PADDLER 16
PADDLER 16
Nouria in transit during her Patagonian kayak expedition in Patagonia , Chile . Photo : Erik Boomer / Red Bull Content Pool
Nouria in Iceland 2020 . Photo : David Arnaud / Red Bull Content Pool
What training do you undertake for expeditions ? I stopped having a strict training program when I left the French Federation slalom training centre . I am using what I learned through competing , and I still plan things around major goals , but the conditions are what actually dictates the final schedule . I do very little to no gym work , but I replace that with other outdoor activities such as cross-training and fundamental endurance . I , of course , try to paddle as much as possible .
You motivate so many paddlers , but who motivates you ? So many people motivate me . Pretty much anyone who is kind , passionate , works hard and is good at what they do . I even like going to my dentist ! Hélène and her assistant work together so well , it ’ s incredible to watch them ! They don ’ t need to talk and seem to be reading each other ’ s minds . I think we can find motivation everywhere .
If you could head anywhere in the world to paddle , where would it be , and what appeals ? There are many places where I would like to paddle , but I don ’ t do lists . A lot of the time , what draws me to a new river is the wilderness and the mountains , but what draws me to a new place is the culture and its people .
What ’ s the one piece of advice you would give to somebody thinking of packing it all in to become an adventurer ? I don ’ t really know what an adventurer is these days . For me , it ’ s one of these words that is very trending . It probably meant something before its overuse by the marketing world and ’ influencers ’. Now I don ’ t know and would say just do your dream and your adventures and go for it . It can be class I behind the house or a complex ‘ expedition ’; it doesn ’ t matter as long as it ’ s your project .
When preparing for a multi-day expedition in challenging conditions , what qualities do you look for in a fellow teammate kayaker ? A friend who is solid on and off the water . Someone who stays strong when things go horribly wrong but can stick with you when you ’ re at your worst . Call you out if needed , but forgive you when you ’ re being a grinch or making mistakes .
We ’ ve all watched the extraordinary footage , but what goes through your mind as you stare into the abyss , tipping over the lip of a 100-foot waterfall ? Ideally absolutely nothing . There is a lot of analysis beforehand . I looked at the landing , the lip , if there was a kicker , the entrance , the put-in , the access and way out … That ’ s some of the things you consider before dropping in , but once I commit , I only think about what I have to put together to have a good line , and once I am in my boat getting ready to go , I only focus on slowing things down .
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HOW DO YOU PERSONALLY PREPARE FOR EXPEDITIONS – MENTALLY AND TECHNICALLY ?
Sometimes , it ’ s hard to prepare for something with many unknowns . I try to study the river as much as possible , spend a lot of time in the boat and go for long efforts . Spending time in the mountains with Tiphaine Duperier is also the best training I can possibly do . It ’ s long days , and I get pretty scared , so it mentally and physically challenges me .
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