Build up to first World Cup Tacen Ljubljana

Mike and I arrived in the lovely city of Ljubljana last Monday for the build up to the first Slalom World Cup at Tacen about 10 minutes out of town. We found our hostel booked over the internet to be excellent value for money with all the mod cons and plenty of space, about 10 minutes from town and the slalom course. We went straight into a solid training program to lead up to the competition starting Friday. Managed to fit in some R and R between the training. Also did a bit more flat water kayaking myself in Mikes creek boat on the river above the course staying well clear of the deady drop. The boat obviously was not used to going so slow.

As in prior years checked out again the tried and true Mexican Restaurant as well as the Kaval next to the course and the world famous Slovenian restuarant, the Azur next to our accom. Otherwise it was the supermarket and breakfast lunch and dinner prepared back at the hostel.

Training for Mike was intense but we still took time out to explore this beautiful city and get in a hike up the Smarna Gori hill and do some fishing.

The World Cup 1 was extremely good for Mke with a credible first heat run putting him in second spot and the semis followed with an excellent semis run and through to his first ever slalom World Cup Finals. Overall he finished in 10th position.
Tomorrow we leave for Bratislava Slovakia about 4 hours drive away. We will be there for one week before heading to Leipzig in Germany for the third World Cup.


Vavra at the parallel slalom racing on the Ljubljana River in the middle of Ljubljana City raced under floodlights. Mike is on the green boat as the unofficial photographer.


The parallel slalom sudden depth. Each paddler has two runs, one on each side of the course and the paddler with the best time wins and goes through to the next run.

Breakfast time in our mint accomodation the Hostel Azur.

The upmarket subdivision just down the road from the Tacen Slalom Course. The houses are all equal to or larger than the average NZ house.

The conquest of the Smarna Gori Hill near the slalom site. A climb of 669 metres in 20-40 minutes for a much needed beer. Mike and Shaun Travers admiring the view.

Glenys Travers at the bottom of the slalom course. The hill in the background is Smarna Gori we climbed the previous day. The house on the other side of the river was where we had a BBQ the previous night and I spent an hour fishing with no success although a few fish were jumping.

Mike, Shaun and Glenys at the world famous Azur Restuarant next to our accommodation. The pizzas were just delicious.

Mike trying to grate and extract the parmesan cheese from the old wooden container and grater at the Azur.

Mike in the confines of our hostel room. I had 10% of the space and Mike the rest. Roll on Bratislava when the situation will change. We also had a full kitchen and bathroom that we shared with one other apartment. With free internet, breakfast and parking it was great value for money.

The paddlers in the slalom K1 finals as they exit the river after the race. Mike is the paddler half way up the stairs .

Ivrea, Bourge Solkan Ljubljana

We left Ivrea after a fantastic few days and headed through the St Bernard Pass from Italy to France to stay with our very good friends Aveena and Pascal and have some R and R. Their house is situated way up on the slopes above Aime just out of Bourge St Maurice. Fabulous views across the valley to the snow capped mountains. Had an adventure on the Wednesday going up to the exclusive ski resorts of Tigne and Val Desere. Although summer, both had skiing on glaciers which we were keen to do. Unfortunately they did not open until the following Saturday when Mike had a C grade race in Bourge.

The Soca River at Solkan. Both Mike and I had a kayak training session here. Mike was a little faster than me.

The kayak race at Bourge was unfortunately rained out. There was too much water in the dam above the course so only one qual run was allowed. This unfortunately put several of the top paddlers out including Mike. Ciaron went on the finish sixth overall.

Aveena and Pascal on race day. Although wet on the quals day, the weather was mint for the semis and finals. Pascal and I had a mammoth road bike ride the previous Tuesday, approx 2.5 hours. The ride from home to Aime and along the river, as advised, was easy. The ride back up the hill was hard, like 15 kms straight up. Did plan another ride but luckily it was raining

Mike, Aveena and Pascal at meal time. The cheeses and french wine lived up to expectations. Aveenas meals ,as always were delicious.

Our other French friend Pascal we visited while up at Val Desere. We went for a walk up the pass above their house to experience this wonderful scenery. If we had continued walking up this pass we would have ended up in Italy. The peak behind was 3500metres high.

The ski Resort of Tigne. Unfortunately closed until the following Saturday. Apparently at the peak of the ski season, apartments are rented at 1ooo Euro a night.

