14. decembris

Mazliet fast forward, izlaižot daudzos melnrakstus par katra eksāmena rezultātu. Kopsavilkums: viss nokārtots ar pirmo reizi, t.i., divas teorijas daļas, praktiskā nodarbības vadīšana, vācu un angļu valoda, kā arī tehniskā braukšana. Izņemot vācu valodu (4, t.i. pietiekami) , vērtējumi ir kolosāli. Sistēma ir no 1 līdz 5, kur 1 pielīdzināms Dievam, bet 5 nozīmē, ka esi izkritis. Milzīgs prieks, par to, ka braukšanā dabūju 3, 3, 4, kas uz „liecības” summējas kā 3 un ir tik tiešām kolosāls vērtējums. Lai iegūtu augstāku, man šeit būtu jādzīvo un jāslēpo vēl vairākas sezonas!

Protams, devāmies atzīmēt! Ja pa dienu vēl redzēju skumjas acis par nenoliktajiem eksāmeniem, tad vakarā svinēja visi. Iemācījos daudz ko jaunu un uzskatu, ka kurss bija vērtīgs. Lai gan esmu tikai instruktors – iesācējs, tagad droši varu teikt, ka zinu, kas jādara, lai visveiksmīgāk palīdzētu citiem. Uz nākamā līmeņa apguvi skatos pozitīvi, teorētiski to varu darīt jau sezonas beigās, bet tad jau redzēs.

Šobrīd pāris dienas brīvas, izņēmām skolas formas, rīt vēl jāaiziet uz ofisu noplivināties ar jauniegūtajām liecībām. Satikām bosu, kuru katru dienu arī saņemsim šīs sezonas pirmos klientus. Izskatās, ka būsim pieprasītas krievu valodā, bet ceru, ka trāpīšos arī vācu listē, lai varu to uzlabot un eksaminatoram vairs nebūtu jāsaka, ka tā ir uz robežas, hehe. Viņš strādā tepat ledājā, tā, ka esmu droša, aka sezonas laikā saskriesimies uz kalna, cerams, ka es ar pieklājīgākām valodas zināšanām.

Apskatiet foto, priecīgus Ziemassvētkus, ceru, ka turpināsiet lasīt manu blogu, un gaidīšu ciemos!

Lauma no Zell am See

9. decembris

9. decembris

Vakar bija lielisks Après-Ski visiem esošajiem un topošajiem instruktoriem. Sākumā bez biezajiem tērpiem un brillēm dažus nemaz neatpazīstu, bet, kad personības noskaidrotas, ballīte iegriežas. Te taču visi savējie, atbraukuši, lai darītu vienu un to pašu: dzīvotu kalnos. Zināt teicienu „what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas”? Atstāstīt neizdosies, tāpēc nemaz necentīšos. Bet ir sajūta, ka paliks tikai foršāķ. Rīt sākas pirmais eksāmens.

7. decembris

Pusotra nedēļa aizvadīta kalnu noskaņās, Pēc ierašanās vienu dienu slēpoju Kitzsteinhorn, patīk, ka atkal var kustēties. Mazas neskaidrības ar atkritumu šķirošanu, bet nu jau ierasts. Četras dienas tāpat kā skolā no 9.00 līdz 15.30 mācījos vācu valodu par slēpošanas tematiku. Bilde ātri aizpildījās, tagad jau varu diezgan droši teikt, ka šajā valodā runāju.

Nākamajā pēcpusdienā sākās slēpošanas Anwärter. Tas nekas, ka svētdiena un slēpot atbraukusi visa apkaime, esam agri un augšā ar pirmo pacēlāju, pusotru stundu ar dēļiem gāzi grīdā. Tad kļuva par biezu (cilvēku mežs) un braucām lejā.

Ne pārāk forši saprast to, ka veikali svētdienās nestrādā, brīdī, kad pienākusi svētdiena. :D Bet nekas, starp lekcijām aizgājām uz itāļu virtuvi un notiesājām ņamņam Vegetariana picas.

Nu jau 3 dienas ceļos 6.45, no mājām ārā 7.45, praktiskās mācības uz kalna sākam 9.00, ar nepilnu stundu pusdienām uz kalna esam līdz 14.30. Laižamies lejā, dabūjam ko ēdamu un 16.30 pirmā lekcija 1.5h, 19.00 otrā lekcija 1.5 h. Mājās ap 20.45. Nepaplašināts teikums par turpmāko vakaru: duša, ēst, gulēt. Paplašināts: muļķīgi stāsti kaimiņiem par dienā redzēto, tikko bijām pilsētā uz Krampus. Austriešiem ļoti interesanta izpratne par to, ko Vācijā un Nīderlandē sauc par St. Nikolaus. Baisi tērpi ar milzīgu zvanu aizmugurē un žagaru saišķi rokās. Nav tas labākais, ko satikt tumšā ielā..

Pagaidām dienas režīms monotons, vēl dažas dienas mācamies, tad sāksies pārbaudījumu daļa.

Daudz jaunu paziņu no visas pasaules, izglītojos par Eiropu, Austrāliju u.c. Jā, jā, protams, arī par slēpošanu. Sarežģītākās šķiet tehniskās tēmas teorijā, piemēram, slēpes uzbūve, sniega veidi, lavīnu veidi. Tādu apjomu saņemt trešajā valodā nav viegli, bet forši, ka ir kaimiņš, kurš zina vācu valodu un pārzina mums nepieciešamās tēmas. Telpā ar 200+ cilvēkiem (lasi – lekcijā) īpaši daudz jautājumus uzdot nesanāk.

Pēdējas 2 dienas snieg, tāpēc visa apkārtne radikāli nomainījusi izskatu. Arī pagalms jāsāk šķūrēt. Būdama dzīvokļa cilvēks, nekad to neesmu darījusi, haha! Pēkšņi visa zaļā krāsa nomainīta uz balto.

Ak, jā, saņēmu ziņu no bankas, ka mana karte apturēta neparastu darbību dēļ. Piezvanīju un nobloķēju, kā arī pasūtīju, lai atsūta jaunu, taču ar to viņi, šķiet, steigties netaisās. Tas nekas, ka otra karte šomēnes arī beigsies.

Man šeit ļoti patīk! Uzturēties starptautiskā vidē ir tik tiešām interesanti.

Latest media

Over the summer I have been included in two publications and for more than a month my picture and name was used for an advertise on the back of the bus. Have a closer look!

Nationals final stop VIDEO

The new 2011 Latvian champion - Lauma Ildena! 

The link for 3rd stops photos:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/karte_foto/sets/72157627470831825/

Here's the video resuming all three Nationals stops!

Enjoy! :)

Nationals stop 2

So last week-end was the Nationals 2nd stop, had an official training on Saturday where it went really good, nailed all the tricks I wanted. On Sunday when the competition started, in the beginning was going easy with grabs & 180s, finishing the 1st distance with a sweet Backroll which I was stoked to ride away in competition again. Had in on training runs after Worlds all times but one on Saturday morning when took a set at the lake before the official training when it cost me a mysterious good morning sunshine back edge.

Then for some reason I decided I could throw a Frontroll without really pushing off the wake which ended up with a just drank half the lake fall. Went for another toeside jump, followed by a Tantrum (which is no doubt my favourite invert now!) and then into a Scarecrow where I once again forgot to take off, haha.

There's so many tricks now I want to go out there and try while riding, but I can't figure out where to start from and the worst thing is once I start riding I keep forgetting I was up to try something new. Instead I just keep drilling my existing tricks to perfection. Have to remember the next time! Another trouble is that autumn is coming so quick, the water temperature has dropped to +19 C which is not exactly the kind of water you want to stick in for too long despite all the wetsuit opportunities. And it's getting hard to fall in too. But I'll be giving it my best as long as I can.

Now here's some pictures, enjoy! 

World Wakeboard Championships

My first World Championships and I got into the finals, finishing 6th, not bad at all. I was a little dissapointed for not being able to show my best run (qualification, semi's and finals). Obviously it wasn't my week and I still managed to get through, that's still good! What I need to work on is getting the tricks consistant for 110%, because a 100% is not enough as I checked with my backrolls. Been landing them for 4 years, but fell on it twice in the competition. Annoying for sure.

I'm really happy that I coud go to this competition to have the experience for further events.

