Paddlers cruise through the waves
Albertonians cruise comfortably through the Big Daddy waves on the Vaal River.
THE 58th edition of the Vaal River Canoe Marathon hosted by the Wemmer Pan based Johannesburg Canoe Club (JCC), the oldest canoe club in Johannesburg, ran on November 7 and 8.
With Creative Housewares on board sponsoring prize money and goodie bags, the race attracted canoeists from as far afield as the Western Province, Border, Natal, Central Free State and Lowveld, as well as the usual regulars from Pretoria, Parys, Vanderbijlpark and Gauteng.
Albertonians Aiden de Vos and partner Warren Ziervogel are thoroughly enjoying their experiences on the river and the two paddlers who are members of the JCC finished the tough arduous race in a time of 6:51 over the two days. They will definitely be tougher and stronger with more stamina going forward towards the Dusi in February which can also expect to be low water level.
With dry drought conditions and the Vaal River’s low water levels, boats got stuck on the large flat shelf rocks on the river between Barrage and Smilin’ Thru, forcing paddlers to continuously get out of their boats and pull the boat over the rocks before continuing.
With 35km covered on the first day, the second day covered a distance of 26km, from Smilin’ Thru resort, through into Parys where there were also a number of portages over the boulder scattered low water section of river into Parys where the real fun began with the white water rapids which became more treacherous in the low conditions. The race finished at Hadeda Creek, a resort downriver from Parys.
The race has traditionally been a K2 event suitable to the long flat river sections of the Vaal which has always been sluggish and hard work, however it was the lighter boats, with lightweight paddlers and perhaps the K1’s that had the advantage in the low water conditions.
Fortunately paddlers can always rely on Big Daddy and Gatsien to provide some excitement during the tough race.
