"EM hex" instead of the podium I landed in the water and on the 8th place. 17.-19. Oct. 2008
Team Austria participated with 7 riders in 5 categories and we made the 6th place in the teamranking (1 point behind Israel).
On sunday they made some maintenance work on the cable so we decided to have a walk through Bursa. We ended up having a 5 hours hike, we considered it as a kind of crossover and endurance training.
Bursa is a big city, we saw nice shops but we were disappointed by the restaurants. We didn't get beer for our lunch. The religion forbids alcohol and beef (in Istanbul and Antalya it's not so strikt).
On Monday we went to the cable. Unfortunatly there were no obstacles in the water. They had the same resin problem like Antalya plus the cable owner somehow broke the funbox in the middle. On Wednesday we could use the obstacles for a while before the thin glued plates started flaking. In the last moment the 22mm HDPE plates that have been ordered from Istanbul (they got delivered Wednesday night 11pm) finally arrived and they worked the whole night, that we had proper obstacles for the official training on Thursday. Hui, fortunately it turned out good, otherwise we would have had an old-school-no-obstacles-contest like in Anapa at the worlds this year.
There was a tunnel connected to the island!
We enjoyed the stay in the Celik Palas 5 Star Thermal Hotel. Instead of 150 € per doubleroom, wakeboarders just payed 65 €. Every day they brought us fresh bathrobes and slippers to the room. When I arrived the room waiter carried my boardbag. We spent a lot of time in the wellness area, especially in the traditional Hamam (turkish marble bath - build like a mosque).
First Sunday night in the hotel we had great fun with skateboarding, sumo and "flitzen" (running half naked around like in the 70s)
On Friday there was the openig ceremony. 109 riders out of 15 countries participated in 8 categories. After introducing all nations and after the polititians and officials had made a speech, they got me on the stage to hold the oath for all the riders (that we follow the rules, in honor and for the olympic spirit, etc). Mostly former European champions make the oath, but this time Varna (President of the EAME Council) said she wants to have an "popular rider"!
The Hungarian team decided Friday night to make a collectiv protest and not to compete. Because their best Mini Boy Rider just got second place in the qualifcation group. He would still be in the final and the council promised to use other judges in the finals. But they didnt change the quali results, so the Hungarians didnt start!
It was the 10th European Cable Wakeboad Championships and for me it was the 8th time to be part of. 2001 (4th rank) and 2002 (3th rank) were my best results. After that it was like hexed, like this time! Already in the qualification I fell twice at my first invert. With a very safe and standard run I closly passed the LCQ and semifinals. In the finals I couldn't make a clean first run and at the second run I already ended at the first trick. Enought, now I booked my first lesson with a mentaltrainer for next week. So next year I transfer my full capacity from practise achievement to competition.
Lolo former World Champion didn't make it to the final but is showing some style here.
The other Austrians did well. Phillip made the 4th place at the Boys (until 15 years) with a little bit more risk maybe he could also have made it to the podium. Linda made the 4th place at the Junior Ladies (until 18 years). Next year she will compete in the Open Women categorie, where Astrid made the fabulous 5th place. Fabian, Emilio and Rene were unlucky with their LCQ groups and closly didn't make it to the finals.
Exept for the obstacle problem in the training, it was a very good European Championship. We had good catering (all you can eat 3 times a day), working shuttle service, nice riders area with WLAN, super dj´s and speaker (Clint Liddy - you are the voice), a big videowall plus live webstream were our friends and family watched us and at the after contest party there was free beer!
About the judging, maybe there were decisions which not everybody understood, but you will find this everywhere. It doesn`t matter if it is IWSF or WWA, snowboarding or surfing.
There are always people complaining about competitions, but I have seen many, so that I can see, this one was good and we should not complain. Generally contest are getting better and more professional. I am excited what the future will bring. Next year there will be the Ozmangazi Grandprix in Bursa with a lot of pricemoney.
Watch Live Webstream at Freecaster.tv
Timetable: (1h ahead of european time)
Friday 17.10
16.30 Qualification Mini Boys, Boys, Girls, Junior Ladies
Saturday 18.10
9:00 - 13:00 Qualification Junior Men, Open Ladies, Girls, Junior Ladies
13:30 - 15:00 Finals Mini Boys, Girls, Boys
15:00 - 16:00 Price giving ceremony 1
16:00 - 19:00 Qualification Open Men, LCQs
Sunday 19.10
9:00 - 11:00 LCQ, Open Men, Junior Men, Open Ladies, Masters, LCQs
12:00 - 14:00 Semi-finals, Open Men, Junior Men
14:00 - 15:00 Finals Open men and Women
15:00 - 16:00 Price giving ceremony 2
16:00 - 17:30 Finals Masters, Juniors
19:30 - 20:30 Prize giving 3 & closing ceremony & official Party 
EM Türkei 10th European Cable Wakeboardchampionships in Turkey!
5. - 20. Oktober 2008
Team Österreich besteht aus 7 Fahrer. Hier die ersten Fotos!
Die bezaubernde Linda started bei den Junior Ladies!
Unsere Astrid wird die Ehre bei den Open Ladies verteidigen!
Der Philip rockt die Boys Kategorie!
Fabian und Emil geben den anderen Junior Men Gas!
Und Rene und ich werden unser Glück bei den Open Men probieren!
Hier noch ein kleines Bild zur Auflockerung! (Handelt sich um die Freundin des einzigen russischen Starters)
5. - 20. Oktober 2008
Hi Leute, ich fliege morgen (So.5. Okt.) runter in die Türkei. Zuerst inspiziere ich den Lift in Antalya (5 Tage) und danach gehts wieder 700km hoch nach Bursa. Hier findet die EM von 17.-19. Okt. statt. Bin ab 21. wieder nachhause. lg Fetzy
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