Wow, time is flying! Been riding a lot and working hard to get the tricks dialled consistant. Though some of them are on a bit of question sign, I'm quite happy with what I have achieved during this month of training. Mostly I have been riding behind a ski boat with no ballast, but as my dad says the jumps are the same height as 2 years ago on the photoshoot behind a fully loaded Tige Z1. That's a bit of improvement I guess, haha. Also had a couple of sets on the big boat to get the tricks dialled with more air.

Fantastic news is that I've became a Ronix Latvia rider and yesterday I tried out my new Faith Hope Love board & bindings. It rides so much different from the previous board, I couldn't believe the difference could be that big! The landings were softer and more stable, toeside edging became way easier and it pops from the wake quicker too. And ofcourse, the graphics are stunning, I love the snake's skin pattern on the bottom. 

Other news? Tomorrow I'm flying out to IWWF World Wakeboard Championships in Milano, Italy. Thanks to Cultural Bridges International for helping me with some of the costs. My goal? To teach myself to stay calm and relaxed in my mind during such a large competition. If that'll end up with success I should rank somewhere higher. There's still a lot of riding coming up ahead to become a really good and stable rider, but I think just the experience of this competition will push me a large step forward.

Stay tuned!

~ LI

Life's good; news about June

So to start with, June 17th was my graduation in secondary school. Despite of all the travelling and busy days earlier I managed to be one of the rare to finish with excellence, receiving an honour medal. Have to admit I was very surprised and pleased about such fact. My window sills were full of roses and other flowers I don't know names for in English for more than a week after, an enormous thanks to everyone who made it to see me.

 

With my class teacher.

With principal.

My  ex class 12A

All graduates with teachers.

I don't remember if this was before or after the 17th but at some point this month I managed to land a switch toeside 540 with the very first attempt. Imagine my surprise! Now for the rest of the month all I've been working on is spins, spins, spins. Mainly on the handle pass as that's the slowest thing happening up in the air for me, haha. 

Soon enough, on the 23rd and 24th it was time for Midsummer celebration. As most years I did it in a 100 year old country house as a kinsfolk reunion, sleeping in hay, picking wild strawberries, eating fish smoked on a bonfire and grandma's delitious bakery aswell as a good bottle of beer and some activities. Ofcourse, my sleeping rhythm always sets me up on Midsummer night and when everyone's supposed to wait for the sunrise I went to have a nap. As the alarm went off at 4 AM so I could get up to see the sunrise, it was too warm and cosy under the blanket to get out and actually watch it. HAHA, next year, again! 

From the roof top. Mom's cousin on the right working to get the honey out of the bee house.

There it is, have a look!

At the bonfire with my Mom & siblings.

Just across the field, mhouuuuu.

Where history and the 21st century meets.

Two days later, some relatives came over and had a great day on the water, both parents had a ride on waterskis and we taugh the same to their 6 yo daughter, although scared, but she loved it! 

For now as I am back in the city, going to the lake and working on spins again. Since it's really windy the last couple days for tomorrow I decided to go to the gymnastics hall and get some shape back there. Other great news is that thanks to company CBI I am sponsored for a weekly training camp here with Adam Dennis. That surely will help before the start in IWWF World Wakeboard Championships in Milano, July 13-17.

Live your passion!

~LI

Nationals stop 1 VIDEO

Summer update 1

The last 3 days I was at the lake having a great time! And the weather's been fantastic too, the water temperature is already 23 C (73 F).

On Saturday I had a set behind Tige RZ4, a monster wake! Though the water was super rough due to wind, other boats and jetskis it was really cool to land a proper wake to wake Tantrum without any help from the driver, though he wanted to, the boat simply was too heavy, hehe.

Picture taken on the day before when I wasn't there for the flat water, typical, haha.

Sunday was a random set working on tricks I know, but had some trouble there. Only landed like 2/7 Backrolls and 1/4 Frontrolls, for some reason at the middle of the set I figured out to do a Heel 360 and ended up with a solid, mercyless back edge, oops. Outta bindings immediately, decided to stop there before I do anything else stupid.

On Monday (today) didn't feel like wakeboarding, but did something else to stay in shape. Had a run on monoski and tried some jumps on wakeskis. It's unbelievable how much the working muscles differ from wakeboarding to skiing!

