Please select a race report below:
Date Added: 28.08.2005
Trying to report on a race with so many events, this report is quite long, but I have hear worth a read.
Arriving early, giving ourselves lots of time to plot the maps, we are pleasantly surprised to find the maps are ready to race. So now what are we going to do with all this extra time, but it wasn’t long before Ugene was shouting at us to get to the race briefing.
The briefing is mainly around the short paddle section and staying alive, but hey how bad can the river be, we are only doing the flatter section of it.
So off to the start, and there we were, 5 teams against 50, this was going to be a tough 50 to beat, but the AR Wannabees are always up to the challenge. The AR Wannabees are known for their ability to bring up the rear, but things they are changing, I have even seen the AR Wannabees in the results section in certain magazines (so be warned).
Ugene gets us off on time and in the usual flurry, teams tear down the road on their bikes, (and in our case) hoping someone knows where they are going. Soon the road ahead in clear (ok not everyone has left us only the top teams), and there we go riding past the turn off, but only just, a turn around is required and so begins the climbing. The cycle starts to take its toll early, but in our Weight and Age category we appear to be giving a fine performance. Finding PC1 was fairly straight forward with about five teams huddled around the marker. So we should be able to have a rest after the climb there must be flat section now (NOT), continue climbing boys and girls. Ok, now this is getting silly, I can walk faster than I am riding, but don’t feel alone in my long walk to the clouds and the ugly little descent to PC2. This has been a fair leg, but after about another 10 minutes (boy the downhill was cool), we are at the transition, grab a Croc and head for the river (trying to convince myself that this is the flatter section – as advertised on the website).
After the first ripple we are jubilant, thinking that the first rapid is done, but what is the constant roar just ahead (oh Sh—t – who put that there). In AR Wannabees style we cruised (white knuckles and all) through this rapid, convincing ourselves that we are true white water rafting experts – unstoppable.
Heading to the second rapid, trying desperately to get this Croc to go where we want it to go, but still heading down certain sections backwards (haven’t quite got this waxed yet – but not much more time to practice). Into the second rapid, who turned the rudder, we are sideward, and the river god is smiling, over we go. As instructed, Bee and I are clinging onto the paddles and the upside-down Croc with packs hanging off it, oops but not for long, there goes Bee, doing the freelance thing (not sure if he is trying to find a new ride, or is just leaving me – my heart is breaking).
Guess I am now on my own (that song Lonely starts playing in my head). Eventually I managed to entangle myself in some branches to stop my trip down the river (I’d rather try my chances in the Croc the right way up). Here I am trying to turn the Croc over, boy it’s heavy (Hallo there are two packs weighing the thing down), but the Croc eventually saw my point of view and I rolled it over.
Now I know that the AR rules say that you should be within 50 meters of your partner - does this apply to guys falling out of a Croc in a raging river – hopefully Ugene won’t find out or see us.
Getting back into the Croc (still facing the wrong way), I turn it around and start paddling. Where can Bee be, what is that ahead, a drowned rat, no it’s Bee, neck deep in the middle of the river, clinging onto a branch. I suppose he would appreciate me going and getting him, and as an old buddy I head in his direction. Once on top of Bee, we are both hanging onto Croc and branches and trying to stay in one place – and who should come past as Bee is trying to get back into the Croc, but another AR Wannabees team, with a couple of little smirks on their faces (look at us, we are still in our boat haha).
We are now back in the Croc (after a good while in the water), and acting like nothing happened. Approaching the weir, right behind the other AR Wannabees team, we hear the guide say, get out here and back in on the other side, but stay away from the weir (now some people just don’t listen).
As soon as Phil and George (the other AR Wannabees team) enter the water, they get too close to the weir and are sucked in and start to get battered around. That smug look has suddenly disappeared from their faces and appears on ours (like magic). So off we go, leaving the two of them being thrown around like rag dolls, with the guide on her way to save them (saved by a chick – aag shame). After getting entangling in the reeds and freeing ourselves we are heading off for the final rapid.
