The next W.C.C.U. competitive canoeing event will take place this weekend, on Saturday and Sunday, 31th/1th July/Aug, on the Olifants River, situated in the Olifants River Valley in the Citrusdal region. The event is held (obviously) in 2 stages, with stage 1 on Saturday being the 18km section between Patrysberg and the upper reaches of the Clanwilliam Dam (by way of the Algeria Bridge) and stage 2, on Sunday, also 18 km, from Bieseisvlei to the Citrusdal Bridge.

Stage 1 is always a mass start, with the field covering approximately 500 m before tasting their first bit of action when the first rapid of the day is encountered. Thereafter the action comes thick and fast – thick with relation to the bush and Palmiet in the river bed and fast in relation to the speed of the water as is flows down the many and various channels through this bush. This is also the river race at which seconds, by following the river on an elevated road on river-right, are able to view the progress of the paddlers in the river below – often with hilarity when they view canoeists charge across an open pool only to disappear into thick bush moments later and in places where they should not be. Many an experienced canoeing racer has found him or herself coming out of a maze of Palmiet channels, only to be towards the back of the field, there having been another, easier channel open, which in their haste, they missed! Correct decision making in a fast flowing, narrow river with many channels is the challenge here. This is also a section of river when the supposed obvious, e.g. staying on the near side in a bend on the river doesn’t always work and stories are legendary of paddlers running out of water (even when the river is full) and resorting to climbing trees to seek a way out of their predicament by finding just where the river does flow through seemingly impenetrable Palmiet and trees.

But let the above not put anyone off – the water of the Olifants is crystal clear (it is also very cold!) and drinkable, the terrain is challenging and any canoeist who has shot the rapid (incorrectly) known as The Waterfall, can put a tick into their ‘Canoeing Book of Life’, because some paddlers, experienced ones at that, have never found it! And shooting it is the best way to go! At the present height, the chances of having to portage the Algeria bridge are good as paddlers probably won’t be able to get underneath it, but that gives a chance to stretch the legs and, if done effectively enough, to make up time on one’s competitors.

Stage 2 on Sunday, is in many ways quite different from the 1st day – the river is much narrower and as a result, paddlers are sent off in small bunches – the size of which is determined on the day and based on the previous day’s results. From Biesiesvlei to the Algeria bridge, paddlers can expect a fast, rollercoaster ride all the way to the finish, but beware the tightness of many of the bends in those Palmiet channels – getting the nose of one’s canoe stuck into the Palmiet may well put the canoe completely across the flow of the channel which could be problematic – to say the least!.

The camaraderie of the Olifants paddlers and the hospitality afforded and Milnerton Canoe Club, is the stuff of legend and it is a race not to be missed, despite the long drive out. So, make a good weekend of it – you will not be disappointed as the area is spectacular, snow-covered peaks will probably be in evidence and you will experience a river adventure of

The race starts on Saturday at 10h30 from Patrysberg Farm – pointers to the start will be on the road (the road running west out of Citrusdal to the Algeria bridge – i.e. on river right as one faces downstream. Registration will be from 09h00.
Foe more information as well as directions to the start, go to the Milnerton Canoe Club website HERE (M.C.C. is hosting this event).