Vavrinec Hradilek, slalom and whitewater kayaker

New project, training in New Zealand => to Australia

2012-02-01T16:25:00.000-08:00

Time has gone fast in New Zealand, very fast. I spent such agreat summer time there and has done plenty of good training phases most oftime at Kaituna river near by Rotorua.

Huka Falls photshoot by Kenny Mutton

I was based at Dawson's hollyday house which is just on thelakeside, which was great, again. While my training was in full progress iraced at New Zealand Open race in Mangahoe, down to south of north island. Itwas good training race eventhough i was not really happy with my performance asi placed 4th just behind podium with some serious mistakes in my final run.Despite that i was happy to be there and raced.

Tutea waterfall panorama by Kenny Mutton

The biggest highlight of my New Zealand time was making happen anew project we were working on past two month. Mike Dawson and I teamed up forreal whhitewater slalom sessions. Originally we were going to make this kind ofevent more likely as a race at the famous Huka Falls, but due to the rain andvery high, therefore dangerous for slalom boat flow, we used floded riverKaituna just at "our backgarden".

Photo@Kenny Mutton

This section of whitewater is commercially rafted at restricted flows of between 200 and 500 on the gauge but they set out to race down it in composite (carbon, fiberglass) kayaks 3 times the maximum commercial rafting level known to the locals as "Open Gates". One obstacle at the end of the race course is called Trout Pool Falls, a rapid outside the scope for commercial rafting at any flow and seldom run at this flow even by the best whitewater kayakers in plastic kayaks designed for this sort of whitewater. These two stepped up and ran the falls at the end of the mentally and physically draining course.

Troutpool waterfall, photo@Kenny Mutton

A big thanks go out to RedBull CZ for making this project happen as well as all the people involved in set up, camera operation and safety.

Project design - Mike Dawson, Vavrinec Hradilek
Directed by Josh Neilson
Camera - Josh Neilson
Additional Camera - Dylan Tompson, Martin Hammer
Editing - Josh neilson - Southern Southern Underground Productions
Still Photography - Kenny Mutton

Safety and set up - Cole O'connor-Stratton, Michael Tayler

Tutea waterfall. Photo@Kenny Mutton

Project has proved us, that slalom is exciting sport nad could be showcased as an extreme sport as well. We have got some amazing feedbacks and lots of media coverage as well! Check out the video above!

Now I am back in Penrith, Australia. Till 10th of March is long time and I will try to get into the shape for the national selections. Australia welcomed us by rain and quite unusuall weather temperature just by 19 degrees. It's not that bad for training, but could be quite annoying if it would last longer.

Kiwi land, or Wet land? nah awesome land!

2012-01-13T01:08:00.000-08:00

1) sorry for those who do not spek czech, please use google if you in to it :)

Tak jsem zase po roce zpět v zemi, kde člověk dokážezapomenout na všechny nezmary a pohodlně kráčet s úsměvem od zážitku k požitku.

Tentokrát jsem se vydal na jižní polokouli opět trošičkudřív než minulý rok a mohl jsem tak oslavit silvestra sice ne na pláži, jakjsme plánovali, ale v příjemném prostředí přístavního města Tauranga.Původní plán s pláží na severovýchodním cípu severního ostrova námpřekazil souvislý déšť, který doslova odřízl tuto oblast od okolního světa.

déšť nad Coromandel

Přestojsme s Mikem a Martinou Wegmann ještě den před silvestrem vyrazili nakrásnej pěší výlet podél pobřeží, i s koupačkou a trochu cvičení spíševypadajícího jako zápas sumo. Pak už jsme se vydali na cestu ze severu zpět doTaurangy, kde Mike vyrůstal a kde jsou v okolí skvělý řeky. Poslední denroku 2011 jsme využili k surfování na zhruba 3 metrových vlnách,samozřejmě na kajaku. Na moři jmse strávili asi 3 hodiny a bylo to naprostofantastický i když místy trochu nebezpečný. No takovej trénink nebyl vůbecšpatnej…

Mike stajluje

Po oslavě nového roku a trochu spánku jsme vyrazili na řekuMangakarangaranga, která je díky neustálému dešti dobrou 5kovou vodou a kromjednoho úseku se nakonec podala i na slalomkách JO pár dní později jsme tu samou řeku jeli i na creekovkách což jsem si užildost díky tomu, že jsem nemusel mít strach o zničení mé závodní lodě. Ale musímříct, že na slalomce to bylo super, jelikož rychlost je vždy větší a tím pádemi zábavnější průjezdy kaskád.

