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“Addictions can be very, very bad but addiction itself is not bad.
It’s a case of what you’re addicted to.
You better live each day like it’s your last, ‘cos one day you’re going to be right”.
Ray Charles.
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Hi guys and here are a few quick words about the Sjoa river festival in Norway which is one of the best whitewater events during summer in Europe is for sure.
This year had a really sweet water level everywhere around the Sjoa area and the Ula extreme race had really cool flow and Sweet Rumble kayak-cross had to be moved from Amot section to the slalom course.
Anyway, for me Sjoa Festival starts with a time trial for the kayak cross, where it then runs through to there being only 32 kayakers left.
There was pretty tricky eddy just before the finish but I made a mistake there and lost valuable seconds, so I finished 5th during the time trial.
The next day on the Friday was the Gene 17 Ula Extreme Race which again was at a really solid water level, providing a good show for everyone.
I made a good first run in my Raptor and put it best time of the day, so I could go to final run from being in first position.
The second run wasn’t so good but mine was still the best time from all the second runs overall and therefore I won Ula extreme race; I was super happy that I won this!
Like I said, this was the first extreme race that I’d ever been to and that was over 10 years earlier and I remember thinking at the time that it’s got to be almost impossible to paddle the Ula slide, so this year when I was there I definitely wanted to win this race.
Saturday was the Sweet Rumble 2010; a fight between four kayakers for the legendary trophy belt and some cash.
I was felling really good this day and made it to final and happily for me there were lots of favorites who were kicked out from the kayak-cross, so I could choose a position in the final at the start.
Tyler Curtis was next to me during all of final, we were pretty close during the whole event and we made last eddy at almost same time but I was lucky enough to touch finish banner first and complete the double glory at the Sjoa Festival.
It was crazy; I couldn’t believe that I’d won both the Ula Extreme Race and also the Sweet Rumble especially after some seriously bad luck during the season but luck finally came my way and I was more than happy for this success – it was terrific.
Have fun ….. Honza
