A start in “Koh-Lanta” mode and 20 km at sea… What is this “exceptional” race in Vendée?

“It really is an extraordinary race! There is an expedition, adventure side. Amandine Chazot is looking forward to it. The Breton athlete will participate in the long-distance stand-up paddle race on Saturday, offered by the Vendée Gliss Event in Saint-Jean-de-Monts (Vendée). A very special competition, with a principle that is unique in Europe, and very rare in the world. The participants will indeed leave from the sea, 12 nautical miles from the coast, or about 22 kilometers.

Born in 2017, this race takes the competitors out to sea for a start between the island of Yeu and the Vendée coast. “We rented a cargo ship on which we put the paddles of all the competitors. The paddlers throw themselves into the water from a semi-rigid and climb on their board”, explains Philippe Le Duault, director of the Vendée Gliss Event. A start with Koh-Lanta sauce for an atypical race. The images are there, and the sensations too, for the fifty or so participants.

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“Downwind is the essence of stand-up paddleboarding”

The world’s best paddlers will be present for the occasion: French, Australians, Americans… Among them, Titouan Puyo, Kanak double world champion. He has participated since the first edition. A pleasure for him every time. “I like the one-way format. When you jump out of the boat before the start, it’s impressive. The foreigners were a little hallucinated the first few times, ”recalls the 31-year-old paddler. The particularity of this race then lies in its course in downwind, a wind at your back that allows you to surf the swell. “What has often helped me is managing to find a good landmark on the coast. It’s technical because there is a balance to keep. »

A type of race particularly appreciated by paddlers. “ The downwind, this is the essence of stand up paddle. The effort is very intense and, at the same time, it’s hyper-technical, adds Amandine Chazot. You have to be able to read the troughs of the waves to connect them, and maintain a continuous glide. Not to mention the swell, which can “complicate the body of water”. The competitor from Finistère is a fan of this long distance offered by the Vendée Gliss Event. She remembers an edition where the conditions were perfectly met: “We had slipped from the beginning to the end. It’s one of my best paddle memories. It’s like surfing a wave for two hours. »

Almost two hours to reach the coast

The paddlers come for this sensation of sliding and speed. “There aren’t many races like that in the world, welcomes its director. The semi-rigid trip and the start are also part of the race”. A race where the physical qualities must be accompanied by an outstanding technique. The study of the weather is one of them. “Everyone is already scrutinizing the conditions,” laughs Amandine Chazot, who finished in 2nd place in the 2021 edition, behind Fiona Wylde, world number one.

The direction of the wind will have an impact on the race. The choice of the board, its width, or the distribution of its volume are all elements to take into account before departure. “We’re going to need legs. It’s quite cardio because we accelerate a lot. It’s a bit of a rollercoaster,” describes Titouan Puyo, a specialist in the discipline, who slides at an average of 13 km/h in good conditions. The best paddlers will reach the beach in almost two hours. A race that is far from being a long calm river, you will understand.