The Straight Down Striit is one of the wildest weekends on the boatercross calendar, this year was no exception. An amazing amount of racing and competitions was fitted into one day, time trails and seeding for the boatercross, a fun race, a mass start Chinese race, a photo contest, the boatercross and a crazy party with clowns in a circus tent! Kiwi slalom paddler Johann Roozenburg set an incredible fastest time of 59seconds to win the time trial, the first round of boatercross produced some upsets with several favourites including Fabian Dörfler and Honza Lasko being knocked out. Undefeated champion of the Straight Down Striit Ron Fischer cruised through to the last round where he met Jakobus Stenglein. Jakobus had a better start than Ron and led the way down through the first drops, Jakobus’ speed was too much for Ron and he was unable to catch the flying German, a new Straight Down champion was crowned! In the ladies final Anne Hübner went up against Anna Jankowfsky, just like in the men’s event Anne took the lead going into the first drops and was able to stay in front, overtaking was very difficult in the second half of the course and Anna had to settle for second place.
It was not all hardcore kayaking and serious racing, there is a race for everbody at the Straight Down, up and coming paddlers competed in a boatercross on the lower part of the course and everybody was invited to take part in the Chinese race, over 20 paddlers made a mass start on the fun race course, chaos was expected and nobody was disappointed, paddlers went forwards, backwards and sideways down the river as they battled to finish in the middle.
With the racing done and dusted it was high time to head on down to the circus tent for dinner, the Nookie photo contest, prize giving and most importantly the party. Straight Down Striit is known for its awesome boatercross course and its even more awesome party, this years theme was clowns and fancy dress was the order of the evening.
Big thanks go to Silvan and his team for an amazing problem free event and sponsors Teva Nookie and Red Bull for supporting the Straight Down Striit. I am already looking forwards to next years race, bring on SDS11.
Report by James Weir
Pictures by Florian Hartmann
The Straight Down Striit is one of the wildest weekends on the boatercross calendar, this year was no exception. An amazing amount of racing and competitions was fitted into one day, time trails and seeding for the boatercross, a fun race, a mass start Chinese race, a photo contest, the boatercross and a crazy party with clowns in a circus tent! Kiwi slalom paddler Johann Roozenburg set an incredible fastest time of 59seconds to win the time trial, the first round of boatercross produced some upsets with several favourites including Fabian Dörfler and Honza Lasko being knocked out. Undefeated champion of the Straight Down Striit Ron Fischer cruised through to the last round where he met Jakobus Stenglein. Jakobus had a better start than Ron and led the way down through the first drops, Jakobus’ speed was too much for Ron and he was unable to catch the flying German, a new Straight Down champion was crowned! In the ladies final Anne Hübner went up against Anna Jankowfsky, just like in the men’s event Anne took the lead going into the first drops and was able to stay in front, overtaking was very difficult in the second half of the course and Anna had to settle for second place.
It was not all hardcore kayaking and serious racing, there is a race for everbody at the Straight Down, up and coming paddlers competed in a boatercross on the lower part of the course and everybody was invited to take part in the Chinese race, over 20 paddlers made a mass start on the fun race course, chaos was expected and nobody was disappointed, paddlers went forwards, backwards and sideways down the river as they battled to finish in the middle.
With the racing done and dusted it was high time to head on down to the circus tent for dinner, the Nookie photo contest, prize giving and most importantly the party. Straight Down Striit is known for its awesome boatercross course and its even more awesome party, this years theme was clowns and fancy dress was the order of the evening.
Big thanks go to Silvan and his team for an amazing problem free event and sponsors Teva Nookie and Red Bull for supporting the Straight Down Striit. I am already looking forwards to next years race, bring on SDS11.
Report by James Weir
Pictures by Florian Hartmann
