The Nile freestyle festival 2007
By Jamie Simpson www.kayakthenile.com
photos: Bethany Zylstra
The Third edition of the Nile River festival just ended, and according to the 70+ paddlers that made the trip to Uganda for this unique event, the NRF has become simply one of the best
whitewater events in the world!
A big thanks goes to Nile Breweries who came on board strong once again this year helping with finances for logistics, US$2000 in cash prizes, and ‘the biggest party Jinja has ever seen’.
A multi-race event
This year to encourage participation in all of the events, points were allocated for a top ten place in each event. Ranging from 10 points for a win to 1 point for 10th place. These were allocated across all three events and points were awarded to both team members in the Endurance race.
The 2007 Events included
Nile Special Big Air
The Bujagali - Hairy Lemon 45-km Extreme Endurance race!!
Boda Boda Cross
Ugandan style parties with our very own tequila girls!!
The water was warm and the sun was shining. Is there really anywhere else you would rather be in December?
Here is a day per day report! if you were not this year, make sure to make the trip next year! It is worth it!
Day 1
Friday, Nov 30th
Big Air
Today’s event went off with a bang, we had over 60 competitors to get through - with heats, semis, and mens and women’s finals we had to start early.
Nile Special couldn’t have been at more perfect levels. The river was still up due to a huge Heads of Government meeting, which needed lots of power. This meant huge dam releases.
The men’s heats were first up and with Steve Fisher, Sam Ward, Karl Moser and the whole of World Class Kayak Academy in residence, it was set to be a display of huge aerial proportions. Tyler Bradt, one of the favourites, unfortunately had to take a seat on the judges’ table as he broke his foot the night before trying a back flip….. in the bar!
Due to the huge numbers and short amount of time, we had to be brutal in the cut downs, with only 14 going through to semis. The heats were outstanding, with open wave 30 minute sessions, it allowed everyone to relax, enjoy and go huge!
Next up were Women’s heats, with 14 of the World’s top ladies battling it out. Jessie Stone immediately impressed, throwing massive Air Blunts and back stabs. Jackie Fourie, Michelle Basso and Prossi Merembe obviously impressed the judges and secured places in the next round too.
Michelle Basso came through in the Final to take the title with a massive air blunt, and Morgan Koons took a pasting on one ride but managed to hold on to pull through for second. Jessie, after dominating through all the heats, didn’t manage to hold on in one of the closest finals we have ever seen.
Next up was the Men’s final with four of the World’s best paddlers set for a showdown of epic proportions. Karl Moser, Anton Imler, Steve Fisher and Sam Ward all lined up for the final. Sam came out strong with some bread and butters and KYs and some mean pistol flips. Anton was up next and he immediately showed he meant business. He threw some massive air screws and helixes. Next up was that man Steve Fisher, On his home wave at near perfect levels, he went massive on all counts. It immediately came down to Sam and Steve for the 2nd year running. Sam was throwing everything at it, and was desperate not to have a repeat of last year’s scores. Unfortunately it was not to be for Sam and with one of the most amazing and closest finals the Nile has ever seen, Steve took it by the slimmest of margins.
With two more events to go and $2000 courtesy of sponsors Nile Breweries and Brussels Airlines up for grabs everyone was focused on the next day’s big race, or as focused as you can be when the parties are sponsored by a brewery!
1st Steve Fisher (RSA)
2nd Sam Ward (Wales)
3rd Anton Imler (SWE)
4th Karl Moser (USA)
Day 2
Saturday, Dec. 1st
Extreme endurance Race 45km Class 5
Today was the big race. 45km in the equatorial sun running some of the biggest whitewater, this has to be one of the toughest kayaking races anywhere in the World.
We had a huge line up with 15 men’s teams of 2 and 7 Women’s teams. Waking up too low levels, competitors realised just how lucky they had been for the big air the day before. Low levels meant slower times and longer in the sun for the racers. With $2000 to fight for, the paddlers were keen to get moving.
Dehydration can be a huge problem and safety is paramount, so the logistics of this race are massive. Remote water spots and first aid locations have to be set up. Thankfully everyone got through safely, with only one team dropping out due to severe sunstroke. It was to be a Ugandan year again with Juma Kalikwani and Mtwalibi Mbozi taking the title, in a time of 2hrs 54 minutes. Davey O’Hare and Tyler Bradt (broken foot now in a plastic bag), pulled in to take second. Davey, a video kayaker on the Nile for many years, proved he knew all the fast lines on the river. 3rd was Anton Imler and Doug Mullet.
In the Womens, South African Jackie Fourie and Uganda’s Prossy Merembe took the honours winning by a clear 20-minute margin.
This leaves tomorrow’s boda boda cross as the decider on who wins the bills. Anton Imler is looking strong with Juma Kalikwani not far behind. It’s going to be a tense day and interesting that the least serious event of the weekend will decide this year’s overall winner.
