Kurbads 18th Annual Boat Adventure in Kurzeme

Last weekend, on July 26 and 27, more than 120 Kurbads employees and their families gathered by the beautiful Irbe River in the Kurzeme region, whose middle course is strongly winding, with many oxbow lakes and wonderful islands, to participate in the company's annual - this year, the 18th boat trip.

This tradition has become one of the most significant and anticipated team-building events in the company's calendar, where employees temporarily set aside work duties, recharge their energy, and strengthen the sense of togetherness. This year, not only the Kurbads and Ko team participated in the trip and sports games, but also the teams from Kurbads Detailing, HS Kurbads, Kurbads Ice Hall, and Lantes Manor, along with their families, creating a special atmosphere filled with friendliness and mutual trust - values that reinforce the company's culture and employee loyalty.

The annual river cleanup has become an integral tradition. Although the Irbe is relatively clean, the meticulous eyes of Kurbads kayakers gathered several bags of plastic and glass bottles, tangled fishing lines, and even long-lost crocs this year - this is our team's attitude towards Latvian nature, inviting others to care for and preserve it through our example. Special prizes were not forgotten, awarded to Jana and her daughter from Lantes Manor and representatives of Toma Hartmaņa - our logistics manager's family - for their enthusiasm in the cleanup.

The journey from the end point of the boating to the campsite this year was not ordinary - Reinis had ensured not only precise logistics but also a special adventure: an exciting 4x4 jeep ride through the forests and swamps of Ance parish, allowing participants to see Kurzeme from a completely different perspective, immersing themselves in the mood of a true expedition. Reinis not only safely led the column but also entertained everyone with his impeccable sense of humor - every turn or mud puddle became an opportunity for a joke in Reinis' style: "Even bears walk around here in rubber boots," or "If you hear roaring, it won't always be the engines." Reinis Pižiks is a Kurzeme local who grew up in a small village - Ance, during his studies he went to Riga, graduated from the Banking Institute, and started a career in the financial sector. However, over time, the forests, river, and expanses of Ance called him back more and more strongly.

After an active day of rowing, participants settled at the "DABA LABA" base - one of the least populated places in Latvia, surrounded by vast forests, clear rivers, and forest lakes. The peaceful environment helped us regain balance and recharge our energy.

Already at the base, like mushrooms after the rain, a tent city emerged, and soon above the campfire, a traditional, homemade soup was simmering - hearty, fragrant, with a unique taste created in the open air. The warm meal gathered everyone at one table, allowing them to share the day's impressions and recharge their energy for the evening's continuation.

The highlight of the evening was the musical surprise - the jazz band "Agency." Five young and talented musicians - Eva Beatrise (saxophone), Roberts (drums), Dominiks (trumpet), Raivo (keyboards), and Kurts (bass) - created free and lively music that blended jazz, fusion, and contemporary rhythms. Musical friends joined the band, making the performance even more vibrant and unforgettable, of course, not without dancing. Thanks to Paula Pikāne for the spot-on music selection - exactly what was needed for this evening!

The morning at the camp started early. With the first rays of the sun, activity was already bustling around the campfire - the day was begun by photographer Renārs Kārkliņš, capturing the peace of nature and the first smiles of the hike participants. The Lantes Manor team had prepared delicious breakfast - the smell of pancakes and the aroma of freshly brewed coffee filled the morning air, inviting everyone to start the new day with energy and a good mood.

The main event of the second day was the sports games. As usual, participants were divided into six teams, each assigned its own color - burgundy, yellow, light green, turquoise, blue, and gray. All sports game participants were united by a common T-shirt design, which symbolically depicted the RT-32 Irbene radio telescope at its center – one of the most technologically impressive and scientifically significant objects in Latvia at the time. This telescope is also used for observing extragalactic objects, and its visual motif, interpreted by artist Alfreds Paulauskas, served as a metaphor for team spirit - the ability to perceive, listen, and collaborate. The T-shirt colors gave the teams their identity, while the unified design created a sense of belonging to the overall event for the hike participants.

Colleagues competed in archery, a quiz about the values and history of "Kurbads," agility and logic tasks where children and families actively participated, including a water relay and other engaging disciplines. This time, the victory laurels went to the Bordeaux-colored team, whose members received the "Grand Prix" - invitations to the memorial concert dedicated to Haralds Sīmanis, which will take place on September 6 at Lante Manor, Ropažu Municipality.