Teva Tour 2008
by Seppi Strohmeier
Photos: Thilo Brunner/ Teva, Michele Ramazza, Barry Schmits
In the late 1990s, Teva came up with the idea of gathering some of the best whitewater bums in the world, sending them on a tour through Europe and portraying the pure whitewater lifestyle on video footage and plenty of prime quality photos. This year, the Teva tour is back, presenting a new team of 15 paddlers followed by a film crew across the Alps in search of some amazing whitewater runs.
Launching right after the Teva Extreme Outdoor Games in Val Sesia at May 12, the team choose the region of Piedmont as starting point for the next 10 days of touring around. Names likes Pat Keller, Anthony Yap, Arnd Schäftlein, Francesco Salvato, Casper van Kalmthout, Martina Wegman and Seppi Strohmeier were on the list. Despite rather low levels there was excellent runs, and it proved to be a great way to start the tour enjoying Italian lifestyle.
In search of better water levels, the Ticino region was the next target. After an epic day on the Verzasca, called the “river of glass” because of it’s clear water, the Ribo with its 17 metre entry slide was the next attraction.
On the way to the “Straight Down Striit” extreme race in Switzerland, the tour passed the river Reuss at Andermatt and ran the first drops of the scenic Schoellenen george.
At the “Straight Down Striit” event, team Teva lived up to it’s reputation, took the podium with Ron Fischer, Michele Ramazza and Sam Sutton and rocked the party after the race far into the night.
The following days, the tour stayed in the area close to Versam. With Vorderrhein, Medelserrhein, upper Glenner and Valserrhein just around the corner there were plenty of rivers to be done.
more info go to www.tevatour.com
by Seppi Strohmeier
Photos: Thilo Brunner/ Teva, Michele Ramazza, Barry Schmits
In the late 1990s, Teva came up with the idea of gathering some of the best whitewater bums in the world, sending them on a tour through Europe and portraying the pure whitewater lifestyle on video footage and plenty of prime quality photos. This year, the Teva tour is back, presenting a new team of 15 paddlers followed by a film crew across the Alps in search of some amazing whitewater runs.
Launching right after the Teva Extreme Outdoor Games in Val Sesia at May 12, the team choose the region of Piedmont as starting point for the next 10 days of touring around. Names likes Pat Keller, Anthony Yap, Arnd Schäftlein, Francesco Salvato, Casper van Kalmthout, Martina Wegman and Seppi Strohmeier were on the list. Despite rather low levels there was excellent runs, and it proved to be a great way to start the tour enjoying Italian lifestyle.
In search of better water levels, the Ticino region was the next target. After an epic day on the Verzasca, called the “river of glass” because of it’s clear water, the Ribo with its 17 metre entry slide was the next attraction.
On the way to the “Straight Down Striit” extreme race in Switzerland, the tour passed the river Reuss at Andermatt and ran the first drops of the scenic Schoellenen george.
At the “Straight Down Striit” event, team Teva lived up to it’s reputation, took the podium with Ron Fischer, Michele Ramazza and Sam Sutton and rocked the party after the race far into the night.
The following days, the tour stayed in the area close to Versam. With Vorderrhein, Medelserrhein, upper Glenner and Valserrhein just around the corner there were plenty of rivers to be done.
One of the tour highlights was the first descent of a 20-25 metre drop at the end of the upper Valserrhein by Pat Keller and Sam Sutton. Sam hit his lip on the boat at the impact and had to be sewn up with 5 stitches, but the hot nurse at the hospital was worth a visit :o).
After creeking in Switzerland it was time for some freestyle action and the crew decided to spend one evening at the Eisbach wave in Munich, Gemany. As this wave is known for it’s strong occupation by surfers during the day, the guys arrived just after nightfall and took photos with a big flash unit.
On the last day of the tour, the Teva crew participated at the Bregiablass, a dam release of the river Bregenzer Ache in Austria. Everyone had great fun posing for the final group pictures and splashing around with champagne.
It was an amazing time to be on this all-inclusive trip with nice people, good food and beautiful rivers and we’re definitely looking forward to the movie premiere this fall and of cause to the next edition of the European Teva tour taking place in 2010.
more info go to www.tevatour.com
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