet lag. Today was our first paddle in the K4 on the race course and it went perfictly. The boat set up is just perfect and we all feeling really good and looking forward to race day on friday afternoon. We have been drawn in a really tough heat but we look forward to racing the worlds best on friday as we look to be the best. Tomorrow is our last day to do some speed work and get ready for racing. A big thanks to Dirty Dog Sunglasses for hooking us up with some awesome shades as they are coming into good use. Keep follow as ill try keep you all updated with our events.