Wairarapa

Weihnachten wäre nicht Weihnachten ohne ein oder zwei Rad Ausfahrten in die Wairarapa. Meine schwiege Familie urlauben oft bei der Wairarapa Küste, Nord Ost von Wellington und es gibt immer Zeit Rad zu fahren.

In meine Meinung, die Region ist einer die schönste in Neuseeland. Sie hat eine einzigartige Landschaft. Man sieht viele Hügeln, die getrocknet vom Summer sind, Wiesen mit Schaffen und classiche Heimstätten.

Aber es ist die Bäume die mir so beeindruckend sind. Pohutakawas, Oaks und Beaches - Riesig, majestätisch und reich mit Farben - sind überall gesprenkelt.

Für Radfahren ist die Wairarapa genial. Es gibt wenige Autos und gute Streckenmöglichkeiten aber die Straßen sind oft richtig uneben. Für Weihnachten, kann man nichts mehr anfragen.

Back on track

Am Dienstag habe ich mein Track Bike gerannt. Das war für mich kein kleine Ding. Ich habe in 2002 nach Neuseeland umgesiedelt und das Rad war eingepackt und in einem Keller nachgeräumt. Damals hat es mir schon fast 10 Jahre gehört. Auf dieses Rad habe ich in dutzende Statsmeisterschaften Wettbewerben teilgenommen, bin ich auf Grass Fahrbahnen gefahren und habe ich zwei Universitätenmeisterschaften gewonnen.

Vor Dienstag, das letztes Mal, das ich auf dieses Rad gesetzt habe, war ich 25 Jahre Alt und habe ich gerade das "10 Miler" Rennen bei der Welwyn Radbahn Liga gewonnen. Das 10 Miler war (und ist noch) das Hauptrennen der Liga und obwohl ich in der Liga 14 Jahren teilgenommen habe, habe ich nie das 10 Miler gewonnen. Das war mein letztes Chance und ich habe sie genommen. Ein Mannschaftskollege hat mir viel geholfen und ich erinnere mich die Endspurt wenn er "Go Nick Go!" geschrien hat.

Ich habe keine Rennen am Dienstag gewonnen aber es war eine Ehre dieses Rad wieder zu fahren und ich bin zufrieden dass es nicht mehr in einem Keller ist.

Einer von diese Containers hat unsere Sachen drin

Radsport...

Laykold Cup auf Hataitai Velodrome

Der Weihnachstman rennt auch.

 

Keirin Endsprint gegen Hannah Latta - sie ist wirklich schnell!

Hannah gewinnt.

Argh!

Habe heute bei dem Laykold Cup auf die Wellington Radbahn gerennt. Überall ist der Tag für mich gut gelaufen. Habe ein Rennen gewonnen, und in andere Rennen war ich Zweite, Vierte und Fünfte. Das letzte Rennen war der Laykold Cup und inkludiert war ein Trophie nur für Masters: das Stayers Cup. Ich war sehr motiviert und in die andere Rennen war ich der schnellste von der Master Rennfahrers.

Leider auf die letzte von 30 Runden habe ich eine Fehler gemacht und war zu weit hinter die andere Masters, wenn der Endsprint begonnen hat. Mit zu viel zu tun in 300m habe ich nur Zweiter erreicht. Ärgerlich - ich sollte das gewonnen!

Aber so ist Radrennen. Wenn man mit seinem Kopf rennt, kann man starkerer Fahrer schlagen. Der Gewinner hat ein echt intelligente Rennen gerennt.

Es kommt andere Rennen, habe jetzt noch mehr Motivation...

Verruckt

Ich bin derzeit Press Officer für Team Gallagher, vier verrückte Jungs die von Australian nach Neuseeland rudern. Über die letzte vier Tagen war das Wetter so schlimm, müssen sie in ihrer Kabinen bleiben. Die Kabinen sind sehr klein und unbequem. Das heißt, wenn du Frühstück ißt oder TV schaust, die Team Gallagher Crew liegen in kleine Boxen weil ihre Boot tanzt in Wellen vier Metre hoch.

