sté l'fun s'blog english

2012-01-17T13:25:00.000-08:00

The year 2012 is already off to a good start.

From the first day of this year, the winter offer us between Ardèche and Doubs area some good water level. It was a good opportunity for the DK boys team who paddled on big wave surfing like Lyon, La Malate and La Scie (which been working very rarely in recent years).
Here is the last DK movie filmed and edited by Mister Hugo.
It was also a good opportunity for myself to tried the easy-mix 2010 in some big waves and the boat was perfect like a machine !!
Few sessions more and it’s could be perfect… ☺

2012-01-10T02:29:00.000-08:00

I wish you an Happy New Year and a lot of good thinks for 2012.

2011-12-22T12:01:00.001-08:00

"Rain Drop" is in the place !

After a great sucess at the film festival of L’Argentiere La Bessée in the French Alps (two prices) and the Rider of the Year II Award (best online video), here is a new distinction for "Rain Drop" attributed by Kayak Session for the Best Short Film of the Year. This award recognises the great edit and effect made by Hugo Clouzeau and myself on the spirit of kayaking.
I would like to thank everybody who supported the video (11669 votes over the world) and notice the closeness of the votes between Rain Drop and Biluty movies of my friend Tomass (10 864 votes ) as well as the sweet come back from the White water Grand prix video by Tribe alliance (9 657 votes).

Huge Thanks to everybody!!

Stefun

2011-12-22T01:44:00.000-08:00

Jura area

The Jura area from eastern of France but they are many small rivers, we runed some classicle rivers like Saine, Ain, Anguillon, lemme but somewhere water flows in the gorges at the middle of forest.
So, last week I spent 3 days in the jura area, we found two rivers, La Cimante with some small waterfalls, it was beautiful but not really interested and “Le Bief de la Chaille” river. A really funny river close Les rousses village where we did the first descent. The river was narrow, really steep, the eddies was pretty small and many trees across the river but we were at the middle of the completely untouched forest !!

We started the river with a small water level, one kilometre later groundwater that comes up spontaneously in a spring and give us more water along the descent.
The river never stop and just one time after a old bridge, you can stop and scout the long rapid, 400 metres with 14 dropes without eddies finished by a waterfall slide of 5/6 metres.

It was really funny to discovered a new river like this in the Jura area !! Now time to go clean every trees and come back asap…

It’s was also a good opportunity for us to go on the Ain river, scout big waterfalls and made a session to the Malate wave to 350 cubics.

La Cimante river pics
Le Bief de la Chaille river pics
L'Ain river pics
Malate wave pics

2011-11-21T05:46:00.001-08:00

Between Hérault and Ardèche area !

I came back at home after I have spent two weeks in the Cévennes in France (Hérault, Lozère and Ardèche area). We started this journey in the famous French gorge of Valgarnide on the Dourbie river where we spent two days in an awesome scenery. It was the first weekend of November, one of the public holyday in France. Every year the Dourbies villagers organise the chestnuts festival; it was a good opportunity for us to join the party, eat some chestnuts cooked on the fire, drink some wine and dance… During the last days, we went on the Hérault River which has a beautiful gorge view, visited the Couvertoirade village one of the most beautiful village from XI century, then we took a breakfast in the south Mediterranean coast in Palavas-les-Flots, just before we came up in Ardèche area.

Every year, when I am going to the Ardèche area, I usually paddle the classical rivers (such as Upper Ardèche, Bourges,…). This year I decide to explore and run “unknown” rivers. Thanks to Henry Denis, a local paddler and famous writer of the book
“Cévennes guide”, we discover a set of beautiful rivers from class III to V+ , such as Saliouse, Escoutay, Eysse, Loire River gorge that Henry has the “secret” knowledge.

He brought us across some awesome scenery, where young and former paddlers gathered. This creates, all along the week an atmosphere I am in love, almost addictive!!

Thanks every paddlers
Enjoy the photos :

Cévénes Octobre-Novembre 2011

Stefun

2011-11-21T05:38:00.000-08:00

Jura 2011

At last, we’ve got some rain in the Jura area! As often, when the rain “comes home”, we decided to scout some new rivers’ section in the South of Jura (next to Saint Claude) taking advantage of a rarely “higher” water level. We found some new sections, but unfortunately the levels were too low. Finally, we went back in the center of Jura, closed to Champagnole. There, we kayak the middle Lemme River and run some waterfalls on the Ain River… and the next day, we did the Saine River under a beautiful sun!

More photos here :

October 2011 Jura session

2011-08-28T12:23:00.001-07:00

Siberia 2011

Back from Siberia after a 10 days self support trip in the middle of nowhere, close the Baikal lake.

The Adidas team member Tomass Marrnics organised a trip guided by himself on the
Sayan area with the goal to do the Kitoy river with a pretty good team from five different
countries (France, Germany, England, Latvia and Russia). 250 kms on really good white-
water and beautiful scenery.

