Hansa Powerade Drak Challenge Media Release

 No: drak0807

20 Feb 2008

Berg flood leaves Hansa Powerade Drakensberg Challenge organisers wary.

Underberg - Organisers of the weekend’s Hansa Powerade Drakensberg Challenge canoe marathon are anxiously watching the water level of the Umzimkulu River, which burst its banks following a heavy thunderstorm in the area on Tuesday night.

With around a thousand paddlers expected to enter the two day race that starts high in the foothills of the Southern Drakensberg and passes through Underberg, the race organisers are adamant that paddler safety will remain their top priority.

“On Tuesday night the river at the start of the first day, at Castleburn bridge, was way above the level of the 1994 race,” said race committee chair Tex Turton, referring to the flood conditions that greeted the athletes on the first ever Drak Challenge.

“The river empties very fast, so this ‘bullet’ of flood water will subside during the next twenty four hours,” Turton added. “There are forecasts of more rain later in the week, but the effect on the river depends very much on whether the rains fall into a very small and specific catchment area in the mountains.”

Part of the appeal of this race has been its total reliance on rainfall, which provides differing water levels each year. After two ideally full years, last years race was held on a low river and the start was moved ten kilometres downstream.

The final decision on the race format will be made on Friday, after assessing the prevailing river levels. “But rest assured that that decision will be based heavily on the safety of every single paddler,” Turton added.

“This race is the fastest growing race on the calendar because so many less experienced river paddlers enjoy taking part, and we will do everything to ensure they are safe and have a good time at this year’s race.”

The flooding has also created a new headache for the race committee, as they will have to inspect the entire river once the floodwaters have subsided to ensure that no trees have fallen into the river that might pose a risk to the paddlers.

“We spend a great deal of time every year cleaning up the river, and removing trees that fall into the river, especially wattles that grow on the banks,” Turton added.

“After a flood like this there is quite a good chance that trees will have slipped into the river, so we will get our teams onto the river to identify these trees, and remove them with chainsaws.”

The Hansa Powerade Drakensberg Challenge takes place in Underberg on 23 and 24 February. Late entries close on Wednesday 20 February at midnight. More information is available on the race website at www.drak.co.za

ENDS

Richard Jardine/
Gameplan Media