The entrance to the Tigne Ski Resort. This entrance leades to the funnicular transport up the mountain which takes you through a tunnel to the massive inter connected ski fields.

Mike at the top of the Col De Iseran Pass at 2750metres high. The Val Desere glacier ski field is of to the left.

Unfortunately all good things come to an end and we headed off to Ljubljana Slovena on Sunday afternoon after a very good Italian restaurant meal in Bourge with our hosts. We had a night at Solkan where I finally jumped on the water myself for a very flat water experience. Great fun.

Arrived in Ljubljana about mid day on the Monday with Mike fresh for an extensive few days training for the build up to the first World Cup.

Managed to score mint accommodation on the outskirts of the city, only 10 minutes from the course at a reasonable price with breakfast and internet included. Back to the Mexican Restuarant for dinner. Life is not half bad.

Here until next Monday when we head to Blavislava for a kayak training camp before the third world cup in Germany.

2011 European Campaign Begins

Mike paddling the Val Chuisella in the Long Race

I have now been in Europe for 10 days. Arrived in Prague after the long 34 hours of flights from Auckland/Bangkok/Frankfurt/Prague. Had a few hassles in Auckland with overweight bags due to Mikes added items. All sorted with no extra costs due to skillful negotiating.

Picked Mike and Martina the next day and headed south to northern Italy arriving 4.00am after the 9 hour drive. Slept in the car, a first for me in 35+ years. Spent 4 days in Ivria with Mike competing at the Teva Extreme Outdoor Games. A great event with competitions in the long race, sprints and slalom for both individuals and teams. Mike and the NZ team taking out the overall first and second places respectively.

Mike first place in Teva Extreme Outdoor Games in Ivria Italy with Sam Sutton second and Michele Ramazza (ITA) third .

Start of the Extreme Slalom Teams Event. The Kiwis went on to take second place overall.

The Ivrea Slalom Course right in the middle of the beautiful historic Northern Italian town of Ivrea.

The floodlit Ivrea Slalom Course for the team's sprint event.

The shuttle service for the boats and paddlers at Val Chuisella back to the top of the long course.

Have now headed through the pass to the French Alps and Bourge St Maurice for a kayak world ranking race this coming weekend.

Sardinia travels

Out of the breakwater just a bit windy

After the Cinque Terra walk we headed south by train to Civitavecchia a city destroyed during WWII andf boarded the care ferry for our eight days in Sardinia.
Golfo Aranci coastline
Arrived in Golfo Aranci in the evening and the next day rented our Mistra Daedoo care from Formula One Rentals no recognition at all to any formulae one and headed NE to the Smeralda Coast. The small Mistra , no power steering, no aircon,brakes marginal, top speed 50 kms uphill was perfect as speed limit tops was 70kms. Drove past the rich and famous of Porto Rotundo ,Porto Cervo and Capriccioli heading towards Palau & St Teresa Pennisular.


St Teresa Pennisular
All the beaches were golden sand, crystal clear warm water and sunshine which beckond for lazing and swimming.

Headed across the north coast past Castelasardo and stayed at Platamona Lido and onto Alghero
Alghero the old city
a traditional old city and the beautiful beaches of the west coast. Alghero is a reasonable large city uilt on the rocky coast overlooking sandy beaches a tourist mecca. Ventured south for a day to the magnificient Bosa township
Bosa River
an absolute gem, the beach must be the best in Sardinia. Tiem was running out drove across th isalnd through the port town of Olbia
Heading towards Olbia

and stayed the one last night on the beautful Smeralda Coast in a luxury hotel on the beach just awesome. Headed to Golfo Aranci staying in a family run hotel before ccthing the ferry back to mainland Italy. Sardinia lives up to its reputation of beautiful beaches, sunshine and gorgeous scenery. Now in Ladispoli for three nights a coastal resort town about 45 mins by train from Roma
looking out over Castelarado- our mean machine

A Sardinian herd!!!

Italy

Celebrating Vavra's Silver medal World Champs- with the IRL, NZL GBR and FRA supporters

World champs are over for another year and the LJ Kiwi residence is disbanded. Kay and I headed for Italy with Cairan and his parents we had a great night in Brescia eating at a traditional travottoria pizzeria which was yumm....

