At 6:30 on Saturday morning with the creek boat strapped to the top of our wagon, coffees in hand and a sleeping seven-year-old in the back seat we set our destination for the Kawarau River. The final race in the New Zealand National Extreme Kayaking Championship was in the gorge at Citroen rapid.
It is a three hour drive along a windy two lane road through beautiful countryside to the river, Grace slept the whole way.
As spectators Grace and I had a tricky hike down into the gorge to the water where we were ferried across the river in an inflatable raft with an outboard motor. Then we hiked along the rocky riverside to the rapid. We had our pick of big rocks to perch upon in order to get a good view. The boaters were competing in heats of four, launching off a wooden ramp. Citroen is a long, big water, class IV rapid, and we had a perfect seat right in the middle. The competition lasted about 3 hours, of which there was lots of full contact boating and plenty of carnage. Winning the competition for the men was Jamie Sutton, Louise Jull won it for the women.
We had a great day full of whitewater fun and excitement!
It is a three hour drive along a windy two lane road through beautiful countryside to the river, Grace slept the whole way.
As spectators Grace and I had a tricky hike down into the gorge to the water where we were ferried across the river in an inflatable raft with an outboard motor. Then we hiked along the rocky riverside to the rapid. We had our pick of big rocks to perch upon in order to get a good view. The boaters were competing in heats of four, launching off a wooden ramp. Citroen is a long, big water, class IV rapid, and we had a perfect seat right in the middle. The competition lasted about 3 hours, of which there was lots of full contact boating and plenty of carnage. Winning the competition for the men was Jamie Sutton, Louise Jull won it for the women.
We had a great day full of whitewater fun and excitement!
Just keep swimming, swimming-Dory Finding Nemo
That's my man! Leading his heat to the finish line!
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