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