It was here in 1994 that a big field of canoeing enthusiasts assembled for what was christened the “Drakensberg Challenge”, or the Drak for short, with a Zulu slogan “Abanganlovalu”, which can be paraphrased to “Not for the feint hearted.”

The introduction to the then unknown section of river was dramatic. The Umzimkulu is one of the last free major rivers, unhindered by dams, and entirely dependent on rainfall for its waterflow. In 1994 a week of heavy rain left the river in flood, and 120 of the of the 489 starters finished the race. Over R1,5 million rands worth of canoeing equipment was destroyed in a matter of hours by the waves and rocks on the river.

Immediately it developed a reputation as a section of river to be taken seriously. Since then the annual Drak Challenge has been run on different water levels each year, dictated by the weather and rainfall at the end of February. That is one part of the unique appeal of the race.

The water is crystal clear and clean. Paddlers regularly drink the water from the river to quench their thirst during the race, quite unlike the pollution plaguing other major canoeing races.

The mountainous character of the river also means that it is fast, exciting and technically challenging, with very few flat pools between the succession of pool-drop style rapids. The opening 10km of the race is now known as “The Valley of a Thousand Rapids” and includes the legendary Black Murray rapid named after local paddling pioneers Steve Black and John Murray, who first paddled this section of river in the eighties.

Most years the rainfall is good enough to ensure that the race is run from the start at Castleburn bridge, over 26km to the over night stop at the Swartberg Road bridge just outside Underberg, with the 38km second stage resuming there and ending at Early Mists Farm, close to Coleford resort.

Organised by the genial and enthusiastic Canyon Kayak Club, largely made up of local farmers, the race is very well organised, hell bent on delivering the best value-for-money for the paddlers and, importantly, very flexible.

If the river is low, the first 14 km are bypassed and the race starts at the Trout Hatcheries. Equally it makes no bones about the fact that the Drak Challenge is ideally a K1 (or single canoe) race is the tight channels and variable water conditions are far more suited to smaller single seater craft than doubles. Each year the organisers are happy to allow K2 crews that have entered to convert their entries to K1s to suit the water conditions.

Each year the race attracts the cram of South Africa’s river racers to the start. Driven not by their often modest prize money, they want to race and win one of the most prestigious races on the calendar. In 2007 visiting German wild water racing star Max Hoff won the race on his debut, catapulting it into the global spotlight as a premier platform for the worlds best marathoners to compete.

“Without a doubt it is one of my favourite races of the year,” said former world champ Hank McGregor, who has experienced more than his fair share of misfortune on this race. “The water is clean, it’s stunningly beautiful in the Berg, the river is demanding, and we always land up racing against the best river paddlers in the country.”

It has hosted the SA River K1 championships several times now, and the demanding rapids, and sections that require flatwater marathon skills, have made it a thoroughly respected competition format, whose winners roll reflects the very best canoeists this country has produced.

The Drak has been the fastest growing race in the country for several years now, with paddlers voting the race in website polls their favourite race of the year, and easily the best value-for-money.

The race proudly calls itself “the most fun you can have canoeing”. That is reflected in the thousands of visitors to Underberg, Himeville and surrounds on that weekend, and in the weeks preceeding the race.

The local community welcomes these visitors with it’s unique hospitality, and a gradually expanding programme of events aimed at entertaining the spouses, seconders and children, as much as the paddlers. From the popular social Saturday afternoon golf day at the rustic Underberg Country Club, to the rollocking Saturday night beerfest, to craft markets and pony rides and tubing for the youngsters.

There is only one way to work out why it is now the third biggest race in the country, behind the Dusi and the Fish. Pencil the date into your diary now. Take on the river in whatever conditions it is on raceday, and embrace the festive weekend that has become iconic in the paddling community.