ROAD TRIP TO POLAND

The road trip to Zakopane actually starts on Wednesday, including the consequences of a Wednesday night in Innsbruck. A part of the crew was displaced to some of Innsbruck finest localities by the Legs of Steel. This is why the departure time was changed without further ado from 8h to 10h at 5 o‘clock in the morning.

On Thursday morning the downdays and Line traveling crew consisting of our Photographer Thomas Charry, Jussi Mononen and myself under the guidance of Line‘s „Mista Cash" Korbi left to Poland. At the Chiemsee Roy Kittler joined us. The fact that it finally snowed after a dry period lasting for weeks implied a big disadvantage for us. The traveling time was extended about more than 4 hours, so in total we spent 14,5 hours on the road. Our 2 navigation systems both didn‘t know Zakopane, which didn‘t speed up our duration spent in the car, as well.

Although we were arriving late, some guys went to explore the nigh life of Zakopane under guidance of Pawel „Doktor" Parfienowicz. The rider, however, went to bed, in order to be fit and best prepared for the qualification of the Polish Freeski Open the next day.

The first impression of the kicker was rather scary. The speed was not easy to estimate. Some injuries because of overshooting or landings on the table were the consequence. Both, Roy and Jussi could do just two straight jumps before the qualification to check the speed.

The two accomplished successfully the big air qualification (2 jumps, best counts), so they went about the rail qualification (2 runs, best counts) with a smile in their faces. The level in general was pretty good. Jussi caught the spectators‘ eyes with creative combos, which he sadly couldn‘t stick properly in the qualification. Roy made it in the top 5 with his run including a Lip 270 on the down- and a Switch on frontside up on the kinkedrail.

You could think that was enough contest for one day, but not at the PFO. There was still an open night rail session, lasting one hour to come. Roy used this hour to show his trick repertoire, Jussi to entertain the spectators, though not on purpose.
After the successful qualification, both finalists celebrated in a sweet togetherness in the shower!

Saturday started with the semi-finals and finals in the big air. In the finals (2 Jumps, best counts) all riders pushed the level really hard regardless the not perfect weather conditions. PC Fosse‘s Kangaroo Japan just was good enough for third place. Marginal in front of him was Jonas Hunziker with a sick Switch 10 mute. No discussions were going on about the Switch Double 9 High Mute of Roy, which led him to the first place.

Even in the rail finals (2 runs, best counts) Roy was unbeatable and won with a Switch 270 in, Prezel 270 out and Switch 270 Disaster, Blindside 270 out.

When Roy was announced as the winner of the night rail session at the award ceremony, the hat trick was perfect and the mood of our party couldn‘t be much better. If you want to read the whole event report of the PFO just click here.

The night started with a big dinner together with the Unity crew from UK and PC Fosse. The prices in the menu quickened the appetite more than it actually was, but the wallet couldn‘t and shouldn‘t complain at all. Concerning the transportation from the restaurant to the afterparty in the Ampstrong Bar, I just can state that 16 people can easily fit into a Van, when you try hard enough. A funny party, lasting till the early hours for some guys made a entertaining stay in Zakopane perfect.

At 10 in the morning we left in direction of Innsbruck, everybody not pretty fit though. This time there was no snow storm and without navigation system problems the trip ended for the tired but satisfied participants, who had much fun in these days, on sunday evening in Innsbruck, where it all started on four days ago.

Thanks to Korbi and Pawel for making this trip happen and Jussi for the entertainment with rocks in the landing and the Rockado.

Text: Jonee Pülz
Pics: Thomas Charry