I was invited to be Captain of the women's South African White Water team in 1995 to compete in the Camel International White Water Challenge held on the Zambezi River in the Batoka Gorge below Victoria Falls.
I am kneeling in front in the green & blue. The front three of us, Mandy Jane and myself are Capetonians, the back three looking at the camera are from Gauteng. Sonja in the red top is an Australian we borrowed who river guided in South Africa with me for a number of years.
The competition included:
- Downriver race (+/- 23 km section) consisting of approximately 20 grade 4 and 5 rapids rated amongst the largest in the world.
- 1km sprint through a rapid called "Stairway to Heaven" - the largest commercially run rapid in the world, which 2 years previously had been graded 6 and therefore unrunnable.
- Slalom course through a section of 4 rapids cdulminating in Rapid No 13, affectionately known as "the Mother"
Our team competed against 30 men's teams from around the world and there was one other women's team - a combined British/Scottish team. Of course, they trained together for some 6 months, sponsored by the British govt. so were able to beat us hardy South Africans into second place. - only just, mind you! I know it doesn't sound like it, but winning to me is certainly not what it is all about! Being at an International sporting event where the passion for paddling is unanimous is nothing short of mind-blowing... Our team was also second in the team spirit award, much to the chagrain of the Russian Team. Again, we were pipped to the post by the South African men's team who, together with their sponsor Kahlua, shared much team spirit with their delicious and free-flowing liquer! Go Boyz... PARTY ON!
