The Geegelup Cup
The last of six (6) races for the 2015 Wild Water season, contested on the Blackwood River, Bridgetown.
Racing in Bridgetown is the highlight of the Wildwater season in WA. We can normally count on good water levels and a great social weekend. A lot of the paddlers make the 3hr trip from Perth on the Friday to start practicing the course and turn it into a 3day paddling weekend. The water levels were at 11.10, enough to cover the rocks and provide some exciting whitewater. ‘Haystacks’ rapid always entertains and is one of the most challenging and exciting rapids to paddle. To get through ‘Photographers’ rapid, your only choice was to go hard on the right hand side, and trying to avoid going into the ti trees. The other nasty rapid was one located just before the chalets, (we need to give this rapid a name) where there is a steep drop with a large rock positioned in the centre and the river takes a sharp left turn.
It was great to see the partners of some of the paddlers get involved and have a paddle also. Jane Hilton had no idea that when husband John packed the marathon K2, that she would be partnering him down the course. “Surprise!!!” Well done Jane. You looked like you were enjoying yourself.
Peter Gigengack escorted his lovely wife Amanda through the course on a PRS, managing to get through all the rapids. All was going well until a bit off premature celebrations at Photographers rapid caused her to have a dip. Luckily, we got the whole thing on Go pro. Awesome job Amanda. We look forward to seeing both Amanda and Jane competing in next years WWR season.