I first discovered outrigger canoeing in a V6 in Toulon. My first encounter with va’a was with some SUP friends of mine, Jessie and Laeti. In the summer of 2014, I broke my foot windsurfing and outrigger canoeing allowed me to keep training while letting my foot heal at the same time. I loved it. So I incorporated the V6, the OC1 and the V1 into my training schedule for SUP race competitions. This helped me improve on my grip and gain strength. I had some really great Tahiti-style outrigger sessions. Outriggers are great, as they adapt to diverse conditions and they are perfect for both upwind and downwind. My favourite downwind routes to date have included the one between La Ciotat and Six Fours and an upwind-downwind route between Les Embiez and Le Brusc that I did with Nico Benet. 

Would I have any advice for those starting out? Have fun and try to follow the sound advice of “feeling the water” with friends from Tahiti.