Interview with Gautier Valentin (AS Gerardmer), we can say it without hesitation: the 2023 revelation in Raceboarding with a great season and a new level reached in the French championship.
Interview with Gautier Valentin (AS Gerardmer), we can say it without hesitation: the 2023 revelation in Raceboarding with a great season and a new level reached in the French championship.
Gautier, you've literally exploded this year with a great season and some superb results. 37th /115 at the world championships and 4th at the French championships. How do you explain your progress?
This year has been a difficult one for me, both professionally and personally. I think these difficult periods pushed me to outdo myself in all the competitions. We did the Port Grimaud training course with ASG voile in April and a lot of local regattas in May. This enabled me to arrive physically fit for the World Championships in Germany in June. I did really well in the rankings for the first two days, but I fell off a bit towards the end. But I'm still very satisfied with my result!
Then the French championship in Lacanau came quickly. I had arranged with my employer to have three weeks off beforehand. I had plenty of time to prepare myself physically, doing sport almost every day, so that I arrived in Lacanau in great shape, and mentally rested. For my 1st year as a senior, I had set myself the target of finishing in the top 10, given the high level I was aiming for. In the end, I finished4th! I didn't think I'd be able to keep up with Eric and Jean-Baptiste, given their level and vast experience. I gave it my all and I'm really pleased with the result, especially given the windy conditions we had.
You race for AS Gérardmer, which has a good group of youngsters who are coming of age. Was the group effect essential?
Yes, we have a great team of young, highly motivated riders. The "old hands" pull the new competitive riders up. I think certain people are essential to this group cohesion, such as Michel Mérieux (who boosts the youngsters, repairs the boards, and puts a lot of effort into organizing the various regattas)... Viviane Ventrin (my aperitif buddy, and training partner), and of course my little brother Clèment (who likes to do the "zoive" on the starting line...) and lots of other people!
In particular, you had applied to BOHO to use their new raceboard, a 270L 370, which is under development and out of step with current standards. Also, their new 9.5m² rig. Basically, it's a risky gamble to discover new equipment on a championship. What motivated you to do it?
I admit, it was hot! ...but I like a challenge, so I went for it! My little brother (Clèment) and I got together to apply to Boho. What motivated me was that I didn't know the brand or the equipment at all, and I wanted to test different gear, and above all to have a different sail from the RS:X, which I found heavy and complicated to pump in light winds. We unpacked the gear just before the training run in a steady wind (30 knots in the gusts!), and the sensations were really good - almost my best session of the year, I really enjoyed it!
In the end, you performed very well right from the first round, finishing third three times on the first day! and you were up against some experienced big guns. What were your personal strengths that enabled you to perform at this level?
I arrived in very good physical shape and without any stress. I knew that with the BOHO prototype, it was double or nothing. But the BOHO quickly proved to be of very high quality! I really didn't think at the start of the first day that I'd be fighting it out with the leaders. Especially when, at the start of the1st run, I started 1 minute after the top and managed to climb back up to3rd place at the finish line! The other 2 runs went really well, also in medium wind (the same wind often found in the Vosges), conditions I'm particularly fond of! I gave it my all to try and catch up with the 2 planes in front (Eric and Jean Baptiste), but I just couldn't manage it. Well done to them!
Can you tell us what you think of the BOHO, which seems to have come into its own in the hands of shaper Peter Thommen? Less voluminous and batwing-free than current boards, it's obviously very efficient and on the mark. What did you like in particular?
I really liked the board! In medium wind conditions, it's clearly a fighter plane. In strong winds, I had a little more trouble finding the right setting with the rail and daggerboard, but once I did, it bombed. The board is very stable, it heels very quickly and doesn't stick to the water. It's a really good board, and the price is going to be much more affordable than the competition! that's good news!
Same question for the rigging?
The sail is light, very maneuverable, and versatile. I think it works well in just about any condition. You can make a very good trough, or make it "puke" for big conditions. I was totally surprised to be able to hold her in the slaps at 25 knots in 9.5! a very high-performance sail!
Would you like to keep this package?
Clearly I'd like to! Clément (my little brother) and I are super-motivated to continue racing with this board and this sail next year. We're going to continue talking to the BOHO? team (Geert Wessieling and Pieter van Wijngaarden) this winter and see if it's possible to partner/sponsor with them. The idea would also be for the BOHO team to come to the Port Grimaud training course (end of April) to give people who want to sail and test their new equipment. To be considered.
What are your sporting goals for next year?
The big goal will be the world championship in Cadiz and to get a result there! And the other goal will be to get my employer's permission to let me go. The idea is to take part in the BOHO with Clément. We'll also be taking part in the French championship in October 2024, normally!
Maybe do the Wind challenge in BOHO to see ...
