The team rose from their slumber at 8.00 this morning for a feast of typical Czech cuisine. Some members were absent from breakfast but were later seen as we boarded the buses (bed hair still intact) for our final session at Ceske Budejovice before we race tomorrow.

Thirds courses proved to be challenging for the team, with some tricky moves set by the coaches. Zlatan, who was rather excited having found a new slalom site on his early morning jog, was disheartened after realising that the course he had discovered was infact the team's current training venue!!!

After three sets of thirds, the team packed their gear and headed back to the accommodation where lunch was devoured. The afternoon was spent leisurely by the team. Some wrote postcards, others read and most headed into town to peruse the local shops.

Whilst walking back to the accommodation we passed Tori, looking a little shocked beside our team van. On closer inspection, we realised that we only had half of our side window… while it had appeared to be the work of Czech criminal masterminds, tori relayed the tale of a delivery truck who reversed into her as she was driving through the main street. Not knowing that he had reversed into our teams lovely vehicle, Tori was escorted by police (and the town mayor, who happened to be our translator) into the countryside to find the truck driver.

Tori reappeared at dinner, which was at a local restaurant, just 5 minutes walk from our accommodation. Tori, looking rather worn out, was happy to collapse in the chair and sip down her 17 crown Budweiser beer.

After dinner, the authors of this epic, who coincidently are both sharing their 16th birthday today, were brought two lovely looking cakes… one chocolate and the other forest fruits (both tasted as good as they looked). Ethan and Ian, who obviously had strategically seated themselves beside the birthday girls were the recipients of the dirty knife birthday kisses. After consuming the delicate and beautiful cakes the team gave us surprise gifts, which had been purchased on the teams mid-afternoon walk around the local shops. The gifts were great… and some rather amusing (obviously some input by the boys on the team!)

We left the restaurant and returned to the accommodation. The team is slowly dwindling off the bed, excited and ready for tomorrows race… the beginning of the Ceske Budejovice wave festival!

By the Birthday Girls! (Ash and Tash)