Germiston paddlers prepare the Hansa Fish

The East Rand Kayak Club, based at Homestead Dam, in Benoni, recently hosted a 24km river race, from below the Vaal Dam wall, to finish at a fisherman’s wharf.

Simon Treston and Richard Macgillivray, members of the local Victoria Lake Canoe Club (VLC), were among the many who used the ERK Vaal Dam wall slog as suitable preparation for the mighty A Grade Fish River.

The local paddlers finished the 24km race in two hours, 27 minutes, as the ninth double.

While the first 8km of the river included exciting rapids and wild white water, such as Kloppers, the Chute and Visgat, a boat-breaking challenge, the balance of 16km was a hard, flat slog, with head winds, shallow water and against the current.

This section of the Vaal River is teasingly known as the only uphill river in the world and, although it is tough, it’s also important to build up strength and stamina for the long, flat slogs.

With big waves and technically difficult rapids, as well as the long hard grind on flat water, the race covered the areas that paddlers need for fitness, endurance and white water practise.

The Gauteng canoeists finished their last river race before the Fish River Marathon, which is scheduled to take place this month, October, in Cradock.