Ryan Coutts, a resident from Rangeview who manages the Roodepoort branch of Timber City tried his hand at river canoeing some years ago with limited exposure, but recently returned to the sport with enthusiasm.
Coutts and his friend Liam Whitlow who is new to river canoeing recently completed a race together, which also was Liam’s first-ever canoe river race. Coutts and Whitlow finished the race in one hour and 59 minutes.
Florida Lake Canoe Club (FLCC) hosted its first river race of the new canoeing season on Sunday 18 May. This stretch of river over a distance of some 18km from Meyerton sports grounds to Three Rivers was chosen to exclude the more technically difficult rapids to ensure that new river paddlers would manage with their newly acquired river paddling skills.
The river race season begins after the rains have subsided and the rivers are more manageable with gentler currents, and builds up until the next rainy season when it peaks at high flood water and exciting river races.
Fallen trees can be a serious problem for river canoeists as they can get snagged in the branches and trapped. Tree clearing crews work on the rivers regularly to keep them flowing freely and not blocked by numerous non-indigenous fallen trees, and safety marshals are positioned to direct paddlers away from the tree branches.
For more information on the FLCC contact Jennie Dallas on 082 857 8571.j
