RS:X Lithuanian Cup, Day 3 - Final Day

Welcome back!

So, I know you guys are just more than thrilled and excited to hear what happened on the last day of the competition. Who won? Who overtook who? What happened at the finish line? Who fell to the water at the most crucial time of the race? And thousands of other questions may have arose to you. But the story remains the same and only one. Before that, here are some snapshots to get you pumped up before reading!

RS:X Lithuanian Cup, Day 2

I‘m back. Second day of the competition (Saturday).

This day was much more fun than the first one as we had some planning conditions and even some pumping to fulfill the RS:X sailing type. We had 4 races and I was super stable – came 3rd in all four races. But first things first!

RS:X Lithuanian Cup! Back in Nida!

Hey ho guys! Fellows and neighbors!

So, for those who don’t know, right now I have settled in Nida, one of the greatest and most appreciated spots in Lithuania, because it is known for high winds and super duper extra plus chill atmosphere. This time, as it already becomes a tradition, I am participating in RS:X Lithuanian Cup.

What about the competition it self?

VG Spring tour II

After the amazing season opening together with my bro' Arnas I was more than ready for the first competition. I had 1 Slalom training and 3 Formula days.
The equipment was working just perfectly. The new Reflex 4 10.7 from Severne is simply amazing. I have never sailed such a stable sail before. Doesn't matter how strong the wind is it just keeps pulling forward. I start planning and pointing higher than everyone just a bit after the lightweight guys. I mean I am like a little grizzly bear 85kg (yeah!!!) compared to Arnas who would definitely be out weighted by a fly (when he stepped up on the weighting machine at my flat it showed MINUS 70 kg). So to get back to the topic he starts planing in just half a meter less wind than I do (and he uses a bigger sail,- 10.7 compared to 11.0). I am still using the 167 wide made by Starboard, which I think is the best board for lake conditions.
On the Slalom side I am a bit old-fashioned. I have never ever experienced the joy of riding Z-Fin, Boss, Tectonic or anything else the guys use in PWA. I stick with an trusty old Select 07 (not elite), a board which was made when I still had the ability to walk through any door without bending (yeah, you know guys being almost 2 meters high is not that easy) - I guess it was then called JP Slalom III 109. Just on the sail I'm a bit more "fresh" Reflex 3, 7.8 by Severne is an absolute machine.

Oh and I here comes the racing day. I get up early and go to put all the equipment in our surfing van, but there is one small problem, the battery is absolutely dead. Luckily, my dad has been encountering such problems for the last 30 years. So in a matter of seconds he had numerous solutions for this problem in his head.However, it took a while for us to choose the best. Nevertheless, after 1.5 hours we were trying to drag the bus to start the engine with the battery half charged. However, I had to use the knowledge of tying up knots to fix the dragging line cause the "Chinese" original broke - twice. All in all, with the help of 170 BHP from AWD Subaru and 2BHP from two leg drive pocket grizzly bear (that's me) the engine was started. There was still 70km to the spot and around 40 minutes left....

BAM! 2013 season opened!

Aloha folks!

Here we are again, writing down some amazing stuff and sharing breath-taking experiences through out the year. This time we are back and ready to rock'n'roll!
We are back but don't get us wrong! Winter was a long time to make some adjustments and this time we are armed with more experience, better physical preparation and improved winners mentality.

Now, coming back to windsurfing as such, me and Rytis Jasiunas have just opened a season and yet we have some remarks to point out!

Eurocup Conil summary

Hi guys,
I know I have't been writing too much during this competition - sorry :-)
Actually I was enjoying every minute I had in this piece of paradise on Earth. Conil is an amazing, picturesque place.

What is more the organization of regatta was nearly perfect. We had comfortable and very reasonably priced accommodation in 4 stars "Confortel" hotel. The food we were given during the lunch is worth another article itself. As restaurant Timon del Roche was the main sponsor of the regatta we were enjoying food prepared in it. This was definitely the finest restaurants I have ever been in.
Now about the Water part. I am not writting windsurfing part, because the wave was good for surfing for 50% of the days we were in Conil. Furthermore the wind was suitable for FW racing all 8 days we spent there.

All in all we had 10 races for European Youth and Masters championship and European Cup final stage. 2 of these races were Marathon runs. The last 2 races counted as Spanish cup races too.
And now about my ups and downs during the races. On the training days in light to middle winds I was feeling super fast both upwind and downwind. I was going together with Valentin FRA 823. But on the last training day I managed to cut of my finger pad while carrying equipment back to the beach. Z-fins are really sharp. For 3 days I was getting medical help from Lifeguards on the beach, but afterwards they sent me to the hospital. Luckily I didn't need any stitches  - just some narrow and strong plasters to "make the ends meet" :-) on my finger.
The first race was a nightmare for me as all protection from the finger felt down in the first lap and I was racing with bleeding finger. Later I had to wash of blood from sail and boom.
However every day my finger was healing and I was sailing with more and more power every day. On the first day I was using just like half of it. Unfortunately, but I was able to pump properly just on the last day.

Results after 10 races
1 - Valentin FRA 823 - this small( 91 kg ) French monster took 8 bullets in a row
2 - Fernando ESP 71 - he is fast
3 - Ivan Pastor ESP 7 - participant of 3 Olympic games
4 - John EST 24 - he was dancing in the closing party. Nobody has ever seen him dancing before
5 - Louic  FRA 55 - a french guy who speaks English well :-)
6 - mee - First youth
7 - Marcos ESP 13 - the smallest guy on FW
8 - Arvydas LTU 789 - First Master and Grand Master

So after all I am first youth in Euro cup overall, first youth in this event and most important :
EUROPEAN YOUTH U20 champion
Hell yeah !!!
Now I am home after 44 hours driving across Europe.

Eurocup in Conil

Yesterday after training session I cut my finger with the fin badly.
Today before the first race my mast broke ( excatly the same like Dunkerbeck's in Sylt, than I broke one batten and after all the finger cut renewed. After all  this I wasn't in the best condition for racing.
Hope for better tomorow.

Lithuanian Formula Championship Day 2, Kintai

Hi again!

So, the forecast for the second day was a bit lighter but we still expected to have a great racing action and atmosphere to pop in along the racing area.

Actually, when we first got on to the skippers meeting the wind was nearly the same as the first day - about 6-7m/s. Everyone was enthusiastic and was looking forward to upcoming races. Unfortunately, just after we wished for a favorable winds it dropped and in a few moments we had a very light formula conditions with the wind reaching up to 4-5m/s.



Anyway, the judges decided to give it a try. So, we took our biggest sails, biggest fins and head for the choppy water of the Curonian Bay.

Lithuanian Formula Championship Day 1, Kintai

Hi fellows!

Second week in a row here we are in Kintai, extreme-sports.lt windsurfing spot, challenging and pushing ourselves to the very limits, trying to beat every guy in the fleet and show who is the best.

This weekend was not an exception. We had 7 wonderful races and were tested in a very different conditions ranging from light wind to really harsh and stormy weather.

Lithuanian Slalom Championship, Kintai

Aloha!

This weekend we had an astounding competition held in Kintai, where we had a successful slalom competition organised by extreme-sports.lt !
Not to mention the fact that the wind was really strong and we had very nice slalom conditions, the jury also made a really nice slalom course with good angles and length.