Last weekend I competed at my first competition in this season. In the Italian city Mantova started over 1000 Athletes from 12 countries. The Swiss Team had a short travel because we have been training for one week at our favourite place Pusiano just before the race.
My start into the first Regatta was just terrible. Over 200m I did not survive the Heats. I had one of the hardest Heats but my paddling was so bad that this can not be an excuse. It does not matter so much because I do not really care about this short distance, but I was angry because I knew that I progressed in short stuff over Winter but was not able to show it.
Also over 1000m I didn’t really feel comfortable in Heats. At least my time was fast, but my technique was not the way I want to race. I progressed in the Semifinals and was happy to feel power on the blade and make my stroke a little bit longer. I traditionally have problems at the first races but it is as traditional that I improve from race to race. So I was looking forward to be in the final on Sunday and give everything I have. The conditions out on the water were much calmer than on Saturday and I had a good feeling in the warm-up. My start was really good, but then I was a little bit confused, because the speaker called out a false start. I stopped paddling and saw that everybody goes, so I also had to go. This was sure not an optimal start in the race, but anyway I tried to made my thing. Finally I came over the finish as 3rd. I am happy with this result and especially that I made some step in the right direction from race to race. Now I do one week more of training camp in Pusiano. Then go back for a short time to Switzerland and in the end of April we already go to European Championships. The Swiss Team will only be Stefan Domeisen and me there. He made it to the finals as well and will race the 500m distance. I will race 1000m and 5000m and look forward to go to Racice CZE.
K1 1000m Herren
1. Dressino Giulio (ITA) 3:33.46
2. Zakrajsek Jost (SLO) 3:34.18
3. Wyss Fabio (SUI) 3:36.55
9. Domeisen Stefan (SUI) 3:45.67