It’s in Irkutsk that the trip was started for all the French guys who were part of the trip,
Tomass came to the airport to bring us and meet the other paddlers.
After a six hours drive, we were at the put-in of the kitoy river and started the first kms to the
first campsite by night
At the morning, we put the food in every boats and off we went to start and enjoying
the kitoy river.

Not many french people can have this kind of self upport experience in France, so it was a really good opportunity for them to get a good whitewater experience of group living, good
cohesion and team spirit on the river. Each days we ate rice, pasta or lens with some fresh fish fished by our self.

The rest of the river was magic, sometimes grade II on amazing scenery to grade IV in
some awesome gorges with nice big water. One portage of 40 min to avoid a nasty rapid
with many siphons on one of part of the kitoy river. We arrived on the Ekhe-gol river, one of
tributary to do a waterfall. Just benny the clown was courageous enough to did it.
Then, We got back in the gorge of the Kitoy river with more and more water and some big
rapids grade IV. Some paddlers tasted and enjoy the swim !!
The evening we joined an other campsite on the Biluti confluence. Six hours of portage in
the Russian jungle to reach one of the put-in of the Biluti river. Waterfall, drops, slides in the
beautiful canyon with some nice colours.

We finished the Kitoy river in Irkoutsk by 80 kms grade II and a super vodka party with all
of new friends we are meet on this trip …

A ship price trip with a good organisation from Tomass and his friends who have been
building the campsite so fast every evening...
Many thanks to all of you !!
all information about this trip on this blog : http://marnics1.blogspot.com/

More photos here

Siberie 2011

Stefun

2011-03-14T13:17:00.000-07:00

French Kayak Magazine N° 219

Here is the new current issue from CKM with a new look and more cool photos. You can check out a new pic of myself on one of the beautiful waterfalls of the Ain river source.

Many thanks to Raph for this nice photo !! ;)

2011-03-13T03:25:00.000-07:00

Hey, I just received my award of the 14th Rosenheim Kayak Film Festival where the French Tour 2010 won in new comer category.
One sweet crystal award !!!

The french Tour 2010 will be on the 6th Mountain Film festival to Valmorel in French Alps on April 22- 25rd 2011.
http://www.metsdlawax.com

Cheers
Stefun

2011-03-08T10:18:00.000-08:00

FRENCH TOUR 2010

First of all, I would like to say a big THANK YOU to all my partners and friends for such a great 2010, who make my dream come true: paddling all over the world - it was absolutely amazing! Once more THANK YOU for your continued support throughout my paddling adventure and generosity that you gave me along the way.

Since 2005 I am taking my favourit video « French Tour ». At the beginning this movie was created together with “3 French Riders“ Romain Guirao, Sylvain Riffet and Stephan(e) Pion,who have been paddling a lot on French rivers. Iit was a good opportunity for us to thank our sponsors plus to wink to all friends who have been paddling with us.

The first movie edit by “3 French Riders“ won the Film Festival in Rosenheim organised by Olaf six years ago.

Now I‘m paddling, traveling and filming even more on different rivers around the world. I want to keep « French Tour » as the name for my friends and the annual video.

A recap of the year 2010 in the Jura, Pyrennees area and an awesome trip in the Russian mountains.

Enjoy the footages,

2011-01-23T12:51:00.000-08:00

Discover Russian.

One trip with one of the best russian kayaker to discover the sayan place in Russia and the amazing landscape, with any multidays trip on the rivers
check out the Tomass Marnics blogsite. http://marnics-sayan1.blogspot.com/
join us and be part of travel!!

See ya
Stefun

2011-01-06T10:15:00.000-08:00

The French Canoë kayak magazine current issue N°218 is available with a cool article from Raph Thiebaut about the Dourbie river.
You find a free DVD inside with my movie "Dourbie river"
Thank a lots of all my sponsor for this awesome first multidays trip in the french river...

here is movie :

Dourbie river from pion stephane on Vimeo.

Enjoy it !!

2011-01-03T04:07:00.000-08:00

Happy 2011 with lots of pleasure !!

2010-12-30T05:00:00.000-08:00

Here is some pics again about the last 2010 session on the Malate wave.
Nice present with 550 cubics and for sure it was a perfect water level... :)

more photos clic here :

Malate 23 decembre 2010

2010-12-29T06:54:00.000-08:00

Here is a short video with gopro camera.
Check more movies on DK web site

Stefun Gopro video from DKayaking on Vimeo.