Judgement day (where do these guys get these names from), into the foam we go, cruising, where did that Kimberley look alike hole come from, no time for the answer, in we go. At this stage we are sitting in the bottom of the boat with just about no control, and the next second I am alone, has Bee had enough on this nonsense. Desperately trying to navigate through the rest of the rapid, I found myself beached on a rock, the water is starting to take a grip of the starboard side (impressed are you – not sure which side this is, but it sounds good), I succumb to the fact that I am about to take another swim. The river god is obviously feeling sorry for me by now, and releases his hold on the croc, up it pops and does a 180 around the rock and I am pointing in the right direction (this must have looked seriously cool and professional to the spectators). Now to find Bee again, there he is, not far away, so we meet again, he clambers back into the croc and we proceed to the end of stage. It has been a most eventful stage.
Off the water, we carry the croc to its final resting place (which I am sure it was grateful for) and proceed to wander back to the transition (of course in AR Wannabees style, getting a little lost on route).
In the transition we are joined by the AR “Weir” Wannabees and another Wannabee team, so some of us group up and head off on the hike / not likely run section. Now in true AR fashion, we look for the highest mountain in the area and confirm that we will have to go to the top of that.
On the hike leg, we considered the option of heading straight for the abseil, but chose to continue, crossing the stream that was creating a lovely waterfall down the mountain. Not that we have had many flat sections, but that must have been it (all 200 meters). So starts the first climb, no traversing, just get up the damn mountain to PC3. At PC3 and with wobbly legs, we realise that we haven’t started the mountain, but climbed up to the plateau and the main climb was still to come (what choice do we have – the feeling is that this bunch of AR Wannabees may actually tag all checkpoints in a QUAC event and be at prize giving – no mean feat). Fortunately for us, there are a number of teams on the climb and we notice that they are zigzagging across the mountain, so after a couple of bushwacking straight up the mountain moments, we appear to have saved ourselves some time. What can you say again climbing a mountain when you are tired, just put one foot in front of the other and get the job done. We did stop a couple of times to really appreciate the views from up there (rolling green hill, ocean – bloody bloody beautiful man).
Ok now we are on top of the mountain PC4 (all this to learn how to tie a reef knot – I already know this one), where is the path down??? What do you mean it’s down that dragon’s back (this is a really skinny dragon) – take your time boys and girls and don’t look down. Hey the path ended!! Now where? What do you mean straight down that mini erosion slide, nothing like the solid firm footing of flat terrain (haven’t seen much of that today). Down we go, slipping, sliding, falling, being overtaken by girls. At the bottom of the descent, we start to check maps for PC5 (how can you not see a substation from here on the edge of the kopje), but ahead of us are a couple of teams coming down the kopje in front of us. They appear to be on a mission, so they must have the PC, guess it is up we go again. Once on top, we realise that Ugene interpretation of edge and ours is different (I think it is a cultural thing). Hey boys and girls 2 PCs to go and still an hour and a half until cut off.
Obviously from PC5 we don’t use the path the whole way to top of the abseil, we have to bushwack again, but eventually end up back on the path. What is that ahead, the flags to mark where the abseil is. At the launch site there are a number of team waiting to go (even another Wannabee team), so we decide we will skip the abseil and climb down, get PC6 and head for 7. Down we climb, and who is there but Mr Race Director himself, stopping us from getting PC6 (we must do the abseil), so ahead is the long walk (too tired to run) to our bikes after a short swim. Across the river (hmm nice warm water), PC7 is a little hidden, as it is lying under the water, but it gets clicked and off we go on our bikes back to transition. Ok gang, we can call it a day or climb up the kopje AGAIN and do the abseil, so off to the abseil it is, and after a short wait over we go, punch PC6 and head for the finish line.
Crossing the finish line with loads of time to spare (9 minutes), we have completed this test set by Ugene. It was been a great day, lots of excitement, tales to tell, plenty of bruises accumulated by the whole AR Wannabee group, we definitely have got value for money once again.
Ugene - thanks for all the effort you put in – setting up courses, organising sponsers and showing us some new and exciting places.
I really appreciate it.
Until the next time.
^ back to top
|
|
 |
|
|
|
