Air Time; Mens K1 in Thun

The long day, the mens K1 preliminaries that is. Over a hundred wave shredders, sized the Thun wave from over 32 nations, all in the hope to getting the phat tricks and big air to make it to the quarterfinals day on Friday. Last night the lake level had dropped so much that the wave was turned off over night, so after some readjusting first thing, we were off……

Early on Billy Harris set the marker with 1500 points. It was a stout start for Freestyles’ persistent medal hunter. Steven Wright made some excellent big air moves to score 1400 points and Simon Strohmeier nailed his clean pan-ams hitting 1100 points. Soon after, Peter Csonka fired up some 800+ points a ride to score 1600+, in the best two rides from a four run format used in the first round of the competition. By lunch time, these three were the only paddlers to break the 1000 point barrier. EJ hunting for his fourth was down on 900, after short rides with numerous helix attempts failed to bring the big score to his door.

After a short respite, Finland’s Miku managed to pull out the big crowd pleaser, a huge air loop at the end of a great aerial ride. Miku, a relative unknown on the international scene, trains in the far North of Finland all Summer long, just short of the Arctic Circle. The likes of Anthony Yap with his house made creation, threw several trademark clean pan-ams, but the big scoring moves were not forthcoming. By mid afternoon, numerous riders had placed their claims for the crown, yet it was not until late in the day, Nick Troutman hit proverbial home run, and so significantly was it struck, that it might as well be into outer space. Each run was a lesson in modern aerial freestyle, and delivered some 2500+ points and a place into Quarter Finals.

Considerable rain is due overnight, and the lake levels are predicted to recover. So a great weekend is on hand, just 2 more days of prelims, Canoe types and da youth go in the morning. Until Wednesday’s postcard, follow the talk of the day on simon_in_thun