For West Australians the Avon Descent is an iconic event – its uniqueness stems from the fact that paddle and power crafts compete in the one event. Over two days, paddling 134km takes the serious competitors under 14 hours as they traverse through rapids, shallows, two weirs and the notorious tea trees. Having paddled stretches of the river, I can say that it is not easy – particularly in recent years with record low water levels, the kayak seems to bottom out regularly and you spend most of the time dragging in over rocks. That’s before even looking at the chute or smacking your head on a low tree branch. Then there are the obstacles of debris from other boats and swimmers trying to find the shore. Even experienced international paddlers describe this as one of the toughest races in the world because of the variation in the terrain and the difficulty in navigating through the wall of tea trees.
So the idea of a race with serious competitors as well as novices with limited knowledge of the hazards seems a recipe for disaster. Every year on the news there are reports of broken bones, numerous flesh wounds and occasional deaths. Yet it is a strong draw card for the adventurous of heart, and to me it has always been a great achievement to finish and a feat of endurance.ÂÂ
And then there are the powerboats. Some of the most famous Avon winners are those who have powered through three hours of racing. Surely it is nowhere near the physical difficulty, however technically it is still very difficult and perhaps more dangerous due because the same hazards are navigated in a bigger and faster craft with more potential to lose control. Airborne power dinghies flying over the chute provides some of the best entertainment for the spectators and the biggest cheers as they win line honours each year.
For me though, I will always have the greatest admiration for the amateurs. Particularly the ones who have barely trained, spent a few thousand on a kayak they will almost certainly destroy, and take months to recover physically from the weekend. It’s all worth it if you win through to the finish line, and if you don’t – there’s always next year.
Avon Descent 2007 runs from August 4-5. Check http://www.avondescent.com.au for details.
