After some time in Plattling me and my friend Lukas Cervinka we decided to go for the training to Uganda. Uganda has always the best features for playboating in the waves. My plan was of course the train in the waves and get ready for World championships, but I also had an idea to make a movie about the local Ugandan kayakers which made the team to represent their country at the World championships in Canada. It is actually the first time that the whole Ugandan team is going to take a part at the World championships in freestyle kayaking. I was in Uganda several times and made also a movies from over there like Damming the Heaven https://vimeo.com/11894502#at=0 or Chaga the story https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ax98xDiJaNc , so I know their lives are difficult and its not easy to be a kayaker in Africa. Most of them are raft guides or safety kayakers and earning more as the other people around them. But it doesn't mean that they are able to make some savings, because those people are living in big families and with lot of friends and they are supporting them all. I went to their modest homes, get to known their families and friends and all of them are proud that they managed to be a part of the kayaking team representing the Uganda. Sam Ward and Emily Ward, the owners of the Kayak the Nile company are the cofounders, coaches, supporters, managers in one and they really like to see them compete in Canada this year. Its definitely hard job to do, there are still big difficulties like to even get visas. None of the kayakers ever left the country, they never kayaked in other white water as the Nile. I think it will be a big experience for them and a nice story. I already made something like a trailer so you can watch it here and I hope you will like it.
Of course they need some help to so if you like to donate please contact Sam or Emily over the www.kayakthenile.com. The second half of the story is planed from Canada and I hope we will make a nice movie from it.
So back to kayaking … Except filming almost each day we tried to be also each day in our boats. For me it was definitely very important because after the shoulder surgery I was not sure if I would be able to paddle the big waves so soon and we was planing to go to Canada for the Adidas project. Uganda was the best training before that so I became more sure that the shoulder is in good condition and was not so much scared from kayaking. It definitely took me while to do more difficult moves. At the beginning it was only blunts and back steps but in the end I already started to be more sure and tried also some more difficult moves. So after those two weeks I felt ready to leave home for 3 days and than leave straight again to our Adidas project trip to Canada.
Here you can check out our clip from the trainings.
See you and stay tuned for the next story.