Respekt. Aber man müss auch nicht vergessen, sie haben für diese Situation gewahlt!

Radbahn

Hataitai velodrome

Ich habe radfahren auf ein Radbahn viel vermisst. Geil dass es eines nur 1km von unserem Haus gibt... auf geht's!

Los Geht's!

Oriental Bay

Wir sind fast drei Wochen in Wellington, Neuseeland angekommen und es ist mir schwer zu glauben dass wir nicht auf Urlaub sind, sonst sind wir in unserer neuer Heimat.

Aber die Reise ist nur gerade begonnen. Katie war in Wellington geboren aber sie hat hier für 10 Jahren nicht gewohnt. Ich kenne Wellington fast gar nicht. Deshalb müssen wir eigentlich eine Nische finden.

Es ist nicht easy, um alles neu zu starten. Wir haben das schon mehrmals gemacht und ich geniesse diese 'Setupzeit' nicht wirklich. Ich bin ungeduldig und möchte eine Routine... sofort!

Das kommt hoffentlich über die nächste Monate - Updates zu folgen...

Pride

I have always been proud of my Austrian roots. Proud to shout for the Austrians while watching Ski Sunday, proud to tell my friends of holidays back to my Mum's village in the Pinzgau and proud to have family ties to such a beautiful country.

After more than five years living here, I'm more proud than ever. Proud to have learnt the language properly and proud to have made a good life for me and my family.

On the eve of my departure for a new life in New Zealand, I am proud to have called Austria my home and to call myself half-Austrian.

So, from now on, this blog will become a Kiwi Adventure, but I intend to post primarily auf Deutsch. Since it took five painful years to learn the language, I need an outlet to practise, and this is it.

Auf Wiedersehen!

Awesome nights in the Beisl

A by no means complete rundown of the most awesome nights spent in Fuschl's best nightspot.

The time we me and Bill played against two gay skinheads at trivial pursuit in German.. and won.
Bill was convinced they were gay, but I wasn't so sure. Then again, the only questions they could answer were about Doris Day or Liberace. They didn't stand a chance against us though and we sealed the win getting a tricky question about Kurt Waldheim right.

The time Fuschl's local pornagraphic film-maker popped by, got outrageously drunk and insulted Americans for relying on credit cards.
Weird, weird night. The guy was a total asshole, telling everyone how he had traveled all over the world but thought the US was stupid because they had too many Mastercards. Apparently this was because he was unable to sell his smutty movies there. Highlight was when he yelled out a list of all the places he'd been: "I've been to Vancouver, San Francisco, Los Angeles..." then Werner (a mulletted Beisl regular) said, "I've been to St. Gilgen!"

The time we tried to ride a unicycle up and down the road outside.
Don't remember much from this night, whose unicycle it was or who suggested we have a go, but I do remember Bill being adamant he could do it. I think he managed about three pedal turns.

The time Bill did handstand pushups against the door.
More Bill. On this occasion, after being challenged by Ingrid, he proved his manliness to all by first doing one armed pushups, then jumpy-style pushups with claps in between. Finally, he pulled a handstand leaning against the door for balance, and did about three pushups, going quite red in the face in the process.

Any time that I won darts cricket with a full house. 
Cleaning up on darts cricket is truly a satisfying experience. Though not the most prolific winner, during the spell between finishing my first beer and ordering a third I'm usually on fire. The tactics are simple: knock out the 19s, 17s, 16s and 15s first, load up on points then try and polish the rest of the board off. That 'thunk' when you hit the final bulls eye makes any evening out well worthwhile.

