Novice paddlers participate in BASF race
AUCKLAND PARK – Medical student sees canoeing as a relaxing sport and participated in a race especially for novices.
Canoeing and participating in races could seem daunting at first, but the BASF river race hosted by Watuni is a race specifically aimed at novice paddlers and giving them an opportunity to get exposure to some of the powerful rapids.
The race took place on 16 April from The Makery restaurant grounds at Henley on Klip and took paddlers 15km to the Danie Maclean Park in Meyerton, a section which covers a number of challenging rapids including a seriously turbulent drop with powerful waves known as Broken Weir.
The weather was ideal for the novice paddlers to participate in their first race. If they finished within the cut-off time they could add a point towards their qualification for A grade status so that they can participate in the mighty Fish River and Dusi river races in due course.
Peter van Biljon resident of Auckland Park participated in the BASF race, not as a complete novice as he raced previously with his father, Carel van Biljon in a K2 (two seater kayak) race. This year he has moved into a single canoe and finishing the race successfully with a time of 01:15:00 ahead of his father who taught him the ropes. The novice race was a superb opportunity to test K1 (kayak single seater) skills.
Peter, who is a medical student at Wits University, said that he has been paddling for a year and a half. “It is just a relaxing hobby to participate in and get outdoors. I’m just doing it as a hobby and to bond with my father,” concluded Peter.
Details: Gauteng Canoe Union, 011 888 7234.
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