Kayakin´Tom: Obervellach Freestyle 2014

The next Freestyle Competition in Austria was scheduled or the 2nd of August in Obervellach!

Just a year ago the local tourism group decided to build a slalom course on the local river, the Möll.

With input from Marcel Bloder the also included 2 playspots at the end of the course.

The first one quite a big hole, the 2nd one smaller and a little bit more like a wave hole.

The competition was actually supposed to be on the upper hole, but due to the waterlevel and maybe a rock which shifted in the top feature it took place at the lower wave!

Just one day ahead of the competition the locals built a nice platform for the judges-tent and set everything up for the event!

When I arrived at the playspot in the morning of the competition day, the waterlevel was really low. None the less I went for a paddle and it didn´t feel to bad!

For the competition we had a much higher level though - so nobody really had any training times on the playspot to get used to it!

We started the prelims in session mode and I really felt confident about the moves I did - so I was really disappointed when it turned out that I hadn´t scored a Space Godzilla!

So with coming 7th only over all and not being able to paddle in the Finals my chances to stay in the Top 3 of Austrian Freestyle Kayaking had vanished as I wasn´t able to compete in the last competition in Graz due to a compulsory emergency medicine training I had to take part in.

Clemens and Philipp really did a great job - those 2 are paddling on a really high level this year and are very consistent in the competitions too!

I still had a great time at the Wildwasserarena Mölltal and took over the microphone to do the announcing during the event!

Thanks very much to the organizers - especially the Wildwasserarena Mölltal, Paul Pristavec and MArcel Bloder for this great event!

Here are some pictures by Bernd Penker: