Bring it Home

Laurie, Jen, SkinDog, Gavin, Mike B., Les H. and the rest of Team USA.......

You guys are great. We have enjoyed reading the blog and seeing the pictures. Most of all we all want you to know that we are all pulling for you back here. Many of us wish we could be there.

You make us proud!!!!

Remember that you must believe that you are the best paddler, for that bench, on the water that day.

Larry

Day 1 of races done

Day one of races is over. Team USA has mad a great showing so far and the PDX paddlers have been bringing it like nobodies business. Of all the other countires here I would have to say that the Iranians are by far the friendliest. I am helming for the Masters Mixed and Womens crews and we have done great so far. The women are gaining ground on the Hungarian women each race. The mixed crew has taken a third in every race giving the Germans a fight for second and leaving Canada in the dust. The mens team has gone of course in two of their three races and had a tough day. (just for the record it wasn't me on the back) I am the only female helm in the mixed division so I am enjoying kicking some arse in a skirt. tee-hee. Tomorrow we race a 500m and two 200m races and we are hoping that it cools down a bit. 6-9 races a day in 96 degree heat is a bit much for all of us.
We are fortunate to have a free concert outside of our rooms every night we have been here. Right across the river, a river not half as wide as the Willamette mind you, is the Hungarian Youth Festival. Think Lollapolooza in 3-4 different languages and you get the drift. Not to worry though, it only goes until 2am. Do you smell sarcasm?
A group of us ventured out to find a non-hotel dinner tonight. The hotel food is part of our package, but you can only eat so much soup, then salty starchiness, then soggy dessert-like substance even if it is free.

Friday - Race Day #1

Today was the first race day and, oh, what a race day it was. The competition is incredible. Countries like Germany, Russia and our host country, Hungary, have brought in the big guns. They've got Olympic kayakers, high knee paddlers, etc. on the teams and they are SOLID!

But maybe instead of 'oh', I should 'OW'. There was a whole lot of racing going on today and a whole lot of sore muscles tonight. I think many people were ready to fall asleep on their dinner plates. Our day started with a 5am wake up call, breakfast at 5:30am and off to the race site by 6:30am. Today was preliminary races for the 500m and 200m standard boats and 200m 10-man boats. Racing started with the 500m races. In the first round, I raced 3 back-to-back 500's on the Senior Mixed, Masters Mixed and Masters women. Then we got a little break and started round 2 of the 500m races where I raced 2 of those (Senior Mixed and Masters Women).

For the Master's division, instead of running Prelims, Repechage, and Finals, they are taking the combined time of 3 races for medals. Should be interesting. The 3rd race (and final) for this division is tomorrow (Sat.) afternoon.

Then it was on to the 200m races...

I raced my first race in a 10-man boat in the Senior Women's division. Our team age range went from 16-50 (or maybe older...not sure how old our steersperson is). Ashley Blundetto (18 years) and our own Jen PeArt were the lead strokers and Brittiney Blundetto (16 years old) was our caller. We had a mess of a first race but our second was solid putting us into the finals which will be on Sunday.

The first of the standard boat 200 meter races also were this afternoon. In the Masters division, race #2 will be on Saturday and on Sunday race 3. Again, this is accummulative.

As for the Senior division 200m standard boat. the Senior Mixed advanced to the finals, which are on Sunday. I'll have to go figure out the men's divisions and other or you can go check out the results on the official page. http://results.mkksz.hu/en/timetable/

I think 5 500's and 4 200's is a record amount of races for me in one day so with tired shoulders, back (Kurt where are you when I need you?) and bum I've off to bed. By Wasabi land...sweet dreams. Laurie

Opening Ceremonies ...WOW!

Often I've found that opening ceremonies can be long and dull but no this one! Szeged outdid themselves. And what is being worn on the red carpet this year ... well, RED, of course. To the Chinese, Red is good luck and it seemed that 80% of the teams were sporting it tonight: USA, Germany, Switzerland, Hungary, Canada, Russia, etc, etc. etc.

The images of the night are wonderful...light-footed dancers of all ages, officials with short and sweet speeches, the sea of competitors in their uniforms, one of the best stage areas that will double as the medals stand, the race course in the background just beckoning tomorrow's thoughts. Running into old friends, making new friends, cheering teams, and Hungary's top Opera tenors singing his way down the race course in a candle-lit dragon boat and to the stage while nearly a full moon rose in back him. And then...the fireworks! WOW!!! Nicely done.

Kicking around Szeged

As I mentioned in the previous blog entry, Szeged has a lot of statues. Some old, some new and inbetween the sleep, eat, practice, blah, blah, blah routine the team has either been going to the Turkish baths (I haven't been there yet) or kicking around the town. You can't help but notice the statues. Some inspired us!

That's Gavin striking a pose! :)

Practice and the Olympic Water Stadium

The last few days have been a blur. With a cancelled flight and everyone dispersed to the wind (literally), we trickled into Hungary. Since then it's been sleep, eat, practice, eat, meetings ... sleep, eat, practice, meetings. For 2 days, we've practiced at Szeged's Olympic water sports stadium (See picture) It's wonderful with some great permanent buildings along the course. There is a grass-topped island border that runs the length of the course with entrances onto the course at variuos distances. So you approach the coarse on the one side of the island and then drop onto the course to line up for your race.

Team USA has 2 main categories here: Senior (no age restrictions) and Masters (over 40). Our practice times have corresponded mainly with the Iranian and Hungarian teams. There's been lots of picture taking and wonderful exchanges with both the men's and women's teams from Iran. We share a bus to the race site which was been fun. Practices have gone well and I have finally got to try out a 10-man boat. IT'S FUN!!! The Senior division has 200 meter 10-man boat races as well as the standard 20-man boats. As the rest of the distances (500 m. and 2000 m.) will be in the standard boats.

Szeged has a lot of statues. The main one at the race course has to be honoring "The Speedo"! I wish I has a copy of the picture we took with some of the Iranian men. It was fabulous.

Views of Szeged, Hungary