Kayakers Invitation

From the 9th – 11th March 2007, the Blyde Canyon Adventure Centre will host the first Xtreme festival held in the Limpopo province – South Africa.

The festival will be held at Geluk Landgoed farm on the Lower Blyde River, in the middle of Big 5 country, with the Kruger National Park a stone throw away.
A 180 bed rustic camp has just been built on the festival grounds and we hope to attract between 80 – 110 kayakers to the festival.
Apart from the kayaking activities, quad and dirt bike trails, paintball, tubing and climbing walls will be available. Of course, a bar will be available for “thirsty” people.
Rivers to be run:
- The Upper Blyde River (Saturday 10)- Class 4. This is an Exteme river race not for the faint hearted. The Blyde Canyon is the 3rd largest canyon in the world, and the largest vegetated canyon. A film crew will take footage of the Upper Blyde from a helicopter the day before the race and we will show it to all the kayakers that night, so as to give everyone a better idea of what’s in store for them. This is an open class men’s, woman’s and junior race for experienced and intermediate paddlers. Maximum boat length 2.5m. There are 4 sections to be raced, which include rapids such as amphitheatre, alleys staircase, terminator and gutter. Only 40 kayakers will be allowed to participate in this section.
- The Lower Blyde River (Sunday 11)- Class 2-3. Begins just out of the canyon, weaving its way through prime farming areas till it meets up with the Olifants River. It will be a beginner’s class race, no limitations on boat length or amount of paddlers. There will also be a raft race on this section for the non-kayakers.
- The Olifants River- Class 2-4. Will be raced if the Upper Blyde is in flood and is unrunnable. (We doubt that we will have to resort to this)

Our primary mission is to introduce the kayaking community of the world to the kayaking opportunities in the Limpopo and Mpumalanga provinces by photographing and documenting both well-known and unknown rivers.
The festival is therefore a great building block for our mission.
The festival will have a film crew – who will televise the event in conjunction with White Water Training.
If the festival is a success it will become an annual event, and will therefore increase in size and popularity with every year that passes.
Our sponsor’s so far are:
- White water training
- Goya – Kayaking gear
- Fluid – Kayaks and gear
- Toyota
- First National Bank
- Rudamans

For more info:
Chris Huddle +27824561086 (South Africa) - [mail address protected from spambots with javascript]
Sheena van Schoor +27829621735 - [mail address protected from spambots with javascript]
www.blydeboys.wetpaint.com

Hope to c u guys there
Sheena van Schoor

Sounds good. Should have water still at that stage. A mate of mine just went down with Hugh du Preez and he says they didn't paddle it because it was flooding... You're down there. Is that right?

Don't forget to send the word out on the tangent...

Show of hands. Who's going down next weekend? Chris tells me they've had some rain and the river is up. He also says that it's drops fairly slowly so we should still have water for the event. Worst case is that we have to paddle below the dam and organise a release from the dam.

Pretty sure I'll be going down, unless something major happens.

L8er

hehehe, ok cool. Well, it's going to a jol anyway. I'll give Brendan a call. I think Luke is driving with me as well.

Ja, julle manne drink veel to veel! Ek is 'n ou man nou haha

If I compete I think the chance of beating Shane won't be too high. Think he'll be charged up after being beaten at Thrombi. Enjoy the Tugela and don't drink too much. Glad you've recovered. Pics from the weekend up on my site this week or early next. Plus a little video footage.

I believe this is the view from the camp site:

I see.

No idea on final numbers. Only know the top 3 which you probably know already. As written on the tangent:

\"The downriver Salomon Kayak Sprint race proved to be the most popular event of the Thrombi X-Fest 2007. 40 top kayakers from all over South Africa, as well as a number of international kayakers competed head to head down the gnarly class 4+ rapids that the Thrombosis Gorge has to offer. The victor of the event was marathon specialist Shaun Biggs (Jeep) followed closely by Graeme Anderson (Jeep) and in 3rd place international paddler Shane Raw from Swaziland. The ladies was won by Jackie Fourie.\"

Hope they don't make the race course too long. I couldn't be bothered to race 2 kilometres and then walk back every time... Just as well I missed my heats at Thrombi because we had some awesome fun anyway doing our own thing!

Sms me about any upcoming trips. Shot.

I dont know if uv ever paddled the Upper Blyde, iv got more than 200 days experience on it and its solid grade 4 all the way. U shud come join us da wknd - so that u can show me da easy lines u talking about.

Just give Andrew Kellet a ring and ask him about the Upper Blyde. He will b able to tell u exactly wot its like.

Awe

Looks like there was some rain last week in the area. Here is the river right by the camp. Also seems like there will be some rain today and maybe tomorrow too. Pics from their site:

http://image.wetpaint.com/image/1/kfUjJchTuuYTYTOgLpFImA96968/GW500H333

http://image.wetpaint.com/image/1/BUShBNpp8tca2hcHwfJLVg76563/GW500H333

Should be pretty good. I'm looking forward to it.

I've been trying to rally up people for the event and have only recently realised that the Cape Argus Pick ‘n Pay Cycle race is on in Cape Town this weekend. Loads of paddlers are keen cyclists and I hope not too many others won't be coming to the festival. I guess the dates should have been more carefully scrutinised. I know of a handful that won't be coming to the festival because of the cycle race. Pity.

Awesome event. Article with more pictures and some nice video footage up soon. I decided to slack on the photos and film a bit more this time. Here are 2 pics. First one taken by me of Alley's Staircase.



Second by Luke Longridge of log waterfall. Paddler: Ernest Vosloo aka Underground Ernie.



Hopefully some more water next year, but still very good fun! Thanks to all the sponsors and the organisers.

Article up now:

adrian.playak.com/index.php?option=com_c...p;id=26&Itemid=3

Enjoy. Feedback always welcome. Good or bad.

And yes, I know, I'm not the world's best video editor.

More to come on Montrose Falls, Olifants with almost no water, Klip river and the Ash trip from Wednesday.

Hi there,

For those interested.

Thanks to Chris Huddle I found out about the footage, he tells me that the Blyde X-Festival will be shown on television as follows:

9 April SS5 20:30
10 April Mnet & SS2 08:00
7 May KykNet 21:30

Enjoy