Sixth place on WC Bled

30 05 10

The WC finals have been accompanied by heavy wet clouds that had been threatening to brake any minute and to avoid afternoon wind, we started our races earlier as announced. With boys we were convinced that we were able to fight for the highest positions, since the good feeling from yesterday’s race was still in our hands. After really efficient start we managed to lead first 500 meters, but nevertheless we couldn’t find that good stroke. Therefore competitors started to take our lead and finally we have lost them. As if that wouldn’t be enough, our stroke guy somehow managed to “lost his oar” so our sixth position has been guaranteed.

There are only three weeks keeping us apart till next WC in Munich and now will be the time to think the smartest option weather quad or double would be the choice from which I could profit the most. If i consider last year's fifth position at WRC with my brother i can feel we have good option to improve that and show our work in lake Karapiro in New Zealand. The slogan of Bled’s World Championship goes like: It’s time for Bled, I say it’s time for the double.

WC_2nd in repassage

29 05 10

First day of WC passed with mixed emotions since our freshly composed quad didn't show it's best rowing. We haven't found our perfect stroke and have therefore lost second position which we had been having almost to the end of the race. We finished third and went to repassage which is actually good, because we get opportunity to get some extra millage which builds that “good feeling” for the boat.
Day two passed by in a sign of bad weather, but smooth water perfect for rowing. And so did also our rowing, somehow come together. We started powerful and from the beginning haven’t allow our competitors to come closer than for a length of a boat, since we had been building our advantage consistently from the beginning to the end. At the end Ukrainians eventually manage to be the one who won, but we didn’t want to waste too much energy to fight for a first place. Felling for the boat is getting better and I am looking forward for tomorrows finals.

Let the World Cup begins!

27 05 10

Everything looks perfect and ready for Bled’s first World Cup to begin! Conditions are pretty OK except late afternoon wind which has been making high waves on this weeks trainings. People from all teams are already present and all more than satisfied with overall conditions.

As mentioned earlier I will be rowing in quad this WC and looking forward to seat in boat with fellow brother from last years double Jan Špik, Gašper Fištravec and Andraž Krek. The race will be tough as it is the early season and our freshly composed crew is still developing its harmony and qualities. The boat runs smoothly, still waves or any other inconvenient can brake our concentration as we haven’t got enough mileage. Hope for cool conditions and good being!

First of May Regatta_Day two_got the race

25 04 10

First of May Regatta finished as i've expected. The double from last season with Jan when we finished fifth in WRC is progressing and therefore was no surprise we got the race to our team competitors Čop and Zupan. We let them only to get as close as to feel the sweetness of getting to win and than let them behind. It has been a quite fast race with time 6:20 as for Bleds conditions is not really comon.

On the other hand we’ve also tested the quad with Ulčar and Fistravec and Jan. Probably we will row that boat at the beginning of the season in first world cup in Bled as we will be hosting Bleds first ever WC in it’s reach rowing history. So stay tuned!

1th of May regatta-day one

24 04 10

Zek attack!

24 04 10

One of those days I was sent this funny photograph, which has immediately earned a proper place on my wall! No worries for now my both hands are still in a good shape, thanks to the dude on the right who has obviously founded a good place to put his graffiti artwork into action- good work Zek crew! And to the rest of you I wish you a shiny and successful season!
The photo on the left was part of a “Don’t drink and drive” campaign held in 2005.

The first of May regatta in Bled

25 04 09

After just one week, another race was going on, taking place in my hometown on a lake Bled which is known as one among the best fields for training in Slovenia so it's no coincidence I’m very glad that is to be just a glance away from my home. In times of ex Yugoslavia regatta happened to be one of the strongest in Europe, named after holidays of first of May, but has nowadays kind of a lost it’s power. These days we use it as a check point before stronger international races, but still has an emotional value, since it has came under our skin during all those years. This time competition hasn’t been so variegated, since only Slovenian rowers have participated what hasn’t lightened up the demanding level of the race, specially in singles.
Photo: Damjan Žibert

On Saturday singles finale, we tried our self with Čop once again. I have to say my rowing was better as one week before in Zagreb, but still away from my expectations. After a fast start I had been having some advantage for a while but have had more troubles towards the middle of the race, where I have lost some precious seconds, and finished five seconds after Čop. I find my result satisfying, but I still have a lot to correct in my rowing, because I somehow can’t transform a smooth running of a boat from trainings into the race. I will have to work on that and as fast as possible find the perfect rhythm. On Sunday race I was having dubble menu, since I have been rowing the dubble with my brother Jan, and also the quad with Jan, Zupan and Krek. I have to say we have raced very routinely and having let no options to a second crew Čop-Zupan for taking our first place. We have won with satisfying three seconds of advantage.

In the dubble quad the story went the same way, accept that our crew haven’t had the right competition, since the well prepared quad Fistravec, Jurše, Jurše, Zupanc, was divided into two crews. So we will hopefully beat them in the next opportunity as one.

All thise races have showed me where I still have some hidden extra for further competing, the first coming in three weeks in Germany, Essen, where I am going to row the single and in a dubblewith Jan.

Sport in the house of the President

24 04 09

There are couple of ways how to show respect and reward sportsmen for their achievements. And one having the highest symbolic value, is being honoured by a president of the state with the highest distinction for merits. In athletic field distinction went to current holder of a gold Olympic medal in throwing a hammer- Primož Kozmus in shooting Rajmond Debevec got it and in rowing the honour came upon Iztok Čop and myself. In winter sports medals for merits went to alpine skier Tina Maze and cross country skier Petra Majdič. With this elegant gesture the president has shown his sympathetic towards sportsmen and sport once again showing a respect for all that we have been contributing over the years with our success and hard work for a wider recognition of Slovenia in the world. What I also hope is that distinction with such a powerful symbolic value also has enough strength to extend that awareness into the mind of broader public and those having control in decision making while they are in the process of dividing the financial cake.