Nájezd na POWER STATION DROP

Manga chill.

U nástupu se nás sešlo celkem asi 14 a na různých sekcíchjsme se setkávali i s ostatníma grupama,což udělalo z jízdy skvělej zážitek. Nakonec jsme si dali ještě řekuWairoa, která je při plným nedělním průtoku dost vostrá, včetně sekce „rollercoaster“, obtížná pasáž s náročnou vstupenkou a 4-metrovým slidem avýstupní peřejí s jámou jak hrom. Pár krásnejch až 5ti metrových boofů bylona obou řekách až dostatek.

Po 4 hodinách na řece, luxus!

Já na Abbys rapid. BOOM

Večer jsme se konečně přestěhovali k jezeru Rotoiti, z něhožvytýká řeka Kaituna, na které trénujeme slalom. Bohužel pro slalom není velkávoda za otevřených stavidel tak ideální, ale furt si dokážu dvakrát denně pěknězajezdit, zablbnout a zabušit. Takže poslední týden jsem začal s tréninkemnaplno jak na vodě tak na suchu což představuje běh, lehké posilování a dalšínudné aktivity jako wakeboarding, SUP surfing, rybaření, hraní golfu a takyjsem zabředl do tajů šišatého míče aka hraní oslíka v rugby.

Na rybách, poblíž vraku REINA = žraloci všude

Tohle léto je na Zélandu ve znamení deště, což je na jednustranu skvělý pro nás vodáky, ale zase na druhou stranu je trochu škoda, že časod času nás počasí odradí od různých plánů. Ale teplo je, což je podstatný ahlavní cíl zájezdu, trénovat to přeci jde!

Plánování plánování.... vyjde to zas jindy!

Bohužel se nám zatím, díky množství vody, nepodařilouskutečnit náš vysněný plán, čímž byl první neoficiální závod na závodníchslalomových kajacích na extrémně těžké řece s převýšením, o kterém se naklasických závodech bude jen snít. Nebudu říkat podrobnosti, protože se stálejedná o možné náhradní variantě, ale původní lokalita je skutečně jedinečná!!Takže: STAY TUNED!!!!!

All good in 2012

2011-12-24T02:40:00.000-08:00

Hey people!

So last time I said I was begining my off season training and now? Time has flown fast as and I have done good and high quality 9 weeks of hard winter training. In few days I am flying back to New Zealand to start paddling on whitewater again as we have not really paddled whole december in Prague. Due to poor snow conditions i have not done much skiing as well. Although last week was really nice in the mountines and weather was great.

Today is a christmas day and I am looking forward to spent couple days back home and hopefully still manage to go for some xc ski session.

Past sunday, our expresident, famous playwright, essayist, poet, dissident and politician and as well nobell peace price nominee VACLAV HAVEL died. He was one of the most important persons in the comunist era to fight against regime of comunist. He was political prisoner and what was the greatest, that he was amazing personality and all of the world admire him for that.
Whole week was very sad in Czech republic, but thanks to Him we could share all together his quote:

Truth and love will prevail over lies and hatred

Off season training, life in Prague.

2011-11-18T12:22:00.001-08:00

So here it is! Since i have posted my last blog entry, lot of things happend. Anyway... after the end of the season in Austria at the extreme racing, I settled in rented appartment in Prague. It's a big change as I lived in the small town outside of Prague since I was born. The reason why I moved was simple. Avoid the rutine of everyday traveling through Prague ( 45 mins + ), which is sometimes really dificult and especially during the hard winter times :-) The appartment is situated really close to the boathouse, thanks to my electric bike it takes me 6 mins of biking to the river where I am everyday.

Adidas sickline 2011

The training is going well so far, we do heaps of aerobic training and trying to get some more physical base to be well prepared for next season. I do not enjoy this part of my kayaking life as I do the rest, but I know it's important so together with my coach and training mates, we are trying to make some things to be more fun and enjoyable than just raw weight lifting and running over hours and hours.

Last couple days was not really good for doing any activity outside, due to the sudden temperature change and other stuff, the polution is very bad and together with inversion makes crazy foggy nearly depresive days. Unfortunately the weather forecast is not too good so far to get this changed.
This is another reason why I am thinking of to go to the mountines soon. To try my new XC skies and get some needed fresh air.

As well I have been trying to get some media and PR stuff work done, the latest was TV shooting for CZECH TV reporting my abilities to train in these days in such a poluted environment as asthmatic person.

Czech TV