Later on today went to gymnastics hall. Tried some tricks on the balance beam and a bit of trampoline work, that Crowmobe really feels stable, so I should definitely be able to get that Scarecrow down on water with 100% success rate, right? :D

Speaking about tomorrow I'm going to a radio show to talk about wakeboarding (what else, haha?). It's a really cool studio located in the centre of the city and it's completely transparent, people walking on the street can see the whole studio through the window. Live stream tomorrow 9 AM (+3GMT) 

http://www.radio101.lv/streamvideo/

And this Saturday is the first stop on wakeboarding nationals! Promo video (all in Latvian of course).

thanks

I just want to say thanks to my supporter Gymnastics Olympic Center for giving me the opportunity to train in the best hall in the country!
www.gymnastics.lv

School's taking some time.

Zero updates for almost a month now, oops. Been quite busy with school works since came back from travelling the world for 6 weeks, not very clever in the final year, but no regrets, hehe. I sorted it all out, graduating with excellence and already done the English exam, now coming up on the schedule is Math, Latvian&Literature and Biology.

Last weekend I finally rode for the first time since I'm back from Florida. Nothing big, just a short run to practise my arms a bit and a Backroll in the end for the audience on the shoreline. The weather is getting warm and the water temperature is +20C which is really good for May.

June is going to be a very fun month, once all the exams are done, the first stop of Nationals will be on and a week later it's my official graduation, finally! Then in less than a week it's Midsummer celebration!

There's a couple more interesting news coming up, I'll post when they're more definite. :)

"The White Spade"

My sponsors made a video after I returned from the camp in World Wakeboard Center. All in Latvian with bits of gymnastics action, enjoy!

One more day in FL before the cold Latvian spring.

Feel free to listen to this song while reading. 

 

As a complete opposite of the storms last week, my final day of riding was super sunny and hot, and it had the best sunset too!

The pressure I put on myself on week three was enormous and at some points it was my best friend, but some my worst enemy. As all the inverts were so close I wasn't ready to go home with an "almost" trick. April fools Friday was when I got down my Switch Roll which took less than 10 attempts. I think that was the moment when I understood what Andy meant by saying that I have to believe I can ride away from the trick and not expect the magic one. And if I can do two inverts switch, why couldn't I land all those in regular?

Monday. Giving every new invert a go wake to wake. Then second set going for the Tantrum until I finally got it. And not just lucky one, but three in a row! Stoked! Third set was my fun ride in the beginning, though obviously too excited about the day, took the worst Frontroll crash I've had. Just as I was thinking of really over rotating to do a pretty landing instead of the ugly butt slide, didn't take enough momentum and caught my edge on the second wake which was followed by a mercy less full body slam. No way I'd end up my trip with that, so got a couple more passes with fun stuff when Andy said let's go for Toeside Backroll. For some reason my legs would resist to jump high, but they did enough to make me ride away!

Lauma Ildena, Amber Hansen.

Joni Hansen, Lauma Ildena.

Once again in this trip I was speechless for a second. Two inverts in one day? I though I was dreaming, but thanks to the boys it's caught on video.

From being scared of even trying a new invert, within three weeks I landed five. And I'm sure that's nowhere near to stop. When I first saw some pro videos many years ago, my favourite trick became Whirly Bird. And back then I told myself laughing "I'll become good enough to land one someday!" without really believing it... the thing is...... now I finally DO! 

Whirly, Lauma Ildena, Andy Hansen.

Most likely that wouldn't have happened if I hadn't rode with Andy. The amount of my fear was insane, because trying something new might mean going out of control, fall, getting injured and being forced to quit wakeboard, snowboard, dance and pretty much anything else my whole life has been built around. But Andy found a way to get the lines out of my head and go for it. Well... for a good while I was still going for the trick with the lines in my head, haha. But I was actually going for the trick and that was huge! Then later on not only going for it, but landing! I truly admire Andy for all his incredible skills, the positivism and encouragement he gives out and the patience he's got to tell the same things over and over again. I wish every wakeboarder could experience that amazing feeling I had while being in WWC.

 It took 5780 votes from all over the world to help me win the contest and get there, and I really can't express in words how thankful I am to all the people who believed in me and made this dream come true. Wakeboarding is the passion I want to live through and they gave me the start. What I now hope and pray for is that I'll have the opportunity to continue riding more and more to get ready for the 2011 IWWF Wakeboard Worlds in Italy, July 13-17 as well as later on this year the Europe & Africa championships which will take place in South Africa in December. More trainings in Florida please.

