North Esk Paddle Fest EOI

The North Esk Paddle Fest is a kayaking festival held on the North Esk River each year involving:

- Down River Time Trial

- Ball Race Team Event

This year the competition is opening entrees to inflatables meaning we can enter a raft or two!  Likely with teams of either 2 or 3 people per raft we will fight it out looking to score a fast time in the time trial and have a lot fun in the 'ball race'. The Ball Race sees teams of 3 kayakers (or 1 raft) shepherding a large fitness ball down the river, whilst deflecting the ball of several other teams on river and aiming to be the first to cross the line at the end of the course. Check out the videos below for more info.

We will drive up on Friday either in the evening or earlier in the day for a practise lap. The event will take place on Saturday followed by a night at a local pub with other competitors. On Sunday the Cataract George will be flowing with many kayakers taking on the challenge, this will be a great spectacle to watch from the hiking trails lining the Gorge. Due to the grade 5 rapids and associated risks we won't be rafting the Cateraract. We will camp/stay in Launceston for the weekend, exact location TBD.

Sign up if you are keen! Once we have a few people interested we will start to put teams together. Due to the nature of the North Esk (grade 3+) you will need to have rafted the North Esk before and be comfortable self rescuing. Check out some footage of the festival from previous years:

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/MFcBy2FYKnvJeZNH/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5y_f6htdyu0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CL0SfQ6VNeU

Cost: There is a $30 per person cost to sign up to the competition. 

Trip Leader: Toby Harrington

Senior Guides: Joshua Rester