With all the flooding a few months ago, it seems perfectly natural to wonder how this year’s Avon Descent could be affected.
After all, the race has been a WA institution for over forty years.
A two-day event spanning 145 kilometers mixing paddle and power craft held on the Avon and Swan Rivers. It hosts a strong community of dedicated athletes from all over the globe attracting worldwide press coverage. It’s kind of a big deal.
So what sort of water levels can one prepare for?
To get some expert insight, I went to someone who knows the course better than just about anyone. Thirteen-time Champion of the Avon Descent, veteran paddler, Darryl Long. The 54-year old hailing from Ashfield representing Ascott Kayaking Club, knows a thing or two about water levels. “Lower water levels means more time,” he said.
“When the water levels are higher the river has more momentum and times are faster. “In 1981 the weather provided the ability to break the record, but the next year in 1982 the water levels were so low people were injuring themselves out of exhaustion.
“In 83’ it was all wet again and the highest I’ve ever encountered reaching 7.6 meters. “The challenge is that you never know what you are going up against,” Darryl explained.
Darryl thinks there is so much anticipation in trying to predict the weather in events like this because there is so much preparation required in advance for such a complicated two-day event.
Predicted low water levels means lower entry numbers, which means organizers have to cut costs and perhaps in the end, for no reason.
This brings me to the conclusion I suspected all along and Darryl confirmed; the beauty of the Avon Descent actually lies in its unpredictability and the ability of the challengers to face anything that the river throws their way.
“The Avon Descent is a marathon,” said Darryl. “It’s very physically demanding particularly on the paddlers. “Its average is 3.5 hours for the first day and 5 for the second day. “Because you are down on the flat by the time you are exhausted, you’ve finished the white water but you still have kilometers to paddle.
“The wind can be a factor as well.” Last year’s headwind was dealt with using GPS to gauge how fast they were going against the wind or if they were better off paddling closer to the bank.
“If you are paddling double, sometimes it’s better to be right in the wind as the boat is weighed down more. “If you are single, you can get knocked around more.
Darryl’s advice for any competitor with regard to the water level is to be prepared for anything. With power, the emphasis is more on your own physical ability and how fit you are can make all the difference in your time and placing. “With power, it’s a matter of knowing exactly where the best line lies in the river from top to bottom,” he said. “Many power boaters must learn the river by paddling since power boating is not permitted on the Avon course during the year.
“The race is their one chance to do it.
“Top competitors in the power boat category have been doing it for multiple years, so success greatly lies in experience.”
In paddling, Darryl suggests getting out and training regularly for fitness and speed so you can paddle hour after hour.
“Even in good water levels, it’s still going to be a lot of hours and a highly skilled person can still run out of steam,” he said.
“Training to win the Avon Descent is extremely time-consuming.
“Two hours a day, five days a week, week in and week out.”
“On racing to finish, Darryl emphasized “just completing the course is a massive achievement.
“The buzz people get just from completing is impressive to say the least. It’s a different mentality but still an achievement and you must be fit just to finish.” The Avon Descent is on August 5 and 6. Find out more on www.avondescent.com.au.
