Shanghai World Cup 2015

Just over a month ago Jeanu and I received an invite to represent South Africa at the cable World Cup in Shanghai. Our cable was still closed for winter so we started training at a Dirty Habits Playground in Durbanville which is a 2.0 cable. Two weeks before we were leaving to Shanghai, our full sized cable opened so we were able to get a few sessions in. When I found out I was going, Jason started training me and I managed to learn 2 new air tricks :D 

On Tuesday, the 29th of September, Jeanu and I left and we arrived in Shanghai on Wednesday around lunch time. Not only was I excited to be invited to such a big event, but Jordan also received an invite to represent Spain which meant I got spend the week with him! I managed to sleep all the way- on every flight and even on the bus from the airport to the hotel so I was well rested by the time we arrived. Jeanu on the other hand, is not as good at sleeping on planes so was not quite as well rested as what I was haha. We were starving when we arrived at the hotel so headed straight to a McDonalds as it was the only food we recognized.  

We were up early on Thursday morning for breakfast and caught the 7.30am bus to the cable. Jeanu had a very early night so was awake extra early and caught the 6.30 bus. When we arrived the weather was really bad. It was cold and super windy. After finding the motivation to get out on the water, Jeanu, Jordan and I went for our first practise ride. After practise, everyone headed back to the hotel for dinner and we had a chilled evening.

On Friday morning we had to be up early again as the bus to cable left at 7.00am. We had a short time to practise before the ski jumping qualifications started. The weather was alot better, not as much wind and sunny skies. We left the cable in the afternoon and decided to go into Shanghai to see the city. We had dinner at a local restaurant, the food was amazing! After dinner we went to see a famous tourist destination in the city center called The Bund. It was like a waterfront area next to a river that was facing skyscrapers and they were all lit up. It was absolutely beautiful!

Saturday saw the start of the comp with Qualifying heats as well as LCQ's.  Open Ladies started at 8.00am and I was in heat B. Unfortunately, I did not land my first run, I think the nerves got to me but luckily I was able to stick my second run. There were 7 ladies in my heat and I managed to get 4th. Only the top two riders from each heat went through to the next round which meant that I was in LCQ's. In LCQ's, only the top rider from each heat went through to the next round and there were 7 ladies in my heat again. I thought I had no chance in making it so just went out and had fun. I landed the cleanest run I have ever done and was shocked when I won my heat! This meant that I was straight through to the Finals and had made it to the top 8! I was unbelievably stoked and couldn't stop smiling for the rest of the day! 

After Open Ladies, was the Open Men Qualifications. Jordan rode like a machine and got 4th in his heat. Jeanu also shredded but they both were in LCQ's later that day. Jordan landed the best run I have seen him do in his LCQ run, all his tricks were done with maximum amounts of style! He just missed out on the top spot and got 2nd in his LCQ heat. I was still super happy for him and he was stoked with his riding! Jeanu also had a killer run but unfortunately went down on his kicker hit at the end of his run so also didn't make it through his LCQ heat. The level of riding in Open Men was mad!

On Sunday we went to cable a little later than usual because the Finals were only in the afternoon. When we arrived the Open Men semi-finals were going down and the conditions were terrible! The wind was pumping and it looked like there were waves on the lake! Fortunately, right before the Open Ladies finals, it started raining and the wind died down completely. My first run was not the best but I managed to have a better second run. Not my best riding but it was the most amazing experience to be on the dock and compete against some of the top wakeboarders that I have always looked up to! This was my first international cable competition and i placed 7th which I was over the moon about :D 

Sunday night called for celebrations! 

We had a very slow Monday morning packing and later went into town for lunch. After searching for somewhere to eat, McDonalds ended up being the best bet after eating Chinese food all week. We walked around the streets and looked at some Chinese shops. Just before we left, William, Jordan and I managed to get onto the roof top of our hotel! We got some awesome pictures of the view. Next it was time to catch the shuttle to the airport and home time. What an epic 6 days it was in Shanghai and I couldn't have asked to spend it with any other homies. 

