|
International Rafting Federation
News Bulletin #2007/2
KZN teams shine in rafting challenge
14 December 2006
The
KwaZulu-Natal mens and womens rafting teams shone at the final leg of South
African White Water Rafting Championships, and set in concrete their places
in the team to represent South Africa at the World Championships, to be held
in South Korea in 2007.
The third and final leg of the South African
Championships was held this weekend on 40 cumecs of water immediately below
Inanda Dam, just outside Durban.
Teams of six powered their way through
the waves, dodging gaping holes in the unnatural Tops Needle rapid that is
notorious for ending many a top paddlers race in the annual Dusi Canoe
Marathon. With an additional water release, courtesy of Umgeni Water, the
rapid provided some challenging rafting and exciting spectator
entertainment.
The three races (slalom, sprint and downriver) that made
up the event were dominated by the KwaZulu-Natal mens and womens teams,
confirming that they are the best representatives for the country and have
earned their slots.
The slalom race proved particularly challenging, to
the extent that one upstream gate was completely left out by all except one
of the teams earning a 50-second penalty in each run.
The only team to
slice their way across the upper reaches of the rapid, daringly dropping
over a number of dangerous pour-overs to successfully reach the illplaced
gate were the KZN mens team, giving a preview of their world-class skill in
the raft.
Second-placed in the mens slalom was the Lost Vikings team
from Durban, although their navigation through the course would have had any
hardy captain make them walk the plank.
Third were the Wits mens team
who lost members of their crew on their second run and along with it any
good score they might have achieved on their first run. The rules state you
must cross the finish line with all members of your boat on board. Second to
the KZN womens team were the ever-present Wits women.
The sprint race
was an exciting one with two womens boats racing head to head. The KZN
women, who started on the slower outside lane, stretched ahead in the
initial few strokes, winning the faster current and placing themselves
firmly between the second boat Wits women and the finish line. Any attempt
to pass would have put the Wits team in the hazardous water on the outside
of the main channel and they opted for the safer route, tailing the KZN team
into a graceful second place.
The mens race was a calamity of rafts and
paddles, as any route through the rapid would do in the rush for the finish
line. The KZN men took the title once again.
The third event, downriver,
was held in scorching midday heat on Sunday. The cool water was a relief,
not only from the sun, but to soothe exhausted muscles at the end of the
race. The course was quite a taxing one, incorporating lengthly flat
stretches interspersed with rapids that required careful navigation so as
not to get beached on rocks.
The KZN mens and womens teams came out on
top, followed by the Wits women and the intrepid Lost Vikings in the womens
and mens races respectively.
The Vikings held true to form and proved
they are quite apt, as long as there are no gates to traverse.
The mens
team members (including reserves) to represent South Africa in South Korea
are Deon and Sven Bruss, Bruce Campbell, Guy Collyer, Brett Frost, Shaun
Griffin and Craig van Heerden.
The womens team selections are Kate
Frost, Lea Herbst, Nicky Irvine, Kirsten Oliver, Hilary Pitchford, Alice
Rawlinson, Jeanette Walder and Jackie Fourie.
The World Championships
will be held at the end of June 2007 and will host the top teams from around
the world on a technical river near Seoul in the icheon Province.
The
South African teams will need to be fit and technically tuned to fare
against the other teams and will begin a strict training programme including
technical practice on a number of KZN rivers and the sea in the build up the
World Championships.
Own Correspondent. - The Natal Witness 13.12.06
 |
Home
| |
Contact
us!