After last years big success, it was time for another round of spectacular head to head action on the olympic whitewater course in Augsburg, Germany. 32 men and 6 women signed up to battle it all out to be in the win of a 1000 euro worth brand new mountain bike, great paddling gear from Sandiline and of course, high performance whitewater shoes from Teva.

 

The boys going hard out (©Marianne Stenglein)

The Teva World Champs at the Dutch Water Dreams whitewater park in Zoetermeer couldn’t have asked for a better finish. The downriver race, its multiple laps (5 for women and 6 for men) proved to be grueling and took its toll on the athletes. Each lap you could see them getting more tired. But in the end every one of the teams took on the challenge of the downriver and gave it their all. The downriver was watched closely by many shouting spectators throughout the course. The ability to watch the teams do multiple laps was a great crowd pleaser.

The women’s race had the Slovakian team out front but on the whitewater course they had a swimmer who swam into the flat water below which took them into last position in their heat of 7. They struggled and fought hard to get back but ended up taking 7th place overall. Japan however kept increasing their lead once they took control. They won the downriver with a time of 29.28:62. The Canadian women had a great run as they started in the slower ranked heat and took 4th place in the Downriver.

In the final heat of the men the start was huge and Brazil took the lead and kept it the whole way. However in the beginning the Czechs, USA and Japan battled each other for a while but they sorted it out with Japan coming in 2nd and the USA 3rd. The upset was New Zealand, in the previous heat they had a fast race and took 3rd overall.

With the downriver out of the way teams are celebrating and waiting for the prize giving of the downriver and overall results. For complete details of the results go to the results section at the official  WRC website.

Pictures courtesy of www.fotodolkens.nl

Teva Life Agent Mike Dawson checks in.

The last few weeks have been somewhat unusual for me. Instead of being on the water, I've been sitting on the bank of the river watching everyone else doing their thing, racing training and having good times on the water.

In Spain I raced after some/a lot of physio which made it possible to get on the startline. massage, compex, pain killers and anti-flammes.

I headed to Augsburg, Germany for the second world cup and stopped taking pain killers to see how it was and it got worse. The German doctors x-ray'd it, and then decided to go onto the MRI to check for a fracture. No fracture. Happy days.... Well happy days in 4 more days when they reckon I can paddle again.

 

In the mean-time I am going on holiday..... I've watched enough kayaking for a life time... ;) I love the river but not being able to get on it sent me on a new mission-Italy. Checking out the sites and sounds of a country so old- a lot of history to take in for a kiwi boy.... It's something I don't usually get a chance to check out on my travels. But now I've spent a bit of time being another kind of traveler- The tourist.

Check out www.mikekayak.blogspot.com for updates  

 

After my exams and the World Cup soccer, I finally get the chance to write a review about this super hectic month. This month absolutely saw its extreme highlights, as well as its big disappointments. After all it has been an adventure and I am not in the position to complain, as I’ve been out, on the road and focused on what I love to do; kayaking.More...
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Yes, I just climbed Mt.Washington on an epic two day trek with so many magnificent moments I will be challenged to share them all in the abridged blog style most prefer. Blindness neither stopped me from undertaking, succeeding or most importantly savoring the marvel and magic of Adventure.

During our journey I thought much about the many adventures and accomplishments of remarkable people here within theTeva encouraged world of sharing experience. Why was I a Teva Life Agent amidstso many incredible stories and accomplishments? What really can make me standout in such august company? 

Mt. Washington's original name was “Agiocochook” in the language of the Abenaki Indians; itmeans “Home of the Great Spirit. I realized, in part, that there was the answer to my question and the encouragement I wished to share with everyone. I may not have the talent and skills for some of the astounding exploits shared by many here.

 I do have a tremendous Spirit for Experience and appreciation for Adventure. Demonstration of Great Spirit and determination is precisely what was evident in my hard earned hiking expedition and precisely what I might share with the many people who reach deep within themselves to achieve what is significant.

Adventure and Experience are rewards given to those of us for the drive to dream and undertake the things which may make a difference in our lives. It doesn't matter whether your choice will inspire awe in those who learn of it, it matters only that by that choice you may inspire awe and appreciation in and for yourself. Live for the Experience and Savor the Adventure!

Randy

The first Epic Climb Complete and now the Full stories will follow! Fifteen hours of hiking over two days brought totally blind Randy Pierce and his Guide Dog Quinn to the summit of "fierce and fatal"Mount Washington in the White Mountains of New Hampshire.

The Teva Itunda was an integral part of the many water crossings and proudly hung from the pack of the determined climber! 

 There is nothing sweeter than summit success when the effort to achieve it required so much.

  We'll bring you many more pictures and video of the amazing adventure as we recover from the Team 2020 Inaugural Achievement!

Recently, the Teva UK team came back from an awesome weekend in Bristol where we sponsored the Bristol leg of the Rat Race Urban Adventure (www.ratraceadventure.com).

With Bristol over, we are massively looking forward to the next leg which takes place in Edinburgh. For all you UK Teva fans, it would be great to see you down at the event village on 17^th and 18^th July!