Ask yourself this. Would you … get out of bed on a Sunday morning, a 2 degree winters Sunday morning, don a wet suit, then head on to the river to spend two days hurtling down 124 kilometres of flat water, and white water rapids, with only a shallow powerboat for protection? No … exactly. Why then have some normally sane people from across Australia, and in fact the world, travelled to Northam to do this every year for the past 40 years? Something worth pondering? … I thought so.
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Last Sunday morning I went to the rivers edge near Burswood Entertainment Complex, or should that be The Crown, either way you know where I am. I’d had the heads up that some of the competitors would be trialing their boats there.
Arriving I saw a couple of powerboats and several very serious wetsuit clad competitors. Racing helmets on they looked quite intimidating so I stood back and watched on for a while. It wasn’t long however before my pondering mind got the better of me …
First I pondered about what was inside the boat. Maybe, just maybe I might consider it if there were 100% soft down Egyptian pillows, a small bar heater and a cocktail cabinet, or failing that a friendly St Bernard dog, small barrel attached.
Approaching the foreshore I peeked inside one of the boats, all the while feeling the glare of its owners watching on from behind me … stay calm, stay calm.
Confronted by something reminiscent of a just opened sardine can, I thought at least the owners wouldn’t be worried about me sabotaging their boat, there wasn’t anything there to tinker with. Perhaps it was just that model, perhaps others have more gadgets? But looking to my left I noticed that while the land bound boat beside me had more stickers on its outside, sadly it had the same lack of fixtures and fitting inside, where was Home Improvement when you needed it.
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© The Ponder Room
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Secondly the other race paraphernalia lying around on the foreshore did little to subdue my scepticism.
But then I sat watching the competitors set off and raced up and down in front of me.
I was almost hooked but there was still one question to ask … why? …
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© The Ponder Room
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© The Ponder Room
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© The Ponder Room
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‘Why?’ the competitor asked looking utterly stunned by my question.
‘I’m a thrill seeker’, he announced than followed up with a giggle.
Okay, but that still hadn’t really answered my question, but he went on to explain that he rides motorbikes, speed boats and drives petrol tankers for a living, so … no stress then. He also explained that they’d come 11th in their third year of competing, a fantastic effort and no doubt a strong reason to keep competing. I got the feeling that he’d be up for it for the next 40 years as long as he could find a sponsor, as he’d already spent ‘somewhere between $15,000 and $40,000’ over the past three years. Another competitor who had sponsors said it cost her around $4,000 per competition.
Clearly I was nowhere near ready for the challenge, perhaps if I build up to it. I could start by cranking up the gym step machine to level 3. If I work hard, really hard, I should be just about ready for the 80th anniversary of the race, where my age would see me breeze my way into Legend status.
This year marks the 40th anniversary of the event so there’ll be anniversary polo shirts, DVDs, and the Avon Descent Legends will be announced at a formal dinner. Run during the weekend of August 4th and 5th the event also includes free Act-Belong- Commit Family Fun Days. For more information go to http://www.avondescent.com.au/
Seriously though all the best to the brave men and women who are getting out amongst it and having a go this year, you’re all an inspiration. Keep safe.
2 Comments
Great piece Why indeed Ax
Thanks A. Yes I’m still asking myself why 🙂