Nothing is coincidence, love ♥

Lauma Ildena

Words are not enough.

I told you this place is golden.

Hansen's WWC.

The awesomeness just never stops

Florida sure is taking a while to explore and it keeps giving small surprises every day. This week I got two extra holiday because of the storms. It wasn't just raining cats and dogs, but pouring elephants and horses! And the winds got the jet ski and kayak about 200 meters from where they stood, the tube was blown all the way up to the Hansen's house, the tree that held the gibbon slack line is fell down and the water level has came up lots too.

The circled object was marking the water level before rain.

Bye-bye Gibbon.

This week I was working on the Tantrum a lot and getting it around on the board every time, but one thing that won't let me ride away from it yet is the fact that I still freak out, because I keep thinking it's the scaaaarrryyyy tantrum, haha! When I was sick and tired and frustrated of not being able to ride away, I gave a go for Toeside Backroll again, which on the first try I did awesome and even over rotated, just like Andy told me to, so I won't get that hard crash. But as I got too excited about how good I threw it, later on that day I took two 3/4 falls. OUCH!

So courage less, but still willing to learn some inverts, I gave a go for a Switch Backroll and I actually landed it the same day I started trying! So two switch inverts now - Backroll and Halfcab Roll to Revert. Thrilled!

Andy tried to make April fools on Friday that the boat is not working, but the fact that the boat didn't make any sound while he "turned" the key made it suspicious, so I caught him on that quite fast, hooray! But I didn't  fool anyone either so finally it was an average Friday without any accidents.

Impossible to resist.

About to press the most delicious orange juice.

On Friday I stayed with the Mather's family and had an awesome time swimming, picking up oranges, pressing the sweetest juice for breakfast followed by Starbucks, a visit to the Performance shop. As I keep forgetting that I'm in the most crowded wakeboarding area in the world, Amber Wing casually walks in to get some gear. That left me speechless for a second but then I remember where am I, haha.

Ooh, and as we were looking at Carter's globe I found a very interesting island in the Pacific Ocean. :)

Wake island.

Right after that we went to OWC cable, getting papers signed, board on and boom! Let's ride! Need to admit I'm no good at the cable, but I felt proud to succeed the jump start for 100%, the table top for about 80% and the big kicker for about 50%, haha. I was actually thinking of doing a scarecrow of it, but as I passed to do one more lap, so I could think about the take off, instead I took a beautiful head smack on the next slider. My neck really hated that fall, so that's where I went back into street clothing.

Haha, and I'm wearing an Oakley jacket.

I bet tomorrow is going to be a chill day to rest those arms after the hard work at the cable. And they say Monday is going to be sunny and warm. It means - video time!

Orlando, second week resume

Thanks to all the guys filming out there and my team 1080 for putting this montage together!

Gator attack

Fridays are the most scary days of the week in Florida. Last time it was a real snake by my foot, this time Andy, Dylan and Mitch decided to play alligators. Enjoy watching!

Awesomeness at WWC

I refuse to believe that I only have one week of wakeboarding left. Time has flew by so fast and these for sure will be long lasting good memories that eventually will become present again.

Hansen's WWC is an incredible place, with all the sun, warmth and peace it feels like heaven here! Joni & Andy are taking such good care of us we even started calling them Mom & Dad.

Week 1 was tough due to both physical and mental exhaustion plus I got a cold at the end of it and that definitely didn't make the next one any easier. Then last weekend we went into Orlando, the boys had a ride at OWC cable park, but I skipped it as the cold was at it's worst that day. Then we went shopping afterwards so the girls had their time too! I couldn't resist the fancy high heel shoes, can't wait for an occasion to wear them! :)

This weekend had a great start, swimming and sunbathing in the morning, then off to bike riding for nearly 2 hours, trying out the famous Chick-fil-A food which was really good I have to admit. Five days of wakeboarding with three sets a day plus trampoline work is rough, and riding on Friday gets really hard as you've been beaten up and gotten sore during the week. But hey, that's what weekends are for, giving your body a different way of exercise and lots of stretching. 

