FLUID kayaks team trip

FLUID Kayaks team trip 2011 - French Alps from Val Grollemund on Vimeo.

Paul Villecourt, Celliers Kruger, Hugh du Preez, David Arnaud, Luke Spencer and I teamed up on mid August in the French Alps for a "FLUID Kayak team trip".

At this time we also testes the 1st FLUID creekboat prototype, the BAZOOKA!!
This kayak was a simple killer, its round hull on the bow allows to drive it easy, to turn easy, and paddle really smooth without forcing to put the nose exactly where you want!!
At the opposite the flat hull on the stern gives speed and nervousness, it catchs the eddy properly and keep really well the line at low and high speed.
The Bazooka allows you to paddle really smoothly and shrewdly, or all at the opposite to propel the gun in its limits paddling it tense and radical!!
Well this brand new FLUID Bazooka will for sure convince lot of you who want a sane, easy, performing creekboat in which one you feel good and in security immediately to paddle your favourite rivers!!


Back to our team trip!!
Rain fell masively the days before we came, we enjoy more than correct water levels for the season!!
We even had the chance to paddle the Chichin torrent, true french alpin jewel!!!


Luke Spencer in the Chichin torrent.


David Arnaud boofing the Bazooka on the Chichin.


Me on the Chichin.



Great feeling after a 1st afternoon more than awesome on the Chichin torrent, so we keep on and went to the Fournel river few minutes away from Chichin.
Fournel is a boof paradize, lot of little drops from 1 to 4 meters where you can work on your boof along this 200meters long section, walk up and paddle down again and again.

Me in one of the drops on the Fournel.

David Arnaud and me.


Celliers Kruges on the Fournel.


Boooooooooof again!!


All FLUID team on the Fournel!!

After a pretty sweet night at the Guillestre campground, we went to paddle on the Guil river.


Unknow paradize, the low-Guil river.

FLUID team at the exit of the Combe of Chateau Quéras, a pretty sweet gorge with amazing scenery!!!

Luke, Hugh and me in the "triple fall".


Myself in "Milenium" rapid on the Guil river.


Awesome scenery after an amazing day on the water of the Guil river.


Put in of the Gyr, the ideal run for the late afternoon cause it works on the glacier melting.
It's cold but it's good!!



After few days in the Hautes Alpes region, we drove to the Grand Canyon of the Verdon, we took the time to enjoy this sick sunny day on the road and enjoy the sceneries, the region is so amazing!!!




David, Paul and I.


At the campground of the Verdon, we unpack all the cars and organize the shuttle, yeah the shuttle of the Verdon river is 2hours long... The 35km of the Grand Canyon of the Verdon could be paddled in 5-6h.

Next morning here we went in the grand Canyon of the Verdon, a 1st time for me and I've to confess this descent is one the most beautiful I have the chance to paddle.
Not because of its gradient, its rapids which are just III-IV+ all along, but more its sceneries, it's atmospheres and its gorges so much different than all I saw previously!!


FLUID boys, early morning in the Grand Canyon of the Verdon.


Isn't it beautiful??


Little slalom with the Bazooka on the green water of the Verdon.




Me in one of the most famous rapid of the Verdon.


Luke underground on the water!!

The entry of the cave, amazing moment!!

David Arnaud in the cave.


David Arnaud.


Hugh du Preez


Luke Spencer and Verdon's lights.

Well, a week with FLUID Kayaks team boys more than wonderful, great waterlevels, sick rivers and descents, awesome sceneries, massive blue sky, so good atmosphere on and out of the river, a true kayaking week!!

Many thanks to Hugh du Preez, Luke Spencer, Celliers Kruger, David Arnaud and Paul Villecourt!!
A hello to all the people we met on the rivers!!
Many thanks to Paul Villecourt for these amazing photos!!

A massive thanks also to FLUID kayaks, who sponsor me since almost 5years now and gives me the opportunity to do always more and enjoy fully my passion for kayaking with great kayaks and amazing services!!!

Till the next FLUID Kayaks team trip, Have the best ever friends!!