Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Suunto T6d heart rate monitor

It was only about 2 weeks ago when I was lucky and won a sea kayak in a lottery. Well, it seems my lucky days are not over yet...

In the spring I decided to participate a bet organized by Hevoskuuri, which is a site specialized on publishing endurance sport news to Finnish sport lovers. There were altogether 12 different competitions during a year to bet and actually it was a long and tough journey. Especially at the summer time, when I was kayaking on a sea 6 weeks in a row, I had a very few possibilities to focus and participate the bets during that time. I couldn't in my wildest dreams to think I would be competing head to head with the best ones.

When the final results finally came, I was totally surprised. My 122 points were good enough for the #1 position with one another contestant having the same amount of points. Well, the final ranking between us was a draw and I was picked up as a winner of this bet competition. Final results can be found from here.

The first prize was a Suunto T6d heart rate monitor.

Let's see if my luck still continues or will I confront Mr. Murphy at it's worse. I'll cross my fingers, that Mr. Murphy would be staying as far away from me as ever possible...

Sunday, November 13, 2011

Days full of ropes courses


Climbing to a swinging beam at 10 meters

It has been mentally and physically challenging visit to Rovaniemi because current school period has been filled with all kind of ropes courses. There has been low and high elements to experience and to overcome own's fears of heights. I must admit I have fear of heights and I have encountered a real fear factor...

Walking on a beam

Absolutely most horrible of the courses were a swinging beam at 10 meters, which you had to reach by climbing small ladders and then walking roughly 20 meters on swinging beam getting support only from the vertical poles located approximately 4 meters from each others. In addition of the quite long distance the poles were covered with plastic tubes, which were rolling when you touched them. Just ultimate adrenaline shot!

Focusing to reach the next pole

The other high elements like Trapeze jump at 10 meters high, climbing Jacob's ladder or abseiling upside down were piece of cake for this swinging beam stuff.

Abseiling face towards ground

The low element courses included several rope courses just 10-50 cm from the ground, which involved trust to others, balance and problem-solving capabilities.

Working on a low rope course "crux"

The third day was a special day for us. We had a possibility to build and test a 50 meter zip wire on Hiidenkirnut cliffs. It took couple of hours to build anchor points for the upper and lower ends of the ropes and to tighten the ropes with pulleys ready for the sliding down the cliffs with the help zip wire.

Building zip wire high on the cliffs

And sliding down on a 50 meter zip wire


Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Winning in a lottery


Pideraq, sea kayak

Today I drove to Welhonpesä store and picked up my prize, which I won in a lottery arranged by Finnish Canoe Federation. Everyone, who were participating this summer Finnish Canoe Federation courses were automatically included into a lottery at the end of the season. The prize was Pideraq, 530 cm long sea kayak made of diolen / fiberglass. What a nice surprise for me, when I got the call from Canoe Federation!


Well, now I have 2 sea kayaks to paddle. Perhaps I should fill lotto for this week as well...