Week one was a warm up to build up the strength and confidence, on week two I was trying out a bunch of new tricks, couple of them landed and a couple more were really close. Today I feel like week three is going to be the best of all due to the confidence Andy has built about my riding. I no longer have the fear about trying new inverts, I would love to go and do them right away if only I wasn't so sore, haha! 

I'm serious, with all the crashes I've taken in the past and even now in these two weeks I have never felt better about my riding, it's like a brand new start, because I have finally gone up to a different level of riding. And it's not even about the tricks landed yet, but the fact that I'm actually trying something new again! 

A big thanks goes to my sponsors www.labiedarbi.lv, my family and friends, team 1080 and all the people out there who have helped me to reach this goal. But the most enormous thanks goes to Hansen's family. You are truly amazing! Thank you for this precious and golden experience!

With love,

Lauma Ildena

Orlando report

Uz Orlando

Kā man gāja Austrijā

19. februāris 00:17

Esam laimīgi atripojuši līdz Austrijai, šodien un rīt vēl notiek apmācības, svētdien jau kalnu gāzīs riņķī un darbosimies uz pilnu jaudu. Pēc pirmajām prognozēm man dos mazos bērniņus, bet, cik noprotu, te kā ar bitēm, nekad nevar zināt, ko iedos nākamo, hehe.

Temperatūra briesmīgi silta kalniem, te jau trīs nedēļas nav bijis sniegs, viss tikai kūst nost, rezultātā, braucot gondolā, viss ko redzi ir milzīgas zaļa meža platības un dažas baltas strīpiņas (lasi – trases)..

22. februāris 18:41

Aizvadītas trīs dienas tā sauktajā bērnu dārzā, vecums no 5 līdz 9, valodas: angļu, vācu, krievu, holandiešu. Šodien bija 9 bērni, rīt, ja neiedos kādu klāt, būs 8. Labi, ka pamazām lielākā daļa sāk saprast angļu valodu, vai vismaz ļoti pārliecinoši tēlot, ka saprot, ko no viņiem gribu dabūt gatavu

Šobrīd dienas režīms tāds, ka ceļos neilgi pēc septiņiem, augšā braucam jau 8.30, skolas rīta sapulces ir 9.00, ja paspēj ar pirmo gondolu, tad pirms sapulces var divreiz normāli nobraukt, kas tagad ir arī vienīgās dienā, jo pēc piecām stundām braucot arklā, ceļot augšā bērnus, tīrot sniegu no zābakiem, pieskatot, lai pusdienās neizbaksta cits citam acis un pēc katra nobrauciena meklējot, kurš raud, jo kāds aizbraucis pa priekšu, nudien vizināties neprasās.

Kaut gan šodien tādu domu apsvēru, tā apstājās brīdī, kad atradu tikai vienu savu nūju, otru noteikti pievācis kāds mudaks, kam visi koki izskatās vienādi. Grr!

Labi ir tas, ka bērnu skola būs vēl tikai divas dienas, tad jautāšu bosam, lai dod man kaut vai japāņu valodā, bet individuālos.

Dzeltenos cāļus vieglāk ieraudzīt.

Mazās rīta sapulcītes ar uzdevumu sadali.

Pēdējā iespēja komunicēt ar bērnu, jo vairāk nekā puse no manējiem bija no Nīderlandes, haha!

Šeit pēcpusdienā saviem 8 bērniem bija jāatrod vecāki...

 

24. februāris 20:06

Urrā, pirmā bērnu grupa no nulles līdz pieklājīgam ātrumam uz zilajām trasēm. Šodien viņiem bija arī nelielas sacensības, uzlikta trase un skaitīts laiks. Manējie zvēri karodziņus pieveica 14 līdz 19 sekunžu laikā, dienas beigās visiem diplomi un medaļas, grupu, protams, izdomāju, kā vēl sadalīt sīkāk, lai visi tiktu no pirmās līdz trešajai vietai, hehe.

Darbs stipri radošs, jo tādiem tehniku skaidrot ir tāpat kā mācīt kazai alfabētu, tad nu izmēģināju visu ko. Lidmašīnas, basketbols, sienas, bet pie beigām atklāju, ka manējiem patīk bunny hop, tos viņi taisīja gan vietā, gan pilnīgā nevietā, galvenais, ka pašiem jautri un citus nenosit.

