The Côte du Rhone in France is known worldwide for famous wines,but kayakers recognize the name for other reasons.The region is home to the St Pierre de Boeuf whitewater park and also to French freestyle shredder Mat Dumoulin.For the past ten yeas Dumoulin has been a regular top finisher in freestyle comps around the world. Silver medalist in last year’s Freestyle Worlds, he is also a two-time Euro Freestyle Champ,nine-time French Champ,and finalist at the 2015 Sickline Race. Dumoulin loves big waves but clearly has more than one trick in his bag. Graduating from the famous Grenoble Business School in France and team manager of JK Europe, he’s using his both his brain and his freestyle finesse to make a living kayaking. Here, Dumoulin talks about carbon, competitions, his life as a full-time kayaker, and his small town American dream.
Photography: Seth Ashworth, Paul Villecourt, Jens Klatt
KS: You started kayaking at a very young age. Did kayaking have a positive influence on your childhood?
THE FIRST TIME I WENT TO HAWAII SUR RHONE WAS (AT AGE 13) WITH DAVID ARNAUD. I WAS TERRIFIED. WITH NO EDDY, WE WERE DROPPING INTO THE WAVE AND I PRETENDED THAT I COULDN’T FIND THE RIGHT SPOT TO CATCH THE WAVE. MD: I started paddling when I was 8 years old and was super high energy. I couldn’t stay in one spot. As soon as I started kayaking everything improved—at school, playing with other kids, my behavior.
KS: Growing up in St Pierre De Boeuf, France (wine country) you had two options, right? Drink wine all day….or kayak all day.
MD: It sounds like a joke, but it’s an actual choice…
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Kayak Session (Digital) - 1 Issue, Fall 2016
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