Men’s Endurance Race Results
1st Juma Kalikwani and Mtwalibi Mbozi
2nd Davey O’ Hare and Tyler Bradt
3rd Anton Imler and Doug Mullet
Women’s Endurance Race Results
1st Jackie Fourie and Prossi Merembe
2nd Morgan Koons and Anna Bruno
3rd Michelle Basso and Robyn Munford
Day 3
Sunday Dec.2nd
Boda Boda Cross
This event, totally unique to Uganda, involves kayakers racing down The Bujagali to Silverback section of the river, running up a hill and jumping on a boda boda (50cc moped) with your kayak to race back through the Bush to the Start/ Finish Point. With 14 Women and over 50 men racing today, it was epic. Luckily there was not too much carnage.
A lot was resting on this event; the points from this would calculate the overall winner. Fantastic that the most humorous and least serious of the events would decide.
The women were up first and Prossi Merembe immediately showed her local knowledge and used
the currents to her advantage to lead from the start. Morgan Koons was not far behind, but prosy was just too fast down the course and managed to pick a moped that brought her in at least 2 minutes before the rest of the pack.
The men’s was up next and with our biggest line up yet, the first few rapids were set to be exciting with a mass start.
Ibra Mugembe was pushing hard and Anton Imler, Lochie Carracher and Sam Ward were Hot on his tail. All of these entrants had a shot at the $2000 overall mens prize. Ibra proved just too fast, and came in first to the site, Sam was right behind him. Anton who was favorite to win picked a moped that broke down!! This is all part of the race however. African mopeds tend to well used on bumpy African roads, so flat tires and engine failure were quite common.
In addition this year to add to the humour of the event, the kayak the Nile team set up assault course with rafts cover in soap and bungee cords holding up massive climbing frames. This really opened things up. You could be first of the water, first in on your moped but come last through the challenging assault course. Funnels of Nile special were also mandatory at the end of the race.
It was Ibra’s day however and he pulled through, finished his beer and took the points. This meant after correlating the weekends results Ibra was crowned overall winner and went home with the $2000.
1st Ibra Mugembe
2nd Sam Ward
3rd Mtwalibi Mbozi
Overall Festival winners
Men’s
1st Ibra Mugembe
2nd Sam Ward and Lochie Carracher
3rd Anton Imler
Women’s
1st Morgan Koons
2nd Prossy Merembe
3rd Michelle basso
This Third edition of the Nile River Festival was one again a huge success! A very special event, mixing fierce competition & great humour! The winning mix for Jamie Simpson , and the crew at kayak the Nile. What a great way to celebrate a river under threat of an already started dam construction! Get there before it is too late!
By Jamie Simpson www.kayakthenile.com
photos: Bethany Zylstra
By Jamie Simpson www.kayakthenile.com
photos: Bethany Zylstra
The Third edition of the Nile River festival just ended, and according to the 70+ paddlers that made the trip to Uganda for this unique event, the NRF has become simply one of the best
A big thanks goes to Nile Breweries who came on board strong once again this year helping with finances for logistics, US$2000 in cash prizes, and ‘the biggest party Jinja has ever seen’.
A multi-race event
This year to encourage participation in all of the events, points were allocated for a top ten place in each event. Ranging from 10 points for a win to 1 point for 10th place. These were allocated across all three events and points were awarded to both team members in the Endurance race.
The 2007 Events included
Nile Special Big Air
The Bujagali - Hairy Lemon 45-km Extreme Endurance race!!
Boda Boda Cross
Ugandan style parties with our very own tequila girls!!
The water was warm and the sun was shining. Is there really anywhere else you would rather be in December?
Here is a day per day report! if you were not this year, make sure to make the trip next year! It is worth it!
Day 1
Friday, Nov 30th
Big Air
Today’s event went off with a bang, we had over 60 competitors to get through - with heats, semis, and mens and women’s finals we had to start early.
Nile Special couldn’t have been at more perfect levels. The river was still up due to a huge Heads of Government meeting, which needed lots of power. This meant huge dam releases.
The men’s heats were first up and with Steve Fisher, Sam Ward, Karl Moser and the whole of World Class Kayak Academy in residence, it was set to be a display of huge aerial proportions. Tyler Bradt, one of the favourites, unfortunately had to take a seat on the judges’ table as he broke his foot the night before trying a back flip….. in the bar!
Due to the huge numbers and short amount of time, we had to be brutal in the cut downs, with only 14 going through to semis. The heats were outstanding, with open wave 30 minute sessions, it allowed everyone to relax, enjoy and go huge!
Next up were Women’s heats, with 14 of the World’s top ladies battling it out. Jessie Stone immediately impressed, throwing massive Air Blunts and back stabs. Jackie Fourie, Michelle Basso and Prossi Merembe obviously impressed the judges and secured places in the next round too.
Michelle Basso came through in the Final to take the title with a massive air blunt, and Morgan Koons took a pasting on one ride but managed to hold on to pull through for second. Jessie, after dominating through all the heats, didn’t manage to hold on in one of the closest finals we have ever seen.
