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By Kristin Boese
Posted July 11, 2008
Immediately after the US Racing Nationals San Francisco, I flew to Greece for the second stop of the 2008 KPWT. My leg and ankle had gotten a very good workout and I thought I might be able to do freestyle again. Having missed the first KPWT of the year, I did not want to lose any more points. So, on the very first day the doctor gave me clearance to start jumping and freestyling again, I actually rode in the single elimination in Greece.
Having no idea how my ankle would hold up and being scared to hurt it again I rode very carefully at first, and got kicked out super early in the singles, ending up in a 7th place. I did not feel awesome about that, but I also knew that I was not only lacking in powerful landings but also in confidence. However, the next day was course race day and feeling much more confident in this discipline (especially after SF), I won the 2 races of the day ... very happy with this result of course!
But now it was time for the freestyle doubles and I knew I either had to just go for it and not worry about my injury or just not compete at all. I decided to just go for it as hard as I could. I actually managed to land some moves, and I was surprised with myself. I rode one heat after the other, beating Kris, Ania, Karina, Kari and Celine and meeting Ainhoa in the final where I was so happy to be and so exhausted to have made it all the way there that I was happy for Ainhoa to win!
Being in second place and actually on the podium felt so great after being in a 7th place after the singles – I felt extremely lucky and was thankful for my body to keep up with all the stress! The next day I woke up in the morning and felt at least 50 years old as I could not move my left arm over head anymore but I guess this is just what freestyle does to you as you get older. ;-)
I still managed to win 2 more course races that day, ending up in 2nd and 3rd place in the other two, securing the 1st place on the course race podium and with that also a first place in the overall disciplines of the event. I simply felt that a late start does not necessarily need to be bad start, and I was very happy!
