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The Ardèche Gorges Marathon Turns 40: A Milestone for France’s Iconic River Race

This year, the “Marathon International des Gorges de l’Ardèche” celebrates its 40th anniversary, a milestone for this legendary event organized by the Vallon Plein Air club. Each year, between 1,200 and 2,000 participants, including more than 100 Stand Up Paddlers, embark on this 28 km descent through the heart of the gorges, one of the most majestic courses in France. This special edition will take place over two days with a full program: on Saturday, November 9, participants can warm up with the intense and short 4km “Rush du Pont d’Arc” race, before tackling the main descent on Sunday, November 10, with three separate starts for SUP, collective boats, and canoe-kayaks. Organizer Luis Brisson reveals the surprises planned, safety rules, and the unique spirit that drives this major paddling sports event.

Happy anniversary, Luis! This year marks the 40th International Marathon of the Ardèche Gorges. How does it feel to be part of such an event? And how has it evolved over the years?

Thank you, Mathieu. It’s a great honor to have written a piece of this event’s history. This will be my fifth time organizing the Marathon, and it’s always a pleasure. The event has evolved significantly since its beginnings. In 1985, only about a hundred canoe-kayak enthusiasts took to the river, unaware that, 40 years later, it would attract hundreds of participants. Fun fact: this year, some of those involved in organizing the first edition will be participating in the race.
The organization has seen many highs and lows, with glory years in the early 2000s when events drew over 2,000 participants, and tougher times between 2017 and 2021, with three cancellations over four editions. However, I think the event has survived thanks to local enthusiasm. Hundreds of volunteers, deeply connected to the institution our association represents, rose to the challenge. They’re also passionate paddling athletes who gather each year on this legendary river.

Can you tell us about the main events and activities planned for this special edition? Are there any new features or surprises for participants and spectators?

This year, we’ve shifted the event a bit (with Monday being a holiday). The long race will take place on Sunday, November 10, giving you time to arrive Saturday morning and participate in the **Rush du Pont d’Arc, the short-distance race, on Saturday afternoon.** Then, on Sunday, we’ll have three separate starts according to boat type: at 9 a.m., Ard’River Paddle for stand-ups (1 to 4 people); at 10 a.m., the Challenge for collective boats (3 to 12 people); and at 11 a.m., the Marathon for canoe-kayaks (1 or 2 people). Of course, there will be surprises and gifts for participants, but I can’t say more! We definitely plan to celebrate, and the closing ceremony on Sunday evening (dinner + concert) promises to be festive. Don’t miss it!
On the Stand Up Paddle side, you’re expected on Saturday for the Rush and Sunday for the Ard’River Paddle. You can race on rigid or inflatable boards, ideally between 10 and 14 feet long with a width suited to your skill level. Once again, we’ll be awarding prize money to the top 3 men and women in the SUP event at the closing ceremony on Sunday night in Vallon-Pont-d’Arc.

Can you tell us about your role within the Vallon Plein Air club and the life of the club, especially regarding stand-up paddle?

I’m a canoe-kayak coach for the Vallon Plein Air association. The unique aspect of our event is that once a year, the three employees and all the volunteers roll up their sleeves to organize a grand canoe-kayak festival. **This event then enables 200 members to practice throughout the year.** We’ve developed canoe-kayak practice, but also stand-up paddle. For about ten years, we’ve been doing it regularly with youth, adults, and even competitors. Initially because it was new and fun, but also very complementary to kayaking, especially for balance skills. In recent years, some have specialized and competed in SUP. I’m thinking of Olympe Vernede, one of the promising young women on the French SUP circuit.

What can participants expect in terms of course and water conditions this year?

SUPs start from the natural arch of the Pont d’Arc for a 28 km descent through a preserved, majestic canyon. The Ardèche alternates between flatwater and rapids, ranging from class 1 to 2 (on a scale of 1 to 6). This November, the water level is relatively high, making the course easier. The river widens, and rocks are hidden underwater, broadening the rapids. The main challenge in SUP will be maintaining balance in the waves, but in the end, it’s just water!

Can you remind us of the safety requirements for participants? What measures and protocols are in place to ensure participant safety?

First of all, **you don’t need prior river descent experience to participate.** However, it’s important to be in good physical condition, be a strong swimmer, and especially feel comfortable in water. The course lasts **at least 2 hours for the best and includes about 30 rapids.**
For river safety, participants must wear appropriate thermal clothing (dry suit or at least a long john wetsuit), closed shoes or boots, a flotation aid, and a helmet. Be aware, leash use is prohibited in the river. While it might seem handy to keep your board close by in case of a fall, the risk is that the leash could get caught on a branch or rock. Snags with branches and rocks are the number one danger in rivers.

If you fall, it’s essential to land as flat as possible on the water’s surface. Never try to stand up or push off the bottom in rapids; float on your back with your feet forward and wait until the rapid ends before swimming or getting back on your board. If you’re unsteady, it’s best to kneel in the rapids. Out of respect for other competitors, please don’t overtake while kneeling. A bit of advice for positioning: keep to the inside of turns and avoid the waves a bit without leaving the current entirely; it’s the fastest and most stable area.

In addition to the rescue team on-site, we have teams on the water throughout the course, mainly on the more challenging rapids, to assist you if needed. So even in the heart of the canyon, where access is limited, you’re not truly alone. At the halfway point, there’s a refueling station to help you regain strength.

How do you view the place of Stand Up Paddle since it was introduced in 2016?

For us, it was a real challenge in 2016. Many thought we were crazy to start a SUP race. However, from the first edition, we saw that river racing had real potential and participants loved it. **In 2022, we reached 130 participants and were also the final stage of the Stand Up Paddle EURO TOUR that year.** It was a point of pride for us to welcome international competitors to test themselves against our river, which was a first for many. **This year again, we will be a regional stop on the Euro Tour circuit.**
Today, I think we’ve reached a ceiling with a good hundred SUPs at the start. You do need a bit of daring to take on a 28 km river descent in November. We’re really pleased that Stand Up Paddle has its place in our race, which aims to bring together all paddling sports enthusiasts.

A new addition this year is the opening to V6 outrigger canoes; would you like to say a few words about that?

Yes, we’re fortunate to be organizing this in partnership with the Canoe-Kayak Club of the Gorges de l’Ardèche in Saint-Martin-d’Ardèche, who manage the finish line of the Marathon. It’s a small club with an active adult community, especially in outrigger canoeing, so they gave us this idea. For years, we’ve had a few outrigger canoes participate in the event, but this year, we want to give this boat a special place, as it’s often one of the fastest in the event. That’s why we decided to create a V6 Outrigger Challenge. The start will be at 10 a.m. from Pont d’Arc, along with all the other larger boats. There will even be a prize for this V6 Challenge, awarded to the first male and female outrigger teams (excluding the steerer). We’ve already received quite a bit of positive feedback, and I think we’ll have around ten V6s at the start. It’s going to be great.

Will there be a space for exhibitors? Which brands or products can we discover this year?

Yes, on Saturday in Vallon-Pont-d’Arc, you’ll find an exhibitor village with canoe, kayak, SUP, clothing, and accessory retailers offering equipment and demos of the latest products. Many of them will also be at the finish in Saint-Martin-d’Ardèche.

Online registration until November 5!
www.marathon-ardeche.com/

About the Author

Mathieu Astier

Mathieu is the hyper-active founder of TotalSUP and a multilingual online marketing veteran with more than 20 years of experience working for top international internet companies. His love-at-first-sight for Stand Up Paddling in 2013 led him to build one of the leading online media dedicated to SUP in English and French and to turn his family lifestyle towards the ocean.

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