Name: Valérie Bertrand
Nickname: Val, Val Bertrand
DOB: dec.1978
Hometown: Geilo, Norway (originally from Québec, Canada)
Favorite Place to Paddle: NORWAY, Ottawa/Gatineau/Lachine rivers (Canada)
Accomplishments:
2012 - back on tour, leading norwegian cups in freestyle before moving on to Canada-USA to train/film
2011 – broke my two legs at the Teva Extreme Outdoor Games in Italy in June
2010 – pregnant, but trained/competed at World Cups in slalom (x3) + freestyle (x1)
World Events:
2009 - World Champs Slalom, Spain 65th (1st time competing)
2009 - World Champs Freestyle, Switzerland 3rd squirt
2009 - World Champs Surf kayak, Portugal 7th HP, 7th IC
2009 - World Champs Rafting, Bosnia 7th downriver, 10th overall
2008 - World Champs Mystery Move, Canada 1st squirt
2007 - World Champs Surf kayak, Spain 1st HP
2007 - World Champs Xcreek, Austria cancelled
2007 - World Champs Freestyle, Canada 1st squirt
2006 - World Cup Freestyle, Canada 1st squirt
2003 - World Champs Freestyle, Austria 3rd squirt,29th K1
2002 - Pre-Worlds Freestyle, Austria 1st squirt,24thK1
2001 - World Champs Freestyle, Spain 5th squirt
2003 - World Champs Rafting, Czech Republic 3rd sprint, 4th overall
2001 - World Champs Rafting, USA 3rd slalom, 5th overall
International:
2009 - Voss Ekstremveko, Norway (Euro Cup) 1st rafting R4, 3rd team
2009 - Teva Extreme Outdoor Games, Italy 2nd Xcreek, 3rd overall
2008 - Voss Ekstremveko, Norway 2ndXcreek, 1st rafting,1st boaterX
2008 - Teva Extreme Outdoor Games, Italy (Euro Ch.) 3rdXcreek, 3rdsprint, 3rdslalom, 3rdboaterX
2008 - Euro Rafting Championships, Austria 3rdsprint, 5thslalom, 7thoverall
2007 - Euro Cup, Sweden 1stoverall(freestyle+creek)
2007 - Voss Ekstremveko, Norway 2nd Xcreek, 2nd rafting,1st boaterX
2007 - Paddling Life Invitational,USA 4thoverall(freestyle+Xcreek)
2006 - Oh-Be-Joyful, USA 3rd Xcreek
2006 - Fibark, USA 2nd boaterX
2006 - Teva Mountain Games, USA 2nd big trick, 3rd Xcreek
2005 - British Championships, UK 1st squirt, top 5 K1
2002/3 Euro Cup Tour top 10 K1 freestyle
2002 - Misahuali Race, Ecuador 2nd Xcreek
Play Boat: Rock Star S -carbon & plastic, Star
Creek- Boat: Villain S...
Crazy Fact About you: mother of 2, but just as nut-case!
Hobbies: Master Studies in Phys.Ed., kiting/skiing, swimming, coaching freestyle, training in general
Why you love Kayaking: it combines many of the best things in life: water element, physical challenge/technique, friends/family, surfing and FUN.
