Prague World Cup

This is Prague.  Nice. 

As well as wandering around the city and

 looking at buildings and statues we have also been doing a bit of paddling. 

The feature for the first World Cup, starting on Friday, is on an artificial whitewater course in Prague. Obviously a great training spot for slalom paddlers as we've spent a fair amount of time avoiding pointy boats, although none of us are really sure what they are training for - I guess it is not the Beijing Olympics :) 

The hole has been changeable this week and has gone from flushy to sticky with some moves working better at higher levels and other moves working well at lower levels - nobody seems to know what makes the levels change so we are not sure what it will be like for the competition. 

Most hole moves are possible though, the guys are getting McNasties, Phonix monkeys, tricky whus, loops and Space Godzillas. 

Jason Craig (US Junior) getting one of his big air loops. 

Most of the ladies are getting solid cartwheel and loop-based rides with a few Space Godzillas as well as McNasties and Phonix monkeys. The loops are hard though and because of a bizarre air pocket under the water often result in a weird pop-out/bum-wiggle cross followed by a face plant and flush - I am quite pleased I have perfected this combo move. 

Ruth Gordon (CAN) looping. 

It is a tiring hole though and after a few rides I generally make like a rag-doll and do some really impressive side surfing and window-shades.  

The paddlers have been arriving in great numbers over the last few days - there are 170 competitors including over 35 women, which will make a great competition. 

The judges for the competition, representatives from a number of countries, have all been undertaking some judge-training and have thrashed out the definitions of the various moves and various other aspects of the new scoring system which is going to be tested in these next 3 World Cup competitions. 

The competition starts on Friday with the men's heats and we are up on Saturday. I'll update again then.