21.4.16
Girls gone cold surfing
Cold Hawaii Klitmoller Just Rip’it Open - surfing competition held in Denmark on 2nd April gathered only toughest surfers. We all know thoughest of the thoughest are polish girls:)
Team with Kasia Pajzderska, Monika Kołaczkiewicz i Karolina Wolińska packed their warmest westuits and headed do Denmark. Check the story.
After 11 hour journey we still had hope for the evening session at the sunset. On site we were stopped by very cold and windy evening. We began our adventure by finding wood for the fireplace to warm our beautiful, though severely cold cottage house on the dunes. It turned out that the Danes are very well organized in this regard, and we did not have the slightest problem. Later that evening, we were able to see some local spots that showed us Sean, an Australian living in Poland. He arrived the day before us, so we had already done some research (thank you Sean!).
The morning also proved to be very cold, despite the beautiful sunshine. Highly motivated we set out in search of the perfect wave. Driving along the Cold Hawaii coast we found the best conditions in Thisted, several kilometers below Klitmoller. The waves that day were quite small, and the temperature was not very pleasant. The water was about 5 degrees, the air around 7, but we were able to have a very nice 1.5 hours session. Waves got smaller from hour to hour, so we switched surfboards to longboards and we went to visit Klitmoller. Very quiet town looked almost deserted. You can rather meet a person on a skateboard than a car. Driving along the beach we watched the flat surface of the water, wondering if the sea has time to bring a swell tomorrow so that competition can start.
It did!
The competition has four categories:
• Open Surf
• Women
• Juniors
• Longboard
The decision was made to hold competition in Bøgstedrende, a few kilometers below Klitmoller. Minutes after 8 the first male heats started. The conditions were difficult, very similar to the Baltic decent storm. It was very cold, windy, and the strong current made it difficult to maintain the lineup. For these reasons, the organizers decided to move the women's competition at the spot in the center of Tolderstein Klitmoller. The first women's heat started about 3 p.m. The waves were even and more predictable than Bøgstedrende. The current was not so strong all the time but it was terribly cold.
Each of us went to another heat, I competed in the first, second Monika, Kasia in the third. The first heat lasted 15 minutes after another 20 minutes. After struggling in water at about 5'C we all qulified to the next heat. The level of competing girls was high. In addition to local surfers also girls from Germany and Sweden arrived, who were not the first time on the spot.
There was so little time between heats, that there was no chance to get changed and to stay warm. On the beach there was no space to protect yourself from the wind. Some of the girls very well prepared for such conditions and put windproof overall on on wet wetsuit, the other players were hiding in the board quivers.
Another heat was the elimination to the semi-finals, which got me and Monica qualified.
In each of the two semi-final heats competed 4 girls, 4 best passed to the finals. Unfortunately, at this stage we finished already our rivalry, none of us were able to enter the finals. Though perhaps it was for the better, another heat at this temperature could end with severe cold. At least I was very happy when, after almost 4 hours I could change the wet wetsuit for dry and warm clothes.
Congratulations to all the though girls. We have the motivation and the goal to achieve. The next stop DM Surf Tour soon.
Richer with new experiences and satisfied with the results, we returned to the cabin to dry wetsuits and prepare for the next day "Festival of waves," which turned out to be the best day. There was no wind and smooth water surface brought long and even 1,5m waves. Apart from the cold and rain conditions were perfect. Then we had no longer any doubt why this place is called Cold Hawaii.
Team with Kasia Pajzderska, Monika Kołaczkiewicz i Karolina Wolińska packed their warmest westuits and headed do Denmark. Check the story.
fot. Joanna Jadwiga
After 11 hour journey we still had hope for the evening session at the sunset. On site we were stopped by very cold and windy evening. We began our adventure by finding wood for the fireplace to warm our beautiful, though severely cold cottage house on the dunes. It turned out that the Danes are very well organized in this regard, and we did not have the slightest problem. Later that evening, we were able to see some local spots that showed us Sean, an Australian living in Poland. He arrived the day before us, so we had already done some research (thank you Sean!).
The morning also proved to be very cold, despite the beautiful sunshine. Highly motivated we set out in search of the perfect wave. Driving along the Cold Hawaii coast we found the best conditions in Thisted, several kilometers below Klitmoller. The waves that day were quite small, and the temperature was not very pleasant. The water was about 5 degrees, the air around 7, but we were able to have a very nice 1.5 hours session. Waves got smaller from hour to hour, so we switched surfboards to longboards and we went to visit Klitmoller. Very quiet town looked almost deserted. You can rather meet a person on a skateboard than a car. Driving along the beach we watched the flat surface of the water, wondering if the sea has time to bring a swell tomorrow so that competition can start.
It did!
The competition has four categories:
• Open Surf
• Women
• Juniors
• Longboard
The decision was made to hold competition in Bøgstedrende, a few kilometers below Klitmoller. Minutes after 8 the first male heats started. The conditions were difficult, very similar to the Baltic decent storm. It was very cold, windy, and the strong current made it difficult to maintain the lineup. For these reasons, the organizers decided to move the women's competition at the spot in the center of Tolderstein Klitmoller. The first women's heat started about 3 p.m. The waves were even and more predictable than Bøgstedrende. The current was not so strong all the time but it was terribly cold.
Each of us went to another heat, I competed in the first, second Monika, Kasia in the third. The first heat lasted 15 minutes after another 20 minutes. After struggling in water at about 5'C we all qulified to the next heat. The level of competing girls was high. In addition to local surfers also girls from Germany and Sweden arrived, who were not the first time on the spot.
There was so little time between heats, that there was no chance to get changed and to stay warm. On the beach there was no space to protect yourself from the wind. Some of the girls very well prepared for such conditions and put windproof overall on on wet wetsuit, the other players were hiding in the board quivers.
Another heat was the elimination to the semi-finals, which got me and Monica qualified.
In each of the two semi-final heats competed 4 girls, 4 best passed to the finals. Unfortunately, at this stage we finished already our rivalry, none of us were able to enter the finals. Though perhaps it was for the better, another heat at this temperature could end with severe cold. At least I was very happy when, after almost 4 hours I could change the wet wetsuit for dry and warm clothes.
Congratulations to all the though girls. We have the motivation and the goal to achieve. The next stop DM Surf Tour soon.
Richer with new experiences and satisfied with the results, we returned to the cabin to dry wetsuits and prepare for the next day "Festival of waves," which turned out to be the best day. There was no wind and smooth water surface brought long and even 1,5m waves. Apart from the cold and rain conditions were perfect. Then we had no longer any doubt why this place is called Cold Hawaii.
fot. Joanna Jadwiga
fot. Joanna Jadwiga
fot. Joanna Jadwiga