2010-12-16T08:23:00.000-08:00

Last 2010 Wave Session

First heavy snow fallen in France and Just before prepare the ski for the winter season, We started put away the paddle and boat but the mild spell arrived at the beginning of the last week. The snow melted quickly and the floods stared to run which was a great opportunity for me and some friends, to put up our ass in a freestyle baot for the last time this year and enjoyed an awesome session on the big wave like La Scie and La Malate.
Enjoy the pics by Luc Goujon

La Malate et la scie decembre 2010

2010-12-14T14:26:00.000-08:00

Here is a short movie of the book of legend, one of the most difficult river from Russia with a great story of this river.

2010-11-21T05:18:00.000-08:00

JURASICK PARK

Here are some pics on one of the most trip in the Jura area with some good friends, one German guy Gert Spilker and the russian guys Tomass Manircs and Alex Amarax and it’s was a good opportunity for me to welcome the russian guys to taste the local food for their first time ;-) .
During our four days we did the upper Lemme, l’Anguilon, La Loue, l’Ain, the lower lemme and La Saine rivers and we enjoyed perfect water level on the Lemme and Loue rivers , on the last day we did a waterfall section on the Ain and Lower Lemme river.
The lower Lemme only had a 800m runable section (two water fall and one drop) but We did more hiking and climbing to exit of this section. “just for Fun” ;-)
The last waterfall of La Billaude is not runable !!

Enjoy the pics from Romain Guirao, Gert Spilker and Franck Guilbault.

Jurasic park 2010

2010-10-24T03:22:00.001-07:00

The area chestnuts

Last week, we were with some friends on the Dourbie river, a great French classical river of class IV V, located in the beautiful Cévennes area.The plan was to kayak the Dourbie from Prunaret village to St Jean de Bruel. The section is not too long (17 kms) but the river in the Valgarnide’s deep gorge never stop. This grade V/ V+ section is one of the most difficult of France. It takes one hour to kayak one kilometer, considering this fact we decided to do it in a multiday trip.
After we looked for over one hour a good take out near St Jean de Bruel, we started to kayak the river at eleven o’clock. All the team knew the first part until the “Bubble Bazar rapid” (le Bazard à bulle in French) wich is the normal take out of the gorge, but the second part has been very rarely paddling and I wonder why ! It is really beautiful…

So, after the “Bubble bazar” rapid we had been paddling during one hour then we make a base camp in the middle of the wood where the floor looked flat.
We make a fire, then we picked up some chestnuts in the wood in order to make a good Apero with some the ;-). The end of the second gorge until St Jean de Bruel is more easy, ten kilometers of class IV V in an awesome parent rock environment, still there are always some good, technical and difficult rapids.

It’s under the sun that Valentin Corote, Valentin Grolemund, Raphael Thiebault and Stephane Pion spent two days on the one of the most beautiful and technical river of the Cévennes area in the middle South of France.
If you are interested to come, you can check a usefull guidebook called “Kayak Cévennes” written the local paddler Henry Denis.

Video of this trip :

Here is one of the most beautiful and difficult Valgarnide deep gorge located in the Cévennes area.
Class IV V.

Here is some pics :

Dourbie multidays 2010

Have fun.
Stefun

2010-09-07T04:09:00.000-07:00

La Malate Wave August 2010

I just come back from russia and the rain fall a lot at home, I check the water levels on the Doubs river and it look’s awesome !!!
I haven’t freestyle boat , so I take my Scud creek boat and joins my friends on the malate wave with 400Cubics.

Here are some pics :

La Malate august 2010

And the video ;-)

2010-09-07T00:17:00.000-07:00

RUSSIA 2010

During one month I have enjoyed the most spectacular scenery on the Altay region close to China, Kazakhstan and Mongolia.
It is through these landscapes in the middle of nowhere that the ADIDAS team paddled on the most mythical rivers of grade IV V V volume.

A first time for me to be able paddling such biggest rivers, live unforgettable stories
in a corner of Russia where the wild life of peoples and villages still reigns.
We crossed the Altay area to get the most beautiful and largest rivers like
the Chulishman, Argut, Bashkaus, etc. ....

Some rivers can be done in one day, but most require several days and that is why
we had two mini vans 4X4 to go in this desert of mountains on dirt tracks, sand,
gravel or mud. Not forgetting the two drivers and our guide Tomass Manics (Member of Team Adidas) that very familiar with the roads, stores supplies, local laws, the behavior of
people and of course the rivers to guide us for the better through these vast extended.
A great trip and great time kayaking with some pictures and scary stories!

You can read more about this story by Sam Sutton on the adidas web site ;-)
Adidas sick-line Team

Here is some pics :

Russie 2010

Between the French Pyrenees and Spain

2010-05-28T02:26:00.000-07:00

Photos: Val Grollemund and Piere Mahé

When we go paddling, you never know what the water level and the weather will be like… Our journey started at the third French competition (Free Kayak Tour) to St. Pé de Bigorre near Lourdes. A weekend between cool weather, rain and sun, but the wave was there and atmosphere was cool - everything you need for a great contest. For more info about the contest check out Mat’s article.
A big thanks to the organisation who stopped the race for 6 minutes so all competitors could watch the show on French national TV:

kayak-tessin from thiebaut raphael on Vimeo.