27. februāris  20:07

Nu jau gandrīz trīs brīvdienas, bijām Kitzsteinhorn ledājā, laiciņš ideāls, saule spīd, sauss sniegs un bezvējš.
Šodien biju stand by, vienīgā pieklājīgā trase bāzes tuvumā bija melnā nr 13., uz citām instruktora tērpā neērti bez skolēniem atrasties, un bīstami arī, pāgājušonedēļ vienu instruktori notrieca, satricinājums gatavs. Tā kā lielāks pieprasījums slēpēm, tad uz tām arī pārsvarā vizinos, nu jau divu gadu pauze vairs nav jūtama, kājas arī pieradušas, šodien atklāju, kāpēc pēdas jūtas tik auksti pat tad, kad temperatūra stipri tuva nullei, zeķītes tādas plānas, plānas palikušas…….
Šonedēļ esmu privāto sektorā, rīt arī solās būt darbiņš vismaz dienas pirmajā pusē, vēl noteikti būs jāuztaisa pirms darba skrējiens, šobrīd snieg,  no rīta pēc retraka būs ideāāāāāli!

 

4. marts 21:50

Šonedēļ bija būtiski klusāks, bet šis tas, ko darīt, atradās. No rīta biju treniņā pie slēpju monstra Anthony, slīpēju savu mīļo kārvingu un nepavisam ne mīļos moguls, kuros nebiju bijusi kādus četrus gadus. Bet pārsteidzošā kārtā pat sanāca tīri normāli, ilgais pārtraukums, šķiet, palīdzējis atkost, kā pievarēt nelīdzenos posmus.
Pavasara saulīte arī liek manīt, kafejnīcās kļūst visai silti, tāpat arī trasēs. Ir šeit viena melnā, kas visu dienu atrodas saulē, tai apkārt jau zālīte zeļ un plaukst, pati trase arī jau stipri ūdeņaina, slēpes būtiski nobremzējas un sajūtas kā vasarā Baltezerā.
Rīt brīvdiena, braukšu uz Kitzsteinhorn ledāju papriecāties par sauso sniegu, ja vēl izdosies laikā pamosties, tad ceru paspēt uz tukšām trasēm un retraka sniegu.
Svētdien un pirmdien vēl darba dienas, otrdien no rīta izbraucam mājup. Par visu, kas steidzams, sazinieties ar mani laikā no trešdienas līdz piektdienai, jau sestdien izlidoju uz štatiem, urrā!

8. marts 21:39

Darbs noslēdzies, tikai neliela ķibele. Esam kādus 200 km no starta pozīcijas, kaut kādā austriešu nekurienē Sattledt, nobira auto.. Šodien karnevāls Fasching Dienstag, tāpēc viss ir slēgts. Mums jau iegājās šo dienu saukt par Fakin Dienstag.
Meklējam servisu, iespējas, kā tur aizdabūt autiņu, mietpilsoniskie austrieši neko vairāk par evakuatoru ar minimālo cenu 100 € neprot piedāvāt. Šķiet, serviss atradās, tagad tikai jātiek skaidrībā ar laikiem. Vienīgais autobuss nedēļā atiet no Vīnes piecos no rīta, skatos lidojumus…
Atradām saprātīgu viesnīcu, vismaz varam ko sameklēt tagad. ASV reiss sestdien no rīta…

 

9. marts 21:54

Hmm, no miesta Sattledt esam atevakuēti līdz nedaudz lielākai pilsētai Wels. Iemitinājāmies viesnīcā centrā, pirms pāris stundām tikām skaidrībā, kā tikt atpakaļ, no Rīgas izbrauca busiņš ar piekabi, tātad vietas pietiek mums, un autiņš uz piekabes virsū.
Lai saprastu, kāpēc neremontējām šeit, paskaidrošu cenrādi. Evakuators 14km = 50€. Mehāniska apskate un elektronikas pārbaude BEZ konkrētas vainas atrašanas un vien minējuma, ka tie varētu būt cilindri 110€. Sākumā tie kopā bija teju 190€, bet mums izdevās nedaudz nosist ciparu. Viens cilindrs maksā 330€, auto tādi kopā ir četri… Vēl pieskaitām darbu, kopsumma jau tuvojas 2000€, kaut arī viņiem nav ne jausmas, vai tas ir īstais iemesls.
Divas naktis viesnīcā, divi šoferi ar BE kategoriju, piekabes noma un degviela busiņam. Ja nu gadās pilnīgs error, tad man vēl jāpieskaita 300€ lidojumam uz Rīgu. Veiksmīgi, ne?

