A number of paddlers from throughout Gauteng were able to finish the tough JCC two day Vaal 70km River Race, a Dusi seeding event which took place recently.
David Gerber was the first finisher from the East Rand of Gauteng, finishing in third place of the senior age category and seventh overall, in a time of five hours 44 minutes. Michael Stewart won the master age category, finishing in six hours six minutes.
Mike Barry was the first podium position for the sub grand master age category, finishing in a time of six hours and 17 minutes.
With lockdown sporting restrictions, numerous canoe racing events were cancelled or postponed; however, with the upcoming Dusi (end February), training and race points will be vital to river canoeists.
The Dusi is the world’s toughest canoe endurance marathon and races throughout the country are geared to providing the opportunity to prepare and build up stamina and strength leading up to the event.
The first day of the Vaal race was rainy, overcast and cloudy and paddlers get wet anyway from the wave trains/splashing of paddles and occasional swims, but they were well dressed for the possibility.
However, the day warmed up.
The race started at the Vaal Dam sluice gates and there were 8kms of rapids including Kloppers, a weir, the shute, Rocky Islands to weave between and Visgat, a rocky rapid with a few winding treacherous channels between rocky islands.
After that, it was plain flat hard work and slog, except for Benoude Boude, another bend of rocks and rapid, as well as the Goosebay Weir.
Thirty-six kilometres later at the Three Rivers Riverfront Estate the race finished for day 1. Day 2 started at the Eden Manor (below the Barrage) and finished 34km later at Smiling Thru in Parys.
With the low water levels and the Vaal Dam being just above 30 per cent, no water release was available to ease the journey and the paddlers got stuck on sandbanks, and rocky flat rocks frequently wading in ankle-deep water but since they are likely to be training for the Dusi, the portaging option of carrying the boat was a good training opportunity anyway.
