As the spring conditions take hold of KwaZulu-Natal the focus shifts to the summer paddling season and the teams at the Canyon Kayak Club and the Khotso Lodge & Horse Trails are encouraging paddlers to enjoy the Southern Drakensberg paddling season.
The uMzimkhulu River plays host to the KZN Mixed Doubles Championships during the December period and the event is always a calendar highlight for paddlers as they team up with family members or partners for the one-day race on 14 December.
"The Mixed Doubles Championships is a huge highlight on our calendar and it's the ideal precursor to the N3TC Drak Challenge at the end of January," Race Director Greg Hitchins said.
"It's a perfect way to enjoy the beauty of the Southern Drakensberg and get some time in the boat before the Drak Challenge.
"We encourage all combinations, especially those hoping to tackle the Drak Challenge together, to come and take part in the Mixed Doubles Championships, it's always a very popular weekend."
Underberg experiences a large influx of holidaymakers over the December period, and the Mixed Doubles Championships could form part of a getaway to the Southern Drakensberg as paddlers and supporters alike begin to unwind from a bust year.
In 2024, the Khotso team hosted the first edition of the uMzimkhulu River Rally that includes a full weekend of action on the river that culminates in the Mixed Doubles Championships on the Sunday.
"There is a public holiday on the 16th of December which is a Tuesday, and we hope that people will take advantage of that and make it an extra-long weekend with us in the Berg.
"We're well into the planning phase for the new season and as the rains arrive the activity on and around the river increases which means that Drak season is upon us.
"The Mixed Doubles Champs is always a fantastic weekend, and we hope to see as many people as possible up here to enjoy the weekend with us," Hitchins added.
All information about entries for the race and for the N3TC Drak Challenge will be published in due course.