South African Rivers

The amazing sport of downriver Stand Up Paddling (SUP) is developing – and South Africans are in the lead. Recently a group of us went SUPping in the flooded Tugela Canyon, Zululand, tackling the biggest rapids ever run in standing position. Corran Addison and his friends Seth and Donny came to SA from the US to put the new SUP rapid-boards to the test, and they weren’t disappointed. The river was deep and strong. This minimised the risk of falling from high up onto rocks (although SUPpers do wear protective impact jackets, shin- and elbow-guards). The Tugela threw everything it had at them but they stood up to it all. Later we went back to the flooded Vaal and carried on practising.

* Anyone who wants to try out this sport, contact me at yeeha@riverman.co.za or +27842452490. The boards are at the Vaal, Parys, South Africa for try-outs. Or contact Corran at corran@imaginesurf.com We will be taking them back to the Tugela shortly as part of a river proficiency course 8-11 March, along with rafts and kayaks of course!
* For shots of SUPping take a look at my album here.

Background: SUPs are popular on lakes, lagoons and placid rivers, but have never been used to run Class 3-4+ rapids until now. The trip we did featured the major rapids of the Tugela Canyon above Zingela camp – Off the Wall, Frogs’ Playground, Washingmachine, Whirlpool and Liquidiser. We gave most of Washtingmachine a miss because it was suicidally high and SUP technique is not yet up to tackling a high Class 5! But the rest of it got run, spectactularly, with lots of air, plenty of crash and burn, and huge amounts of adrenaline. Corran and his pals have gone back to the States to develop the prototype Spitfire board which is wider and shorter than the two Rapidfire plastic boards that were also used.

Watch this space – SUP is about to taking paddling by storm. Corran’s a great kayaker but his mission now? “Kayaking is cancelled”!

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