World Freestyle Championships: final preparations

It’s been a while since I’ve posted on here, for which I must apologise. It’s been a busy summer of paddling! I spent most of the past 3 months in Norway where I have been doing a mixture of creeking, extreme races, coaching for Gene17, playboating and freestyle competitions. I have been a little better at updating my own blog, so for more on that stuff, check out www.lowridavies.co.uk.

Right now I have made it to Switzerland, ready for the Freestyle Kayaking World Championships 2009. Official training starts on the wave tomorrow (hoepfully – if the spectator stand ever finishes construction!). Competitors from over 30 countries have been arriving for the past few days and search out waves for last minute training.

Here’s a few pics from my recent training:

Donkey Flippin” on Skjak Wave, Norway. Pic: Will Eldred

Sneaky practice at Sierre Wave, Switzerland, without the queues. Pic: Emily Wall

Clean blunts at Skjak Wave, Norway. Pic: Tom Laws

Dave Bainbridge going large at Bremgarten, Switzerland. Pic: Lowri Davies

Switzerland: it’s very pretty here. (Islay Crosby styling the clean spin at Bremgarten). Pic: Lowri Davies

If you would like to keep up to date on what is happening here at the Worlds, keep an eye on the official website at  http://www.icf-thun2009.ch and the finals will even be streamed live on Freecaster (www.freecaster.tv) on Sep 6th. If you are at a loose end over the week of 1st-6th, please come and support us! Thun is a beautiful town set in dramatic snow capped mountains and there will be plenty to do and see here throughout the event, not just the kayaking… and of course the parties will be legendary. Flights can be found pretty cheap and the public transport this end is really easy.

So wish myself, Flea Jarvie and the rest of the Palm Team competing here luck and we’ll do our best to keep you all up to date on the latest news n gossip!

Happy Paddling.

Lowri