Paddlers gear up for Fish River
Despite dire predictions of a freezing cold weekend, and after the icy winds on Friday, Saturday, August 30, turned out to be pleasant, warm and wind-free.
This was ideal for the paddlers who gathered at the Heidelberg Bridge, for the long, 40km trek to Dick Fourie Stadium, in Three Rivers, finishing just before the Klip River runs into the Vaal River. The race was hosted by the Ekurhuleni Kayak (ERK) Club, which is based at Homestead Dam.
There were few real incidents or problems on the river this week, with the first being a boat gashed by an old pipe and metal plate propped up in the river, resulting in some serious damage that required the paddlers to withdraw from the race.
There were also only a few swimmers (toppled over boats) at the major rapids, but there were a number of withdrawals once paddlers had completed their quota of 20km or more.
They had no intention of pushing to finish double that distance, although the first day of the Fish River Canoe Marathon is 46km and, with a second day of nearly 40km, it’s an important part of preparation to increase mileage and build up stamina and endurance.
The Fish River, however, has a guaranteed water release, so the river flows much faster than the Klip at winter levels, so the race provided good stamina training.
Michael Stewart, Benoni resident and the top paddling achiever and member of the ERK Club, has achieved some podium positions paddling with his 15-year-old son, Liam.
The pair finished the long Klip Race with the young Stewart driving through the technically challenging rapids, in sixth place overall, as the first double to finish, in a time of three hours and 28 minutes.