Our leaving do - unprecedented levels of loud drunkeness.
A packed pub, with regular faces and Beisl rookies alike, this was a great night. I wore Lederhosen, and felt suitably proud. The time capsule that is the Beisl was in full effect. Before we knew it, the funny little cuckoo clock thing in the corner peeped 4am, Natalie and Flo were yelling their heads off and Felix was dozing in the corner. Good times indeed, terrible times for many the next day.

A huge thanks to Martina,  Beisl owner and bartender for the past five years, and possessor of the finest cockney London accent South of the English Channel. You couldn't ask for a better hangout and nobody pours a Stiegl like Martina. Since she too is moving on shortly, it really does feel like the end of an era. The place will not be the same without her.

If I've missed any epic nights out, leave a comment or mail me!

Leaving Fuschl

The view from the balcony - nothing short of stunning.

A strange feeling, but our flat is emptied, cleaned and Fuschl am See is no longer our little village.

Three and a half years, dozens of swims in the lake, countless jogs through the Ellmautal, a few hundred litres of beers consumed in the Beisl and numerous walks with Angus in the pram - and later without - along the lakeside.

In short, it's been an amazing time. As the Austrians say "Ein Auge weint, das andere lacht." Basically we're crying with one eye but laughing with the other. Sad to leave, happy for new things.

We definitely didn't become locals in the time we were there. Small villages in Austria are no different than anywhere else and it's not always easy to integrate. But we met some lovely people, whose friendship made us feel extremely welcome. Were we Fuschlers? No, but then our landlord's wife was from a farm four kilometres away, and even she wasn't considered a local.

Interestingly many of the locals who showed total indifference while we lived there knew that we were moving, and asked us about it during our last days there.

Fuschl is one of the most beautiful place in the world, we'll never forget it. Especially not after our epic Abschiedsfeier...

Dankeschön.

Die geilste Straßen des Salzburgerland, Teil 1

Wenn man Radfahrer ist, man liebt nicht nur das Rad, sonst auch die Straßen. Was macht eine Asphalt Streife besser als einander? Keine Ahnung, aber unten finden Sie der erster Teil von eine unendliche Serie, worein ich meine favoriten Straßen in meiner Umgebung, Salzburgerland, beschreibe. Die sind nicht die schönste oder am meisten befahren, sonst Straßen die ich eigentlich geniesse.

Der Strubklamm

Wahrscheinlich die beste Radpendelstrecke aller Zeit. Für zwei Sommers bin ich dreimal in der Woche von unsere Haus in Hallein nach mein Arbeitsplatz in Fuschl radgefahren.

Nach 15km, bin ich oft in die Strubklamm abgebogen. Die Wegstrecke nach Fuschl ist kurzer wenn man durch die Strubklamm fährt, aber es dauert ein bisschen länger, weil es mehr hügelig ist.

Von der Wiestalstraße, die Strubklamm läuft berg auf, aber gemütlich und kurvenreich. Kurz danach, bekommt man ein schöne Blick über den Wiestalstausee und im Hintergrund, der Watzmann, Deutschlands drittgrößte Berg.

Nach zwei Kilometer erreicht man die Spitze und die Straße verengte sich. Man fährt zwischen zwei Steinwände und plötzlich, auf die rechten Seite, man sieht nur Luft. Es gibt eine tiefe Klamm, aber man sieht nicht der Fluss unten.

Die Straße ist jetzt eben, und wenn es ein schönes Tag ist, die Sonne blinkt durch die Bäume. Man sieht direkt in der Klamm - er ist sehr dramatisch. Höher Felswände stürzen ins Tal und kleine Bäume und Büsche halten von enge Schelfe fest.

Um eine Kurve findet man ein Tunnel. Groß genug nur für ein Auto, er ist nicht mehr als ein Loch durch eine Steinwand. Keine Lichte sind drinnen aber dankbar, er ist nur 20m lang.

Ein leichte Abfahrt folget und man ist bald neben einem Stausee. Man findet ein Kreuzung und kann entweder Links bergauf nach Faistenau fahren oder geradeaus der Hintersee vorbei fahren.

