In North America, canoeing is often called the “divorce boat“! You will understand why. When a few friends embark on the river for the first time, logic naturally pushes couples to form crews. At first sight, this reassures the ladies and the egos of the men are inflated since they are suddenly the guarantors of the couple’s safety on the water. Big mistake! We are all equal when it comes to technical ignorance, yet at the first (or rather third) mistake in the trajectory, all couples have the same reflex. At the beginning, we embark on this unknown boat, the sun is shining, the birds are singing. Mister seats at the back of the canoe, Madam takes the front and off you go! After 5 seconds, the boat starts to move sideways. The strong man doesn’t take it personally and tries to get the boat back on course, usually relying only on his muscles. The canoe returns to the desired course, 2 seconds before starting again on the other side. Without any technical adjustments, the crew will paddle 30 km, whereas the descent is only 15 km. The first “freak-out” is bound to occur before the end of the first half-hour.
Him: “What are you doing?
Her: “Can’t you see we’re turning?
Him: “paddle on the other side for f… s… !
In short, the crew is going crazy. Add to this the fatigue, the headwind and the sunburn, and the descent becomes a nightmare.
Rule number 1: never go on a trip as a couple if you are new to canoeing. Mix crews because you will have more restraint and you will be more positive with someone who is not your partner in life.
Rule number 2: before getting on board, be aware that although canoeing is not very difficult, it does require a minimum of technical skills that can be acquired in half an hour. Take the time to discover the boat before starting the descent.
Rule number 3: Canoeing is a team sport. No one is more responsible than the other for flipping or bumping into rocks. Acknowledging this from the start creates a positive atmosphere in the canoe. It is important to recognise mistakes made by the crew without blaming the other, and above all to try to solve technical problems together.
Conclusion: you like canoeing? You care about your relationship? Come to the Open Canoe Festival!
Few days left to register!
Deadline: 15 April. Don’t wait any longer!
There are some events that come up every year and that you pass by saying to yourself: “not concerned” or “déjà vu”. I’m interested in the river, in paddling sports in general, in outdoor sports, I do a bit of kayaking, packrafting, inflatable canoeing… why would I participate in an event that seems to be all about canoeing? Because the Open Canoe Festival is not just about canoeing. But you really have to go there to understand it!
The OCF is the largest gathering dedicated to the culture of canoeing. 3 days of workshops (100 in total!) led in 3 languages by the best European specialists. You will of course learn about technique (for beginners, intermediates or advanced paddlers), river safety, but also and above all a multitude of themes that make the event so rich and unique.
No trace camping, river fauna and flora, edible plants, leadership, electronic equipment, art of bivouacking, fires and knots, expedition preparation, regulations… These are some of the workshops that will occupy your days. In the evening: a concert, a film, a prize lotery (with a canoe to be won) provide an unforgettable atmosphere. And what about the bewitching blue waters of the Drôme during the big descent on Sunday! Frankly, you should try!
April 15: it will be too late. Don’t wait any longer!
This list has been tested for trips of 30 to 60 days. It includes the essentials, although you can always do more minimalist. All this gear fits into a large 100/120 litre waterproof bag which will therefore contain all the bags described below. For shorter trips, surprisingly the equipment is not much different. Remember: the pack is the weight of our fears!
By Paul Villecourt : PDF checklist available at the bottom of this page.
1/ Overnight items (in a 20/30 litre waterproof bag):
Sleeping bag
Thermal bag for cold nights
Inflatable mattress
Sleep mask
Ear plugs
Inflatable or synthetic pillow
2/ Camping gear:
Tent + ground sheet stored in a waterproof bag on the canoe, to take out quickly and dry during breaks
Hammock if you prefer than a tent
Tarp (essential!)
Folding seat (take care of your back!)
120 L bag containing all the gear bags (buy really good waterproof bags!)
3/ Clothes (in a 20/30 litre waterproof bag):
3 t-shirts
2 pants of or zip-up shorts/pants that can be used for anything
3 kit of underwears
3 pairs of socks
3 Merino thermals for everything (bivouac and canoe)
1 flannel shirt for everything (because it’s nice, it’s warm and it’s classy in a canoe!)
1 warm jumper or light hoodie
Hat or cap
2 neck gaiters
Down jacket
Tights
All-purpose gore tex or specialised canoe anorak with hood
You will be pampered from the moment you arrive at the Open Canoe Festival! In the welcome bag given to everyone: the legendary T-shirt, a sticker, the programme, but also a superb poster!
