Tough 70km for Kobus as he finishes in six hours
The river races start in April, and beginners learn rivers through the winter months when the water is slow and manageable.
Kobus Filmalter from Krugersdorp won the veterans’ age category of the Vaal River Marathon after 70kms of tough challenge, which he finished in a time of six hours and five minutes over both days.
The Johannesburg Canoe Club, the first and original canoe club in Gauteng, hosted the Two Day Vaal Marathon on 30 June and 1 July, for the 69th running of the Vaal.
Due to the recent drought and being winter, when water conservation is necessary, no water release was provided, and paddlers found themselves stuck on flat rocks from time to time; however, there were still a few tricky rapids and huge waves in some sections, adding to the excitement of the Vaal River Marathon.
The first Day on the Vaal started at the dam wall, and finished 36km further on, in Three Rivers on the Klip River. Day 2 started below the barrage, at Côte de Val, and finished at Smilin’ Thru, just before Parys, a distance of 34km.
The river was low, shallow, sluggish and resistant so it was very hard work, and tiring – excellent for training, and improving stamina and endurance for the long distance races coming up in the canoeing calendar.
The river races start in April, and beginners learn rivers through the winter months when the water is slow and manageable.
From October through to March, the rains make the rivers pump, so everybody best know what they are doing to enjoy the mighty wave trains and huge rapids.
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