Video "A spring wake up"

A spring wake up from Val Grollemund on Vimeo.

Last morning when I woke up, I was feeling so good on that spring morning atmosphere.
I took my camera and I shot some stuffs. I edited it right after, and here is the result.
I love spring time!!! ;-)

Traning camp with the kids of my region

A while ago, I was one of those kids invited by the region for a training camp on the holidays, and today I'm one of the coachs!!!
Am I getting old??

The cool thing is that I enjoy to coach as I enjoyed to be coached when I was kid!!

A really nice week in Millau with the 19 selected young kayakers of the region.
We paddle a lot with slalom kayaks and freestyle boats, and we ran a beautiful section of the Tarn river between Les Vignes and Le Rozier.


The beginning of the descent in Les Vignes.

That descent is simply beautiful!!

Happy coach.


Vincent and my kayak.


Mathilde Pichery between blocs.


Marie and Noa.


On the rocks of the "Causses" during the hike.

This training week ended by the canoe and kayak Region Championship in Millau.
The program: kayak polo, flatwater races, white water racen on saturday, and slalom race on Sunday.
I just compete on the kayak polo and at the slalom race.


About the kayak polo, I compete with the 2 teams of my kayak club of Rodez, the "old" team and the "youth".
With the old we were dismissed at the 1st round, with the youth we headed till the quarter final, reaaaaally cool!!!


Hugo at the white water race.


Yannis at the white water race.


At the slalom race, I ended 9th overall senior, and 6th of my region with 2 sweet runs.
I really enjoyed to compete in slalom, a long time I didn't!!


A big up to Loic Vynisale, who's a whitewater race and flatwater race killer, and he ended 5th senior of the region at the slalom race!!

Well, an awesome paddling week in a sweet atmosphere!!
Wanna have more!!

Photo: Jean Grollemund

Open Canoe Festival 2011

On April 21st to 25th, I was on the Drôme river for the Open Canoe Festival 2011.

The Open Canoe Festival is THE european event for all Open Canoes paddlers and for all those who like the canoe in general, and this on 3 days!!

Paul Villecourt is the organizor of that festival, he asked me to make the video.
You'll be able to see the video on the web in the coming days... I'll keep you update for sure!!

The start of the full day descent, 26 km of nature, clear and fresh water, ... Well the real life!!

Isn't it beautiful?!!


The gorge at the beginning.


The entry of the 1st gorge.


Paul and me.


Paul and me capturing images.


Patrick de Saint Ours enjoying sun and clear water of the Drôme river.


The feet in the water... At work... Siiiiiiick!!


Pierre Villecourt, Stand Up Paddle boarding.


Happy to be on the river!!


Nooo really, this is beautiful, right?!!


The 3 tipis, place to meet and share at the Open Canoe Festival 2011.

Inside of the tipis.

Saturday night took place a concert of The Steam'Box, a folk music duo, reaaaaaally good!!

I made them a little clip: Here

Their website: www.STEAMBOXMUSIC.com

Pierre, The Steam'Box.

Loic of The Steam'Box.

The camp fire on the beach.

The clinics of monday morning.


Evan Villecourt, the new generation of white water lovers!!


Rescue clinics on monday morning.

The good life in the Drôme valley!!

My photos of the event:

Open Canoe Festival 2011

Many thanks to all the staff of the Open Canoe Festival and more to Paul Villecourt!!
I really enjoy to paddle those Open Canoes and at the same time making the video!!
See you next year!!

The Steam'Box - Folk music

The Steam'Box - Folk music from Val Grollemund on Vimeo.

At the Open Canoe Festival 2011, I met Loic and Pierre from The Steam'Box music band, they were there to make a concert the saturday night!!

I was there to film the event and make them a little clip of their awesome Folk music!!!

Watch, listen, enjoy and share!!

Many thanks Loic and Pierre!!

FLUID Kayaks: BigBang

It's soooooo sick!!!!!!!!
I recieved last week my new toy, the brand new FLUID Kayak BigBang!!!
Love it!!


A massive kayak as I like!!
I'm quite sure it will also be a sick kayak for expedition and/or easy run multi-days trips.
it's fast, massive, lot of space to carry things... It looks perfect!!


My 3 FLUID Kayaks:
Detox L, Solo L and BigBang.
3 other good reasons to not stay at home!! ;-)

Thanks again to FLUID Kayaks for their support.
Many thanks also to RokXat the FLUID distributor in Europe!!

Stand Up Paddle in Rodez

On a pretty sunny afternoon, I took my Stand Up Paddle board, Glide 14' by NAISH, at my home kayak club in Rodez and let try it to kids.

The 6 or 7 kids who tryed it really enjoyed it ask for again!!
Yeah there's not only kayak on the rivers, we can also enjoy SUPing!!!!

Hugo on the board!!


Quentin, what a smile?!!

Looks like I'll have to take my board again to the kayak club!! ;-)

Spriiiiiing!!

Beautiful days are back, means we're spending more time outdoor doing sport, trainings, make shits or just chill with that beautiful weather!!

Spring time ruuuules!!


MTBike ride with Arnaud.


Arnaud.


Hard training on the MTBike with Arnaud, that spring time is quite warm!!


My bro Gautier and Ghys building a MTBike PumpTrack in our garden!!


Yeah baby!!


Time to take out the Pétanque balls and play!!


Nothing better than a Pétanque game.


This is sooo good!!


An international Flatland BMX in my home city!!


Mathias Dandois showing how he goes big, only World champion, the killer!!


Lil' ride at La Colline.


Gautier in La Colline.


Gautier in La Colline.

Gautier in the Palanges.

Me in the Palanges at the end of the ride.