Teva Extreme Outdoor Games 2011

On June 4th to 12th, I was in Italy with buddies from Pyrenees, more exactly in ValChiusella and Ivrea, to compet at the Teva Extreme Outdoor Games 2011 first stage of the AWP World Series 2011.

We arrived few days before the races to train on the Chiusella race sections.
The water levels were just perfect the 1st days. GO BIG, home is too far away!!!

Teva Extreme Outdoor Games 2011, Italy - Video 1# from Val Grollemund on Vimeo.

Eric Deguil in the 1st big rapid.


Eric Deguil, Max Mitaut and myself just upstream the road bridge.


Max Mitaut.


Moi même in the lower part.


On the evenings we talked about watching our race lines with GoPro video.

Here, a lil vid onboard with myself:

Teva Extreme Outdoor Games 2011 - On board with Val Grollemund from Val Grollemund on Vimeo.

Me at the end of the slide, the last big rapid.


Fabrice "Fafa" Poueyto.

We also paddled the "King of the Falls" section.
There were some cool carnages in it, throw bags, swims... Well, freeriding!!

Teva Extreme Outdoor Games 2011, Italy - Video 2# from Val Grollemund on Vimeo.

Unfornuately water levels dropped quickly and let us a shitty level for the races... Too bad...


Wednesday, race briefing in Fondo.

The race program:
Wednesday = long indiv race + "King of the Falls"
Thrusday = team race.

Right after the briefing, organizors said to Eric and I our kayaks were too long and were more than 2m60...
My FLUID BigBang is 2m70... We drive back to the campsite so pissed off, knowing the next day I'll have to compet with a kayak of a friend which one I never used before... :-(
I've to write here all AWP World Series could be competed with 2m70 maximum...



Hopefuly, Francesco Salvato lent me his kayak for the races.
My indiv long race was more than horrible, I was in the lines but I couldn't paddle my best level and there was'nt any pleasure... I ended 22nd... Damn...

Bastien Dantin in the finish slide.

Martina Wegman ended her indiv long race.

I got a lucky loozer card for the "King of the Falls".
A section I really like, it's steap and pushy!!!
But there again, go big with a boat you used for the 1st time is quite hard and I fuck it up with a 14th...

RonFisher (SWI) wan the race in the good way aheading a brighting Max Mitaut (FRA) and the always smily Sam Sutton (NZL)!!


"King of the falls" section.


Jakub Sedivy in the waterfall of the "King of the falls".


Me in the waterfall of the "King of the falls".

The next morning took place the 1st team race for the Freeride Kayak World Championship by team of Nations.
I competed with Stefun Pion and Bastien Dantin.
We ended 7th.

After the Thursday morning team race


Ivrea whitewater course.

The team sprint by night, where Stefun and I ended 6th with 2 correct runs.

Here we went again the next day with indiv races, Michele Ramazza lent me his kayak knowing I still cannot compet with my FLUID BigBang...
Same as Chiusella stage, I paddled in Ivrea without performing and without any pleasure.

Myself during the indiv sprint where I ended 32nd...
About the slalom, I failed on a disappointing 22nd spot...


The team slalom, Bastien missed the last gate of the slalom course so we had a 50seconds penalty... To ended 10th of that team slalom, last stage of the team races.

At the overall ranking of the Freeride Kayak World Championship by Team of Nation Stefun, Bastien and I were 10th.


Ivrea easy life.

Teva Extreme Outdoor Games 2011, Italy - Video 3# from Val Grollemund on Vimeo.

The classic sunday boater cross.

Sunday too place the boater cross, I got easily my spot for the 1/8 finals, before got dismissed in 1/4 finals after a fairplay matter of one of my German contestant during the run, where he didn't respect the rules... And me, they don't wanna let me compet cause of my too long kayak...
Daaaamn...

Gangsters Eric, Max, Bastien and Steve.

Max Mitaut 2nd of the "King of the falls".


The podium of the Teva Extreme Outdoor Games 2011:
Michele Ramazza 3rd, Sam Sutton 2nd and Mike Dawson 1st.


Best wishes for Valérie Bertrand who had a serious injury during the race on the Chiusella. Wish you a quick recovery!!

The report of my Teva Extreme Outdoor Games 2011 is really mitigated.
I ended 25th at the overall ranking.
Was so happy with what I was doing during my trainings but that shitty kayak switching for the races didn't help me at all to perform there in Italy.
I went back so disappointed, hoping the organizors will steady their rules on the AWP ones, especially concerning the kayak lenght...

I also have to paddle more than I did this winter and I've to work on my power, I'll have to go through the bodybuilding room!!

Well, I've some directions to work for next season...!!!!!!