Race Report 3 K2 Semi Final

Hi

The weather today was actually cold, well not cold, just normal I suppose. It rained, and the air was clearer for it.

Going into our semi, Bridge and I knew it was going to be tough. There were 9 boats of equal ability, and only 3 spots in the Final. We knew that if we had a fantastic race, we could make it, but one bad stroke and it would be over. Whatever way it would turn out, we would be happy, as we were racing the best in the World, and it was a satisfying feeling going into a really tough race knowing that we were going to give it everything.

We had a cracker start, and were level with the Slovakians next to us (who were 4th at World’s last year). Our second half was not as great as it normally is, but we gave it all to the line. So, no final for us, but a great race. No disappointment. Our 3 months in the K2 have been great, with an A Final at World Cup, and a win in the B final at the Other World Cup. And an Olympic Semi-Final! Not bad for such a new combination. All the crews we raced, have been together for years. I would love to have know what we could have achieved with even just a year of training together?

Jen made it through to the Final. Unfortunately, Shaun did not make the 500m final.

So tomorrow it’s our K4 final. We line up in Lane 7 (next to the Polish on the our left, and the Spanish on our right). It’s at 1620 China time, so about 1020, but get turn your TV’s on at 1010 just in case.

Thanks for all the good luck messages and sms’s!

Mich

Race Report 2

The K2 race was FAST! I blinked and it was over. I think we were caught a little off guard at the start. Nerves played a bit of a role. It’s an amazing feeling to line up against the Cream Of The Crop, in front of so many people, at the Greatest Sporting Event in the World.

You have to understand that everyone who is here, is good. The Selection process separated those who are fast, and those who are FASTEST. So any race is tough. Crews were coming in the top 6 at Worlds, are struggling to make it through to the next round here. It’s amazing!

Our race was good, very close. We felt strong but not that fast. We finished 8th and had to wait an agonising 15 minutes to find out if we had made it through (the fastest 8th time would make it through, which is rough as conditions change from heat to heat). We did enough, and now we have a VERY tough semi-final tomorrow at 1700 China Time (1100 SA time).

I’ve attached a photo of our finish, there’s nothing in it.
Unfortunately Shaun didn’t make it through to the 1000m Final. He has another chance in the 500m tomorrow.

Thanks for all the good wishes.

Race Report One

If anyone missed the race on TV here is the link to the video on Supersport (off the SASCOC website) http://bb.supersport.co.za/sascoc_video.asp?play=2875

Our first race was a cracker! We had a great warm up, I was a bit worried about all the weed, as the K4 has a really long rudder and I was scared we woud hook some before our start. Luckily, we stopped at a jetty just before our start and Jen hopped out and sorted it.

I don't think the other girls realise how much I stress out about the boat's steering! A small piece of weed wedged between the rudder and the boat's hull makes it a lot harder to steer, and one of my nightmare's is to get us disqualified by going to close too the edge of the lane!

We had a great start, and were with the Chinese the whole way (which is a first for us). I tried to set a nice high stroke rate, and the in our 2nd phase of the race, tried to keep it up. It worked, and although the tunnel started closing in on me near the last 100m of the race, we held it together and pipped the Italians into 4th. This is the first time we have beaten them, and we saved it for when it mattered-the Olympics! So often it has been close, but gone the other way. Yesterday, the ball bounced our way!

Our support crew was massive! It's so great to have family and friends here watching, and thank you for all the messages and sms's. It really helps a lot knowing everyone is behind us and watching!

In a few hours, Bridge and I are taking on a very tough heat, it's pretty much like a Final. We are going to have to pull one out the bag, and show what we are made of. It's at 1750 our time, so 1200 your time. Although it might be a little earlier, so check your TV's with time to spare.

Race Day has Dawned

Photo by Dave Macleod Gameplan media

I woke up this morning with my own Personal Narrator reading the script for my own movie... "race day has finally dawned for the SA Women's K4" it said, in a rather Discovery Channel documentary voice!

I am always amazed with the things my brain comes up with, this is a first for me, having a narrator for my life! Anyway, hopefully the voice will be reporting that we are straight through to the Final. Having to race one less time will help me a lot, as I have a lot of races this week with the K2 as well. Most regatta's are over 3 days, and although we race a few times in one day, by day 3 I am quite tired. This is unchartered waters, racing over 6 days, and it will be interesing to see how everyone holds up.

So at 1630 local time we are up. 1030 for you guys in SA. we have a bit of a wait, which is painful, I hate waiting around. Busy watching our SA girls play Korea in the hockey... on TV of course. It's a cracker of a day outside, so I'm opting for the pleasures of aircon:)

The Last Official Training Session

The Slalom Course...wow!!!

Today we paddled our final K4 and K2 session before we start racing tomorrow at 1630 local time. Wow, the past years of training have finally come to an end. We have a good heat tomorrow, and if we beat our arch-rivals the Italians, we will progress straight through to Friday's final. If not, we will be in the semi-final on Wednesday.

Unfortunatley, my K2 heat is the harder of the two, with the current World Champs, and the last Olympic Champs plus a few more big names in it...

My Dad and I at the Water Cube-watched Women's 3m Springboard semi-finals.

Wednesday

The time is marching on here in Bejing.


Some highlights:

• Sat behind Lindsey Davenport in the Food Court (which I am still successfully not tearing the ring out of...) Liesel Huber (ex SA tennis player) came over and chatted to us. She plays for the US now. She spoke Afrikaans though...battled to understand, ha-ha!


• Our SA Boys rowed themselves into the final!


• The volunteers (70 000 of them) are amazing! So helpful and friendly.


• Went to the Chinese Art centre yesterday, incredible.


• Watched SA play China in the hockey last night. The girls played so well, the score didn't reflect the game.
• Managed to get tickets to the Women's Water Polo on Friday afternoon, and diving tickets -3m Women's FINAL on Saturday
• My parents are flying out here as I type!

news and info

Here's the link to SA's Olympic Com website, it has all the news for Team SA and the TV schedule
http://www.sascoc.co.za/
And here is the link to the schedule of events
http://www.sascoc.co.za/content.asp?id=15722