Low water levels make for tough paddling

THE Vaal River Canoe Marathon hosted by Johannesburg Canoe Club based at Wemmer Pan, the oldest canoe club in Johannesburg, ran for the 58th time on the weekend of November 7 and 8.

With the current drought conditions and low water levels it was arguably the most difficult marathon for many years as boats got stuck on the large flat shelf rocks on the river between the Barrage and Smilin’ Thru, forcing paddlers to continuously get out of their boats and pull the boat over the rocks before continuing.

With 35km covered on the first day, the second day covered a distance of 26km, from Smilin’ Thru resort, through into Parys where there were also a number of portages over the scattered boulders because of low water conditions into Parys.

However, in Parys the real fun began with the white water rapids which became more treacherous in low conditions. The race finished at Hadeda Creek, a resort downriver from Parys and those who did complete both days were triumphant.

The race has traditionally been a K2 event suitable to the long flat river sections of the Vaal, which has always been sluggish and hard work. However, it was the lighter boats, with lightweight paddlers and perhaps the K1s that had the advantage in the low water conditions.

After the hard tough slog on day one, some nearly 20 boats withdrew, either as a result of boat damage or disappointment and exhaustion from the tough conditions, which provided excellent stamina development for those planning to take on the 2016 Dusi in KwaZulu-Natal where low water levels and numerous portages can also be expected.

Richard Tandy, an experienced paddler and his partner, Johan Herman Rens, a relatively new river paddler based in Kempton Park, enjoyed their long tough endurance event more suited to runners than paddlers, finishing in six hours and 54 minutes over the two days as the 34th K2.

They are both members of East Rand Kayak Club based in Benoni.