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