Fall report

Valentin Grollemund — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 17:14:00 +0100

Hi all,

I know, I know... you didn't see more news from me since end of August 2009. But I was really busy because of European promo tour with sandiline on September where I was the photographer. Then Adidas Sickline - Extrem kayak World championship - where I competed. And then my great travel in Chile. So, I take now the time to write some blabla for you and post many photos, yeah I know you prefer check my photos than read my blabla... Ok... too much blabla, read down...

First step of my European tour was the freestyle kayak World championship in Thun Switzerland. David Arnaud and I drove to Thun, Switzerland, and found some team members there training for Worlds!!

These Wordls organized by Simon Hirter were awesome!! A great show!!!!! Ok freestyle is a bit boring to watch, but it's the same for all sports... don't say me Snowboarding half pipe is not boring... But, I was impressed by the quality of runs since qualifs to finals. And the finals were HUUUUUUGE!!!!!! The public liked that and the guys from ICF too... What a good news!!!

You know for sure Mat Coldebella, Fluid Team member... oh yeah, he's french!!!

After the freestyle Worlds in Thun, sandiline crew and I headed to Seu de Urgell in Spain for the slalom Worlds!!

We enjoyed beautiful weather, drinking sangria and watching top paddlers going fast on the Olympic (Barcelona Olympic Games) artificial slalom course of Seu de Urgell.

* There were tons of spectators under spanish sun to see the show, the finals day was the best show ever with live results and all organized to make pressure on crowd and paddlers!! Just great!!!!

After the slalom Worlds, we drove to sandiline office in Slovenia to pick up all we needed for the Kanumesse in Germany, Yeah 2700km in 2 weeks for me... Wait, that's not the end...

The Kanumesse is the Best Trade Show in the World. Was good to see what's making for 2010 and for sure what's new for FLUID... But I'm sure you already checked the post about new composite boats and new "sit on top" production previously on this blog.

We enjoyed a great party, the music was mixing by our dear, great, awesome team manager, please, Mr David Arnaud!!!!!!!!!!

Directly after the Kanumesse, I spend a night at Oli and Ingrid's place close to Munich, Germany. They proposed me to compet at the 1st freestyle event in Munich the next day!! I accepted it for sure!!!!!

I finished 3rd of the event in K1 senior, and my friend and Fluid team partner Markus ended 5th!! Yeah two Fluid team paddlers in final!!!!!!! Was great to share that event with all that germans and have great times... great beer and food also!!!

The next day, Simon Hirter phoned me and the afternoon we drove to Otztal, Austria. The place of the adidas Sickline, the extrem kayak World championship.

I enjoyed a full week training and paddling the Oetz river with Simon!! Was great!! Thanks also to Schorshi for the bedroom!!!!!

I don't wanna say more about the adidas sickline, I'm quite sure you checked the previous post of Ralf Schaberg on this blog. Was again a good event and it's always pretty good to share good moments with friends on events!!!!!!

David Arnaud was also there as video maker for the adidas. Finally after the Sickline, David and I came back home in France. I spend few weeks at home where I enjoyed mountain biking with my brother Gautier. It's good to do something else than kayaking sometimes, especially when there isn't good water levels!!!

I also competed some slalom races in France. It was actually pretty hard to paddle well and found back all my slalom skills after few weeks traveling and creeking. I wasn't pretty bad but not pretty good at the same time... no matter, was fun!!!

End of october, Mariann Saether proposed me to join her for a trip in Chile. So we left on November 18th. Many thanks to Mariann for all!!!!

We spend 3 weeks in Pucòn, enjoying chilean summer and awesome rivers over there!!!

We paddled everyday with different groups which is pretty nice!!!!! Thanks to the czeck guys, Demshitz, canadians, americans and others....

Jakub Sedivy, Mariann Saether, Steve Fisher, the legend Kurt Cassey and I opened the Trafanpulli river!!! http://riversofchile.com/rio-trafanpulli/

I also paddled often with Steve Fisher, who is probably the best kayaker in the world!! So I learned tons of news things about creeking, river running, partying... Thanks buddy!!!!

The last 2 weeks I was in Futaleufu to paddle the legend river!! It was just awesome to be there enjoying everyday the best river in the World!!!!!! My first time in Terminator section was just amazing, I wasn't used at all of big waters so I was completly lost, juts following Mariann and be impressed by these few meters high waves and holes. I learned a lot with Steve, so now I feel quite fine on big waters!!! thanks!!

One of my best moment was probably the Middle Palguin waterfall, a 22meters/70feet. I did a great line and the landing was so smooth. Just a perfect drop!!!!! The photo of Steve speaks alone!!!!

Mariann and I came back in Europe the January 1st, enjoying New Year Ev' in the flight... yeaaah... It's so cold in Europe after few summer weeks in Chile. Now I'm planning some good things for 2010... I'll let you know in time!!!!!

Enjoy the river and seeya on it!!!!!

Val

Fluid Kayaks Team - Tag - http:-riversofchile.com-rio-trafanpulli-

Fall report