Thrombi X-Fest Revival Rocks

 

The revival of the once well-known Thrombi X-Fest extreme festival on the Umzimkulu River, outside Underberg in the southern Drakensberg, bears testimony to this. Although really only a participatory event for those with a slight marble loose, this event offers so much more to spectators than at first sight. The event was staged in the early 2000s by two local paddlers, namely Graeme Anderson and Ross O’Donoghue, and in 2006 the event came to a sudden halt as both left varsity to work. And so the paddling world was left with a void in the extreme kayaking division that offered a quality section of extreme river kayaking on the Umzimkulu River.

 

The resurgence of the event came about in somewhat unfortunate circumstances. Event co-founder and keen kayaker Graeme Anderson, tragically passed away from rabies during 2012, and his death was a shock to everyone who had known him. During late 2012, the idea was borne to reignite the event in honour of Graeme and his love for the area and kayaking, and so the 2013 Thrombi X-Fest was reintroduced. Not only was it reintroduced but paddlers from across South Africa and even the world (Swaziland and French paddlers made the trip through to Underberg as well) descended on Underberg in early February, taking the entry numbers to just under 50 paddlers.

 

The Umzimkulu River is known for its unpredictability. One day you can experience an 80 cumec flow, the next day it can be 5 cumecs, all based on localised rainfall in the small catchment that feeds this stretch of river. Luckily, good rains over the week leading up to the event had the river running at medium/full, a perfect level for the event.