Thursday wasn't really that eventful, to say the least. Or, not fun anyway, we got to Munich in the morning, and then after a short bus to Freising our train just didn't move. A line problem or something, but we had to wait and get crammed (almost literally, I could barely move and had to stand up) on a tiny bus all the way to the next big town over, which was like 45 minutes or something. There we got the train to Hof, or, originally to Hof, but they decided for what ever reason (explanations in German so I have no idea) that it was only going to Regensburg, so there we had to change. Another packed train journey for another two hours across Germany and we finally made it to Hof, and then to Schwarzenbach. After some pizza with Taylor R, Gary C, and Doug B, we made our way back to the Steig and that was the day.
Friday started off nice and early for all of us UK guys except Sam, who was clearly too comfy sleeping in a giant monkey 1 piece (seriously) to wake up. The rest of us went to Edeka (a supermarket) and got breakfast, then went to BRR headquarters. Lots of skateboarding, fingerboarding, chilling, and noms filled the day, as well as meeting and chilling with people as they turned up. We got a chance to see the park for event, and as it was made of two parks, and being that I saw another version of the main park elsewhere, I'd be VERY surprised if its not going to be the G10 park from Blackriver. And very well deserved too, its a weird park that perhaps lacks flow compared to say the g8, but has a ton of awesome spots. After, a party at the BRR bowl in the evening, as well as all the Berlin guys turning up. Plus Gleb from Russia and Chris from Sweden, who'd arrived into Berlin and took the bus down with the Berlin guys. Things were certainly setting up for a fantastic event day!
Saturday was the day of the event and it was obviously set to be a busy and pretty hectic day for everyone. The wildcard battle went on outside as all the registered riders and spectators poured into the building, eager to see the layout of parks and everything else inside. Bonsei, FAB, and balance board booths, as well as a host of parks from Blackriver, old and new. Plus food, a shop, and much much more. The shop showed off the lazer engraved BW decks, as well as the Box 7 - which sold out by around 3/4 of the way through the day. Nonetheless the main event kicked off, and around 150 riders got a chance to sesh the park for 30 seconds, as well as pull of last tricks. Amazing runs went down from everyone, and a pretty terrible one from myself, haha! I did get a first try bigflip blunt as a last trick, but anyone who knows me knows that's one of those tricks I don't have to try with - everyone has one or two tricks like that. Nonetheless its far from about the winning, and once the second round kicked in I was soo stoked to be up there filming all the hammers and watching the action as 30 riders pulled off 3 tricks and a 2 trick line each. So much first try stuff went down - the level of skill was amazing! Then into the final and an unsuspected face, Valentin L, popped up along with the list of familiar faces. No doubt you all know him now as he went on to win, beating Petr with a switch flip manny on a big granite ledge. Such an intense game, it was soo close at the end! After this we all rolled over to the after party, which thanks to Schwarzenbach locals turned into a crappy rave. Nonetheless the skateboard contest was fun, and I still stayed entertained until 2am.
Watch the full finals thanks to Raul J - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Ef5q8chi5g
Sunday started around 10, a much needed shower to wake myself up and the realisation that there was no food to buy - apparently supermarkets don't open on Sunday there. Either way after some toast and nutella we went to the Blackriver skatepark, and then got a car ride with Yellowood to Wunseidel! No doubt you've all seen videos of this place, but I'll tell you now it doesn't do any justice. Quite simply the most amazing place I've ever been, its right on a forest, a lake, and has beauty mixed with a skate miniramp, two stone fingerboard parks, a pizza oven, trampoline, fire jacuzzi, football pitch, bonfire, and drawbridge. If you can ever make it to Fast Fingers, I'd say this is the highlight. Such an undescribable experience. After almost getting fined 40 euros each on the train home for like a 10 minute train journey (and Gary's 1 phrase of German never being more appropriate) we sat around a camp fire at the Steig and roasted marshmallows. Perfect end to a perfect day.
Monday meant almost everyone went home, so those of us still staying at the Steig had very little to do, being that it was a public holday, and nothing was open. Lacking places to buy food we went to a super expensive petrol station on a very wobbly bike, and balanced some bottles of coke and juice in the back basket on the way back. Then a day of stick bread, bonfires, late night fingerboarding, and far too many first try tricks from Thom? Relaxed, but soo nice. The Steig is a beautiful place to be!
Tuesday we travelled home, and despite me getting a ridiculously bad headache and falling asleep on the train (and being photobombed by Sam - I believe the picture is lurking on facebook or instagram) we had an unfortunately rainy, but nonetheless amazing sesh at somewhere I've always wanted to go - Patentamt! I think that's the German word for it, but the Munich Patent Office and its fantastic sculpture outside that's an unintentional fingerboard paradise. You've probably seen pictures, but I can tell you now they don't do it justice. Then goodbyes at the airport, a weird tasting sandwich, and Will buying some expensive sunglasses, and I eventually found my way into my front door at 3:45am on Wednesday. And I cant wait to do it all again next year.
Look out for my video from the event soon. Now? Check these fantastic event videos that just popped up on youtube - and any others that you come across! You can check the whole results and more on the Fast Fingers site here :)
