World Cup #2 only days away

We've been here in L'Arg for halve a week or so preparing for the world cup which will start this Friday. The course is starting to fill up with international paddlers that have travelled from Tacen (world cup 1). A couple of countries have their B team or Under 23 team (still very fast!). A huge protest in Italy over a public train line going in meant the road was closed/blocked for 3 - 4 hours meaning people couldn't get here from Tacen in time for their sessions. Caused a pretty busy 6 o'clock session.

Training here was going good until I picked up a cold the other day and am feeling pretty shattered at the end of a course or even worse a full run, so will focus on getting well in time for the race. Am feeling better today so should be fine by Friday. The other New Zealanders arrived yesterday (Luuka, Louise and Shaun T), not many as a couple are off to Bratislava and a couple are still in NZ preparing for London and Bratislava in September.

The website for the race can be found here
I'm not sure if the live video for the race will be the same as at Tacen, but if so check out the link here.


NZ junior team/development team are over in America and Canada at the moment, to check out their blog here is the link, NZ Junior Team Blog

I picked up my new BV with the regulations for safety etc put in place by ICF, and my Waiariki short sleeved cag.

the new canoe

A day or two ago I picked up my new Kapsl 2 XL C. Is a bit bigger than my old boat but is good for me! Works well on the deceptively fast water here in L'Argientere. Alot easier to control than my last. Pictures of the boat below. Will get some pictures of the course today.

Arrived in Europe

Bonjour la Nouvelle-Zelande! Europe 2011 kicked off with a 10 hour, 13 hour flight, a tram ride, train ride, shuttle bus and then finally a rental car with a 3 hour drive to L'Argientere which will host the 2nd World Cup. We arrived in Paris via Singapore and had a few issues in Lyon once we got off our super fast train (300km/h) as our car didn't have roof racks yet, but was sweet and sorted it in the morning. For once I actually enjoyed a 3 hour drive, through the mountains with snow on the mountain tops with Ski villages all over the show.

I went for a paddle yesterday afternoon once we arrived. The course is glacier feed which means it's freezing, but with the sun here it's pretty nice. Quite a rocky river in places but some pretty awesome features and tricky eddies will make a good race next weekend. I better go paddling now in my new Kapsl 2 XL C. Pictures coming soon, au revoir!