Ein Klassiker.

Strubklamm

Der Tunnel

Der Klamm

A winter's worth of central heating arrives...

...by tractor!

Herbstmüdigkeit

It's the end of summer and the locals are inflicted with yet another disease caused by weather, astrological occurrences or seasons.

Herbstmüdigkeit is similar to Mondayitis in that its sufferers generally mope about complaining of being tired. Difference is that Herbstmüdigkeit translates to "Autumn tiredness" and can only be contracted in September and October.

Other heinous ailments Austrians seem to get an awful lot are insomnia due to a full moon and head aches from warm southerly winds (Föhn). According to my colleague there also such a thing as Vorjahrmüdigkeit - spring tiredness.

This site gives some useful tips on how to cope with it, including having a warm, then cold shower and using "light therapy".

I know that living somewhere where the seasons are highly contrasting can affect your moods and I guess over time people looked for explanations and descriptions for their emotions. But the way some people talk about it, it's as though it's a serious medical affliction. Bollocks, I say.

Trans Tasman Rowing Challenge Interviews

I was very proud to have been asked to write team profiles for the Trans Tasman Rowing Challenge which is due to start in October. The first, with James Blake, has been published on the team's website, but here's the full article:

James Blake: A Need for Adventure

At 26-years-old, James Blake is a young man in search of adventure. Based in Dunedin and studying Masters in Science Communication and Natural History film-making, Blake has already competed in the Sydney to Hobart yacht race, but believes the Trans Tasman Row will be “a challenging expedition” that will push him to his limits. 

Blake grew up in the UK having moved there at age 12 and competed regularly for the school’s rowing team from the age of 14.

“I was at school in Dorset, in the South of England, when I started rowing. I remember a lot of early training sessions and some not-very-nice English weather. I really enjoyed the racing side of it. The training was alright, but the actual racing, when you’re set against another boat on the water, I really loved.”

“We didn’t win much but I competed at the Henley rowing regatta on the Thames. I gave up rowing at 18 when I left school so it’s been good to get out on the water again!”

Sailing became a big part of Blake’s life and it became clear that Blake inherited his famous father Peter’s spirit for adventure.

James Blake

“He had a huge influence on my life. He made me realise that you should just go and do what you want to do. He started out from a small house in Bayswater as just a little boy sailing around but he achieved so much just by doing what he wanted.”

“I love the sea and I don’t think I could be away from it. I think that came from growing up around my father. He had an enthusiasm for getting out there and trying things and putting yourself in situations you’re not used to, and I think people can really learn from that.”

True to this philosophy, in 2010 he competed in the Sydney Hobart race, finding a place on yacht at the last minute.

“I was over in Sydney and found a spot on the boat the day before the race started. Someone had put a drill through their hand and so I jumped on board.”

“It was a 90 foot racing boat, full race spec, full canting keel, and we were steaming. Unfortunately two guys went over board which was quite scary. It took about 20 minutes to get back to them and they didn’t have any safety equipment on them whatsoever.”

“The reason they went overboard was because of a huge squall that hit us and we actually lost sight of them for a while. Then after we got them,  six of us spent about eight hours bailing the boat out - otherwise we would have sunk.”

Since returning to New Zealand to study, Blake says he feels closer to his homeland than ever. “Before I came to Dunedin I thought I was more English but now that I’m over here, I’m definitely becoming more and more Kiwi which I am definitely enjoying.”

Blake currently lives in Dunedin and life primarily consists of training and studies towards becoming a filmmaker.

“I’m putting a lot of time in on the ergometer at the moment, slowly building up and I’m also getting out on the water in a single-scull boat. We have a training schedule designed by Andrew McCowan that I’m sticking pretty close to plus weights three times a week. I need to put on some weight right now but that is proving quite hard.“

So why does the Trans-Tasman project interest him?

