WILD WATER

SA CHAMPIONSHIPS
The Wildwater Committee of Canoeing South Africa would like to invite
all paddlers to compete at the SA Wildwater Championships to be held at the Highover Wildlife Sanctuary (Hella-Hella Umkomaas) on Sunday the 2nd of April 2006. The race distance is approximately 20 minutes and will start at 10 o'clock.

Canoeing South Africa will have 10 plastic wildwater boats available
for hire. Paddlers wishing to use these boats must be river proficient, A grade, CSA registered and certified competent to paddle a wildwater boat by the provincial wildwater coaches.

As the event is being hosted by the Gauteng Canoe Union all enquiries
are to be addressed to the GCU. info@gcu.co.za attention Bill v/d Walt or the secretary at 011 646 9624.

Warren Stead
Wildwater Committee
Canoeing South Africa

HISTORY
Canoeing South Africa came into being as a direct result of the “Dusi Canoe Marathon”, with the national canoe union being formed the day before the 1954 Dusi. Canoeing comprises four disciplines, which are competed on a national level, each with its own South African Championship title. The disciplines are long distance river paddling, wildwater canoeing, canoe polo, flat water marathon, and the Olympic discipline of sprint and slalom canoeing.

The countries top paddlers became “jacks of all trades”, competing in all the races throughout the year, not focusing on one discipline. It was not until 1993, when South Africa was readmitted to International sport, that local paddlers realised how far behind the International standard they were. They began to specialise in their chosen discipline and focus on the World Championships every year.

South Africans did participate in World Wildwater Championships in the early nineties. The Wildwater discipline has been re-launched and Canoeing South Africa has sent representative teams to both senior and junior World Championship events every year since 2002. Wildwater paddling is an exciting discipline. It involves paddling down a section of about 4km of fast moving water with continuous rapids and obstacles. It is a sport requiring exceptional speed, fitness, endurance and skill. Wildwater racing is the purest and most satisfying canoe racing in the World.

The venues for this type of racing are always in beautiful mountainous areas. There is a strong association between fun; nature; environment; sport; friendship; global thinking; fitness; and skill. Television coverage is spectacular.

1. WILDWATER PADDLING IN SOUTH AFRICA & INTERNATIONALLY

Wildwater paddling is a fully-fledged discipline under the control of CSA (Canoeing South Africa). Competition concentrates on junior, senior and masters categories for men and women.

Individuals compete for themselves and as teams. A team consists of three paddlers setting off together and timed over the wild water section. Team racing is exciting and tactical and provides excellent spectator viewing.

Wildwater Races will be held throughout the rainy season in South Africa. This will culminate in Provincial Championships in March and National Championships early in April. At the national championship (to be held on the Umkomaas River in KwaZulu Natal) a South African team will be selected to participate in the 2006 World Champs.

South Africa has an unusual advantage in the scope and variety of exciting rivers that has led to the growth of river marathon racing in this country. As such the Federation has at its disposal a large core of active athletes who are skilled in rough water kayaking. While there is no formal avenue to compete internationally in rough water marathon racing, canoeing South Africa is therefore eager to channel this vast resource of river paddlers into Wildwater racing, where it is felt a national team of medal winning calibre is realistic in the very short term. The Federation is actively working towards the expansion of all domestic and international Wildwater activities in this regard.

SEE OUR RESULTS!!

HAVEN'T GOT A BOAT?
Please be advised that the Wildwater committee now have plastic
wildwater boats (wavehopper's) with all of the related equipment needed to race - paddles, helmets, lifejackets and spraydecks. These boats are on a trailer and will be taken to races set up in Gauteng and KZN.
Canoeing South Africa have appointed coaches in KZN and Gauteng to
give instruction and assist in running a race series in conjunction with the Provincial and national races. Prospective paddlers are required to be river proficient and a small charge will be levied for the use of the equipment.
So if you ever had aspirations of racing wildwater, wanted to improve
your river skills or just have a go at this discipline contact either myself for the Gauteng races or Craig Mustard ( 0724558532) in KZN.
If you had any worries about the small cockpit's associated with
wildwater boats you need fear no longer. The wavehopper has a large cockpit which is easy to get out of. Boats will be taken to the races by the coaches and all you need bring is your shorts and club colours.

Please contact either myself or Craig for more info and race details.

Look forward to seeing you at the next wildwater race.

Warren Stead
Tel: +2711 606 3623
Fax: +2711 606 3626

INTERESTED? WANT TO START WILD WATER?

CONTACT BILL VAN DER WALT AT

theboys@telkomsa.net OR CALL HIM ON 083 266 7750

Bill
GCU WW Convenor