Sickline Redemption

Champs! Photo: Amy Morton

Just over a year ago I swam out of a sinking boat into the Champion's Killer eddy in the sickline final; my gopro headcam footage would be unusable by the media due to a string of choice swear words and I was suffering from frustration and bitterness about my performance.  Whilst many were quick to blame the equipment - the deck shouldn't have popped, the boat was too small - I knew myself that I hadn't got a clean line down the TNT rapid ever since the sudden increase in water levels the night before the finals and decks are far less likely to pop when you're not backlooping and surfing upside down in holes.  My inability to get clean lines down the racecourse annoyed me far more than losing out on the fame and glory of winning the competition and I vowed to return this year to redeem myself.

This year I returned, admittedly with an altered equipment choice including an IR Lucky Charm deck that lived up to its name and didn't pop (thanks Ingrid!) and the Zet Raptor which is a bit bigger and faster than last year's Veloc and also comes in a lovely tractor green colour.  Determined to improve on last year's result I hit the training hard trying to get to grips with the very low water levels leaving very tight lines.  The Wellerbrucke rapids are relatively easy to survive and get down, but present a challenge when it comes to perfecting the race lines.  A fact demonstrated clearly in the footage of the finals where small errors can make a large difference in the race time.  I was happy being out on the water and most of all was enjoying meeting and catching up with friends from all around the world who were showing up each day.  Having the opportunity to catch up with paddling buddies from all across the globe is one of the biggest draws of this event to me.

Friends!!! - Sal Montgomery

Race day approached quickly and before we knew it we were battling down the qualification course trying to put down two smooth runs in order to make it through to the next day of racing.  The racing in the girls' event was closer than it has ever been demonstrating the high calibre of this year's field, that said there was a very clear leader with Nouria Newman (FRA) putting down two incredibly consistent runs to qualify for the semi finals in 1st place.  Newcomer to creek racing Pavlina (Paja) Zasterova (CZE) showed her strength and fitness by putting down the 3rd fastest qualifying time in her second run.  As usual the Champion's Killer claimed a few casualties mixing up the standings after the 2nd runs but I was able to be consistent enough to hold on to my 2nd place qualifying spot.​

Two Blades Adventures' Alona Buslaeva boofing her way through to the semi-finals - Jens Klatt

The semi-final format pits the 8 qualifiers against each other in four head-to-head heats (1 vs 8, 2 vs 7 etc.) with the fastest from each pairing going through as well as the fastest 'lucky loser.'  Fate would have it that I was paired against my good friend and training partner Jenny Chrimes, on the plus side this guaranteed a Brit presence in the final, but also ran the risk of one of us knocking the other out of the competition.  We both knew we were fast enough to make the final and committed to each other that whoever was the slowest would still claim the 'lucky loser' spot.  This went exactly to plan and we did indeed both qualify for the final.  I had a good clean run coming in at 1:09.06 but was a long way off Nouria's blistering time of 1:06.12, she was flying!!

Now began the tense wait for the finals and the struggle to keep warm during the gap filled by the men's semifinals.  Luckily the sickline organisers look after us and there was hot tea at the startline to drink and/or pour over your feet and hands.  The moment came when just like last year I was sat at the top of the ramp in the sickline finals.  Trying to ignore the cameras in my face making me self-conscious and nervous and focus on the lines I knew I could make and had successfully repeated many times during practice.  Not a big one for heights the ramp does get my heart rate going but once I hit the water the nervousness vanishes and I'm doing what I enjoy most in the world...whitewater paddling.  The run goes smooth with just one small mistake after the minus one hole causing me to throw in a quick back stroke to correct (20 press-up penalty)!  Luckily I was able to get back on line and have a smooth run of Champion's Killer to the finish line.  I crossed the line with and improved time from the semis and current leader meaning I got to enter the hot tub for the first time and was guaranteed at least second place.  I was already over the moon as I had achieved what I came to do, two consistent runs down the Wellerbrucke with only minor mistakes holding it all together under pressure.  Nouria was next down and unfortunately was not able to have as good a run as previously with some small mistakes putting her in second place half a second down.  This meant that I was to be the winner and Sickline Queen for 2016.  My final time of 1:08.82 was still a long way off Nouria's semi final time so I know I have some work to do picking up the boat speed for future races in order to stay competitive but at the end of the day it was consistency with the lines that mattered and this is where I came through.

A little surprised! - David Sodomka

One of the bonuses of winning is that you get to watch the mens' final on the live-feed from the hot tub rather than fighting for a spectator's position along the bank (rarely successful when you're only 5'2'').  Again in the boys it came down to smooth lines counting for more than pure power and speed with Aniol Serrasolses showing he can perform in races as well as on ridiculous rapids and waterfalls by pipping undisputable king of sickline Sam Sutton by just one hundredth of a second.  Dane Jackson showed his endurance moving up from lucky loser to bronze medalist.  Phil Mitchell, only Brit in the final, had great runs in both semis and finals cementing himself among the 'big deals' by finishing in 11th place.

Speedy boys - Jens Klatt

The sickline organisation have been clearly trying very hard the last couple of years to equalise the women's and men's events.  This was demonstrated this year when the women's final was broadcast fully for the first time and we were awarded equal prize money alongside the men.  These efforts are appreciated by the competitors and I think this has been demonstrated by the increase in female participants over the past couple of years leaving this year oversubscribed and a number of women on the waiting list!  Many thanks to the administration for the work done here and I think my fellow competitors will agree when I say this year we were treated equal.

All that was left was the party - an enjoyable yet messy affair as always with the traditional charity shop fancy dress for team Brit.  Sore heads and queasy stomachs lead for a long drive home next day but the FlowFree van ate up the miles and we arrived home safe and sound already excited and planning for next year!

Party Time!!! - Sal Montgomery