After an early wake up, an hours' drive, a ten minute bus trip and a twenty minute walk we reached our spot in the Walyunga National Park where we were hopefully going to get our best pictures of this years Avon Descent. This is the only event in the world (according to Wiki!) where power craft race paddle craft, with time handicaps of course and I've just heard that this years winner was two brothers in a kayak, yay go paddle power!! This is a Grade 2- 4 white water rapids race and it's 133 grueling klms test the endurance of the fittest athlete. As they came around the corner and tried, not always successfully to dodge the many hidden rocks, there was a collective groan from the spectators. It was pretty hard to pick, out of the many photo's I took, so I went mainly on expressions, if you have a little zoom in on faces, the agony and the ecstasy is there...!! I've shown the kayakers today, will put up some of the speed boats tomorrow. Hope you had a good weekend, sorry for lack of comments yesterday, back to normal today.....!!
These photos are amazing. Fantastic shots of this unique event.
ReplyDeleteThese are great action photos. I would have loved to have seen this.
ReplyDeleteUnbelievable! Not for a mill $$ would I do that. Great shots Grace!
ReplyDeleteBravo for these brave souls. I"m too afraid to do it but admire those that do and t hose that photograph their adventures!
ReplyDeleteV
That looks like bunches of fun to see. I would never -- repeat, never -- compete in rapids like this, but it would be a ball to photograph.
ReplyDeleteWell, I would not kayak in these rapids but I do love white water rafting... great shots, Grace, and that last one made me say "oopsie daisie!"
ReplyDeleteBises,
Genie
Grace, these are incredible shots of an amazing contest of wills, skills, and sheer daring-do. The water looks treacherously rough...actually roiling. What an incredible scene to observe and to photograph!
ReplyDeleteAwesome shots!
ReplyDeleteWow, fabulous series of shots. You have your action photography skills down.
ReplyDeleteWow, wow, wow! Fantastic shots... that river is really swollen and fast...
ReplyDeletealive!!!
ReplyDeleteAloha from Waikiki;
Comfort Spiral
> < } } ( ° >
It had to be a great race, full of tension forces and fight for supremacy. Nice series of photos. Describes the effort and strain on race participants. Peter.
ReplyDeletewow must have been so exciting!
ReplyDeletewaouhh superbes photos et reportages sportives, beaucoup d'energie des canoes dans ce torent
ReplyDeletewhat an amazing set of water action! great captures of rapid water movement and very fine detail at the same time. spot on!
ReplyDeleteGreat shots Grace
ReplyDeletehave a nice new week
ciao
Matteo
Photos are very successful, I see well the difficulty of the event. I hope that the man in the yellow oilskin did not finish the race under the canoe
ReplyDeleteI'm a coward...
ReplyDeleteBut I love your photos!
Looks like it's just as exciting for the spectators as the participants - the caption fits the photos well Grace!
ReplyDeleteSuperb photos Grace - the energy was coming through my monitor!
ReplyDeleteYesterday I lost a pillow of my couch, but I was bale to recapture it without much effort...
ReplyDeletebale=able
ReplyDeleteReally great action shots... those kayakers are far braver than me :-)
ReplyDeleteBreathtaking. Julie and I just talked this weekend about how we are not going to do any more risky things on trips or vacation, including taking photos from the edge of big drop offs. We were at Yosemite about 2 months ago, and a few weeks ago at Yosemite a church group stopped for photos on a hike next to the river above Vernal Falls. A couple climbed to the other side of the rail for a closer pose for a photo. The woman slipped into the river, her husband tried to reach for her and slipped in. Another man tried to help and he slipped in. A crowd of onlookers couldn't do anything but watch as they were swept down over the raging, rocky falls of more than 100 meters. They just this weekend finally found one of the bodies.
ReplyDeleteOne of the onlookers said that he will never forget the expression on the face of the man as he floated towards the falls, and the couple as they clenched in a tight embrace before going over the falls together. Sorry to share such a tragic story.
I am glad that the people in your photos are wearing helmets, and I trust they know their capabilities and hope they will not take unnecessary risks.
Stunning action shots Grace. It's a fantastic event. Looks like you were able to find a great location. Look forward to more photos tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteGreat action shots! Whitewater is beautifully dramatic - but scary! To me, anyway ... so I can't help but admire those who challenge and conquer it!
ReplyDeleteMarvelous work here! That is some serious white water!!!!!
ReplyDeleteThat 4th photos is fantastic. Great head.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fantastic series, Grace! The photos are amazing! Well done.
ReplyDeleteYikes! What a way to start a week.
ReplyDeletemust have been exciting to witness this spectacular event !!!!!!!!! The pictures are very impressive !!!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteLooks pretty wild!
ReplyDeleteReally nice shots of the action!
ReplyDeleteGreat photos, very wild action.
ReplyDeleteFantastic shots of wild waters and love all the perspectives of the kayakers clearly enjoying the thrill!
ReplyDelete133 kms? That's insane! Looks pretty intense in those rapids, Grace. Nice set of pics:-)
ReplyDeleteWaoooh !
ReplyDeleteGreetings from France,
Pierre
http://pierre-boyer.blogspot.com/
WondefulPictures
ReplyDelete