The Rodeo is a great event to give Nepali kayakers who would not normally get the chance to compete at an international standard and show the world what they can really do. This year the world was certainly watching as we saw competitors from America, Canada, South Africa, Japan and even Russia!

The event combines a Slalom, Freestyle and a Down River Race. The Slalom comprised of 15 gates on the ‘Surprise Rapid’, 3 or 4 of which were upstream, making the kayakers cross the main flow of the river, really testing their skills. Next was the freestyle which gave people the chance to show off their play-boating skills. Many opted for smaller play-boats, but as competitors were only allowed one boat for the whole event it was a difficult choice to make. Points were awarded for loops, cartwheels and other stunts. After two or three heats, it whittled down the competitors to the main players and Santa Maila Gurung, coming third was the only kayaker left in a creek boat, Santosh Gurung and Anup Gurung who took second and first both using play-boats. On the final day was the down river race. This was made harder this year as the course was extended to 17km, a lot of which was flat water. The ‘Le Mans’ start sorted the men out from the boys and many different tactics were used, some even ditched the idea of a sorting out their spray deck as they thought they would lose too much time. After a few kilometers gaps were appearing and the leaders pulled away from the pack. Once the team hit the Upset rapid, the largest rapid on the Trisuli, creek boats did much better than the smaller boats and many of the kayakers flipped. It was a close end, with Sean Bozkewycz coming in first. Although most the excitement was for the third position which saw two competitors sprint bare foot across the rocks, dragging their boats behind them to be first to cross the line. Photo finish!

The Rodeo isn’t just about kayaking. It’s a great way to spend a weekend and the parties in the evening sort out who the real kayakers are. This year we had a Hungarian DJ providing us with great tunes to dance the night away Nepali style!

Maila in Rodeo Hole

On the final day, awards and prizes were given out to the winners of each event and an overall Champion. Kayak equipment was given to the locals and internationals won tour and adventure packages such as Bungee Jumps and Safari trips. Santa Maila Gurung of GRG’s Adventure Kayaking (http://www.grgadventurekayaking.com) retained his title of Whitewater Champion for his third year taking home a brand new Jackson Riot to add to his collection. Many of the kayakers made beating Maila their goal this year and came to the river weeks in advance to practice their skills. Unfortunately for them he wiped the board, being the only competitor to come top three in all events and taking the overall win. He was closely followed by brothers Nim Bahadur Magar and Santosh Magar who also got to take home some fine equipment donated by Peak UK.

This year saw another big push for the Nepali Women’s team. Guided by Inka Trollas the girl’s team have got bigger and better. Susmita, who this year has had the opportunity to compete internationally, took the first place for the girls winning her second kayak in two years. Her younger sister, Goma, also did well this year and we hope for more and more girls to get involved in the coming years.

Another great Rodeo, enjoyed by hundreds of people from around the globe. Keep an eye out for next years event. We’re hoping to make it an even better event next year. Perhaps this could be the start to get Nepali kayakers on the road to the Olympics or more international competitions.

For more pictures of the event visit: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=174187&id=71356729497&page=2#/album.php?aid=172381&id=71356729497&ref=mf

The Nepal Association of Rafting Agents (NARA) is organizing the whitewater running festival namely, 9th Mountain Dew Himalayan Whitewater Rafting Challenge 2009 with an aim of promoting general tourism along with promoting rivers of Nepal as the world’s premier river running tourism destinations.

The three day event is taking place in the Trishuli River from November 27 to 29 and the event will feature kayak slalom, kayak freestyle and kayak down river race respectively for three days, according to the organizer.

This event will take place on Trishuli River next to the villages of Charaundi and Fishling of Dhading and Chitwan district. The organizer aims to create opportunity of employment to the local villagers as construction workers, security guards, porters, helpers, transport specialist during the event in order to facilitate local economic development. Trishuli River which is about 85 km west of Kathmandu is popular as best destination for short white water river rafting in Nepal.

The organizer informed in a press conference that over 500 internal and international professional and non-professional participants including a delegate from the International Canoe Federation will take part in the event. The winners of the events will be awarded with cash and certificates, NARA informed.

NARA general secretary Ganga Prasad Nepal said that Nepal’s Karnali and Sunkoshi rivers had been included in the world’s top 10 rivers for adventure rafting. Besides these rivers, Nepal boasts fantastic white water rafting destination rivers like Bhotekoshi, Kali Gandaki, Sunkoshi, Tamur, Karnali, Bheri, Seti, etc.

“Rafting is one of the popular products in adventure tourism worldwide, and organizing such programs will help boost Nepal’s rafting industry as a commercial enterprise at both domestic and international levels,” he added. “Similarly, the aim of continuing such activities is to produce more Nepali rafting athletes who will participate in Rafting and Kayaking, usually known as an international rafting sport,” he added.

Mr. Nepal remembering the harsh days of rafting industry during the Maoist insurgency period said that rafting industry was pushed towards insecurity and numerous of rafting agencies were closed during that but now with contentment in his voice he added, “Adventure tourism has started to revive in recent days, and it is in dire need of promotion.