The Ekurhuleni Kayak Club (ERK), based at Homestead Dam, hosted a river race from below the Vaal Dam wall, for 24km, to finish at a fisherman’s wharf, on Saturday, September 27.
While the first 8km of the river include exciting rapids and wild white water, such as Kloppers, the Shute and Visgat, a boat breaking challenge, the balance of 16km was a hard flat slog, with head winds and shallow water, with paddlers going up against the current.
This section of the Vaal River is teasingly known as the only uphill river in the world and, while it is tough, it is also important to build up strength and stamina for the long hard flat slogs, as the Gauteng canoeists finished their last river race before the mighty A-grade Fish River Marathon, which takes place during October, in Cradock.
The race was designated to be the K3 Championships race for Gauteng, as the South African K3 Championships will take place at the Fish River.
Colin Wilson, founder of the Eurosteel Racing team, partnered with Michael Robb and Ian Wilson to win the K3 championships race on Saturday, in a time of two hours and three minutes.
