Kayak Freestyle Graz Radetzky May 31, 2008
by Christoph Hesse/ Tom Zach KC Graz
photos: Andi Schaffer, Heimo Strei
On May 31st. the first competition of the Austrian Kayak Freestyle Championships took place at the Radetzky-Spot in Graz-downtown. The competition was held as an international contest - so top European kayakers came to Graz.
At 11:00 o’clock the K1 Juniors were the first to compete! The preliminaries were dominated by Jakob Ehrl (GER), the only non-Austrian starter. But in the thrilling Head to Head of the best 5 the Austrians took the lead back: Moritz Schneck won ahead of Daniel Scherübl and Fabian Quasthoff - and so he took the leading in the K1 Juniors Austrian Championships.
Next were the K1 women, including the up-and-coming Paula Gruber (AUT, KC Graz, only junior). The other competing ladies were Nina Halasova (SVK), Katrina Migdauova (CZE), Eva Fillova (SVK) and the two Austrians Gudrun Lehner and Judith Prechtl. After good prelims the two Austrian starters had to give in to the stronger international ladies! Nina Halasova (SVK) won ahead of Katrina Migdauova (CZE) and Katja Stein (GER).
The ladies were followed by the C1 Men. Highlight of that group was Simon Strohmeiers run - or better his countless rolling attempts. So organizer Michi Stršmer had a special price for Simon at the awards ceremony: A rolling course with the KC Graz! So Johannes Holkenbrink (GER) won ahead of Daniel Krummreich (GER) and Martin Karabec (CZE).
31 K1 Men from 4 nations started at the main competition. Start order was the reversed ranks of last year’s Austrian Championships. Hence last year’s champions Michael Strömer and Daniel Herzig started directly in front of the international starters. Because of the large amount of starters there was a semifinal of the best 10 before the Head to Head final of the best 5.
Unfortunately local hero Michael Strömer didn’t achieve the semifinals. The Austrians, who were left were Christoph Hesse, Lukas Seitner, Daniel Herzig and Benjamin Kraler. They had to compete against Vice-World-Champion Peter Csonka (SVK) (also winner of last years Radetzky-Freestyle Competition), Luka Stricelj (SLO) (winner of last years New Treminator III competition at Graz), Simon Strohmeier, Daniel Krummreich (both GER) and Pavel Andrassy (SVK).
Csonka, Stricelj, Herzig, Kraler and Strohmeier made it into the top 5 finale. In this extremely thrilling Head to Head Peter Csonka once more demonstrated his superior class (clean airblunts by the score!) and won ahead of Daniel Herzig and Luka Stricelj.
by Christoph Hesse/ Tom Zach KC Graz
photos: Andi Schaffer, Heimo Strei
On May 31st. the first competition of the Austrian Kayak Freestyle Championships took place at the Radetzky-Spot in Graz-downtown. The competition was held as an international contest - so top European kayakers came to Graz.
At 11:00 o’clock the K1 Juniors were the first to compete! The preliminaries were dominated by Jakob Ehrl (GER), the only non-Austrian starter. But in the thrilling Head to Head of the best 5 the Austrians took the lead back: Moritz Schneck won ahead of Daniel Scherübl and Fabian Quasthoff - and so he took the leading in the K1 Juniors Austrian Championships.
Next were the K1 women, including the up-and-coming Paula Gruber (AUT, KC Graz, only junior). The other competing ladies were Nina Halasova (SVK), Katrina Migdauova (CZE), Eva Fillova (SVK) and the two Austrians Gudrun Lehner and Judith Prechtl. After good prelims the two Austrian starters had to give in to the stronger international ladies! Nina Halasova (SVK) won ahead of Katrina Migdauova (CZE) and Katja Stein (GER).
The ladies were followed by the C1 Men. Highlight of that group was Simon Strohmeiers run - or better his countless rolling attempts. So organizer Michi Stršmer had a special price for Simon at the awards ceremony: A rolling course with the KC Graz! So Johannes Holkenbrink (GER) won ahead of Daniel Krummreich (GER) and Martin Karabec (CZE).
31 K1 Men from 4 nations started at the main competition. Start order was the reversed ranks of last year’s Austrian Championships. Hence last year’s champions Michael Strömer and Daniel Herzig started directly in front of the international starters. Because of the large amount of starters there was a semifinal of the best 10 before the Head to Head final of the best 5.
Unfortunately local hero Michael Strömer didn’t achieve the semifinals. The Austrians, who were left were Christoph Hesse, Lukas Seitner, Daniel Herzig and Benjamin Kraler. They had to compete against Vice-World-Champion Peter Csonka (SVK) (also winner of last years Radetzky-Freestyle Competition), Luka Stricelj (SLO) (winner of last years New Treminator III competition at Graz), Simon Strohmeier, Daniel Krummreich (both GER) and Pavel Andrassy (SVK).
Csonka, Stricelj, Herzig, Kraler and Strohmeier made it into the top 5 finale. In this extremely thrilling Head to Head Peter Csonka once more demonstrated his superior class (clean airblunts by the score!) and won ahead of Daniel Herzig and Luka Stricelj.
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