Valentin GROLLEMUND
Date of birth: June 24, 1990
Kayak club: MJC Rodez Club Canoë Kayak, since 2003
City: Rodez, Aveyron, France
Job: Pro kayaker, photographer and filmmaker, kayak coach.
Discipline: Freeride kayaking
Country visited: France, Corsica, Italia, Spain, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Slovenia, Chile, Argentina
Favorite rivers:
Tarn, France
Dourbie, France
Chuisella, Italia
Stura di Ala, Italia
Travo, Corsica
Palguin, Chile
Futaleufu, Chile
Bio:
First time in a kayak ?
No idea... It was probably in the Gorges du Tarn at Sainte Enimie village where my grand parents live.
We spent with my brother Gautier all our holidays there.
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| Tarn river, 1997 |
First roll ?
At 13 years old in Naussac lake. Babass taugh me how to and I rolled my kayak 30min later.
First river descent ?
The Allier Sup at 20mCube/sec, 4 days after my first roll !!
At 13 years old in Naussac lake. Babass taugh me how to and I rolled my kayak 30min later.
First river descent ?
The Allier Sup at 20mCube/sec, 4 days after my first roll !!
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Photo: Paul Villecourt - Allier river, July 2005 |
Your career ?
Septembre 2003 I registered at MJC Rodez Canoë-Kayak club, started racing in single canoe slalom in 2005, went on the National champ C1 cadet podium in 2006, member of the Training Center of Toulouse in 2007 and 2008, then came back home and till that day I enjoy paddling the rivers with my creekboat !! |
| Salles la Source, 1st D. 20meters. photo: Jean Grollemund |
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| Teva Extrem Outdoor Games 2008 - photo: Jean Grollemund |
A trip to remember ?
My Chile trip end of 2009, it was my first trip alone or at least without frenchies with me, first time in a flight and 2 months to paddle there with Mariann Saether and Steve Fisher.
Simply awesome !!
Your best trip ?
A week in french Alps with team FLUID Kayak, great atmosphere and awesome kayaking!!
We had been there to make photos and videos, and work on the new FLUID creekboat, the Bazooka.
Was also the first time Paul Villecourt, David Arnaud and I where together on a kayak trip, was so fun!!
Your worst trip ?
A middle Tarn river run at maxi flood water level (5m80, normally paddled at max 3m) with my borther Gautier on November 2011.
I was more focused on my borther and didn't want he had bad line than on my own lines... And I got in trouble in a massive hole and swam... Lost my kayak twice and finnaly found it few km downstream broken and the night was coming in...
My Chile trip end of 2009, it was my first trip alone or at least without frenchies with me, first time in a flight and 2 months to paddle there with Mariann Saether and Steve Fisher.
Simply awesome !!
Your best trip ?
A week in french Alps with team FLUID Kayak, great atmosphere and awesome kayaking!!
We had been there to make photos and videos, and work on the new FLUID creekboat, the Bazooka.
Was also the first time Paul Villecourt, David Arnaud and I where together on a kayak trip, was so fun!!
Your worst trip ?
A middle Tarn river run at maxi flood water level (5m80, normally paddled at max 3m) with my borther Gautier on November 2011.
I was more focused on my borther and didn't want he had bad line than on my own lines... And I got in trouble in a massive hole and swam... Lost my kayak twice and finnaly found it few km downstream broken and the night was coming in...
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| Middle Palguin, Chile, Dec. 2009 - photo: Steve Fisher |
Your gurus ?
Fabrice Poueyto because he knows me till I started kayaking, and we stille paddle together in a great atmosphere and the the desire to paddle as best as we can!!
David Arnaud, he pushed me in freeride kayaking and taugh me a lot in filmmaking. He always have good advices. And you have fun together!!
Raph Thiebaut because he taugh so many things about kayaking, rescue and photography.
Paul Villecourt, because we follow each other since 2005, taugh me tons about photography and laugh as hell together!!!
Your favorite kayaker ?
There're few ones, Mat Dumoulin for freestyle kayaking, Steve Fisher for his lines and ease in big waters, and Tyler Curtis for his style and his fluidity in all cases. Tony Estanguet cause it's simply beautiful to watch!!
And I don't have to forget Mariann Saether for her smile on and out the river!!
Your favorite athlete ?
Hicham El Guerrouj
Fabrice Poueyto because he knows me till I started kayaking, and we stille paddle together in a great atmosphere and the the desire to paddle as best as we can!!
David Arnaud, he pushed me in freeride kayaking and taugh me a lot in filmmaking. He always have good advices. And you have fun together!!
Raph Thiebaut because he taugh so many things about kayaking, rescue and photography.
Paul Villecourt, because we follow each other since 2005, taugh me tons about photography and laugh as hell together!!!
Your favorite kayaker ?
There're few ones, Mat Dumoulin for freestyle kayaking, Steve Fisher for his lines and ease in big waters, and Tyler Curtis for his style and his fluidity in all cases. Tony Estanguet cause it's simply beautiful to watch!!
And I don't have to forget Mariann Saether for her smile on and out the river!!
Your favorite athlete ?
Hicham El Guerrouj
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| Pyrenees Buddies Race, May 201 |
Results:
2011:
2nd Pyrenees Buddies Race (Vallée d'Ossau, France)
2nd by team Pyrenees Buddies Race (Vallée d'Ossau, France)
25th Teva Extrem Outdoor Games (Ivrea, Italy)
10th Extrem Kayak World Championship by team
2010:
1st Pyrenees Buddies Race (Vallée d'Ossau, France)
2nd by team Pyrenees Buddies Race (Vallée d'Ossau, France)
1st Natural Games River Trip (Millau, France)
25th Teva Extrem Outdoor Games (Ivrea, Italy)
31th Adidas Sickline Extreme Kayak World Championship (Oetz, Austria)
2009 :
12th Teva Extrem Outdoor Games (Ivrea, Italy)
7th at the "Top 20 Super Sprint" Teva Extrem Outdoor Games (Ivrea, Italy)
10th Extrem Kayak World Championship by team
26th Adidas Sickline Extreme Kayak World Championship (Oetz, Austria)
2008:
Vice National junior champion canoe freestyle
32th Teva Extrem Outdoor Games (Ivrea, Italy)
3rd Natural games canoe freestyle (Millau, France)
28th Adidas Sickline Extreme Kayak World Championship (Oetz, Austria)
These last 2 years, I did many travels, expeditions, descents, races, partys... Today I feel so good on a river, no matter the place, the water level, the gradient, most important is the smile your friends and you have your faces!!
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| Dourbie river, 2days self support - photo: Val G. |
"Never ask your way to someone who knows, because you'll not be able to get lost"