It’s always a tricky choice, so every year, we ask what you think with a poll on our Facebook page.
2023 opening film
Screening of the film “Canovélo: in search of the perfect moment” to open the OCF 2023. Friday April 28, 9.30 pm, under the tepee.
This 50-minute film directed by Paul Villecourt tells the story of a 900 km “bike to canoe” journey in the spring of 2021. Christian Barbier and Paul Villecourt spent 26 days in autonomy, linking 4 rivers from the house: Drôme, Loire, Ain and Rhône.
The Canovélo concept: on the road, the bike tows the canoe on a trailer. In the canoe: everything fits inside.
Beyond the original mode of transport, this very personal film shows its author’s quest for freedom, as he leaves the 3rd confinement. An almost therapeutic experience where very sensitive atmospheres alternate with some pretty “freak out” moments.
This film, which could also have been called “A beautiful hassle!”, is a sort of sequel to “La Grande Traversée” of 2017 where the author linked Geneva to the Atlantic by canoe (1500 km in 2 months).
“Canovélo” will be screened for the very first time at the Open Canoe Festival before touring throughout France and abroad. Info: www.villecourt.com
Win an Esquif canoe!
We have the great pleasure to announce our long time partners Canoe Diffusion and Esquif canoes will offer a splendid “Pocket Canyon” canoe (2 250 € value!).
This legendary model will be equiped with airbags plus some protective skid plates, making it the perfect white water canoe!
No doubt the suspense will be intense at the saturday big lottery where more than 8 000 € in prizes will be offered to the luckiest participants.
Many thanks to Pierre Orban / Canoë Diffusion and Jacques Chassé / Esquif for their support from the beginning of the OCF adventure.
What is my level of canoeing?
When you register at the OCF, you will have to indicate your level of practice: beginner, intermediate or advanced. It is not that simple. Read this article carefully before registering.
The OCF’s team of instructors counts 30 coaches, including some of the best specialists in Europe. They all know that OCF participants have difficulty qualifying their technical level. Very few participants consider themselves to be beginners, when in fact they are! This can result in groups with very different technical levels, which we want to avoid.
Therefore, to determine your level, we invite you to ask yourself the following questions which are valid for all types of boats (tandem or solo canoes, inflatables, kayaks, packrafts…):
Level 3/ Advanced:
My partner and I master boat edging when eddying in and out, regardless of the strength of the current.
We master the techniques of back steering and bow rudders.
We know how to stop precisely in a chosen eddy line.
We can read the river and its dangers.
We are autonomous in our recovery technique in case of capsizing.
Level 2/ Intermediate:
My crew does not always master the canoe edging while eddying in or out in all current strengths.
We do not always master the techniques of back steering and bow rudders.
We do not always know how to stop precisely in a chosen eddy line.
We do not know how to read the river and its dangers completely.
We are not always autonomous in our recovery technique in case of capsizing.
Level 1/ Beginner:
Beware, just because you have done the Ardèche (or other tourist classic) does not mean you are no longer a beginner!
My partner and I do not know how to make a ferry, an eddy in or out, or a stop, or we do not know what it is.
We do not know how to read the river from a canoeist’s point of view, even if we have done some kayaking.
New sponsor : Réhaume canoes.
More than canoes: masterpieces! The Quebec brand Réhaume chooses the Open Canoe Festival to make itself known in Europe.
They come from the country where they are called “canots”, not “canoes”: Quebec / Canada. Their story begins in the 1980s when professional cabinet maker Alain Rhéaume turned his wood working skills towards the art of canoe building. Since that first canoe model, the product line has grown to include over 20 canoes, several display canoes and canoe bookcases.
Almost every part on the boats and bookcases are handcrafted. The lacing for their rawhide seats, the hand caning and steam bent parts are all made at their factory in Saint-Tite, Québec.
On the composite side, Réhaume has several very high-end models that stand out for their level of finish, but also for their weight. Imagine: the carbon version of their Explorer 16′ weighs less than 17 kg!
All models are available in several levels of finish, sometimes subtly mixing wood and composite materials. The most “high-tech” models will appeal to those who are looking for the perfect glide and the canoe of their dreams that can be carried by one person because it is so light.
Don’t hesitate to contact them to order the canoe of your dreams and follow the latest news of their arrival in Europe.