“Nigel Cherrie, the project manager, got in touch with me as he knew I was a cameraman and had a bit of sailing experience. It sounded like a challenging expedition that would push me, plus would be great to film.”

As well as pet projects, Blake was involved in shooting a wildlife documentary called Dophins of Shark Bay. He hopes to record all the highs and lows of the Trans Tasman row and make regular uploads to the project website.

“I’d like to bring a Canon 5D onto the boat as well as four GoPro cameras, and probably a handy cam too. I want to capture it in a way that’s never been done before. We’re in quite a unique position as others who have gone across the Tasman haven’t had a cameraman on board.”

“I’ll be putting together quick clips each day and sending them via satellite for the website. It will be quite a struggle to edit and send something back - it will require a lot of concentration. But with the training we will practise all that and I think it will be doable.”

Blake is the driving force behind the Trans-Tasman row’s Coral Reef project, which aims to raise awareness and funding for Borneo’s coral gardeners to help rebuild depleted reefs.

“I studied Environmental Science at university  and wanted to know more once I finished so I traveled off to Borneo, Indonesia and the Philippines to see for myself what was going on.”

“I spent about a month there getting to know the coral gardeners who are attempting to rebuild the coral reefs which are being destroyed by dynamite fishing, overfishing and coral bleaching (caused by temperature rises).”

“Everyday the gardeners collect little clippings of coral and replant them into artificial reefs. We want to raise money for them to build a bigger reef to use. I plan to take it into schools too and use it as an educational tool. We can show the reef being rebuilt, send photos to the schools to progress and relate what is being done back to the wider system.”

“The oceans are under a lot of stress and we’re a country that relies on them. We need to be taking care of the oceans whether it’s on our doorstep or on the other side of the world - it’s all connected and that’s what we want to show.”

Summer = alm

Austria, mountains, sun, bratwurst, beer and good company  make a perfect summer's day.

Hochkönig

After five years of wanting to get on the top of this one, my Dad and I climbed the Hochkönig yesterday.

And what a mountain. It reigns high over the Pongau/ Pinzgau regions, the many peaks making up its massiv viewable from dozens of directions. At 2941m it's not the biggest, but since we've skied below it for years and it can be seen from Mum and Dad's kitchen window, it has to be done.

So we started up from the Arthurhaus above Mühlbach at 5:45am, a pretty standard start time in Austria if you're going to climb something. Admittedly the hike up is not the hardest, but it's long and you spend virtually all of the time clambering over loose stones or rocks. In total we racked up 1700m in altitude gain, but there are little ups and downs along the whole track that wear you down.

Intrepid explorer

Stunning morning, view direction Bischofshofen

Sun

View into the valley with Torsaüle on left

We got to the summit at just after 11am. The hut, das Matrashaus, is perched right on the highest point. A shelter has been at that spot since 1898, serving hot food and drink and accommodation to anyone needing it. It's quite incredible, that after hiking over five hours in high Alpine terrain, there's a mini-hotel at the most extreme end of it. The Austrian's sure know how to make the most of their mountains.

Obligatory shot

View from the top

Unfortunately, the summit was just at cloud base so the view wasn't amazing. It was cold too, with a blasting wind that required thermals, beanies and windproof jackets. But we inhaled a couple of sandwiches, then went inside for a coffee and cake. Dad ordered his regular pea soup with a frankfurter dropped in it.

The descent felt longer and harder than the uphill. It took nearly five hours due to all the rocks, scree and ups and downs. Just before getting back to the car park we guzzled a Radler at the Mitterbergalm - Radlers were invented for such occasions, I'm sure. We got back to the car after 11hours of walking.

Torsaüle

A big thanks is due to my old man for this. We've been saying for years we must do it, and finally we have. It was a great personal achievement but a team effort and wouldn't have been possible or worth it without my Dad being there too (and in fact my Mum who kindly babysitted Angus while we were sweating it out).

