2020 IS BEHIND US?! WHAT HAPPENED & WHAT DIDN’T?
Exactly a year ago, we counted down, “three, two, one… and soon it will be 2020,” stepping into the new year with excitement and big plans. However, none of us could have predicted what would happen in the spring… Despite everything, those 366 days flew by. We can now divide 2020 into the pre-COVID era and the COVID era.
What We Accomplished
At the beginning of the year, our chairwoman Nikol Ivanovová and the Czech Republic’s 2nd vice-champion in lockpicking, Karel Burian, appeared on the TV Seznam show Rozstřel. The discussion covered not only lockpicking but also how to protect personal property and much more. You can watch the full report here or listen to the audio version here.
We also partnered with O2 to create a five-step guide for home security, as part of their new “Smart Home” product portfolio. If you’re interested, check out the Czech TV report on Byznys ČT24.
In February, we attended Wendt Open House 2020 in Bergheim, Germany, hosted by A. Wendt GmbH (Zieh-Fix). The event showcased innovations in professional opening tools, automotive electronics, and various seminars, along with an impressioning competition. German TV RTL WEST also covered the event – see more here.
In June, we couldn’t physically attend the global Maker Faire Prague, but we participated online, with our segment aired on TV Mall. Our presentation was titled “Keys Are Not Needed – Lockpickers Can Open Locks Without Them.” You can watch the full Maker Faire event here.
At the beginning of the year, we managed to organize a few lockpicking training sessions in Prague, but by autumn, we could only host one more. Hopefully, next year will bring better opportunities.
With in-person events limited, we transitioned into the virtual world of lockpicking, where we now open locks online in our community, “Lockpicking nás baví.”
What We Missed & What We Postponed
We had planned to launch a home and personal security project in Prague 14 under the name “Bezpečná 14”. This program aimed to: introduce people to the world of lockpicking, explain how a lock and cylinder work, teach how to protect property (homes, cars, etc.), demonstrate lockpicking and bumping techniques in practice. The first-ever Lockpicking CZ&SK competition was scheduled for 2020 but has now been postponed to next year, depending on the situation. In the fall, LockFest was canceled and rescheduled for 2021—we hope to see everyone there! We also couldn’t attend LockCon in the Netherlands, but we joined the event virtually, with discussions, lectures, and industry updates running all night. Unfortunately, even our traditional lockpickers’ Christmas party had to be postponed. But on the bright side, that just means more presents next year! 🎁
Looking Ahead to 2021
We look forward to seeing you in 2021, which is already knocking at the door. On behalf of the entire team at the Association of Czech Lockpickers, we wish you a great start to the new year and, most importantly, good health! 🎉
