Adidas Sickline 2009

This year the adidas Sickline was THE place to be, the event looked like awesome and full of surprises, so we were there really motivated.

After a great training week with all the frenchies in a cool atmosphere we were ready and fine to compet these Worlds!!

All start with the qualifs on Friday... on the slalom course in Oetz, class II...

Ok, was more simple for the oganisation but not really fun for the kayakers.
Well, strong paddlers took the first spots and the others closed the rest.
The first 45th can compet for the finals, on saturday.

Mat Dumoulin fired up directly after the qualifs... Same for Stefun Pion and others...
Are we talking about extrem kayak??


Michele Ramazza in front of the objectif of David Arnaud, preparing the TV show for the finals on Saturday.


Val and David...


For the Finals steps, this year there was a new system of "head to head"... Again more fun for the crowd than for the paddlers...
I was really unlucky for the quarter finals, so I competed against Andrew Holcombe, one of the best american paddler and winner of the famous Green Narrow Race.
With a great time to go in finals, Andrew kicked my ass and I was fired up in quarter final...

The others frenchies go all in semi final.


Val quarter final


Yann Neime fired up in semi final by Jakub Nemek.

Ralf Schaberg goes in finale

Eric Deguil, winner of the qualifs, wan all his "head to head" and poped up his spraydeck in final and he could be on the podium easy but unlucky he ended 9th...


Fabrice Poueyto, "lucy loozer" of the finals took it easy in the Hot Seat with Miss Tyrol... Easy Fafa!!


Jakobus 3rd, Alexander 1st and Mike 2nd... Nice podium this year after these great finals!!



The 3 guys in front of the crowd!!

Well, now let's go for the party, we've to enjoy all that!!


Party!!


All kayakers celebrating the victory of Alexander Grimm


Val, Olaf, Eric and Ciaran


Casper and Severin

The results:
http://www.adidas-sickline.com/index.php?id=106

The videos:
http://freecaster.tv/kayak/1009273/adidas-sickline-2009-presented-by-tirol-replay

Well, I ended 26th with the feeling to not finish my race, like something missed...
The global atmosphere of the event was so so, especially with the qualifs on class II and all go with, and all that for 100 euros... Was better last year for the same price...

Now I've to see some doctors soon to pull the plate in my hand out, yeah I've always this f*%king plate in my hand.
I hope to be ready soon and paddle again!!
More news about that in the next days...

Thanks to all guys I saw again or met in Oetz and we had really great times!! ;-)

Photos:
Jens Klatt
Manu Arnu
Pierre Mahé