After the weekend we decided to go to Spain and look for some steep rivers with Eric Deguil and Val Grollemund. However, just before we went to the other side, we had a good opportunity to do the Carol River which rarely has a good water level!   Then, on the way to Spain, we did a short section on the Rio Ribagorçana, it was short but steep. At the first drop I broke my paddle and got a little hole in the nose of my boat!  “A good paddler and a paddler alive” ;-)… So I stopped my run and took some footage of Eric in the final part where he also broke his paddle in a 15m high waterfall. Those were some expensive few metres on the river… 

I followed the Spanish Pyrenees with my family, tested the local food “Tapas” and visited Huesca city and the quaint village of Aguero, located below the fascinating rock formation of the Mallos de Riglos in Aragonth where you can watch vultures soar above the peaks. Near this place, we did a big water, the Rio Callego, where the landscape was beautiful and I taught my son and daughter how to kayak before going back to France for the “Pyrenees Buddies Race”…   The climate change was quite radical, from +17°C in Spain to 0°C in France, near Laruns village… An awesome first French extreme competition, very well organised. It almost didn’t take place due to the snow (fifteen cm snow fell in May during three days, completely unheard of…) Finally, the “frozen frogs race” did take place with more than forty competitors coming from Belgium, Ireland, Spain and France. We had a nice sunny Sunday afternoon to complete the very cool weekend in style! 

You can check out the video filmed and edited by myself on Kayak Session. It’s called “Pyrenees Buddies Race” 

Pyrenee Buddies Race 2010 from Kayak TV (Kayak Session Mag) on Vimeo.

More pics clic on photo :

Espagne et pyrénées

Easter Corsica 2010

2010-05-03T10:28:00.000-07:00

photos :Raph Thiebaut et Eric découvretoi for the OC1.

The Plan was simple, NO PLAN … ☺

Organized by Raph Thiebaut, KS and CKM with the same concept as last year, took place the 2010 easter Corsica Kayak on April 4th-10th.
With an awesome river and beautiful scenary, Corsica is really a good place for novice and distinguished paddlers and to bring friends and familly.

Evenings, at the Ernella base camp "Chez Milou" all kayakers sharing water levels of the day in order to preparing next river plan. Eat some local food, beer and wine in front of old Corsican video. "allez Bernard"
all people came over the world enjoyed the Island of beauty and Traditional song with a super Sokkhom DJ for the party.

I took the second week with my familly, visited Bonifacio and Propriano village in the South of isle, did some sand castle, make a painkiller and ran the Rizzanese river for the last time ...

here is the Easter Corsica kayak video.
Footages and editing by myself ;-)

2010 Easter Corsica Kayak Sessions from Kayak TV (Kayak Session Mag) on Vimeo.

Then we go back in France and we gone in drôme valley where I learned the OC1 on the grade II III with a beautiful landscape!

Web site event : http://www.opencanoefestival.com/

More photos here (clic on the pics)

Corse 2010

Stefun

French Tour 2009

2010-03-14T04:35:00.000-07:00

French Tour 2009 from Kayak TV (Kayak Session Mag) on Vimeo.

http://www.kayaksession.com/newsletter/bestofwebKS5.html

Big thanks to Kayak Session ;-)

See you

2010-03-07T05:30:00.000-08:00

New paddling magazines!!

The French paddling magazine « Canoe Kayak Magazine » CKM N° 214 has just arrived in our letter boxes, with a lot of advice on the sea kayak and an article written by myself about creeking in the Jura mountains.

JURA’CREEK PARK

Then, on the international level, Kayak Session Magazine published some awesome pics of me with a nice article on the upper vecchio, article written by CKM and KS during the Corsica event last year.

Moreover, included with this KS N° 33, you get a free DVD “Corsica Video Guide” to show what kind of rivers you can find int the deep gorges of Corsica.

I’m very happy to have participed in the shooting of this DVD, a great film edited by Marc Gacon from Switzerland.

The CKM and KS team awaits you for the second Corsican kayak festival which will take place from April the 4th until April the 10th.

More info here

Have fun

Stefun

2010-01-19T12:50:00.001-08:00

Incredible end of the year !!

Heavy rains in the Franche-Comté valley since December 23th, awesome session on 24th on the Malate wave at 400 cbs, another one session on december 30th at 300 cbs and last one on December 31th at 550 cbs (the best water level). Followed by a long session on the La Scie wave with some friends, Inouk, Val, Kiki, Boulox and Marmak team to finish the year well !!

Many thanks to Jo for the pics

See ya

CAUTION !!! The Malate wave is running (it not changed !! cool !!) but there is still a ban on navigation because the footbridge is not yet finished… so, it’s possible to paddling on the wave the weekends and days off .

