The Polish Championships ended yesterday, and now I have some time to write how it all went down. There were six people sleeping in my place - Cod, Staroń, Norek, Juziu, Michał and Gielnik. Cod and Staroń arrived on Friday, at about 12 in the evening. Their trip from Warsaw took 7 hours instead of normal 5, so we had to wait for them at Hania's house. Finally after chasing some night buses and some walking we came to my house. We ate something, watched V for Vendetta and went to sleep.
The second day was the day of Net events. We woke up early and got to the big football court where everything was going on. After helping setting everything up (tents, late registration and stuff) and playing some 4Square the disciplines started. I was actually competing, just for fun, and lost all matches excluding one miserably haha
But it was nice to compete and see how it feels to be on the Net court fighting face to face with an opponent
After the Net matches I joined the freestylers playing 4Square and shredding. I couldn't really help myself and soon I was playing in one of the circles
Soon, a pro circle formed - there was Kierpca, Norek, Bujo, Gielnik and me. Believe me - there was some really sick stuff going down! The Polish unique fearless record was beaten by Bujo, who hit (if I remember correctly):
Phoenix > Blurry Whirl > Blurry Whirl > Pdx Blender > Far Motion > Tomahawk > Spinning Pdx Whirl > Tomahawk > Spinning Pdx Whirl
Some other stuff includes Kierpca hitting Blurriest > Bedwetter > Pixie Paradon > Sumo > Fusion, and some massive runs that I can't recall, but many of them were recorded so I think a video should be up as soon as those guys have the time to edit it
After that crazy shred we ordered some pizza and chilled till all the Net events were finished. Bałtyk and Bartez from Chocianów rocked - they won Doubles Net (the final match was on the second day) Bałtyk was 1st in Singles Net, and Bartez was 2nd. Props guys! I got 10th place out of 11 competitors haha
On the way home we bought something to eat and drink and after arriving at my house watched some freestyle movies, talked a lot and went to sleep.
Next day was the day of Freestyle disciplines. We got to the big sports hall early as well, as I was one of the organizers and there was a lot of stuff to do with the preparations of the playing field and stuff. Soon everything was ready and shredders started flowing inside the hall. The first event was Open Freestyle eliminations - I had the easier group, and my routine went very well - I had only one drop. With that routine I advanced to the finals from the first place in my group. After Open routines there were Inter routines, but I missed them because I was playing 4Square. Then there was Shred30 - 21 contestants busted in front of the camera. My shred went pretty well, but there were a couple really good runs - anyway, my job was to count the Shred. I took Olaf and Norek to help me and we disappeared into one of the changing rooms to count uniques in peace and harmony. It was a lot of work, but we managed to write everything down before the start of Doubles Freestyle. The Doubles were fun to watch - there were 4 pairs. Ostrowscy rocked as always, but the rest had nice routines as well. We gave the Shred30 cards to Staroń, who finished the counting job. Suddenly I realised that Freestyle Finals are starting in something like 15 minutes and I'm totally not warmed up - I started playing and practicing some parts of my routine, while other competitors started their routines already. I didn't watch other routines not to get more nervous (my legs were shaky anyway
). Finally I stepped out and started playing. After two minutes I caught the bag after the last trick and realised I've just played my first dropless routine
Extremely happy I bowed and left the stage. It was an amazing feeling. I watched the last two routines, and asked some people how the other players did. It turned out Norek hit a 1 drop routine that was definitely harder then mine (finished with Fury
) So everyone thought it will be a close call between him and me. A few minutes after the Finals, Sick3 started. I hit my combo (Janiwalker > Blurry Drifter > Food Processor), so I was happy with my performance too.
Everything went quick afterwards, and soon the award ceremony started. I got 1st place in Open Freestyle, 1st in Sick3 and 3rd in Shred30. Thanks to everyone who I met with, shredded and had fun with
Szymon Kałwak (Ners)
