Just as the autumn knocks at the door there was an open competition last Saturday. With 5 ladies on the start I was last off the dock so I knew exactly what I had to do to win. However this was no exceptional competition and I fell and fell on the tricks I usually don't mess up during trainings. There was only one run so they made it '3 falls allowed', and this was a lifesaver, because only after the second fall I realized I have to get it done NOW!
As I stood up I had just enough time to do the two tricks I fell on and I did. Even though it was a small event, I'm still stoked about the win!
Still haven't posted about Poland. I placed 6th, but I was really disappointed with my runs, because I was never able to do a stand up pass and fell on what normally should be easy tricks. Never mind that, it was a fun trip and seeing so many good riders at one place gave me the motivation to keep working hard.
Anyway, since I'm back home been training a lot of spins. Finally getting somewhere with TS 3's wake to wake and those BS 1s should be there as soon as I stop letting go off the handle.
Here's a video of the most flat session I've had this year, I had my dad driving and my mom watching and a friend filming. With the sun out it just felt good and I got everything down. Would have wanted to get the other 3s on film, but I ran out of power!
800 km took me 12 hours of driving. Split it in 8 hours, sleep at a hotel during the night, then doing the rest down to Warsaw to pick up Roberts and further to the competition site. We made it just in time to register and the trainings were on.
Nothing close to the real competition scenery, but I was happy to get in the water after all that long sitting. And I never realized how boring it can get when you're on the road on your own! Can you tell, haha?
Rode the qualification today first off the dock in the Open Women category. Just realized it's my first time out of Jr. Women. While the boat was getting the speed up I tried to get over the fact how huge the wake behind the 2013 X-Star is, it was about twice the size I had ever ridden on! Did some parts of my run good and some parts not so good, unfortunately a double fall where it shouldn't have been. The second pass was directly against the wind and sun and I just stood there not willing to cut out because it was so rough. Nailed one trick, but fell on the second. LCQ tomorrow, I just hope it's less windy and I can really focus on doing my best and finishing the run I had planned.
Tomorrow I'm driving off to Poland for the E&A Championships. Really excited about it and looking forward to a week full of inspiration and fun! Knowing myself around competition the only goal I've set is to finish my two passes without freaking out and messing up the easiest tricks.
Had a tryout run yesterday and today and they went well, so hopefully I can put my brain together and do the same thing with the bib on!
Fingers crossed for a good start and I'll keep you updated!
I have my own board again thanks to an amazing friend from Germany who helped me out! Been wakeboarding out there with more power than ever. Most tricks were landed first try, including switch Tantrum. Though the regular one took me at least 10 falls due to rushing, haha!
Then about two weeks ago being over-excited I rushed one of the switch Tantrums badly and landed heavy on the second wake on my left ankle, hyper-flexing it and putting a bit of strain all the way up to the knee. Not a big deal, but I could feel the pain when I had to bend it on take-offs or landings in the gymnastics hall. This means hundreds and hundreds of 1 wake spin drills until my leg would get well again. They went so good and I was happy to land all four FS 360's in a row, since I could never do any TS 3's without over-rotating (and all attempts of a 5 always have been under-rotated, haha!)
Yesterday I started going bigger again and when I fell after my warm up jumps, my dad drove up to me and said 'hey, looks like you lost your switch toeside!' to which I had to reply 'nope, that was regular! Switch was the one that went wake to wake no problem!' Had a good laugh at it and spent the rest of the set getting my toeside jumps fixed and a bonus at the end, landed a two wake TS BS 180 first try! Spin drills paid off, yay!
A crazy training at the gymnastics hall in the evening and I'm stiff just about everywhere today!
Thanks to everyone who has helped me to get this far! It's been a progressive season and I'm looking forward to 2013 already, having new goals to reach and tricks to land!
Thank you Ronix Wakeboards Latvia and www.gymnastics.lv for supporting me and allowing to get better at what I love to do!
Weeks like these remind myself how much I love wakeboarding!
And it's been so good, tried Raileys off the skate, started going for switch Frontrolls and switch Scarecrows. Just like every new trick I rushed way too much, but still they were so close, I nearly had that switch Scarecrow done in one set. First new trick next season for sure. A couple of Tootsie Roll attempts, switch TS 540 close and I have switch Tantrums solid now! A sketchy TS Backroll, and got back Scarecrows. Nice week!