Fuschlseelauf

Am August 28, findet in Fuschl wieder der Fuschlseelauf statt. Das heißt eine Runde um See, 12km und hoffentlich schöne Wetter.

Ich habe ein bisschen für zooom mit der Veranstaltung gearbeitet. Sie sind ganz ehrliche Leute und machen diese Rennen nur für die Publikum, nicht für sich selbe.

Fuschlsee

Aber sie brauchen jetzt Teilnehmer. Wer Jogging mag und Zeit hat, soll sich hier anmelden.

Tag der Blasmusik

Apparently 6:45am on a Sunday is the perfect time for the village band to start playing and marching around. I know I've blogged about it before but it still fascinates and annoys us in equal measure every year.

Guten Morgen

Ezra's Press Release

It's nice to write stuff for people who really appreciate it. Ezra Philips, a bike courier from Auckland who was on the road while I was still riding, is off to the Bike Messengers World Championships. Again. It's the fifth time he's scraped together funds and saved his pennies to make the trip, and I'm glad he asked me to put together and send out a press release for him.

Ezra Philips and his weapon of choice

PRESS RELEASE JULY 4, 2011.

PHILLIPS TO REPRESENT NEW ZEALAND FOR FIFTH TIME AT CYCLE MESSENGER WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS IN POLAND

 

Ezra Phillips will represent New Zealand for a fifth time at the Cycle Messenger World Championships (CMWC), which begins in Warsaw, Poland on July 28.

 

The 29-year-old from Tauranga will be one of five New Zealanders competing against 2000 messengers from around the world in various disciplines during the five-day event. Phillips is aiming for a podium position in the sprint races, competitions that involve short sharp efforts usually from a standing start. 

He, and the other Kiwis - Angus Edmond, Jenna Makgill, Gary-Max Hampton and Leon Skiba - will also take part in the Main Race, a competition that simulates daily bicycle courier life. Riders must pick up and deliver packages to different locations around a closed circuit as fast as possible.

“Just qualifying for the finals is tough,” says Phillips, “but I have been training hard and am confident I will put in a good show.”

“The CMWC are very competitive but are also about celebrating worldwide messenger culture and sharing a common passion.”

Phillips works for City Dox Couriers in Auckland and has been a bicycle messenger for eight years, during which time he has clocked up a total of 120,000km.

“I have been riding my bike my whole life - my girlfriend claims to have seen me pedalling in my sleep!”

Phillips first competed at the CMWC in 2006 in Sydney, Australia, but achieved his best results the following year in Dublin, Ireland when he won a CBD race, was second in the uphill sprints and came eighth in a 1km drag race.

In 2008, in Toronto, Canada, Phillips won a side event race and in 2009 in Tokyo, Japan, he reached the semi-finals of the sprint competition. Phillips is well known on the growing local street racing and fixed gear scene, regularly scoring top three positions.

“My trips to CMWCs are all self-funded with help from my sponsors, Cathay Pacific, Customs Solutions and Pane & Vino restaurant.”

The 19th annual Cycle Messengers World Championships begin on July 28, 2011 in Warsaw, Poland. More information can be found at www.warsawcarkillers.org.

Flug

I had the privilege of flying in a Pilatus Porter from Salzburg to Bozen in Italy and back yesterday. We flew low over the mountains, in what is really quite a small plane. The weather was clear and the view spectacular.

At times we were below mountain summits, other times we skimmed what felt like a few dozen metres above them. I could see people hiking or mountain biking, and in the valley towards Bozen, pretty much into people's bedrooms, we were that low.

The Alps are really one of the most stunning places in the world.

What really struck me was the roads. The Alps are rugged, wild and astoundingly beautiful but there are roads everywhere, snaking over hills and winding through valleys. It made me realise: there are a tonne of incredible roads that are just screaming to be ridden that I haven't even been near to.

One day, I hope I have the time and means to ride just a few of them.

I went crazy with my mobile phone camera, some of them turned out OK.