10. marts 11:07

Viss turpinās pēc tā paša plāna, kas publicēts vakar, tikai gribēju pateikt, ka brokastis vien bija palikšanas vērtas tieši šajā viesnīcā
Un šis miests izrādās esot otrā lielākā pilsēta Austrijas augšpusē vai kaut kā tā…

First FIS Europa Cup review

My first Europa Cup start in snowboardcross which was also the first time for Latvia to hold the great event. I have to admit that it didn't go quite as well as expected for me due to an unexpected cold I caught on Thursday which forced me to pass the Latvian Youth Olympic Festival with PSL competition on Friday where I would have had great chances of stepping the podium.

However, I decided to rest as much as possible before the important SBX start. I had heard about EC happening in Latvia long before the winter started so there was no way I would let it pass by. As I had already skipped the official training on Friday it was a hard task to learn the slope during the 1 hour on Saturday morning, yet to save power for the qualification runs. 

I guess I had quite a big motivation to prove my best while still fighting with the terrible running nose and rising temperature. Both days I had the best qualification time in between the Latvian female riders. On Saturday I ended up 10th, on Sunday I stepped one place higher and came 9th which was right out of the semi-finals. Realising that I had a great chance of going into the semi's made me a bit annoyed. My muscles felt quite well once they had to work down the slope but my hands refused to work during the start pull, which is where I lost my position, following close after the first two girls yet not being able to pass by for the rest of the slope. 

Although it wasn't more than 2 minutes doing the quad-races I did gain a lot of new experience which is exactly the thing I'm missing to place better. Extremely small experience in racing with others at the same time.

And just a small Post Scriptum. Already last year I had a feeling that the slope is built more convenient for Goofy riders, also all four female finalists were right foot forward, as well as all my most tough rivals when it was about getting into the semi's. It means just one thing - more practise, luck and better health next season! ;)

Official INFOSKI review (in Latvian): http://www.infoski.lv/snovbords/jaunumi/2010-2011-gada-sezona/ozolkalna-eiropas-kausa-snovbordkrosa-triumfe-sveiciesi/

Official FIS results: http://www.fis-ski.com/uk/604/1228.html?event_id=29140&cal_suchsector=SB

NC. Chasing Smykala (POL)

EC. Wuffli (SUI),  Kovaleva (RUS), Ildena (LAT)

Winch show VIDEO

Winch show review (Jan'11)

15. janvārī komanda 1080 oficiāli atklāja veikborda sezonu. Bet.... KĀ?

Olimpiskā Sporta centra peldbaseinā ar vinču!

"Šeit ir vasara" bija nudien silts un pozitīvs pasākums, ko vadīja pats Egils Melbārdis! Veikborda šovs, traki capoeiras priekšnesumi, lieliska mūzika, ūdensbumbas, dažādas sportiskas aktivitātes un sacensības.

Kā gāja veikbordistiem? Katrs centās parādīt, ko prot. Puiši, protams, gāja uz pilnu banku, Jānis Siders pat pamanījās nosēdināt Eggroll (Air Scarecrow)! Man izdevās pāris slaidiņi un, acīmredzot, pietiekami eleganti kritieni, jo ieguvu skatītāju simpātijas balvu, hehe.


Foto - Kristiāns Putniņš
(1080 reportāža par "Šeit ir vasara")

Jānis Siders un Air Railey

Mācāmies izrunāt Capoeiras "Oh leh leh!"

Traki puiši. Tās flīzes slīdēja uz vella paraušanu!

Man nav izredžu!

Miķelis Apinis

Lauma Ildena. Disco dejas mēģinājums.

Jānis trako ar bez-stiprinājumu dēli

Protams, paldies Red Bull vinčas komandai!

Cita Capoeira?

Esi ūdenī sauss!

Auglīši. Mmm!

Vietējā volejbola izlase :)