Spain 2015

I finished writing exams on the 1st of June, spent a week at home relaxing and then left for Spain on the 8th. I arrived on the 9th of June and went straight to Xtreme Gene in Cordoba. Xtreme Gene is a boat wakeboarding shool where Jordan works so I spent most of my holiday there. I love the place, the people and really enjoyed riding boat again. My goal was to learn toeside backrolls which Jordan had me to landing by my last set! I turned 20 whilst I was there. I got spoilt and had an awesome birthday dinner at Matt and Debbies house.

On the 9th of July, I joined the Ion tour to various cable parks around Spain and one in France. There was 5 of us - 4 riders and a photographer. We met in Seville in the morning and started the tour from there. Our first stop was Uback Paradise in Alicante where we spent a day and a half riding. I loved the cable and would like to go back there one day. Next, we drove to Barcelona where we spent a day at CWP in Cubelles and a day at OCP (Olympic Cable Park). OCP was the first full size cable we visited. We spent all day riding and then went to a flow rider in Barcelona that night. That was definitely one of the highlights of the trip for me! It was pretty difficult but suuuper fun! We were all starving afterwards so we stopped at Mc Donalds for dinner. The next morning, we had a 6 am start. We were headed to TNG cable in France and wanted to wakeboard that afternoon. We arrived around lunch time, chilled for a while and then the shredding began! It was exciting because it was my first time riding at TNG and my first time in France! Of all the cables we visited, TNG was my favourite. We spent 2 days at the cable and stayed in a house right on the water. It was amazing! After 2 days we started our journey back home. On our way home, we stopped in Barcelona to have one last shred at OCP. I almost didnt wakeboard because my body was sore and I was tired from all the driving, but luckily Jordy pushed me to get out on the water and I was stoked afterwards. We stayed for about 2 hours and then continued on our journey back home. We decided to drive through the night, so Sawe and Mitchel took turns whilst Jordan, José and I sat in the back and ate alot of junk haha. Jordan and I got dropped back in Cordoba at 4.30 am.

My parents arrived in Spain whilst I was away so I got to spend my last few days with them at Xtreme Gene. I left a few days before them as I had to get back to university. It was hard to say goodbye to everyone but I look forward to returning in the near future. I am now back home in South Africa and its freezing! Cable is closed until mid September so for now its time to focus on uni.

Thanks to everyone for the good times, I couldn't have asked for a better way to spend my holiday! 

Sunset cruising

Birthday drinks

Uback Paradise

CWP with all the homies

Booze cruise with my first and second family ;)

My last wakesurf

Home bound

Jason waiting for me at the airport

South African Nationals 2015

This past weekend, cable nationals was held at my home cable in Cape Town.

Friday afternoon was practise so I headed to the cable after class for a little shred. The weather wasn't great, it was overcast and freezing! Definitely the coldest day we've had all year. Fortunately I had my Roxy wetsuit with me, so the cold didn't stop me from getting on the water :P 

Qualifiers were held on Saturday. When we arrived at the cable in the morning, it was rainy and cold but it wasn't long before the weather cleared and the sun came out. Qualifiers went well. Once they were done, I had to get home  to do some studying because exams start this week. My brother, Christopher, landed his first railey in his qualifying run! It was good to see all the Junior Men pushing each other to attempt inverts for the first time.

Finals were meant to start at 8.30 on Sunday morning but due to load shedding, it only started at 10. We had the most perfect weather on Sunday! It was hot and the water was glassy all day. A friend of ours who recently got into wakeboarding, Brent, competed in the Novice divison. He slayed it and managed to get 1st place. Its awesome to see someone who is so passionate about the sport and is just keen to learn! I was really happy with my run, the best one I've done so far, and also got 1st in the Open Ladies division. Christopher stuck another railey in his finals run so he was stoked, and he came 3rd in Junior Men. My older brother, Jason, pulled a trick out the bag that he hasn't done for about a year, since before his knee injury. He stuck it clean and got 2nd in Open Men.

