Stand Up Paddling included in the Avon Descent, WA
Stand Up Paddlers will join in this year!
Since 1973, paddlers in all kinds of craft from single surf ski's to dinky little powerboats, have negotiated the turbulent waters in the Avon and Swan rivers, over two gruelling days. The event has since become one of the standout events in WA, if not the world due to it's unique format and world class conditions. This year, to celebrate the 40th event, the organisers have stepped up their game and included not only stand up paddling, but outriggers and dragon boats for one component of the course.
Now there's no way anybody is crazy enough to take a dragon boat down these rapids, even the stand up paddlers (who do take on rapids) would think twice about these. So for the more fragile craft, there is a shorter, 15km leg that takes place on the beautiful flat water section of the Swan river from Middle Swan Bridge. Of that course, the stand up paddlers only do an 8km leg which starts at the half way mark, although most are happy with that.
For the rest of the entrants, it's a two day affair with day one spanning 57km from Northam to Toodyay. The competitors camp overnight in the freezing cold bush, and then get up in the morning and slog it out for another 76km through the rapids to Bayswater. Talk on the sea breeze.com.au forums is that the sleep over is an obstacle in itself, but one of the best parts of the event.
It all takes place on the 5th and 6th of August, but entries close soon, on the 12th July to be exact! So don't mess about, if you want to be a part of the very first SUP paddle in the Avon Descent, get on it!
Stay tuned to the forum thread for all the latest, or check out this PDF for entry details.
Fremantle, WA
