A year ago, PAULA RUPAINE watched jet ski competitions as a fan, but this summer she was already on the podium. Encouraged by her brother Tom Grasmanis-Laše, Paula made her debut and won the 3rd place in the overall season standings, also competing with men, but won the title of Latvian Driver of the Year in the women’s competition. The competition was organized by the Latvian Water Motorcycle Sports Association, but one of the four stages was held at Paula and Tom’s family business – in the recreation complex of Renda parish Usmas Mekki. On a daily basis, Paula works in her marketing and public relations company in Riga.
Good atmosphere
Paula admits: although this was her first competition season, she has been with jet skis all her life tu. Because she grew up Usmas Mekis near Lake Usma: “We lived and worked there. When we developed the complex, we bought a jet ski, because it was one of my father’s dreams. Later we offered rides to everyone who went to relax. I usually rode for fun. A few years ago, my brother started a project From dream to starting linein which, together with his friend Rolandas Lukyanova, he undertook to prepare for the competition from scratch to the starting line. This also includes the involvement of sponsors. At the time, the competition didn’t have the class I competed in this year, so their moches needed improvement to compete at all. I didn’t know there was such a competition then. The brother started then, and the hook was in his mouth. In the next season, he already had another goal – to get to award-winning places. This year’s season started with the fact that I went to Ādaži, where the training competition was held. I went to support, because my brother’s wife Julia also participated. I found this shocking because before she met my brother, water was definitely not her element. Then I thought how cool the atmosphere is. I told my brother that he could try, because we already have the equipment.
With his development in this field, Tom essentially achieved the fact that competition requires class Stock Box. This means: you buy a jet ski, participate, and it must not be improved in any way. If there are modifications, you can simply be disqualified. Another thing to consider is that it must be a jet ski Spark model.”
With courage and thinking
“Knowing that there are no modifications, everything is based only on the coincidence of circumstances: what will be the weather and waves, what is your talent and whether you are brave enough. It appealed to me a lot. I went to practice. We held them ourselves this season Usmas Mekis. There are buoys on the track, which must be passed in a specific order. There are no tricks, no springboards, as I previously imagined. (Laughs.) There are simply red and yellow buoys: one must be passed on the right, the other on the left. Everything rests in a scheme and coincidence of circumstances similar to In Formula 1 or go-karting. The first joint training was my baptism of fire. The waves were cruel, but you have to fight. The goal is to be fast, but you also have to think a lot: when a wave comes, you have to understand at what moment to let off the gas and in which spot to put it. We went to the first competition together with my brother and his wife – two mochi in the trailer, one in the trunk of the car. Julia and I started in class Stock Boxbut Tom continued in his modified class. We were in Aizkraukle at the HPP. Stressful – I listened to the rules but didn’t hear anything. To be honest, I don’t even remember how I really did.
Interestingly, there is no division of men and women in the new class. Those who rode in motocross also started. We didn’t care, because we did it to promote that this sport is available to everyone who likes it and can afford it. It’s not cheap.”
Favorite stage – Usma
“The biggest event of the summer was the reason why I wanted to jump into this vortex even more. The stage we held Usmas Mekiswe had an important event with very good feedback. The brother is the great initiator and organizer. In the award ceremony, it was said that it was the participants’ favorite stage, because we have a very suitable infrastructure for the competition – a large coastline and a place to relax.
It was the second stage in which I participated. I also competed in the modified mochi class, because it was similar to when I used to do equestrian sports: in home competitions, you compete with all the horses you can. Even now, I started everywhere I could. We had a live broadcast for the first time, and around 40,000 people watched it.”
Brother – the greatest support
“The third stage of the competition in Liepāja stood out with very big waves. It was epic! Before that I had never sailed in the sea, so shortly before that we went to practice. I don’t even know if it was good or not, because I had never jumped like that. At that time, my brother’s wife and I talked: no matter where, we will not go to Liepāja. My brother said that we should go.
I couldn’t tell my brother nobecause he really takes on everything. We could ride like princesses and not think about anything else. He was our mechanic, head coach and supporter. I was on my first podium in Liepāja – I got the third place in the stage! Great pleasure! I was standing between two fierce competitors – gentlemen. It gave me the feeling that I could do it again.
I went to the Riga competition already quite confident, because I realized that I had competed in all stages. This means: no matter how I drove, I already had quite a lot of points. I drove as hard as I could. There were also new participants in Riga, even those who participate in motocross. With my still green knowledge, it was not enough to fight for the podium there, but I did what I could.”
The family won 1st place
The overall achievements of one family are evaluated in the Family Cup competition throughout the season. Three drivers collected points, but the two best results are taken into account. In the Riga stage, the Grasmani-Rupaini family won 1st place. Paula finished the season with 3rd place overall: “In November, we received beautiful medals at the awards. The biggest shock was that the voting took place: four people were nominated for the titles in three categories. I was nominated as one of the best female drivers in Latvia and won this title. I still can’t believe it… I also won a cup. To receive such recognition in a community where I am a green cucumber is very cool. It gives me faith that I have a perspective, and of course it’s a responsibility to keep running.”
Paula believes that interest in this sport has grown among women: “At the awards, I felt that we have inspired a lot of ladies. If we separated the women’s and men’s class, then couples could easily compete with one mochi. You shouldn’t buy anything extra, women would simply ride in their own category. But to be separate, you need female drivers. I have high hopes that the next season will be very interesting, because there will be more participants.”
Paula is already thinking about this – strength training is said to be every day: “You have to train your muscles, because it requires unreal endurance. After the waves in Liepāja, I couldn’t get out of bed. Last season, I went to training in Usma as much as I could – my brother did them quite often. But since it’s a hobby, you have to combine it with work and other things.”