Avon Descent
Encyclopedia
The Avon Descent is an annual, two-day, white water event involving both paddle craft (kayak
s, surf skis) and small motor boats. It runs from Northam
to Perth, Western Australia
along the Avon
and Swan River
s, and is held in August of every year.
Sponsors and commercial support regularly changes, sometimes annually.
It is the only event in the world where power craft race paddle craft. The course has Grade 2-4 white water rapids and its 133 gruelling kilometres tests the endurance of the fittest athlete. The first Avon Descent was held in 1973. There has been an increase in the prize pool from 2007 of $10,000 providing an extra $6,000 for 1st, $3,000 for 2nd and $1,000 for 3rd fastest single paddle craft. In 2006 757 competitors started the event in 459 craft.
The top class in the powerboats is the 10hp super class. these boats have hydraulic jacks which enable the motor to be jacked up. The motors are unmodified and run a surface piercing propeller. these powerboats can reach speeds of approximately 70km/h
Kayak
A kayak is a small, relatively narrow, human-powered boat primarily designed to be manually propelled by means of a double blade paddle.The traditional kayak has a covered deck and one or more cockpits, each seating one paddler...
s, surf skis) and small motor boats. It runs from Northam
Northam, Western Australia
Northam is a town in Western Australia, situated at the confluence of the Avon and Mortlock Rivers, about north-east of Perth in the Avon Valley. At the 2006 census, Northam had a population of 6,009. Northam is the largest town in the Avon region...
to Perth, Western Australia
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
along the Avon
Avon River (Western Australia)
The Avon River is a river in Western Australia. It is a tributary of the Swan River totalling 280 kilometres in length, with a catchment area of 125,000 square kilometres.-Catchment area:...
and Swan River
Swan River (Western Australia)
The Swan River estuary flows through the city of Perth, in the south west of Western Australia. Its lower reaches are relatively wide and deep, with few constrictions, while the upper reaches are usually quite narrow and shallow....
s, and is held in August of every year.
Sponsors and commercial support regularly changes, sometimes annually.
It is the only event in the world where power craft race paddle craft. The course has Grade 2-4 white water rapids and its 133 gruelling kilometres tests the endurance of the fittest athlete. The first Avon Descent was held in 1973. There has been an increase in the prize pool from 2007 of $10,000 providing an extra $6,000 for 1st, $3,000 for 2nd and $1,000 for 3rd fastest single paddle craft. In 2006 757 competitors started the event in 459 craft.
The top class in the powerboats is the 10hp super class. these boats have hydraulic jacks which enable the motor to be jacked up. The motors are unmodified and run a surface piercing propeller. these powerboats can reach speeds of approximately 70km/h
Further reading
- (1993) Avon descent - Colin Arcus talks about winning the first race in 1957 - Subiaco post, 20 July 1993
- (1991) Souvenir edition of the paper giving details of the Avon Descent race Avon Valley advocate, 31 July 1991, entire issue,
- Longley, Griffin.(2005) Take me to the river. Family groups talk about why they compete in the Avon Descent together. West Australian, 6 Aug. 2005, p. 14-16, West Magazine