Year

NK Slalom-Day 1
Strong wind predicted, but cold, very cold especially for May: 6 to 10 degrees: cold!!
I was there on time, skippers-meeting was delayed for an hour because of the cold, first start was finally at 1 o'clock.
For the certainty rigged a lots of gear: 7.0 seems to be the right size. 8.0 for certainty if the wind is not as strong as I expect.
Everyone has rigged smaller slalom sails, wind seems strong, so also rigged the 6.3.

Elimination 1 - Preliminary round:
Fell 3x in the starting area before the race, not a good idea, loads of waves in the starting area, started last. Some riders where swimming at the marks, I did not fall in during the race.
But certainly no top 4, so to the C finale.

Elimination 1 - C final:
I went on the water during the start procedure of the B final, normally in time to make the start, not this time. Could not get planing, so ended up jibing and following the rest over the start line. Speed was not great, took little risk, took more room then really need to prevent running into other riders. Quite some riders fell in during gibes or did get planing quickly after gibes: 8th inside:24thThis elimination.

Elimination 2 - Preliminary round:
Since I was not fully powered with the 7.0, I took the 8.0. Sailed to the starting area, jibe, sail come loose from the board. Luckely I could grab the sail before it sank. Board on its side, and try to fasten sail again. What is that little button of the Neil Pryde UXT Extender small and not place in a easy location! After some trying finally get the sail stuck again, board flat again, sail loose! Okay, it doesn't stay stuck. Sit on board and wave. Marc de Jong had seen me quickly, I asked him to send a boat after his race. That took some time, 10 minutes? But in the end the boat brought me back to shore. At the shore, tried the extender again: no good lock anymore, button spring seems not to work correctly anymore: This one goes into the trashcan.

Elimination 2 - C final:
I was standing on the shore, C final still had to start, 7.0 was still ready to go, but was on the small side, but better try then not to sail. So took the 7.0 and went to the starting area.
Was neatly on time in the starting area. Watch synced. At 50 seconds started to go to the start line. Closer to the starting line I see something on the starting line in the waves. Even closer, there is someone trying to waterstart on the start line: Cancel Start? I was closest to the boot, total 18 riders in the C final, so went a bit more upwind so I could go between boat and the surfer, about 4m space, not much. Nobody next to me. Almost at the startline, look at my watch: 6 seconds: GO. I go over the start line, no signal: too early? I hear the horn, look at my watch: 8 seconds. So I was really far too early, cannot change that, then make it a practisch race. I wasn't even first at the first mark, pin-end had clear advantage. A lot of surfers at the first mark at the same time, one fell, 6 went in. I took the long way round, which meant that I was overtaken by a couple of riders that took the short route close to the mark. At the second mark: same story, but now with 2 riders. I overtook Vincent during the jibe. On the way to mark 3, Vincent right behind. I had to go a bit upwind to make the mark, not good for speed. Somebody was swimming at the mark. So I went for a short snap-jibe around the mark, which Vincent had not expecting, so he came into his jibe at full speed, he even cut inside, fortunately he did not touch, tight jibe of him. To mark 4 no problem. From mark 4 to the finish? Impossible, I saw it quickly, so started to go upwind directly. But that Venom is never really good at going upwind. Eventually even had to tack twice to make it to the finish. And the fastest ladies, heat after us, some made it to the finish before me. But then again, I was over early.

It was cold, especially if you stood still not nice. The wind was very varying around the showers. I clear miss competition rhythm and have to make more hours on slalom stuff, especially in waves.
Especially in the starting area it was very tiring. I didn't really dare to push in the group of riders. Obviously, I need to train more to get back to the level I have 5 years ago.

Stavoren