It was a good way to end the season! Thanks to CASA for putting together an awesome comp, to Roxy for keeping me warm this weekend, and to Liquid Force for the best board! 

Now to get exams out the way, and then it time for a little summer holiday in Spain with the Darwins! 

Thanks Bianca Asher for the photos!

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Studies vs Wakeboarding

I  started studying at Stellenbosch University doing a BSc in sport science when i returned from the Philippines. I have just finished with my last test week for the semester before exams start at the end of May so I thought its the perfect time to get back up to date with my blog. As far as Stellenbosch University goes - lets just say I had no idea what I was in for but I've met so many new people from all over and am enjoying my course so far.

In my free time I've been wakeboarding and competing when my studies allow it. I competed in the 1st stop of the boat tour that was held at Misverstand Dam in March. I was super chuffed with my riding, definitely the best run I have done behind the boat and was really happy with winning the ladies division. I also competed at the Re-awakening cable comp that was held at Stokecity Wakepark in March hosted by Liquid Force and was happy with my 1st place there too. They put together an epic event and it was really good to ride with all the homies again!

I spent the Easter weekend at Clanwilliam Dam with good friends. Its always fun to be back behind the boat. I've also spent some time at the Dirty Habits cable in Durbanville since my return. The kickers are my favorite at the park!

This month is cable nationals and it being held at our home cable in Cape Town- Blue Rock. I'm excited to have it at home and i'm sure it is going to be a sick event.

Sunset at Blue Rock

Clanwilliam

13 up behind the boat!

Roxy spoiling me once again x

2 tower system at Stokecity

<3

Dirty Habits cable

Philippines 2015 :)

After Christmas, I flew to the Philippines with my brothers and Sami. We spent a month wakeboarding at CWC Wake Park. Sami's sister, Bronwyn, flew over from Taiwan and spent the first week with us. Unfortunately we were greeted with lots of wind and rain so spent most of our first week in the cabin playing Uno cards and most nights ended up at Happy Endings bar. 

To pass the time while the weather was bad, we did a bit of sightseeing. We went to a market in the city central, spent many hours relaxing in the hot springs, shopping at the SM mall and trying out different foods. my favourite restaurant was "Take Me Out" with the most delicious burgers and tacos. Sami, Bronwyn and I decided to go out on a girl’s spa day. After being pampered , we ate schwarmas for lunch at a tiny little store and topped it off with Starbucks. Probably some of the best schwarmas I have had.

The weather improved in the second week and we were able to spend more time on the water. This is by far the best cable I have been to. There are so many features, so many new things you want to try, you can never get bored! We got up early most mornings to get the good water before the wind picked up in the afternoons. Some morning we would head down to the 2.0's before the full cable opened and do air trick sessions. Maxine and Jason encouraged me try my first s-bend. Maxine is one of the best riders in the world so it was awsome to get coaching from her. It’s always fun riding with other girls, especially when there is so much you want to learn from them. One of the highlights of my trip was hitting the hand rail at the plaza system. If it wasn't for jb who pushed me do it, I would never of hit it so THANK YOU JB! 

Jordan arrived towards the end of the second week and brought some sunshine with him. It was really nice to spend some time together. We all had alot of fun riding and filming. A week later, a typhoon hit the whole of the Philippines and we were once again stuck indoors playing Uno cards for the weekend. The one night I thought our roof was going to blow off but fortunately we were all safe haha. Sami and Christopher were due to leave on the Monday. All airports were closed and flights cancelled. Everyone was stressing that they were not going to be able to leave. Luckily for them, the storm cleared and they were able to fly out on time. 

We spent the last week doing lots of riding, filming and taco eating. I am really happy to have had the opportunity to meet so many new people. This trip was such an amazing experience and lots of good memories were made.  CWC - until next time! 

Thank you LiquidForce for my new 2015 setup for my trip!