Richard Fly ("Boss of the Eerste") is unfortunately going to miss this year's race as he is away in Canada, but he has sent his expert advice - a must read for all novices to this river! ...
The eerste river race is about rapids fast flow and the best opportunity to improve your river skills technically in the Western Cape. There is no better way to improve than getting yourself onto rivers like this. One of the most important rules when tackling a rapid is to pick a line and stay with it and on the Eerste you do not have a lot of time to pick that line, so when you are approaching the rapid look up look at all the rocks sticking out, look for tell tale signs of rocks lurking just below the surface (water being kicked up unnaturally) and try to work out where the majority of the flow is going, pick your line and stick to it. Learn to read the river because that is what will allow you to improve in rapids.
Hangbrug will be your first obstacle and it is one that can be very straight forward if you keep a few things in mind. The flow here pushes from right to left so if you start dead center you are going to be washed to the left of the chute and end up going directly over the drop. Start right of center keeping track where the chute is (this is tough cause it’s not very visible) and when you are close enough to see the chute make your final adjustments to get down as straight as possible. Don’t panic if you appear to be slightly off line get your nose into the chute and the current will do the rest. (For the less brave there is also the option of a shallow slide on the right)
The rolling waves past Coetzenberg are tons of fun enjoy them and if you find you are getting swamped by them skirt slightly to the side of them. Keep your boat speed up here the current is exceptionally fast and you will be able to control your steering better with a greater boat speed. This is not somewhere you want spin out. A narrow channel, fast current and a sideways boat will never make for a pretty picture. If you fall out in this section turn your boat over as fast as possible get it as straight as possible and keep your legs downstream running along the boat till you can get to the side.
After Coetzenberg you will pass under the road to strand and then comes the first weir. It’s an easy drop, keep your paddle up as you go over with good speed and you will be fine. The marshals will direct you down the left hand side. A short paddle later and you come to the big drop at distel. This one has a nasty bark and no bite. Starting at the center you will drop down a big steep concrete slide. The current pushes left and forms a nice big standing wave very close to the bank on the left hand side. You will hit the wave and pass right through, keep your paddles up as you hit the wave so they don’t get caught in water and drag you over. Paddle a short while and you will hit the next weir which is a compulsory portage.
Soon you will come to a set of rapids which involves some nice big rocks with lots of water flowing over then. Find a nice line pick your way day and paddle confidently. After this there is the big drop at Vredenheim (broken-bridge) the drop looks very nasty but you will slide over very nicely, some of the heavier paddlers can expect to touch the bottom for a bit of a bump as they go over. This is best shot 1m from the left bank heading slightly right. 300m later and you will get to Stay Main the steep gradient here means you won’t see what the rapid is like until you are in it! Relax! Sit up straight and stay confident. There is a slide down a rock where a large wave forms at the bottom and the river kicks to the left. You are going to head straight for the huge rock on the right but the water will keep you away from it. As you hit the wave angle your rudder to the left and the water will do the rest of the work. There are a few drops below, paddle confidently and enjoy these. From Stay main to the finish is a bit of a grind with some small bubblies and a minor weir.
Enjoy the race and remember everybody has a turn to wrap a boat; it’s just a question of when it’s going happen. The eerste always claims a few victims and some of the biggest names in the cape have fallen to this little gem. Don’t miss out on the most exciting race of the season!
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