Val Grollemund on Facebook

=> Val Grollemund on Facebook <=

Besides this blog, you can right now follow me on a Facebook page!!!
It will be a great way to stay in touch easily, I'll post on it all my news, links, photos, videos, etc.
That doesn't means I'll not update that blog anymore!! ;-)

Don't hesitate to give me your feedback on that page.

Seeya!!

Some good news!!

Hey, some news of that super lazy December...
The scar advanced quite well even if it seems we pulled the staples out a little bit too early.
Well, I'm back on trainings, slowly but surely!!
And it's so good to be in pain after a training after more than 20 days full off!!

1 week after surgery.


2 weeks after surgery... yeah we pull the staples too early... :-(


3 weeks after surgery... Getting better!!


Little walk with my bro not far of the house.


I enjoyed my free time to coatch the kids at my kayak club in Rodez.


I can't practice but I was able to watch sport!!


Snow downtown Rodez...


1st XC MTBiking session since a month, with the snow...


I was yesterday at the 2010 price giving ceremony of the Sport and Olympic Local Comity where I recieved an awesome price!! ;-)
But it's always good and pleasant to recieve something!!

Well I go back to train!!!

Collarbone fixed!!

Yesterday, on Tueday, I was at the hospital in Rodez my home city to pull the titanium plate out of my collarbone.
Yep, I had it since I broke my collarbone in 4 pieces on a MTBiking session on Feb.!!

The plate and the screws were beginning to make me lot of pain, especially with frictions!!

A lil cross on my left arm, just in case they forget which side they have to open to pull the plate out...


Classic view in a hospital...


A cross on left and a catheter on right arm...


Buddies Arnaud and Marion came to visit me, thanks!!


The drainer... Not painfull to pull it out, just do it quickly!!


Almost in a good shape... Almost...
About the scar they put 39 staples on!!


The plate and screws I had on my collarbone.

At the moment I stay at home, I've to keep the staples for 8 days then I'll have Steri-Strips for 15 days, that will make a beautiful scar in the future!!
Then I'll have looot physical therapy and all will be fine again!!!
I'm really motivated to be back on track asap, but I've to stay careful and do all step by step and take all the time it needs!!
Well, I'll enjoy the end of the year parties!!

I guess I'll be back in my kayak on mid/end of January...
For sure I'll keep you posted!!

A cold Dourbie please!!

On Sunday Nov. 21st, I went to the Dourbie river with Pyrenean buddies Fabrice Poueyto, Fred Dumont, Thomas Tabaran and Max Mitaut.
There was a little water level on the Dourbie river but it's still good to paddle there!!
However, it was so cold...

The Dourbie valley with late Autumn colors, I took the same photo on Nov. 1st. at the same place... Check out the difference!!


Oooootch sooooo cold!!


A little boof in the middle of the upper upper Dourbie...


...And biiiiiiiiim, stucked down!!!
At that moment I broke the foot plate in my kayak on that shitty boof... Yep and I didn't had the best line for sure!!
And of course I paddled the last 3 hours without that foot plate!!
It's the game!!


Here the result, it's sooo good the plate broke and not my ankles!!!!!!!
Thanks FLUID kayaks!!


Fabrice "Fafa" Poueyto on the upper upper Dourbie.


Myself still on the upper upper Dourbie.


Fred Dumont and Thomas Tabaran in the eddy.

It was my last decent on 2010 because of my surgery on my collarbone the next week.
Thanks buddies!!!

Shooting of "Runnable" on the Tarn river

"Runnable" (Coming June 2011) from Gautier Grollemund on Vimeo.

Few days ago my brother Gautier asked me if I could be keen on filming some kayaking sequences for one of his next film "Runnable" he was working on.
For sure I was keen on it!!

So, on November 6th, when there was a good water level on the Tarn river, we drove there to shoot the trailer of "Runnable" on one of the most famous rapid in France, the "Gouffre des Meules" (class V) on one of the most famous river in France the Tarn river.




Gautier driving my car... Please slowly!!


Crazy view on a sea of clouds on the Montmirat!!




I said you there was a great view from the Montmirat!!


Let's go down to the put in!!


"Gouffre des Meules" here I am!!


"Gouffre des Meules" rapid.


Me in the S at the top of the rapid.


Me got the eddy just before the last drop.


Me in the last drop.


Val Grollemund on the Tarn river, France from Val Grollemund on Vimeo.

Here a little desciption of the "Gouffre des Meules" rapid by myself.

Once we finished the shooting, some other paddlers arrived at the rapid and I joined them for the rest of the descent.


The turn of the "Gouffre des Meules" rapid.


The last drop of the "Gouffre des Meules".

Stay tuned for more news of "Runnable"!!

Dourbie river = Paradise

On Nov. 1st, buddies from the Pyrenees came in the Cévennes and we paddled on the Upper Dourbie river.
We enjoyed a great water level and fall colors and still incredible in the Cévennes!!

Dourbie valley.


Max Mitaut on the upper Dourbie river.


Myself. Photo by Fabrice Poueyto.


Kévin Marcade.


Fabrice Poueyto.


Max Mitaut.


Gael Kernin in the "Bain Douche" rapid.


Myself, yep, when you take photos you're often last one at the top of a rapid!!


Rodolphe Fairier at the entry of "Sanglier" rapid.


Kevin swam between "Sanglier" and "Bazard à Bulle"...


Fabrice "Fafa" Poueyto "Sanglier" rapid.


Me in the "Bazard à Bulle" rapid, photo by Fabrice Poueyto.


The crazy fall colors of Cévennes.


Fafa on the way back.


Inside view of the Dourbie valley.

Once again we had an awesome day on the Dourbie river, and we had at the same time the opportunity to get some perfect moments we're all looking for!!
An invariable quest...