Oueds & its Guidos
A permanent base since 1996 at the village of Le Martinet. Thirty years of experience across multiple rivers, passed on in 2025 to the next generation. Three passionate guides ready to take you on the Ubaye.
Meet the team →From the Lafay nomadic era to the Martinet base
Les Coureurs de Rivières
Lionel Lafay part courir les rivières : Maroc, Canada, Alpes. La structure itinérante Coureurs de Rivières prend forme.
The Ubaye enters the story
Pierre Lafay, Lionel's brother and kayaker since age 12, joins the structure as a guide on the Ubaye.
The Martinet base
Lionel settles on the Isère river in Savoy, and Pierre establishes a permanent base on the Ubaye — at the confluence of the Ubaye and the Grand Riou de la Blanche, in Méolans-Revel. Still under the name Coureurs de Rivières.
Oueds & Rios
Lionel passes on his Savoy branch. Pierre continues with Béa, his partner, and renames the base Oueds & Rios : rivers with no nationality, no borders.
Paddling at Lauzet
At Béa's initiative — yoga and Pilates instructor — Oueds & Rios gains exclusive access to Lac du Lauzet to launch supervised activities (introduction & wellness sessions) and rental of Stand Up Paddle (SUP).
The next generation
Rémi, Joseph and Jorys (aka the Jo-Jos), all 3 guides on the Ubaye for several seasons, form a cooperative and participatory company (SCOP) to take over from Pierro. The guides and organisation change (from 4 two-hour sessions to 3 three-hour sessions). The base, the name, the spirit — all remain.
The name
Why "Oueds & Rios" ?
Oued — the Arabic word for river.
Río — the Spanish word.
Rivers have no nationality — they flow everywhere, and those who love them recognise each other regardless of language. That's the spirit of the base.
"We also took over this base for its name and what it stands for." — Rémi and the Jo-Jos
The full story of the base, the name and the anecdotes — in the FAQ, question 22 →.
Meet the next generation of Oueds & Rios
Three state-certified guides, specialising in whitewater. A team that chose each other as much as they chose the Ubaye.
The Pragmatist
Joseph
Raft guide & whitewater instructor on the Ubaye since 2019 — Oueds & Rios since 2025
Joseph is a man of action. With years of experience at various bases on the Ubaye, he knows every rapid, every flow level, every rock like no one else. He's not the one who talks — he's the one who does.
What defines him is his quiet care. He watches, assesses, adjusts. He knows exactly what you can handle, and he guides you with that certainty. Clients love Joseph because he never does things by halves.
- ✦ Inexhaustible technical mastery — you are in the hands of someone who has seen it all
- ✦ Perfect adaptation to your group: he tailors the experience to your real needs
- ✦ Efficiency: with Joseph, no time wasted, pure adventure
The Creative
Jorys
Raft guide & whitewater instructor on the Ubaye since 2020 — Oueds & Rios since 2025
Jorys carries rhythm in his bones. Trained as a kayaker, he contributed to the development of paddle sports in French Guiana. But what you don't immediately know is that he's also a percussionist — a musician who sees the world in terms of timing, synchronisation, harmony.
Reserved at first, he gradually reveals a depth and creativity that few guides possess.
- ✦ A unique perspective: Jorys sees adventure as a creative and sensory experience
- ✦ Authenticity: no façade, just the raw and magnified experience
- ✦ Innovation: Jorys brings creativity to every moment, whether through kayak or rafting
The Transmitter
Rémi
Raft guide & whitewater instructor on the Ubaye since 2021 — Oueds & Rios since 2025
Rémi is more than a guide. He's an instructor, a transmitter of passion, and someone who chose authenticity over comfort. After 7 years at a desk, he left city life for a simple conviction: mountain and river are where you find peace. And he believes it deeply.
Today, Rémi teaches other guides how to transmit not just a technique, but a vision: to make every moment in the mountains a moment of genuine connection.
- ✦ A new vision of what whitewater can be: not a sport, but a school of life
- ✦ Absolute safety paired with the ability to take you just beyond your comfort zone
- ✦ Real stories and reflections that stay with you, even after the last rapid of the descent
Reception and shuttles 🚐
The driver
Position available
Shuttle & reception — Oueds & Rios since 2026
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Behind the lens 📸
The eagle eye
Jeanne
Photographer — Oueds & Rios since 2026
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Our independent guides, our reinforcements
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Alex
Independent guide — supporting on the Ubaye
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Sarah
Independent guide — supporting on the Ubaye
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Théo
Independent guide — supporting on the Ubaye
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Ready to experience Oueds & Rios ?
A base nestled among the mulberry trees, a mythical river, passionate guides. Everything is in place for a unique adventure — all that's missing is you.