KPWT Italy: Antibiotics and Nurse Clinton

Posted Thursday July 5th 2007

By Kristin Boese

Italy ... the country of pizza and pasta, wine, delicious ice cream, and the Italian lifestyle ... was the host of the first KPWT event of the year. At Lake Como, in the beautiful north of Italy, in the middle of the mountains, I was going to take part in my first event of this tour and was very excited to check out the organization and the riders, and most importantly, the vibe and the spirit of the KPWT.

Competition site

I was very much looking forward to it... but unfortunately, it happened: I got very sick. I came back from Cabarete, already feeling really bad ... stomach flu, high fever, my whole body just hurt and I was enjoying my four days in Germany in bed. In preparation for the upcoming competition, I went to my doctor, who gave me antibiotics and told me to not exercise as long as I don't feel completely well again. Hoping for the best, I still got on the flight to Milan on Sunday; everything was possible and maybe it would only get windy the last few days, allowing me a chance to recover first. It actually looked good for me on the first day: I'd already decided I wasn't going to ride if the wind came up, and the wind DIDN'T come up. But then the next day, it did come up, and I went out for one heat, feeling incredibly weak.

Not feeling too great ...

I was amazed that I managed to win my heat but happy to just go back to bed straight afterwards. Clinton was the nicest and cutest teammate ever and not only helped me launch and get ready but also put all my kites and boards away after the heat! I will never forget that and owe him big time! Thanks so much Clinton for being such a great buddy!

From then on, though, it was windy every day and I basically dragged myself down to the beach and rode just for the heats, feeling more and more weak every day, because I still could not eat anything and did not have any energy. Oh well, at least not having any fever anymore now I just made it thru, even became second in the singles and then third in the doubles. Of course, I lost my kite in one heat, had a leash disconnect in another heat, and stepped into a needle on the beach just before my last heat (that was really scary and I really hope it is o.k.) It definitely was not my luckiest and strongest contest ever, but I am still very happy that I made it and also finally am starting to feel better and also feeling hungry again! So I am positive and am going to rest in Germany for a few days now. But wow, that really was a week and I am happy that it is over now ... and of course even more happy that I could still get the 3rd place in Freestyle, 2nd in Long Distance and 1st in Hangtime. Clinton also did a great job as well, being unlucky in the freestyle comp but ending the Hangtime with a great 3rd place!

Thanks again to Clinton for his great support during the whole week!

Clinton getting ready to take care of both of us!

And last but not least: even though I did not get to talk much to the people on the KPWT tour I had a great first impression. The riders are super nice and in average a little older than on the PKRA tour and also the organizer Frederic, the head judge Ian, the photo and video guys and the judges are nice people that are open for riders opinions and feedback.

Frederic and Ian

Judges on their tower

It was definitely not my last KPWT event! Thanks to all the sponsors and organization for a great and well organized event!

Great show day and night

Kristin

For all previous news on Kristin Boese, click here.