In August I took a Fluid Team trip to Europe were I flew to Italy and met up with other Fluid Kayak team paddlers to test a new prototype creek boat Fluid was working on! I flew to Italy where I met David Arnaud, Celliers Kruger and Hugh De
Preez. Then headed to the French Alps where we met Val Grollemund and photographer Paul Villecourt. The plan was to paddle the prototype “Bazooka” creek boat to find out if it was ready to start molding. With two Bazookas we rotated testers giving us the chance to try multiple size paddlers in the boat.
Free Wheeling the Large Fluid Detox
When I wasn’t paddling the NEW Bazooka I was in the Large Detox also a favorite of mine back in the NW
Boofing the Detox on a creek known as the Fournel The boys told us we were lucky to get this one in August. Val said they had been there a week earlier and it had no water.
Reverse Freewheel / Fournel
After the park and huck and creeking on the Fournel we headed to Guil and paddled two sections. the first was a classic canyon stretch known as the “Combe de l’Ange Gardien”, which translates as “Guardian Angel gorge”. Then we headed upstream to the “Combe de Chateau-Queyras”. This was a very tight gorge that runs below a Castle perched high
above the gorge.
Me / "Guardian Angel gorge
Team Fluid paddling below the slot canyon in the "Combe de Chateau-Queyras" which was the canyon below the castle.
Combe de Chateau-Queyras" The canyon below the castle
Guardian Angel Gorge
The last river we paddled was the Verdon. We paddled the section known as the “Grand Canyon” This section is supposed to be the most scenic secction of river in France. Its scenery did not disapoint!
Me in the Bazooka headed into the dark!
Deep in the "Grand Canyon" of the Verdon River!
While testing the boat on the course we ran in to some European paddlers one of them had the IR Comp Dry Top! I asked him how he liked his Comp top? He replied it was one of the best purchases he had made and that it was keeping him warm and dry! I told him that I was a IR Team paddler and was stoked to see the gear here in France! (True story)
David Arnaud testing the new FLuid Bazooka on the Durance R. slalom course
Till next time
~Luke Spencer- IR Team Member
