26. -28. July 2007

This time we got Ramóns parents car. Ramón doesn't have his driving license yet so I went to his place by train. I arrived in Samstagern with a one hour delay cause I've missed the earlier train. We left towards Austria. On the way we hit the Cradle Skatepark in Brixlegg. That's one of the coolest concrete skateparks in Europe. While we were riding the park, we cooked pasta on my gas stove. Once more it felt like an endless mission until it was done. After dinner we skated more and then proceeded our journey to Thalgau. It took us another two hours to get there. And first of all we drove up the hill to check out the racecourse. It looks steep and fast. The corners are really big, it doesn't seem like alot of slowing down was necessary. The next morning I took it really easy, payed my entrance fee and went to drink a coffee with Mischo. I think we've missed the first run. Then in my first run down the hill I realized that you really don't need to foot brake. Run after run i managed to go faster through the corners. In the evening we went for a swim in a natural swimming pool. We cooked pasta again and chilled. After another coffee I fell asleep soon. Since my tent poles broke in Thun I didn't have a tent this time and slept outside with a beautiful view to the sky. I saw many meteors. The sun woke me up the next morning and practise started again. Then we did the timetrials, split into two groups. Once again I didn't win the qualification. Mischo, Noah and a few Brazilians were faster. In the evening we bbqued with the Stuttgart crew. On Saturday, the race started late - as usual. To my surprise I was fast on this track, fast enough to succeed to the final. We had any close runs with alot of drafting. Cornering was dangerous cause nobody wanted to slow down. There have been some bad crashes. And then Mischo broke his Landy Evo in the semifinal. He would have won the race for sure but now he only got into the consolation round. That gave me a better chance for the final. The four riders were: Stefan Risch, Douglas da Silva, Noah Sakamoto and I. My start wasn't too bad. After the big lefthander Noah passed me. I passed him and he passed me again before the rough righthand corner. Then I passed him again - up to now four passes. He got into my draft and 30cm after the finish line we were side by sidde. I'd love to have a picture precisely from the finsih line. Marcus decided that I won the race and two hours later w had a tie. Noah and I both got first. Well that's ok for me but still I think a picture from the finish line would have solved the problem. Ramón, Mischo and I went to the pizza place. After alot of socializing the prizegiving without prizes started two and a half hours later than planned. We did I even go there? It rained almost the whole night and I was lucky Ramón had a place left in his tent. On Sunday we drove back home and stopped in Brixlegg again for some poolriding.

1st Martin Siegrist - CH - Airflow Skateboards + Noah Sakamoto - USA - Sector9

3rd Douglas da Silva - BRA
4th Stefan Risch - GER
5th Mischo Erban - CAN/CZE - Landyachtz

for full results please visit the IGSA website

Pictures by Airflow, Tomato and Peter Moser (fc). Thanks alot!