Thanks.

More photos here :

La Malate et La Scie 31 decembre 2009

2010-01-03T23:39:00.000-08:00

and all the best !!

see you

Stefun

2009-11-10T08:45:00.001-08:00

freestyle 2009 from pion stephane on Vimeo.

La Lemme River

2009-11-05T04:45:00.000-08:00

Here are some pics of the Lemme river session, unfortunately this river is rarely flooded enough.
So, yesterday the water level was good and the river run was awesome : three kilometers, four waterfalls and some drops!!!
and there are a second part along the road with a big drop.

The big drop five or six years ago ;-)

more photos clic on

La Lemme

Have fun
Stefun

2009-11-02T14:05:00.000-08:00

La Malate

Here are some pics of the footbridge in the process of being built just above the Malate wave. The stone dam allows workers to have access at the center of the footbridge easily.

This week, the stone dam was removed and by chance there have been no floods this year on the Doubs river and therefore nothing must have moved on the wave!!!

So, we will go paddling on the Malate wave when the water levels will be in…

However, there is still a ban on the navigation because the footbridge is not yet finished being built and as the workers are still working just above the wave, it’s dangerous!!!! (The French workers are clumsy…:-))

On the other side, we still have the weekends when they will not be working, wich is the same case for us also ;-)

More news soon about this ban.

See you on the wave.

Stefun

2009-10-31T02:21:00.001-07:00

Adidas Sick-line Team 2009

2009-09-23T11:22:00.000-07:00

Charnay Beach Contest 2009

Another one sucessful edition in Charnay les Chalons (france)
With some great competitors on the wave !!
Article and pics here
and there

Many thanks at my partner again ADIDAS and SANDILINE
and all the guys who came as well ;-)

See you soon

Stefun

2009-08-18T11:09:00.000-07:00

French Alps waterfalls mission

The waterways of the French Alps seemed to suit kayaking perfectly. All classical rivers work each year in the summer and thousand of people come from all Europe to Durance and Ubaye valley to paddle Gyr, Durance, Guil, Ubaye and more.
At this period of year the water levels are low and many rivers don’t run, so it’s a good opportunity for me and my friends (Romain, Sylvain, Damien, Coldo and jean-Claude my father) to make a mission in the Ecrins massive.

I’ve been paddling for few year pretty often in the french Alps but I’ve never found bankable waterfalls like these ones.
For several years that walked on the way of the Dormillouse village In the Freissiniere valley, I spotted a great waterfall but not really accessible easy.
So, we were exploring one new section in the deep gorge of the Biaysse river. After one day walking and climbing through the mountain thoroughly scouted the falls, we were sure that this deep creeks section 200 m of long is good to running!!

One time on the river, after the abseil of 45 m, Coldo and Stefun went running the first drop then launched the first 16 meters waterfall. One last little drop and here we are at the great, massive and last 22 meters waterfall.
We did this short and steep section in 2h30, not long but an exciting mission !!!

Many thanks to Sylvain Riffet, Romain Guirao for the pics and footages, Damien Jacket and my father for the rescue and Mathieu Coldebela who paddled with me.

You can check here some pics of the week. (clic on the photo)

French Alpes 2009

See you on the water.

Cheers.

Stefun

2009-08-06T03:50:00.000-07:00

Rheinfelden summerwave

This summer, we unfortunately don’t have much water on our French’s spots. This means, that if we want to paddle, we have to move away in order to find an appropriate spot! But we are lucky, because the Rhine offers us some great waves for kayaking and surfing. The best thing about it is that the river lies on the frontier between Switzerland and Germany, not so far away from the French boarder. By car, you need about 2 hours from Besancon to get there.   The wave is running when the water level is bellow 1500 cubic, but it changes day by day! A wall made out of rocks was built for some construction works in the middle of the river. They destroyed it just after they finished their work. This led to the creation of a new section of waves on the river. Unfortunately, we don’t know how long those spots will exist.  It’s a very good opportunity for the local paddlers to learn how to behave on waves and also to train for the upcoming world freestyle championships in Thun at the end of this month.

  August 1st was a national holiday in Switzerland, so we had the chance to see a great firework next to our “camping cars” on Saturday night.

see you on the next wave ;-)

Stefun

enjoye the pics here :

Rheinfelden wave 2009

2009-07-28T15:00:00.000-07:00

The French Kayak Film Festival 2009

The French Kayak Film Festival took place in L’Argentière (French Alpes). I presented two films: « French Tour 2008 » and « Eastern Corsica Kayak 2008 »
I won the Image Prize with « French Tour 2008 » which already came second at the European Film Festival in Germany this year.