Thanks to team Xtreme Gene for taking care of me and Manyasha! Thanks Carro, DC, Dylan and Andres for coaching!
London gave my body a big shock when I walked out of the Gatwick terminal. +1 C was unexpected for sure! Quick run from train to tube to train to cousin's house begging her to let me in, haha!
She shared her warm clothes, pair of warm socks, because my shoe choice is flip-flops or Crocs slippers and went to Hyde Park and Camdens later on. I really like how different London can be from part to part. Now looks like we are going out to a Halloween party! Should go and get ready!
Pictures coming on the next post from Riga, the cables are packed too deep to get them out now.
Went to Cordoba last night, had a great time with Team Xtreme.
Raileys today!
Being here the whole week, watching others riding and pulling away all those tricks is really inspiring to get out there and try it myself.
Finally I did it. Tried the Railey off the skate behind the boat. I managed to go all the way out! Early take off and standing up tall towards the boat made the landings bad though. However I'm really happy I gave it a go! Definitely achievable!
Thanks to Carro and DC for being in the boat, making sure I don't die out there and encouraging!
Tootsie Roll drills after that and one attempt, where I managed to tap the handle, but didn't grab it yet (chicken noise).
Raining now so looks like more rides coming up tomorrow.
Been a tiring day, taking a lot of crashes. Started off with TS Backrolls, overthrowing all but two. So a couple more under my belt.
Beginning of the next set did some of the regular tricks, a solid Frontroll landing and then a super early Tantrum take off which literally made me eat the wake and then smacked me on my back. Ouch! Kept going, landed a sketchy Tantrum, went straight into a switch Tantrum and did it so much better than the other! Still can't believe it!
Then tried Tootsie Rolls again, starting to understand the pull, but still freaking out once upside down, so didn't reach for the handle even when I'd turned it in. Oh well.
Third set switch 540s, still taking off super-early so missing a little bit on the rotation.
Looking forward to something completely new tomorrow, time to figure out what's it going to be!
First set trying billions of Indy Shiftys to prepare for the Batwing which I never got, haha.
Second set did a massive switch Tantrum, then tried HS BS 180s, quite close, but still coming down on my heels, then went for switch TS 540s, it was totally not my day for them and it never came around.
Delicious chicken breast salad for lunch, going in the boat, watching DC and Carro ride for some inspiration and then off to my sets.
Tried the TS BR, I'm so freaked out about under-rotating that I kept doing 1 1/4 rolls the whole time. On the final set for today I managed to land two, hooray! Then started trying Tootsie Rolls. Went for two tries, it feels weird, but definitely achievable, so that's something I want to keep trying while I'm here!
It's been a great day out here! Had two good sets behind the 210 in the morning. Had a good warm up with some inverts and HS 360, then went on trying toeside 540s. They're nothing close to ride away, because I start spining so early it throws me off axis and out of control. That's something I still need to work on a lot.
Then on the second set went straight into switch Tantrums, it took me ages to set up, but when I started doing them every next one went better and better, after 3 good tries and letting the handle go I finally landed one! Then Carro was shouting from the boat to do a Halfcab Roll which ended up looking like a switch Backroll where I let my hands go once upside down. Got it all the way round, just still have no idea where I am in the air. Haven't worked them out on the trampoline either, so it's a bit tricky travelling that direction.
Anyway. After that got straight into another 2 switch Tantrums in a row! Felt so good as if I've been landing them for ages. Then another Halfcab Roll attempt, this time I actually made it closer to it, but still letting go half way up in the air.
Got windy in the afternoon, so we decided to wait for our sets and get some tan. Instead of calming down the only thing the wind brought was cold air and showers, so more riding postponed to tomorrow.
And thanks to Manyasha my today's sets are in video, that's a start for a montage!
Started riding yesterday and had a super-nice first set, did most of my tricks and then started working on switch toe 3. I've landed it a few times, but it's nowhere near being consistent as I keep over rotating. So today I started going for the switch toe 540, got the spin around, but ended up back foot heavy as I obviously took off early.
