KPWT Italy/Lago di Como
03.07.07

Italy, the country of Pizza and Pasta, Whine, delicious icecream and Italian lifestyle was the host of the first KPWT event of the year.

The beautiful north of Italy at the Lake of Como, in the middle of the mountains I was going to take part in my first event of this tour and was very excited to check out the organization and the riders, but most importand the vibe and the spirit of the KPWT. So I was very much looking forward to it… but then unfortunately it happened… I got very sick. I came back from Cabarete, already feeling really bad… stomach, flue, high fever, my whole body just hurt and I was enjoying my 4 days in Germany in bed. In preparation for the upcoming competition I went to my doctor straight who gave me Antibiotics and told me to not exercise as long as I don’t feel completely well again. Hoping for the best I still got into the flight to Milano on Sunday… everything was possible and maybe it would only get windy the last few days and I could actually get healthy first. And it actually looked good for me on the first day… already having decided to not ride in case the wind would be coming up the wind actually did not come up… but then the next day it did, and I went our for one heat, feeling incredibly weak.
I was amazed that I managed to wind my heat but happy to just go back to bed straight afterwards. Clinton was the nicest and cutest team mate ever and did not only help me with launching and getting ready but also putt all my kites and boards away! I will never forget that and owe him big time! Thanks so much Clinton for being such a great buddy!
From then on though it was windy every day and I basically dragged myself down to the beach every day and rode just for the heats, feeling more and more weak every day, because I still could not eat anything and did not have any energy. Oh well, at least not having any fever anymore now I just made it thru, even became second in the singles and then third in the doubles.. of course lost my kite in one heat, had a leach disconnected in another heat and stepped into a needle on the beach just before my last heat (that was really scary and I really hope it is o.k. …). It definitely was not my luckiest and strongest contest ever, but I am still very happy that I made it and also finally am starting to feel better and also feeling hungry again! So I am positiv and am going to rest in Germany for a few days now. But wow, that really was a week and I am happy that it is over now… and of course even more happy that I could still get the 3rd place in Freesyste, 2nd in Long Distance and 1st in Hangtime… Clinton also did a great job, as well being unlucky in the freestyle comp but ending the Hangtime with a great 3rd place!
Thanks again to Clinton for his great support during the whole week!
And last but not least: even though I did not get to talk much to the people on the KPWT tour I had a great first impression. The riders are super nice and in average a little older than on the PKRA tour and also the organizer Frederic, the head judge Ian, the photo and video guys and the judges are nice people that are open for riders opinions and feedback…
It was definitely not my last KPWT event! Thanks to all the sponsors and organization for a great and well organized event!