New Dates for Wild Descent

News Release / 23.01.2013

100% Pure Racing, the company behind a new multi day expedition style kayak event on the Clutha River in Central Otago, have today announced new dates for the Wild Decent after postponing earlier this month due to high water levels.

The event will now be held from Thursday the 25th April to Sunday the 28th April, 2013.
Event co director Warren Bates says after looking at all options available to them, April is the best month to host the rescheduled event without clashing with other major sporting events in the region.

“ It was very disappointing to have to postpone earlier this month due to circumstances beyond our control but the new dates on the last weekend in April should be a good alternative for all the teams and competitors involved.

Everyone is so very keen to race in this event that we don’t foresee too many changes to the line up and in fact it allows us to continue to hold entries open for another couple of months.”

The Wild Descent will see teams of two kayak aprox 260kms down the Clutha River starting near Albert Town in Wanaka and finishing on the east coast at Kaka Point, Dunedin. The race will be run over four stages and take on a variety of challenging white water sections.

“  One of the unique aspects of this race is that we provide the Adventure Racing Duo kayaks so competitors don’t have the hassle of transporting them. They just need to turn up with their own camping gear and food and the rest is taken care of by our team.”

The appeal of kayaking the mighty Clutha River has attracted some big names from adventure sports including nine time Coast to Coast winner Steve Gurney, current Adventure Racing World Champions Nathan Fa'avae and Sophie Hart and Coast to Coast record holder Keith Murray.

“ We have a real mixed bag of competitors from the high profile racers to those who are coming along for the fun and experience of kayaking down the Clutha River by day and then camping alongside it at night,” says Mr Bates. “ We will be accepting new entries up until the end of March and all the entry details are online at wilddescent.com.”