Peak UK / Shearwater Zambezi Challenge - Victoria Falls. Zimbabwe September 2003

Imagine... international kayak competition on huge whitewater set in a paradise location below one of the wonders of the world. The first Peak UK / Shearwater Whitewater Challenge on the mighty Zambezi River was just that and a whole lot more….. Around 50 competitors from Zimbabwe, Zambia, England, Scotland, Wales, South Africa, France, Belgium and Germany took part in this unique one boat event. The Peak Challenge is a popular format of event in the UK which combines an extreme slalom style competition with a head to head downriver race and a freestyle event to find an overall whitewater champion. This is becoming a global event with competitons this year in Zimbabwe, Nepal and next year possibly in South America. Event registration took place on both sides of the river bringing together kayakers from Zambia and Zimbabwe. Athletes were welcomed at Shearwater's Elephant park with a relaxed evening barbeque and chance to watch the sun set over the bush as wild animals came to the water hole near by. Paddlers made new international friends and talked excitedly about the three days of competition that lay ahead. Day one was the extreme slalom. It was extreme for sure! The 13 obstacle course twisted it's route down through Rapid 7 "The Land of the Giants". Rapid 7 is the longest and one of the toughest rapids on the Zambezi river. The slalom event here was a real test of skill, fitness and fearlessness!!! Paddlers were timed through the course and awarded time penalties for missing set moves. Moves 8 and 11 were to prove too hard for most as the swirling eddy lines and huge waves threw paddlers upside down and off line. Local safety kayaker Isaac Nyoni was the only man strong enough to complete the entire course and took a well deserved victory in day 1. Day two saw the real test. A mass start downriver race, everyone together from the "Boiling Pot" the surreal area immediately below the massive 111m Victoria Falls, eight kilometers down some of the biggest rapids on the planet including number 5 “ Stairway to Heaven” to the bottom of 7b. To add to all the excitement the co organizers Shearwater Adventures kindly supplied their helicopter for filming the event. This was tough… 35minutes of grueling paddling, but keeping enough energy to survive the rapids, whilst the helicopter filmed not so high above your head. Yet again the local river guides showed their river experience with Torani Muzamba taking the victory in a slightly dated, yet long and fast Dagger RPM kayak. The excitement was hotting up for day three with the final event, the Freestyle being held beneath the Vic Falls bridge and amazing Shearwater bungie on rapid number 2. Number 2 was a perfectly formed set of standing waves where all the latest freestyle tricks were possible. In freestyle competition kayakers are judged for verticality, air time and the variety of moves they perform. The international guys paddling the shorter, modern playboats had a real advantage here over the locals in their older and longer crafts. Spectators lined the river side, bridge and gorge rim to witness what was one of the most exciting freestyle events ever. The athletes worked their way through prelims, quarters, semis and then onto a top five knockout final. An awesome display of boatmanship was shown in the finals with big aerials being thrown head to head by Scotland's Tom Brown and Germany's Sebastian Striebel. Finally Tom Brown took the freestyle title and impressed the crowd with a display of big air blunts and air screws. After all three events the points were combined to find overall winners. Zimbabwe's Doug Greeves took the international title with Zambia's Amioty Silowa taking the locals title and a brand new Riot Kayak. Peak UK and other event sponsors donated kayaking equipment prizes to the less fortunate local Africans which were all well received. Plans have already started to make this event an annual gathering for the worlds whitewater kayakers / rafters on the Zambezi. With a major financial backer this event could become an awesome global media showcase for our sport. If you or anyone you know are interested in helping out please email us. Thanks to all the guys in Zimbabwe that made us feel so welcome and the event sponsors and organizers: Peak UK. Shearwater Adventures. Zambezi.com. Riot Kayaks. Robson Paddles, Teva and Sweet Helmets. Special thanks to Air Zimbabwe for taking all the event equipment.