Last year was one of the best year of paddling for sure. Whole season started quite soon because of big snow melt in the Czech republic. Me and friends were fortunate enough to catch some of the best creeks in the country with not usual flow and also great summer weather. Most of those creeks are hidden deep in the Czech mountains and usually it’s hard to catch even some flow, because they sometimes not even run during whole year.

After this one, the spring came and trip to Italian and Swiss alps was ahead of me. We spent there about a week with little bit lower flows but nice weather. Classic rivers were on order like Egua, Sermenza, Ribo, Versazca etc. All worthy rivers where you can spent days having fun. I also manageed to screw up one line, got beat down and swam after 6 years of not needing to pull a skirt. So booty beer was waiting for me

Sermenza playground

Ribo big slide

After alps I had to spent some time at school, so I could leave soon for Norway. Norway is always great but last year was just epic, it was my fifth visit and I’ve never experienced anything similar. During 2,5 month stay we managed to paddle most of the well know rivers and some new ones. Specially during last week of June, the flows were extremely high. Have to admit it’s pretty scary to paddle high water Brathseth, which is steep and have massive pourovers. Check out this last edit of our Dagali cowboys small series, it’s worth seeing all the videos from Rocks and Water production, they do a lot of great things, so check it out.

After return back home the paddling got quite slow, because of school as usual. But luckily I managed to pull one week in Austrian alps on Oetz river, where Adidas Sick-Line race is annually held. I did quite bad during the race, but it was great week anyway.

Drop called Champions killer on Wellebrucke, Oetz, Austria

Rest of the year I spent back home in Prague, studying and training at Troja Slalom course with some trips to Austria. Anyway, new season hasn’t started here yet, but small creeks sometimes do run during heavy rain falls and temperature above zero. Hopefully all major creeks should be in by March/April. I can’t wait for another year, it’s killing me not being able to kayak often. Also my plan for season 2013 is finally set –  Europe during spring with some shooting for GoPro in Italy and Swiss alps.Then I need to finish school asap and leave for US. I’m hoping for good snow pack there, because 2 years ago I didn’t manage to get to California which is definitely on the wish list. My base will be Payette river in Idaho, so you can expect some juicy big volume paddling there. Keep the finger cross.

Some fun on North Fork of Payette, Idaho

Stay tuned, there will be more to come this year