#RainHasFallen for Drak challenge
While the race will not be cancelled, the route could still change by next week Saturday.
AFTER months of low water levels in the uMzimkhulu, a perfectly placed Drakensberg downpour has dramatically increased water levels by nearly half a metre.
With only a few days to go before the 2016 race, the popular two-day event – which usually attracts a field of close on 1000 paddlers – had a below level entry rate due to low water levels.
Last Tuesday night (12 January) a thunderstorm close to the Lesotho border broke and brought the level of the river up half a metre, news of which has triggered a deluge of entries.
“Three days ago the race committee met to agonise over options if the river remained at the desperately low level that it has run at throughout the summer,” said race committee chairman, Barry Cole. “Lately we had consistent rains but with the water table having been so low, they have had no impact at all on the river until now.”
Cole recently even sent out a cautionary email to paddlers countrywide advising them that the race was considering a wide range of options, even possibly postponing the event.
“Then we got this perfect storm!” said Barry. “We hardly had any rain in Underberg itself but it all fell in that exact catchment area high in the mountains and, for the first time this summer, the whole river has come up!” he added excitedly.
Cole stressed that there were still a few days before the race, during which time the river levels could change significantly. “At least we feel now that postponing or cancelling the race is off the table,” explained Cole. “The weather can change so fast here in the Berg that we have to be prepared for any possible river level.”
He added that there was regular rain forecast on an almost daily basis in the final build-up to the race, which would ideally sustain the excellent current river levels being experienced on the uMzimkhulu. “We know how quickly the uMzimkhulu can empty and how fast it comes down in flood.”
“The final call on the race course will be made on Friday afternoon or, if it really storms overnight, on Saturday morning,” Cole added. “This region has been very hard hit by the drought and all the farmers – livestock, dairy and the wide range of crops – are all struggling in the drought.
“As a region we are all passionate about making sure the paddlers have an enjoyable weekend in and around Underberg and Himeville during the N3TC Drak Challenge, and the possibility of having to postpone or even cancel the race was just adding to the gloom in the area,” he said.
The race also doubles as the first leg of the International Canoe Federations Classic Series, which combines the world’s most popular river marathons under a single global umbrella.
The N3TC Drak Challenge will take place on Saturday 23 and Sunday 24 January.
