Organisers urge caution at Global Trader Drak Challenge

Underberg - The organisers of the weekend's Global Trader Drakensberg Challenge, which is also hosting the SA K1 River Championships, have advised paddlers to exercise caution in the face of predicted heavy rainfall, and in the recently modified Glenhaven rapid on the second stage of the race.

After a relatively hot and dry February that has left the Umzimkulu running at a low level, weather forecasts point to the arrival of a major weather system on the eve of the big race, with heavy rain fall predicted for the region on Friday.

The upper reaches of the Umzimkulu river are dramatically affected by rainfall in the Garden Castle catchment area, and the level of water in the river, and the difficulty of the challenges in the legendary Valley of a Thousand rapids, increases exponentially with the sudden surge of water from the mountains.

"There are no guarantees," said Race committee chairman Paul Cartwright. "If the rain falls in the right catchment areas the river can rise fast. But then we can have rain all around us and somehow none of it lands up in the river. That's the beauty about this race."

"Nonetheless paddlers must travel to Underberg fully prepared," he added. "They must bring helmets and make sure there is plenty of buoyancy in their craft so that if the river rises significantly they are prepared for it."

Cartwright also urged caution at the big rapid Glenhaven on the second stage. This feature was dramatically reshaped by the local landowner during the dry winter months in an effort to prevent further erosion encroaching on the road that runs alongside the river.

However during the regular surges in the river levels with the summer rains many of the boulders that were deposited on the sides of the new straight channel were moved downstream, and deposited in dangerous positions in the rapid.

Several injuries have already been reported from kayakers and tubers who have collided with these rocks at the bottom of Glenhaven. Last week visiting British wild water ace Ben Oakley wrapped his kayak after capsizing in Glenhaven during a training run.

"This rapid has changed and will keep changing until such time as the rocks settle," said Cartwright. "Paddlers need to treat it with the utmost respect, at any river level."

Cartwright confirmed that a full safety crew will be deployed at Glenhaven during the race, and promised that the race committee would endeavour to mark the best line of approach for the paddlers by hanging marker slalom gates over the approaches to the rapid.

Entries have been steadily pouring into the race HQ in Underberg, and a field of close on 1000 paddlers is expected to be on the startline when the race gets under way at Castleburn bridge at 9am on Saturday morning.

The Global Trader Drakensberg Challenge takes place in Underberg on 27 and 28 February. More information can be found at www.drak.co.za

ENDS