The others results:

• Jury Prize: The Gispy Family in Corsica by Mat Coldebella
• Image Prize: French Tour 2008 by Stéfun Pion
• Adventure Prize: Volcano Ride by Stéphanie Augras
• Best editing Prize: Volcano Ride by Stéphanie Augras
• Public Prize: Volcano Ride by Stéphanie Augras

Many thanks to the organizers.

Have fun !

Stefun

Here is the video :

French Tour 2008 from pion stephane on Vimeo.

2009-07-28T13:59:00.001-07:00

Natural Games 2009

This major outdoor’s sports event took place, for the second time in Millau (south of France).
A large scale of activities was represented in the area, such as rock climbing, paragliding, down hill mountain biking, kayaking, and slaklining.

It was four days of competitions and every night, competitors and spectators were meeting altogether for different shows such as live concerts, demonstrations (sack-line, dirt, etc…) and other contests. The athlete’s village hosted almost 20 000 for the Saturday night party.

The freestyle’s kayak contest set on the artificial channel of the Tarn River.
The competition was awesome!!! A lot of people were on the bank enjoying a great show and if all the person doesn’t fully understand the rules of freestyle kayaking, however, everybody clapped their hand when they looked a kayaker doing a massive trick. It was an incredible atmosphere, the music, the sun and the spectators pushed the kayakers to their limits.

Finally, this second edition of the Natural Games proved that it’s possible to organise an event which is gathering a lot of outdoors activities, athletes, beginners and spectators.

Congratulations !!!

Stefun

here is some pics :

Natural Games 2009

2009-06-20T16:18:00.000-07:00

Teva Extreme Outdoor Games

The famous Teva extrem race was organised in Italy the second week end of June. Usually, this competition takes place in the Val Sesia. This year the staff decided to move the race in two different areas in order to get the best conditions:

- the grade V race was set on the Upper Chiusella, a top river section lost in the middle of the mountain of the Val Chiusella,
- the slalom race took place on the artificial river of Ivrea.

There were definitely two perfect choices !!!

As every year, two French team were ready to compete. The first one was composed of Pyreneans fella : Fafa Pueto, Max Mitaut et Eric Deguil and the second team included Feuille, Val Grolmound and myself.

The first day, we discovered a very exciting river with a perfect water level. By the way, we really took our time to scout all the details in order to choose the best lines for the long and technical section of the qualification. We also scouted the section of the Upper Chiusella (finals). Very steep and challenging, perfect for a real extrem kayaking race!

During the first two days, the spectators could see the individual race (I finished 30th, I made two big mistakes on the qualification section) and then, the team race. Fafa, Eric et Max did kayak pretty well, they finished second. We were less lucky. Val and I finished alone the race because our friend Feuille broke his boat on a rock (a 40 cm slit).

“Magic Feuille, don’t change yourself !”

Nothing dramatic, it is the rules! We were all happy to be in this beautiful area with good friends, sunshine, and a real challenging river!
The most important is to enjoy, and we did so, especially during a freeweel session on the last waterfall.

The next events were organised on the slalom section at Ivrea where a mountain bike, climbing and running competition took place in parallel.
The slalom race was very difficult: this start with an “American slide” from a slope, then a set of challenging gates, a lot of full power kayakers on an overflowing river. A small mistake can cost you a lot time at the end.

The results on the Chiusella were combined with different races during the slalom in Ivrea. The Pyrenean dudes realised a really good performance, they finished second of the team race. Well done guys!

We did the slalom race for fun, because we lost all the chance to access on the podium on the river…
This week end was great: an amazing atmosphere created by people coming from all Europe.
Well, a great outdoor sports meeting under the sun with a lot of friendly spectators. I won’t forget it, and I won’t forget the last night and the all kayakers with their crazy fancy dress. So fun!!!

Enjoy yourself!

Stefun
Thanks for the pics at Peter Lintner and Raph Thiebaut

2009-05-18T11:51:00.001-07:00

Corsica

18 years ago, I was on a holiday in Corsica together with my parents. I remember that my father paddled a few rivers but I was still too young to go with him. The landscape and even the black pigs with in it were awesome. Today, Corsica still has a beautiful landscape and is well known for its paddling conditions.  You have to know that at that time, there was a forest fire in Corsica. I was young and I thought that the pink pigs were black cause they had caught fire. Later on, my parents explained me the real reason for this phenomenon.  
Well, I had my first session in Corsica about three weeks ago, where I also joined the ‘Easter Kayak Corsica Sessions’. An event, which was organised by Raphael Thiebault, Joel and Philippe Doux in collaboration with Canoe Kayak Magazine and Kayak Session.   The event was simple, but effective. More than 400 paddlers from all over the world (USA, Italy, Germany, Canada, Norway, Belgium, Great Britain, France etc…) were paddling on all of Corsica’s rivers. The organiser’s goal was to bring together as many paddlers as possible and have them all paddling in Corsica. An easy object, considering the fact, that Easter surely is the perfect season to go paddling around here.   The Ernella base camp in the east was 20 minutes away from the city of Corte, where the campsite ‘Prat de Milou’ is located. A place, where all the guys met each other and exchange their information about the rivers and water levels. In the evenings, there always was a big bonfire and everyone told their story of the day and counted the pieces of skin being torn off their fingers.

