Global Trader Drak Challenge

Rapid Descriptions

Castleburn bridge (0,55km)
Shoot through second opening from the right.

The Wall (1,2km)
After a fun chicken run, called Andrews Delight, the river runs straight into a cliff-face, and turns right. Don't "hit the wall"!. Stay inside the corner.

Valley of a Thousand Rapids
Jammed with countless rapids, starting below Andrews Delight and ending below Black Murray.

Handbrake Turn (1,9km)
Dogsleg left. Stay inside the corner, and watch out for the rocks in the centre of the river.

Boomslang Cataract (2,24km)
Made up of two rapids:

Boomslang One
An easy chicken run that finishes in a fun drop. Move right.

Boomslang Two
Stay right, and look for a line next to the big rock right of centre. Don't follow the water to the left, where a rocky dead-end eats boats!

The Rockfield (3,2km)
A 400m long rocky rapid without clear lines. Pick your way carefully through the rocks, working right towards the bottom

The Phoenix Nasty (3.5km)
Most of the water rushes over a big drop on the left of the river. Try to cut the corner to the right of the ledge.

Phoenix Island (3,6km)
Options open on both sides. Left is recommended

The Toilet Bowl (4,64km)
Another Dog's Leg left that is best shot cutting the corner to miss the drop over the rocky ledge.

Rest Mount Bridge (4.7km)
Use the second opening from the right. Good access out of the valley if needed, as it is close to the road.

Start of Bamboo Mountain Canyon (7,1km)

Rock Slalom (7,9km)
As the river turns left, you enter a 300m long rapid strewn with big rocks, asking for some tight turns! There is a good straight sneak down the left.

Trainsmash (8,5km)
Big rocks waiting to punish the unwary. Stay with the water.

The Minefield (8,6km)
Another 300m series of long rocky rapids.

Big Brother Wavetrain (9,2km)
The river channels against a dogs-leg corner against a cliff face on the right, whipping up a funs set of waves.

Black Forest Island (9,96km)
The river splits around a rocky Island. Best line is down the right.
Ugly Sister (10,2km) The precursor to Black Murray. The river gradient starts to get steep, and the water flows fast. It is tight and rocky when low, but whips up big waves when full. The best line is left of centre. After the rapid, you will see a Skull and Crossbones sign on the left bank, warning of the approach of Black Murray.

Black Murray (10,37km)
Notorious. Uncertain paddlers should head for the right bank, where a large sign demarcates the take out. In low river conditions, stay right and look for the narrow slot in the rocks that leads 45 degrees left. The river rushes against big rocks on the left, requiring a sharp, slow turn to the right. In full conditions the line is straighter, and a lot of fun! Watch out for the rocky ledge immediately below the main rapid. Stay right if possible.

Knuckleduster (10.64km)
Still in the gorge, and with the river narrow and fast, a fun and tight rocky drop.

Wattle Island (11.8km)
Go left.

The Bus Stop (13.6km)
Just above Ekhutuleni resort, watch out as the river flows washes against a massive rock river left. Stay right. Spectators will be allowed access to Ekhutuleni resort to and can watch at the Bus Stop and red Willows campsite.

Red Willows rapid (14.7km)
Straightforward. Good spectator point via Ekhutuleni, and the Powerade seconding station.

Trout Hatcheries
Exactly 20km from the start to the concrete pumphouse.
A good seconding point, and the start of flatwater to the new overnight stop at the Swartberg road bridge. Note that if the river is running very low, the race will start at the Trout Hatcheries, and the overnight stop will be at the First Coleford Rd bridge.

Baby (21.4km)
An easy small natural weir

Otter's Playground (21,9km)
The river sweeps through some granite rock pools, making for fun paddling

Swartberg Road bridge (25,56km)
Day One finish.