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Courtesy Tony Hansen of Rapid Pulse Ltd. 

Deep in the heart of Africa thunders one of the seven wonders of the world....the Victoria Falls. This breathtaking waterfall has amazed explorers, locals and visitors for centuries. Below the Falls the Batoka Gorge compresses a mountain of water into a whirling mass of rapids, whirlpools and boils that are home to the world's greatest White Water Rafting experience.

In September 2001, the Camel White Water Challenge (CWWC) returns to what is undoubtedly the best one-day section of white water in the world, the Zambezi River. For the first time, the CWWC will be held in Livingstone, on the Zambian side of the river. The CWWC will take place from the 4th -10th September 2001 and all participants will be based out of the spectacular new Sun International Falls Resort. 

The CWWC annually brings together the world's top rafting nations to compete on the biggest and most exciting white water rivers in the world. Sponsored by JT International, and Managed by Rapid Pulse, the CWWC is in it's seventh year of existence and has been run on the Zambezi River, Zimbabwe (1995-1997), Reventazon River, Costa Rica (1998), Orange River, South Africa (1999) and Rio Futaleufu, Chile (2000). The CWWC is the world's premier rafting event and has been endorsed by the International Rafting Federation (IRF). 

Background to the Camel White Water Challenge

White Water Rafting is one of the fastest growing adventure sports in the world with over 25 million people actively involved in the USA alone. The IRF, currently has 35 nations actively involved in the sport. Teams qualify through a process of National and Continental Selections, co-ordinated by the IRF. This ensures that the teams represented at the CWWC consist of the top 18 (14 men and 4 women's) teams in the world, including the host nation, Zambia.

The event generates sensational footage with a strong emphasis on adventure, environment, team spirit, competition and fun. The CWWC has a proven track record of six years with international broadcasters. It has annually appeared on CNN & WTN (via Reuters), Trans World Sport International, Gillette World of Sport, Sky Sports, Fox Sports, Eurosport, Prime, etc. in addition to the major sport broadcaster in each of the competing countries. The productions annually reach 140 countries and over 1 billion viewers. 

The CWWC consists of four disciplines - Raft Slalom, Raft Sprint, Raft Downriver and Kayak Downriver. Each team comprises of seven members, six rafters and one reserve/kayaker. 

The Events

• The Raft Sprint is undoubtedly the most exciting event and counts for 20% of the points. The Raft Sprint is a head-to-head knock-out race through Grade 4-5 white water, the winners of each race moving into the next round. Heat one sees all teams racing for places in the Quarter-final. The winners of the Quarter-final move into the Semi-final with those winners racing in the Final. 

• Raft Slalom is the most technically challenging event and counts for 30% of the total points. This event demands skill and teamwork as the rafts negotiate their way through eight up- and downstream gates in Grade 5 white water. Penalties are given for touching, missing or intentionally displacing gates. Each team gets two runs with the best time taken for the result.

• The Kayak Downriver Race counts for 10% of the total points and takes place over 9 kilometres of continuous Grade 4 & 5 white water. Visually one of the most impressive events as the 2.4 metre plastic kayaks plough into the 5 metre standing waves of the mighty Zambezi. The event has a mass start, a sight to behold as all twenty kayaks enter the first rapid simultaneously, vying for the lead.

• The Downriver Raft Race is the flagship event and counts for 40% of the total points. A top position in this event is crucial for all teams striving for the coveted Camel White Water Challenge Trophy. Team positions from previous events determine the seeding for this event with rafts setting off in four groups, one minute apart. This race takes place over 9 kilometres of huge Grade 4 and 5 rapids. 

The Programme

Aside from the race schedule detailed below, the programme will be packed with social and cultural activities to enable the participants to live the full Zambian experience. 

Tue 4 September Official practice & Time Trial (#1 to #10)
Welcome Party

Wed 5 September Raft Sprint (#12 to #13)

Thu 6 September Raft Slalom (#7)

Fri 7 September Kayak Downriver (#1 to #10)

Sat 8 September Raft Downriver (#1 to #10)

Sun 9 September Rodeo & Friendship Float (#10 to #21)
Prize Giving Function

The Teams

The final teams for the 2001 CWWC are:

Men: Australia, Brazil, Canada, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, Germany, Italy, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Russia, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, USA & Zambia.

Women: Czech Republic, New Zealand, South Africa & USA.

Enquiries

Please address enquiries to Rapid Pulse Ltd in Cape Town: 

Tony Hansen or Sue Liell-Cock
Tel: (27) 21 761 9298, Fax: (27) 21 797 9633
Email: thansen@iafrica.com 

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