  During this week, a local TV team, called FR3 sera, was filming a group of kayakers on the Restonica river. The broadcast was about the general development of kayaking in Corsica. http://www.vimeo.com/4372652

my video :

Easter Corsica Kayak Sessions from Kayak TV on Vimeo.

Have fun with them! 

 Many thanks to ‘Milou’ for the nice reception at the campsite.  

See you in the water

Stefun

photos : Valentin Grollemund and Stefun

Easter Corsica 2009

2009-03-31T06:00:00.000-07:00

First Malate session 2009

The floods started last weekend on the Doubs river and it was the opportunity to paddle on this wave one last time before the beginning of the construction of a footbridge upstream of the wave.
The micropower project brought us lots of worries for the La Malate wave but we were only just informed of a new complimentary project. « The footbridge » will be used as a « green path » for the people of the besancon city. This footbridge will be right above the wave and will be perfect for the photographers to do some footages but also for spectators who will see the paddlers much better.
So, this footbridge wasn’t a worry for us but two weeks ago, they told us that the building process will start on the first of April with the two pillars on the right side and on the left side.
To build the footbridge, they must make a rockdam upstream of the wave. This will start in June. So, the wave will be unattainable and forbiden for paddling for at least 18 months.
They must remove the rockdam after completion of the footbridge but I hope the floods will not get the gravel in the wave and change its configuration.

Check the water levels or send me an email if you would like to come to the La Malate before the month of June or if you would come in La scie ;-).
Stefun.pion@gmail.com
More soon.

Here are some pics of this great session.

first Malate 2009

Have fun

Stefun

2009-03-27T03:31:00.000-07:00

Free Kayak Tour 2009

Last weekend was the first Free kayak tour (french freestyle championship) of this year.
Ore than 160 competitors on the first FKT, with 86 senior kayaks on the shortlist and some very good paddlers.
So, the first places were going to be difficult get win.
After cold night, I finished 10th during the qualitfying heats on Saturday morning.
Saturday evening was the quarterfinals and I finished 13th of this competition.

It was a imemorable weekend, sunny was there all weekend, a very good atmosphere, the level of paddlers gets higher and higher espacielly for the junior paddlers (one run at 1340pts),
Some harsh juries judging, one perfect organisation, a small video projection and a very good french party…….. ;-)

Here is some photos

FKT tournon

See you on the water

Stefun

2009-03-13T01:32:00.001-07:00

The 12th film festival.

Every year, the European film festival organized by Olaf Obsommer is held in Rosenheim (Germany).

In the first part of the festival, six videos of 5 mins were presented including my video « French Tour 2008 » which shows the best shots of 2008 on the most beautiful rivers and spots in France and Europe.

The festival results are judged by the public, I finished second just behind Benjamin Jung and his film « The Lucky Ones » that won the "Pacelog Headcam" award.

One the professional level, the Olaf Obsommer won with his film.

The Big-O award went to Tobias Görlach's « Fading Glaciers » that explains the continuous melting of the glaciers.

The evening was closed with a song improvised live by Rush Struges, a performance that really impressed the more than 650 attendees. Rush Struges was also rewarded for his film « African Revolution ».

Video :

French Tour 2008 from pion stephane on Vimeo.

video in HD here

Enjoy !!

2009-03-05T08:41:00.001-08:00

Kayak sesion N°29 is available now.

http://www.kayaksession.com/kayak-magazine.php

in this issue, there are two nice articles on the river of Japan and Switzerland.
An interview on the phenomenal Yappa and his new kayak brand....
Without forgetting the portfolio part ;-)

It’s always a pleasure to see some nice photos (river and freestyle) of the world, especially when some of them are of waves of Doubs river.

Represent!!!!! :-)

2009-01-22T02:15:00.001-08:00

Not many paddling in this winter period, the opportunity to recall the cold Canadian. Here is two videos : Inercity in USA and Chambly in Canada.
Where we had paddling in the extern conditions to prepare the world freestyle championship 2007.
Two years ago but always likable have to look ;-).
Footage ans editing : Les 4 magnifiques

L'age de glace III

L'age de glace III from pion stephane on Vimeo.

Chambly

Chambly from pion stephane on Vimeo.

2009-01-19T07:25:00.000-08:00

Done with the shellfish and the fois gras!

