Friday, October 3, 2014

Hydro Park Sofia Bulgaria

I visited last time in Hydro Park cable Sofia 2013 summer. Pity I didn't find time earlier this summer to go there again.
They had changed a set of obstacles, some new kickers etc... and I really liked!!
Cable is really old built up 1985!! It's old fashion with manual loading and unloading ropes, 4 pylons and long distances between pylons. Cable is built up time when water skiing was the main thing.
So it doesn't sound so good, but they have made quite nice set of obstacles from starting dock to the first corner and it works perfectly!!
Then first and second pylon are really low, but 3rd pylon and motor tower are okay to make all air tricks, it more depends on your own skills. If you start air tricks before 3rd pylon, there is lot of space to make 4 air tricks (inside and outside) and still easy to get first kickers.

I think this kind of cable, what is almost 30 years old and still running perfectly is the best advertisement to cable manufacturer Rixen!
I think Rixen should organize their next surprise cable tour to the world oldest cables, which are still running! This kind of would be amazing for these cables and could put them to invest something in future. Of course local new generation of wakeboarders would see something special and kick their asses to continue this great life style sport.
The first left kicker is out from picture, but there are altogether 3 kickers, small wall ride, funbox and dragon slider. Quite nice set before first corner.



















Hydro Park has some specialties e.g. two times 1 hour breaks during day!!
In Weekend breaks are 14:00-15:00 and 17:00-18:00.





Prices for riding are nice: 2 hours = 12€ and the whole day ticket about 24€. I visited in September and there wasn't any kind of queue! Maybe during summer weekends there are more people. I met local riders and they are so nice and friendly.
They have good restaurant with cheap prices and even some bungalows just beside of the lake about 20€/night. Bungalows are not probably deluxe... but near. It's possible to find really good accommodation from center of Sofia by 30-50€/night (e.g. Arte-hotel was just great).

Hydro-Park is quite near of airport, but not well known place, so maybe these maps help to find it.
Taxi driver told, he hasn't been long time in this area of the city and normal customers from airport are not going to there.)) I'm not normal, but there is not clear address of this place.
Lake is middle of Kazichane village just beside of Sofia ring road and railway. Kazichane is some kind of gypsy area and this was the magic word for taxi driver to find the place. Taxi costs from airport about 7€.



Thanks for company of my workmates Ilkka Marin and Juha Niemi. Juha shot quite okay after 1 minute quick course in photographing!))

Some information maybe possible to find from their Facebook group page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/27175472556/