Final Day
Air. Finally the white water subsides. The wave was not so bad, three fat turns, hopefully the judges will reward me for it. I fight my way back onto the board and try to paddle as fast as I can, trying to escape the next set. Right then I see my next opportunity – I have to be quick as the heat is almost over. I paddle a semi-circle to get into the wave and yes! I am in. I feel how my board gets faster and soon it‘s best I don‘t think anymore. Just go for it. The wave breaks to my left, so I take it backside. The lip of the wave comes closer and closer and I try to get to the top. Now I have to position the paddle into the water and bend forward to complete my cutback and I’m back in power zone. There is still time for a second turn. Done, now I’m quite close to the beach but to jump off would be not a good option because the wave will rip me to the shore. I’d rather try a nice bottom turn and then kick out before the wave breaks. That was my wave of the day; I am flushed with the adrenaline flowing through me. “Paulina Herpel finishes in first place!” This is a great conclusion from our time here in Portugal and Valentin has finished with his sixth place, really good as well. Vale: “Damn, I do not want to go back home, I’d rather stay here a bit longer and go paddling every day”. So if training in the future always looks like our time here in Peniche, even I will become a “training” advocate.