Nothing beats a good barbeque in January next to the wave at Charnay. After a small fire and some motivation, the frogs commence their freestyle session at 0ºC. This temperature is perfect to work on moves, particularly loops. Naturally the key is not to get your head wet too often, otherwise it stings….. ;-)

photos of weekend :

Charnay 2009

2009-01-06T02:55:00.000-08:00

2008-11-28T00:44:00.000-08:00

Here is a small video about our freestyle session in Ardèche region. Aubenas Voguë part, the French Zambezi.

Video :

Aubenas Voguë from pion stephane on Vimeo.

The article and photos are of November 13th 2008

2008-11-21T02:00:00.000-08:00

Les Cévennes

The Massif of Cévennes and its national park is situated in the mountains of the South of France in the Lozère department. During the weekend of November 11th, we made three unforgettable rivers with awesome landscapes.
In the little village of Dourbie, lost in the national Cévennes park was our meeting point with Eric, Val, Franck, Benji, Romain and Raph for our first Cévennes day.
Here we are at the source of the Dourbie river, the most mythical run in all of Cévennes, it has a rather quiet set-off but after a couple of hundred metres of warm-up the river runs into deep gorges of very different aspects and reaches up to 300 metres in depth. The rapids of grade V and VI go on forever and give us immense pleasure and intense excitement at every bend.
After the last rapids of this section (the "Bazar a Bulles"), there is long a climb and tiring walk through the chestnut woods to get back to the cars. I'd say, the walk-out is grade VI ;-).
We spend the evening at a nice local restaurant in the village Dourbie where the local guys are very hearty. Maybe, I guess that is because they usually don't see many people from outside the Cévennes at the same time ;-).
We take the road back to the Tarn valley and its sources to spend the night there. Waking up here is most beautiful, wonderful landscapes as far as the eyes can see, no noise, no electric power lines and no civilisation to spoil the scene.
Afer a good lunch, we left here on foot over this immense plain to put-in at the bridge of Tarn (the oldest bridge of Lozère) where the river has its source.

A quick photo of the group and we set off on the Tarn sources (grade V-VI). Eric and Valentin are our guides because they were the one's who discovered this part of the river for us at the beginning of the year.
The section we did has only been done by about ten paddlers, together with the Dourbie, it is one the most difficult and famous rivers of the Cévennes.
The first kilometres are grade II, an awesome landscape and all your hear is the noise of paddles in the water. Then, the river seems to disappear and all you see are a couple of tree tops….

Here the serious business starts, an impressive slope, a set of massive rapids, named 'Le Norvégien', 'La rappe a fromage' and
'La Couturière', separated by a little flat water just enough to concentrate onto the next. The river continues with 'Le Gorille', 'Les Demoiselles', 'L’épaule gauche' and 'L’omelette', when you're there you'll see that the names make sense! And for finish, one some most beautiful rapids in this section 'Les 5 Frangines'.
We all want to to do it again, but with the autumn days it geta dark quickly in the gorge and we must make back for the cars. The climb is much the same as with the Dourbie - long and tiring.
That was the Cévennes!!! It was awesome !!!!

A day later we have a go on the river 'Lot' (III-IV) for an easy ride where the kayakers can paddle without stress and to take in the landscape for a last time before heading back home.
If you come to the Cévennes you should pack the guidebook «kayak Cévennes» by Henri Denis.
It will help you on the grade II-IV river parts.

photos : Romain Guirao

Les sources du Tarn

Le haut Lot

2008-11-19T02:06:00.000-08:00

Roger wave sesion!!

After a little article of math on the Roger wave near the city Baucaire "france"
adidas Sick-line

here is the video

Roger's wave from pion stephane on Vimeo.

2008-11-13T02:58:00.001-08:00

The Ardèche gorges are renowned for their grade II canoe trips and attract more and more white water enthusiasts. Not forgetting the international Marathon which takes place in the Ardèche gorges in the Vallon-Pont d’Arc region. Here lovers of the sport assemble each year, and the river continues to attract huge numbers of tourists. This part of river allows paddling throughout the summer with a flow rate of 65 metres3.However with consistent rainfall, the river can fill up to 1000 metres3, drawing many paddlers who gather at Aubenas for a spot of freestyle and slalom. The grade IV section of the river acts as a mini Zambezi with a lot of play waves and holes of various sizes, ranging from 50 cm to 2 m high throughout the entire stretch - a session of pure happiness!!! Even if you miss the first wave the second lies waiting just behind. Of course, depending on the water levels (between 800 and 200 cumecs) the waves are not always in the same place or form.

more photos :

Aubenas Vogué

2008-11-06T00:38:00.000-08:00

Here is a little video about my new freestyle boat "the Smoothy"

I tested it on the Malate wave and at the hole at Charnay.
It’s great paddling a boat which glides so well and which has a lot of volume, although the specialist may likes big vertical and fast wave. The smoothy is perfect for both big and small waves and provides a lot of stability on stoppers.

see you!

photos :

la malate septembre 2008

video :

the smoothy from pion stephane on Vimeo.