Montorosso

From there we headed on the train to La Spezia via Palma and out to the Cinque Terra only to find no accommodation availalle as the local tourist info informed us until November. Should we be homeless until then or proactive decided on the latter and heaed back to La Spezia where we found the last room for the night in a 3 star hotel thanks to a cancelleation- rain was on the way. Moved to another less expensive hotel for the next two nights also due to a cancellation Hotel Cassir which was great. First day we headed out on the train to Levanto and walked from Levanto to Montorosso and then onto Vernazza. Two great swims in beautifully warm water so salty required no effort to stay afloat. The walks were harder than expected we were really expecting a walk in the park but day one was certainly a challenge especially in the heat 34 degrees and exposed to the sun. Absolutely wonderful, glorious views and not too many people on Levanto to Montorosso I think they must have heard it was a little demanding typical NZL tramping. Vino, hot showers and food solves and takes away any sore muscles and we were rearing and ready for day two of the walk. Up again bright and early and off to the train station heading to Vernazza to finish off the walk Corniglia, Manarola and onto Riomaggiore. An easy days walking with crowds of tourists making their way along the paths. Did a bit of a detour into the back vineyards and up another hill face which just added a new dimension to the scenery and took us away from the scores of walkers. The scenery is spectacular, the villages still every authentic, food great, vino better, too many Americans and at times apart from the architecture we could be in NZL. very worthwhile ad now we know while Ian and Paula suggested to book as it is so popular even out of the traditional tourist season. Had all weathers and the local fisherman pulled up there boats so they knew a med storm was on the way and the crashing of the waves and the tempest sky added another mood from the first day.

Heading towards Vernazza

Leaving Vernazza

Cornigilia


Riomaggiore vino well deserved

Now in Civitavecchia about an hour out of Rome and heading tomorrow to Sardinia on the ferry- had another mission finding accommodation at a reasonable cost but finally managed it and had the best pizza and salad tonight for dinner. It is all about eating, friend and doing it !.

The Czech Pre Nationals and Nationals held at Lipno about 4.5 hours from Ljubljana. Great course that only flows one weekend a year and we were there.

On top of the Lipno Dam looking back to the start of the slalom kayak course. Very much like NZ

Weekend at Lipno Czech

Out on the jetty on the lake about the Lipno Dam just up from the slalom course and only a short walk from where we are staying.

Up at the release of the dam water for the kayak slalom races

Last weekend Ciaran, Mike and I headed north to The Czech Republic to paddle in the Czech Nationals on a natural river downstream from the Lipno dam that releases water for only one weekend a year for this race. Training on the river was only for two hours on Friday afternoon with a race on Saturday and Sunday. Mikes mate Vavra and his neat family arranged for us mint accommodation including breakfast and dinner at the restuarant with the Czechs was really fantastic. Great food, drink and people. Also managed two runs down the river on a raft followed by a visit to the sweet shop. A great weekend. Thanks Vavra, your family and Czech friends. me just about to head down the might valtva River rafting

Me with the Euro boys. Cirian Left Vavra Right

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Scoutting the bottom of Lipno Dam...

Ljubljana bratislava Return

Mike and Ciaran at the Football Club Eatery. Another great food and beer place at a cheap price


Mike at the Cusovo Bratislava course during the Pre Worlds

We found the local swimming hole . Not super cold but refreshing.

Father and son at the Slavakian Pub. The cheapest and best food and beer in town.

Mike under the sign to Michaels Gate in Bratislava old town.

Mike and I managed to climb in this window on the second floor when the front door of the hotel was locked and we didnt have a key. It was no problem with a little help from my mountaineering son. The next morning I realised just how high it was.





The trek up the hill by the kayak course at Tacen this time in the pouring rain. Lou, Ros, Kate and myself were drenched by the time we got to the top and warmed up with a coffee. Basically slid back down. As I had biked to the course to meet the girls I then had to bike the 8 ks back. Louise had to run!!

Father son time at the local Ljubljana markets. From here went to the local fish markets and bought fish for lunch. Delicious cooked in flour with a salid

The milk vending machine at the markets although they are all over town. Either take your litre glass bottle or buy one from the machine and full it with fresh cold milk. Would be great to have in NZ. Mike managed to jam the system meaning we overpaid so gave our surplus to the lovely Slovanian lady next in the queue.