Rivers in sight

Today, it’s water day for the teams of the world championship. While the back teams were still climbing the Piton des Neiges, the front teams enter into the packraft earlier this morning for a 45km path, 710 meters of elevation gain and 1,370 meters of elevation loss. The teams will paddle down the three East Rivers and even go against the tide on the Rivière des Roches. In this packraft section, they will be forced to switch between water and trek progression and will offer them some astonishing abseils such as the waterfall of the Bassin des Aigrettes.

As far as the night navigation regulations are concerned, the rules are consistent with what had been announced during the pre-race briefing: the Mât river section will be closed from 7 pm till  5.15am as a portion of the Marsouins river from 5 pm till 2 am. The middle and back teams will mainly be the ones concerned by those regulations.

There was a nice atmosphere this morning as the front teams arrived at the AT (transition area) between trek and packraft (TA1) and started to paddle down the river. “At exactly 5:15 am, they all rushed out, says Gilles Lelièvre, one of the white water’s official and renowned kayaker. After encountering bottlenecks at the rapids, things got back to normal.

Now we are heading to the river of Marsouins where rapids call for particular vigilance. Front teams are looking good. The following up program teased them, especially the Dudu ravine.  

The organization put ropes on that very spot to allow access to the river. This leg will for sure be remembered.

Photo by Raid in France during the reconnaissance