Then on the second set today I decided to give a go for the Scarecrow again, focused really well on doing it just like on the trampoline and landed my first one way out into the flats! Felt so good! Then tried Indy Tantrum, but my energy was so low by then I kept on missing the board, haha! Finished the second set with a clean Frontroll landing, so happy about that! It's only the second time this season I've done it!
Will take my camera down for the third set so I actually have some footage from Spain. :)
EDIT:
It went cloudy in the afternoon so video shooting is postponed. I had a nice third set, got that Scarecrow massive and out into the flats with the first try again! Then went for the Toeside Backroll, it's pretty close every time now, just have to fix that bending on the last part of it.
I did a lot of stretching after my set, so it's a bit easier. Then Carro and Dylan went out for a set each. Carro did insane, throwing Whirlys and Raileys like it's no big deal. With Dylan I actually had trouble recognizing tricks, had never seen a Front Mobe, so impressed!
It's moments like these when I get my inspiration, I see someone doing it, so it feels real and achievable. Looking forward to tomorrow!
Here's an awesome video we did with TravelOutThere.
Riders: Lauma Ildena and Vita Valheima.
Camera: Ivars Veiksa.
Boat: Ivars Ildens.
Riding at Udensklubs.
I've had a great summer wakeboarding, teaching others to ride, working as a waitress and simply having fun. The heat hasn't been an often visitor and I switched to long suit in middle of August already! (Last year by this time it was still boiling in a shorty!) Since end of Aug I'm riding in my new Billabong Synergy 5/3 2013 Winter wetsuit which keeps me warm for an hour easily so I can continue longer trainings as the Autumn sets in.
This year I opened the season extremely late, around June 12, so I'm willing to have that bit of extra riding before the long (I mean loooooooooong) winter comes. Also to extend the wakeboard season a bit me and my friend & student Anna-Maria will be going to have a week of riding at Xtreme-Gene, Spain this October. It's been 4 years since I was last there and I'm anxious to meet everyone and see the new site!
I've spent a lot of time in the Olympic Gymnastics Centre to prepare for the season and now restarting the trainings to stay in shape for Spain in October and ski instructor courses later in November, a big shout out to www.gymnastics.lv for supporting me the third year in a row now!
This season I'm riding with the 2012 RONIX Faith Hope Love board and boots, it's a brilliant ride I get to use thanks toour local dealer Uģis from Aquasports.
As we counted in the Udensklubs ride register book until August 25th I've been on the water for a total of 13.5 hours, including a set on mono-ski, hydrofoil and wakeskate one each. I've added a few hours as I'm writing this post, but it's still surprising how little it's actually been this year.
Here's an edit my dad made from a set earlier in August.
I've been focusing on learning those backside spins a lot, I've always known how to initiate the spin, but I was never able to land one until this year in a training I just felt the urge that I HAVE TO try them again. Been working on them every set from that day on and finally getting the understanding of where exactly I am in the air.
Another great week was when I went to have some sets on the System 2.0 with Jonty Green coaching and that being my first week on the System I learnt the air Railey! So excited! I really want to bring it to the boat, but my brain's still saying not to do it. Oh well, later then.
New boat trick of the season is a Switch TS FS 360.
However I'm still very inconsistent with my spins as I work very little on them. It's getting better now, but it's still a long way to go.
I've been trying to get the TS BR back, but I rush it so badly on the small wake there's no chance I could ever ride it away like that. I've tried a couple of other switch inverts, they're missing some pop on the toeside jumps and holding on to the handle on heelside, haha! I'll keep working.
Another news you might not know yet I've started my University studies as a Nutritionist. Should keep me interested!
My biggest goal now is to save up enough money to be able to go wakeboarding to Florida the next summer. I know already that my salary won't make it within this time (unless I find a much better paid job), but I really hope there are great people around able to help and if it's meant to be then things will sort out.
Starting from Monday they say the weather is getting warmer and the wind is calming down. Can't wait to set up a photo shoot with Eduards Glotovs (www.eduardsglotovs.lv) it's been way too long since we last did one! I'll keep you updated.
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!
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.
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.
7/10/2011
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.
