Kayakin´Tom: Dolomitenrodeo 2014

Finally - the first competition of the year!

I was really looking forward to compete here again after last years event where I managed to participate in my first final round!

On arriving here on Friday morning I was surprised by how high the water was - the hole had changed shape - now looking more like a wave-hole.

I still went for a paddle and the wave was actually better than I had thought! You could do hole moves but also wave moves on both sides although it was a little bit flushy - especially for the more technical moves like McNasties. In the afternoon I decided to go for a run instead of another paddle - it´s an amazing scenery here in Lienz along the Drau and surrounded by the Lienzer Dolomiten.

On the next morning the venue was fully prepared for the "2014 Dlomitenrodeo" and the Teva Pappbootrennen where everybody could sign up and build their own cardboard boat and paddle down the river Drau!

Thank you very much for the organisation Thomas "Zimml" Zimmermann - it´s been the 15th Dolomitenrodeo in 15 years!! That´s quite impressive and we all look forward to next years event!!!

Unfortunately only 7 kayakers showed up to compete - we all tried to show our best moves and to entertain the crowd!

When the Pappbootrennen started the crowd was really huge and they cheered their teams on to make it through the wave and into the lower eddy - on their cardboard boats! This year people were really creative - from swimming tanks to ducks and airplanes - and they all swam!

A duck - made of cardboard!

After the Pappbootrennen we had our finals! 5 out of the seven paddlers had each three rides of 45 seconds and only the highest scoring run would count! After 2 runs I was in the lead but Marcel used his routine to throw down a really nice last run! Congrats for the win Marcel!

Me doing a Loop

And a right Blunt

Marcel Bloder in the middle of Splitwheel

Marcel inverted

Thank you very much for the scoring system Alex - great job as always!

Alex Meindl

Matthi was the only one to score a McNasty and managed to step up from 4th place in the prelims to the 3rd over all!

Matthi Zeiner going for the McNasty

Andi was the only junior competing - but he some amazing rides! If he keeps training for freestyle he´ll definitely be on the top at some point! Keep it up!!

Andi Brunner going for a Loop

The award ceremony was held in the close by Tennis Club and the top 3 each got a pallet of Red Bull and some beer and then the party started!!! Zimml had a nice stage there and 3 bands to play into the night!

We definitely had a blast - rocking with "The Kronskies" and "The Kill Candys" and grooving with the main act: "Jimmy and the Goofballs" - what an amazing day!