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7th Peak UK Himalayan Challenge / Whitewater Festival
November 28-30th (14th Himalayan Rodeo)
Trisuli River. Near Kathmandu. Nepal
What is the Himalayan Challenge?
The Himalayan Whitewater Challenge is all about fun. This unique event format combines an Extreme Slalom, Downriver and Freestyle event to find an overall whitewater champion. The event takes place in the amazing Nepalese Himalayas, close to Mount Everest and Tibet. Points are calculated and kayaking equipment prizes are awarded to the Nepalese competitors. Local Nepalese prizes are awarded to the international competitors including Everest Flights, Jungle Safaris and more. Past events have attracted both Slalom and Freestyle World Champions. Paddlers of all levels are welcome. It's all about having a good time!!
History:
Himalayan veterans Dave Allardice, Peter Knowles, Guy Robins and Gerry Moffatt conceived the idea of a Himalayan White Water Rodeo late one night in 1992 at the infamous "Rum Doodle" bar in Kathmandu . This year celebrates fourteen years of the event. With the combined forces and expertise of Pete Astles, and the Peak UK Team the Himalayan Challenge, has become one of the most exciting WW events in the world. Established as a get together for international expedition kayakers travelling to the mighty rivers of the Himalayas, the Peak UK Himalayan Challenge now attracts around 100 competitors including some of the best kayakers in the world from over twenty countries. It has also become the official selection event for local Nepalese kayakers to represent Nepal at the world championships. However, the event has remained a testament to the true spirit of kayaking, and for most just participating in the greatest party in the Himalayas is a sufficient draw.
Venue:Trisuli River. Near Kathmandu. Nepal
For a change, this year's event takes place on the holy Trisuli River. According to Hindu Legend Lord Shiva drove his trident into the mountains to create the river when he needed to cool himself. Located 50 km west of Kathmandu, the Trisuli River has earned the reputation as one of Nepal's premium white water runs, containing several sections of quality whitewater.
Event Classes:
International Men. International Ladies. Nepali Men. Nepali Juniors and for the first time ever Nepali Ladies!! All boats welcome. Special prizes for Creek boats too.
The Events:Extreme Slalom / River Running Skills :
A course is set out on a testing piece of whitewater consisting of 10-15 obstacles, which must be run in number order. Slalom gates, set freestyle moves, river running skills, number touch boards etc make up the course. Paddlers race against the clock and 20 second time penalties are added for missed obstacles. Usually the winner is the only paddler to complete the testing course with a faultless run.
Downriver / Boater Cross:
Paddlers race from a Le Mans style mass start, head to head down a stretch of challenging class 4 whitewater. This is a pretty tough test of endurance, skill and tactics.
Freestyle / Big Air Contest:
Paddlers take turns to perform choreographed routines on a set wave or whole ( a white wave that turns back on itself holding the kayak ) scoring highly for verticality and variety. Competitors take two 45 second rides of non stop vertical and aerial action. They progress through qualifying heats, semis, quarters then on to the weekend's highlight, the knockout finals, where the top five paddlers go heat to head, with the lowest scoring ride dropping out until there is only the winner left. Creek boats welcome and work very well in the big powerful water!!
Provisional Event Timetable:
Friday:
Morning - Registration. Afternoon - Kayak Slalom Race. Evening - Party
Saturday:
Morning - Freestyle Heats. Afternoon - Freestyle Finals. Evening - Party
Sunday:
Morning Downriver Race. Afternoon: Lunch, then back to Kathmandu.
If you are interested in taking part or just partying with us get yourself to the Peak UK Shop at Equator Expeditions, Thamel, Kathmandu on the 27th November. Sign up and get the bus ride up to the river on Friday morning. It's a really great weekend and fun is guaranteed for everyone.
Event Size and Expected Economic Benefits to Nepal's TourismIndustry : The event's organizer expected to attract to approximately 200-250 foreign competitors and approximately 100 Nepali participants, in addition to nearly 200-250 spectators, all of whom will help spread the world of Nepal's awesome whitewater tourism potential to those that they know aboard. Additionally, the foreign participants will all ply into Katmandu's Tribhuban International Airport, many of Nepalese air couriers Royal Nepal Airline and then stay in Katmandu's hotels and guesthouse. Where they will shop for good and eat and local restaurants, helping to bolster the country's critical tourism industry that has taken such hard blows in 2001 due to both national and international crises. Additionally, experience has shown that these participants will travel throughout Nepal after the events to paddle many of Nepal's world class rivers and as such will help to benefit other areas throughout the country economically. Further, as a by-product of the is event, publicity about Nepal as a safe and secure tourism destination will be disseminated helping to stimulate other non whitewater bases sectors of Nepal's tourism industry as well. Event Location and Local Development Opportunities:This event will be held on the Bhotekoshi River and Sunkoshi River alongside the villages of Balephi, Bainsi, and Sukute, where there will be opportunities for local populations to become involved in a variety of ways to facilitate local economic development. Local villagers will be directly employed as construction workers, porters, transportation specialists, cooks and security guards. Additionally, indirect benefits for local communities will come from tourist usage of hotel and restaurant facilities, shopping at local shops and purchasing of locally made handicrafts, as well as event organizer purchases of locally produced foodstuffs, construction materials and other necessary items, just to name a few of the indirect benefits. As this is an opportunity for tourism's benefits to reach local participants directly, this event will help to contribute to both the Government of Nepal's and the Nepal Tourism Board's efforts at helping to expand and spread the benefits of tourism around to those oftentimes neglected by this form of economic development. As such this is a valuable opportunity for tourism to help local people as well as spotlight the country of Nepal in the international tourism arena.
Solicitation for Support and Additional Event Sponsors:
Currently, the events organizer and primary sponsors are soliciting request for additional sponsors and support in the from of both financial and material contributions to make this event the international success the expect in to be. Financial support from the government sector will be tremendously invaluable in allowing the event to proceed as will publicity generated from the efforts of Nepal's highly successful Nepal Tourism Board and its affiliate partners. Contributions of Materials good from potential sponsors will both benefit the event by providing much needed supplies as well as providing the sponsor with an invaluable opportunity to highlight their company's good and service at an international event of unparalleled proportions here in the kingdom's river running history. We are looking forward to the support of both the governmental and private sector to make this event a tremendous success!!!
Himalayan White Water Challenge-2007 concluded:
7th Himalayan White water Challenge-2007 organized by Nepal Association of Rafting Agents (NARA) in partnership with Peak UK Kayaking, promoted by Nepal Tourism Board & supported by Nationally and Internationally private company successfully concluded in Bhotkoeshi, one of the world class river located in Sindhupalchowk district of Nepal on November 19, 2007 with the theme "Lets save Bhotekoshi". The objective of this challenge was to promote adventurous sports tourism activities in Nepal. About 80 participants from USA, UK, Iran, Ireland, Sweden, Germany, France and 30 participants from Nepal enthusiastically took part in three days long challenge from 17 to 19 November 2007. The challenge was divided into different events like Nepalese Junior Kayak (Men), Senior Kayak (Men) and Rafting Competition. At the Same time the prize was also distributed to the 1st, 2nd and 3rd position sponsored by verities of the water sports company their produced that hold 1st, 2nd and 3rd position on this event respectively.
Program Schedule and The Location>>
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