POOLIDOR is an electronic music duo that blends traditional music from Berry and North Africa. They produce a raw, hypnotic sound by combining organic timbres and percussion with the gleaming waves of electro. On stage, a hurdy-gurdy, complete with pedalboard and bicycle wheel, faces a vinyl turntable. This timeless construction is complemented by machines, violin and vocals.
In tandem, two musicians, accomplices for many years, take the audience into an enchanted trance. POOLIDOR is much more than a concert, it's also a spellbinding visual experience and, above all, an irresistible invitation to dance.
Saturday April 19, 9:30 pm under the Open Canoe Festival Tipi.
2024 video
Here's the Open Canoe Festival 2024 video.
This year, we wanted to show the OCF's DNA, what we want to share with this event. Only the international side doesn't stand out, but we haven't forgotten our many foreign coaches and the 13 European countries taking part.
Thanks to all of you!
Nature news - Did you know?
The Drôme is one of the last wild rivers in Europe, with a natural, torrential flow. It meanders for 106 km from its source to its confluence with the Rhône.
As a result, it is home to some exceptional flora and fauna, and in particular to two experts in camouflage:
On the banks Theringed plover: this small bird lays 4 eggs on the ground among the pebbles. Their camouflage colour means they can be mistaken for the river's pebbles. Be careful where you step!
In the water The zingel asper: this small fish endemic to the Rhône basin is in danger of extinction. It only survives in rivers with a natural profile and was reintroduced to the Drôme a few years ago. Here's a hint on how to spot it: lying on the bottom of the water, its eyes glow in the night like a cat's! Take advantage of your stay to admire the biodiversity that surrounds you and treat it with respect.
The Open Canoe Festival is proud to welcome a new partner: Atlas for men.
Founded in 1999, Atlas for men is the leader in outdoor clothing and accessories for adventurers, explorers and amateurs alike. Soft and warm for winter, lightweight and breathable for summer, their clothing is comfortable to wear and easy to take care of. With a timeless and authentic style, their menswear collections are inspired by the great outdoors, prioritizing practical cuts for complete freedom of movement. Under the Atlas for women label, their womenswear boasts quality and elegance!
In 2024, Atlas for men become our official supplier, equipping our 30 instructors with a magnificent flannel shirt (canoeists love that!).
Numerous prizes will also be offered by Atlas for men in our grand prize draw.
Registrations: "Paddler Pass" or "Non Paddler Pass", what is the difference?
A recent call from someone who had just registered alerted us to the fact that registering as a "Non Paddler" is not always easy to understand.
For those of you who are more visual, the difference between the 2 types of registration is summarized below.
In other words, people who don't want to take part in the workshops at all sign up as "Non Paddler". These include, of course, people who don't canoe at all. But we know that there are also regular paddlers who prefer to take advantage of the weekend just to explore the various sections of the Drôme, without taking part in any workshops.
This is a perfectly legitimate choice, but we've noticed that those who make this choice are often clubs whose members, often good paddlers, feel they have little more to learn.
We'd like to insist on the fact that one of the OCF's greatest assets is the hundred or so workshops on offer over 3 days. 30% of them are dedicated to technique (for beginners / intermediates or advanced). The remainder deal with safety (10%) and canoeing culture in the broadest sense of the term (60% of workshops).
No other festival will offer so many workshops on leadership, live no trace, the art of lighting a fire in the rain or using a tarp, canoe fishing, energy management and phone applications, river fauna and flora and many other topics.
So, if you register as a "Non Paddler", you won't be taking part in the workshops, and frankly, you'll be missing out!
We have the great pleasure to announce our long time partners Canoe Diffusion and Esquif canoes will offer a splendid “Prospector 16” canoe (2 530 € 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.
Everything you always wanted to know about OCF but were afraid to ask!
Record for the longest title! All this to tell you that we've created a new FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) section.
Can I bring my dog to the OCF? Are canoes provided? How do I win the lottery? Do I need to reserve a campsite? How do I register for workshops? Why is the OCF called the OCF… You'll know it all!
And if you don't find the answer you're looking for: contact us and we'll fill in the FAQ.
Europe's largest festival dedicated to canoeing and its culture is back for an twelfth edition. A lot has changed since 2023, and the organisation is now well established, right down to the smallest detail!
New website that finally works on phones, it's about time!
New registration and payment system, much simpler, especially when you arrive at the Festival where you will just have to flash your confirmation email. No more waiting!
A new price to allow us to organise the Festival more serenely. It really costs nearly 265 € per person, whereas it was proposed at 110 € in 2022. The price difference was covered with sponsors and subsidies, which are dropping, while everything is increasing sharply! Therefore, we have raised the prices in 2023 (150 € for registrations made before 15 March, 100 € for non paddling participants, 60 € for children under 12 and free for children under 5), but in return, we have the ambition of an organisation without any equivalent in the world!
And finally, a new workshop management system that will allow you to choose your workshops in advance: no more queuing!
What does not change is the atmosphere, the richness of the workshops, the best instructors in Europe, the big prize lottery, the good food, the concert… The only thing that is not guaranteed is the weather… and even there, we are working on it!
Registration opens in January 2024. But make sure to book your weekend: April 25/28, 2024.
OCF 2023: the video!
This is the Open Canoe Festival!
How not to get divorced during a canoe trip!
Some basic psychology to avoid giving up canoeing after the first descent… and save your relationship!
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!
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