Underberg - Canoeists training on the Umzimkulu river in Underberg ahead of the Global Trader Drakensberg Challenge on 27 and 28 February have been cautiously testing the race's biggest rapid, which was boldly reshaped during the winter months

Paddlers have been taking advantage of the good early summer rains to try out the "new" Glenhaven rapid  after months of speculation about the effect that the dramatic midyear reshaping of the river bed will have on the notorious rapid.

GTX Canyon Kayak Club members Lauren Canham and Mike Smith crash through the big hole that has now been formed in the reshaped Glenhaven rapid on the second stage of the Global Trader Drakensberg Challenge canoe marathon.(Richard Jardine/Gameplan media)

The rapid, which lies at the end of the 5km Underberg Gorge has always been the two day race's most demanding obstacle. However during the winter months when the river flow slows to a virtual trickle, the rapid was modified by the local landowner, who is desperate to try and stop the erosion of the right hand bank of the river that was threatening the road that runs close to the river bank.

The traditional right hand drop down the steep rocky rapid was filled in, and a new straight channel was excavated down the centre of the rapid, creating a totally new obstacle for the massive field expected in Underberg for the race.

When the first major rains of the season fell in the Southern Drakensberg catchment area, eager local canoeists cautiously inspected and then took on the reformed rapid, with the river flowing at a medium to full level of 30 cumecs.

The first party of trippers encountered a series of major waves and one massive hole formed by the concentration of the water down the central chute.

The more cautious paddlers were able to find a sneak line to the right of the massive rough water that skirted the big wave-train, while others were brave enough to take the rapid head on and opted for the central line that leads directly into a cavernous wave midway through the rapid.

There were several swimmers from boats that capsized in the big water, and all of them commented that the consequence of falling out in the "new" rapid was a lengthy, fast and somewhat unnerving swim.

However race bosses have been quick to point out that the river can rise quickly after typical summer thunderstorms, and the rapid will be very different under 100 cumecs, which as the case on the day after the race last year.

Comments (0)

Subscribe to this comment's feed