skiracr
Catalina Ski Race, Boat # 222
- Joined
- Jul 13, 2009
- Messages
- 1,651
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September 7th - 15th in Vichy, France
The time has come for Team USA to travel to France to compete in the 2019 World Water Ski Racing Championships!!!
River Dave and Team RDP have been gracious enough to support our team efforts in getting to France to compete at the World level. We will be setting up RDP in the pits for the duration of the competition. This thread will be dedicated to the World Championships with full coverage and everything that goes along with the trip. There will also be a live feed for every race!!! It's going to be an incredible experience that will be shared with all of you along the way.
This Journey for our Team began at the beginning of the season in Parker where the first two of the seven selection races took place. At that time we were all competing against each other for that coveted spot on Team USA. Although we are still competing against each other for an individual World Title, we are now also competing as one unit to bring the Gold home to the USA!
About 6 weeks ago our team boats were loaded into shipping containers and sent on their way. With some fabrication, redneck ingenuity, and historical practices, we were able to stuff 4 boats in two containers. This was for 4 of the 7 boats being shipped. They were loaded up and left Long Beach, Ca for France. They went south, through the Panama Canal, and across the Atlantic. They are now waiting for our arrival. As you can see in the pictures it was no easy feet...every inch counted.
First the crane brings the containers to ground level off the trucks...
Now the fun begins...the first boat goes in ass first. Special fabricated braces hold the tongue at the ceiling of the container so the next boat can get pushed in...
Then things got interesting. one of the boats along with the trailer was too wide. Everything had to come off the trailer and brackets were made with casters to get the boat and trailer in.
We will be racing on Lac D'Allier which is a fresh water canal. To say the water will be rough is an understatement. 2/3's of the course has sea walls on both sides of the canal and the remaining section has sea wall on one side and rocks on the other.
So my wife Julie, our 18 month old son Bodhe, and myself will be leaving LAX tomorrow morning to start this great adventure. Wheels up at 11:55 to Montreal, Canada then hopping on the next flight in to Geneva, Switzerland. Once in Switzerland we will be taking a 4 hour train ride to Vichy, where we will be staying at the Ibis Styles Hotel damn near at the race site. We will have the pleasure of my parents company early next week for the rest of the trip.
Schedule:
Sept. 7th Parade through the City and Opening Ceremonies
8th Race 1
10th Race 2
12th Race 3
14th Race 4
15th Trophies, Closing Ceremony, Party Party Party!!!
I would like to thank Dave along with RDP, and everyone else along the way for the support! For me, this is a once in a lifetime opportunity and I don't know if I will get another chance to do this. Let's face it, I will probably never go to the Olympics or the X-Games; this is the closest thing I have to that. For an athlete, there is no greater honor than representing your home country in a sport you love, competing against the very best. I will be travelling half way around the world to compete with my fellow team mates for a chance to do something I have only dreamed of. Thank you!
GO TEAM USA!!!
More to follow tomorrow!!!!
The time has come for Team USA to travel to France to compete in the 2019 World Water Ski Racing Championships!!!
River Dave and Team RDP have been gracious enough to support our team efforts in getting to France to compete at the World level. We will be setting up RDP in the pits for the duration of the competition. This thread will be dedicated to the World Championships with full coverage and everything that goes along with the trip. There will also be a live feed for every race!!! It's going to be an incredible experience that will be shared with all of you along the way.
This Journey for our Team began at the beginning of the season in Parker where the first two of the seven selection races took place. At that time we were all competing against each other for that coveted spot on Team USA. Although we are still competing against each other for an individual World Title, we are now also competing as one unit to bring the Gold home to the USA!
About 6 weeks ago our team boats were loaded into shipping containers and sent on their way. With some fabrication, redneck ingenuity, and historical practices, we were able to stuff 4 boats in two containers. This was for 4 of the 7 boats being shipped. They were loaded up and left Long Beach, Ca for France. They went south, through the Panama Canal, and across the Atlantic. They are now waiting for our arrival. As you can see in the pictures it was no easy feet...every inch counted.
First the crane brings the containers to ground level off the trucks...
Now the fun begins...the first boat goes in ass first. Special fabricated braces hold the tongue at the ceiling of the container so the next boat can get pushed in...
Then things got interesting. one of the boats along with the trailer was too wide. Everything had to come off the trailer and brackets were made with casters to get the boat and trailer in.
We will be racing on Lac D'Allier which is a fresh water canal. To say the water will be rough is an understatement. 2/3's of the course has sea walls on both sides of the canal and the remaining section has sea wall on one side and rocks on the other.
So my wife Julie, our 18 month old son Bodhe, and myself will be leaving LAX tomorrow morning to start this great adventure. Wheels up at 11:55 to Montreal, Canada then hopping on the next flight in to Geneva, Switzerland. Once in Switzerland we will be taking a 4 hour train ride to Vichy, where we will be staying at the Ibis Styles Hotel damn near at the race site. We will have the pleasure of my parents company early next week for the rest of the trip.
Schedule:
Sept. 7th Parade through the City and Opening Ceremonies
8th Race 1
10th Race 2
12th Race 3
14th Race 4
15th Trophies, Closing Ceremony, Party Party Party!!!
I would like to thank Dave along with RDP, and everyone else along the way for the support! For me, this is a once in a lifetime opportunity and I don't know if I will get another chance to do this. Let's face it, I will probably never go to the Olympics or the X-Games; this is the closest thing I have to that. For an athlete, there is no greater honor than representing your home country in a sport you love, competing against the very best. I will be travelling half way around the world to compete with my fellow team mates for a chance to do something I have only dreamed of. Thank you!
GO TEAM USA!!!More to follow tomorrow!!!!