Next up was the Men’s final with four of the World’s best paddlers set for a showdown of epic proportions. Karl Moser, Anton Imler, Steve Fisher and Sam Ward all lined up for the final. Sam came out strong with some bread and butters and KYs and some mean pistol flips. Anton was up next and he immediately showed he meant business. He threw some massive air screws and helixes. Next up was that man Steve Fisher, On his home wave at near perfect levels, he went massive on all counts. It immediately came down to Sam and Steve for the 2nd year running. Sam was throwing everything at it, and was desperate not to have a repeat of last year’s scores. Unfortunately it was not to be for Sam and with one of the most amazing and closest finals the Nile has ever seen, Steve took it by the slimmest of margins.
With two more events to go and $2000 courtesy of sponsors Nile Breweries and Brussels Airlines up for grabs everyone was focused on the next day’s big race, or as focused as you can be when the parties are sponsored by a brewery!
1st Steve Fisher (RSA)
2nd Sam Ward (Wales)
3rd Anton Imler (SWE)
4th Karl Moser (USA)
Day 2
Saturday, Dec. 1st
Extreme endurance Race 45km Class 5
Today was the big race. 45km in the equatorial sun running some of the biggest whitewater, this has to be one of the toughest kayaking races anywhere in the World.
We had a huge line up with 15 men’s teams of 2 and 7 Women’s teams. Waking up too low levels, competitors realised just how lucky they had been for the big air the day before. Low levels meant slower times and longer in the sun for the racers. With $2000 to fight for, the paddlers were keen to get moving.
Dehydration can be a huge problem and safety is paramount, so the logistics of this race are massive. Remote water spots and first aid locations have to be set up. Thankfully everyone got through safely, with only one team dropping out due to severe sunstroke. It was to be a Ugandan year again with Juma Kalikwani and Mtwalibi Mbozi taking the title, in a time of 2hrs 54 minutes. Davey O’Hare and Tyler Bradt (broken foot now in a plastic bag), pulled in to take second. Davey, a video kayaker on the Nile for many years, proved he knew all the fast lines on the river. 3rd was Anton Imler and Doug Mullet.
In the Womens, South African Jackie Fourie and Uganda’s Prossy Merembe took the honours winning by a clear 20-minute margin.
This leaves tomorrow’s boda boda cross as the decider on who wins the bills. Anton Imler is looking strong with Juma Kalikwani not far behind. It’s going to be a tense day and interesting that the least serious event of the weekend will decide this year’s overall winner.
Men’s Endurance Race Results
1st Juma Kalikwani and Mtwalibi Mbozi
2nd Davey O’ Hare and Tyler Bradt
3rd Anton Imler and Doug Mullet
Women’s Endurance Race Results
1st Jackie Fourie and Prossi Merembe
2nd Morgan Koons and Anna Bruno
3rd Michelle Basso and Robyn Munford
Day 3
Sunday Dec.2nd
Boda Boda Cross
This event, totally unique to Uganda, involves kayakers racing down The Bujagali to Silverback section of the river, running up a hill and jumping on a boda boda (50cc moped) with your kayak to race back through the Bush to the Start/ Finish Point. With 14 Women and over 50 men racing today, it was epic. Luckily there was not too much carnage.
A lot was resting on this event; the points from this would calculate the overall winner. Fantastic that the most humorous and least serious of the events would decide.
The women were up first and Prossi Merembe immediately showed her local knowledge and used
The men’s was up next and with our biggest line up yet, the first few rapids were set to be exciting with a mass start.
Ibra Mugembe was pushing hard and Anton Imler, Lochie Carracher and Sam Ward were Hot on his tail. All of these entrants had a shot at the $2000 overall mens prize. Ibra proved just too fast, and came in first to the site, Sam was right behind him. Anton who was favorite to win picked a moped that broke down!! This is all part of the race however. African mopeds tend to well used on bumpy African roads, so flat tires and engine failure were quite common.
In addition this year to add to the humour of the event, the kayak the Nile team set up assault course with rafts cover in soap and bungee cords holding up massive climbing frames. This really opened things up. You could be first of the water, first in on your moped but come last through the challenging assault course. Funnels of Nile special were also mandatory at the end of the race.
It was Ibra’s day however and he pulled through, finished his beer and took the points. This meant after correlating the weekends results Ibra was crowned overall winner and went home with the $2000.
1st Ibra Mugembe
2nd Sam Ward
3rd Mtwalibi Mbozi
Overall Festival winners
Men’s
1st Ibra Mugembe
2nd Sam Ward and Lochie Carracher
3rd Anton Imler
Women’s
1st Morgan Koons
2nd Prossy Merembe
3rd Michelle basso
This Third edition of the Nile River Festival was one again a huge success! A very special event, mixing fierce competition & great humour! The winning mix for Jamie Simpson , and the crew at kayak the Nile. What a great way to celebrate a river under threat of an already started dam construction! Get there before it is too late!
By Jamie Simpson www.kayakthenile.com
photos: Bethany Zylstra
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