Dude,
Best option for your first trip down the Dusi is to get out and walk if you are unsure. There will be plenty more times to shoot all the rapids once you have seen what they have to offer. Unlike other rivers, the Dusi has very specific lines – if you miss them you are in a world of poo.
Mission
About 200m from the start – a literal cluster f@ck. Either get to the rapid first or be patient and go through after the carnage.
You will go under a bridge and the river will turn sharply left. Stay extreme left the whole way down the rapid. You will go through 3 holes and then hit a little (80m) of flat – The rapid is not over. Stay as far left as possible. You will start to see the bottom of the rapid (Lots of people clambering onto a big boulder), stay as close to the bank as you can and try and miss the boulder by 3ft and you are away. (You will have time to see the top guys go through – go and have a look)
Finger neck
About 8-10 minutes in. Quite a drop that catches most boats unaware. Keep your paddles up and you’ll be fine.
Dusi Bridge
Portage on the right
Bell Rapid
Its very difficult to know when Bell is coming up if you have never seen it. Ask the paddlers around you where you are. The section of river before bell gets quite tight and you will need to be on your game a bit. Just before bell, there is a big left hand drop (Lots of people mistake this for bell) and there should be one or two people there. If you opt to portage, take out right after this rapid and run down the right hand bank. If you miss it all and end up shooting bell – its not the most challenging rapid – just don’t shoot it river right. Middle or left are your options.
Confluence
Happens about 10 minutes after the saddles portage. You will see the Umgeni coming in from the left. The actual confluence rapid section only start about 2kms below the actual confluence (Washing machine, cascades, wilems chute, the slide & ibis point). I strongly suggest you take out for this section and run. About 1km after the actual confluence you will see a big gum tree on an island (Think its on an island or on the left bank). Take out here on the left bank and run all the way to gauging weir. Its about 3.5k’s and i promise you that if you run the whole way you guys will make up 50 positions.
If you miss the take out – take all options right until you get to a massive granite intrusion above the slide and Willems Chute. Take out here – if you cotch this up, you are going over the slide and then into ibis point (A very very ugly rapid)
Marian Foley
Just follow the field – there are too many lines here to try and explain. Keep boat speed up as a few sharp turns that need to be made.
Day 2 (try and get to see a little of this on Saturday if you can – i am available to help out)
Tops Needle
Run down the dirt road. Take a left about 100m before the bridge and run down the left bank (careful lots of boulders) as far as you feel comfortable to put back in.
Side Shute
I have a very easy line but i cant explain it on mail. This rapid is very rocky and the water pushes you down the left line. Its fine but can be quite bumpy
Umzinyathi
Very gay – just stay right
Little John
Loads of fun if the river is running at 25 cumecs plus (Which i think is on the cards). River takes a big left turn in the rapid. Hit the first wave and then make your way to river left and stay there for the rest of the rapid.
Graveyard
Just follow the main current and watch out for the boulders through the rapid and at the bottom
Island
River splits left and right. Take the left split and do a short portage (100m) put back in and paddle down a series of small cascades. Right toward the end you will drop down a big boulder into a big stopper wave. As you go through the wave look back up the river to the right and look at Island 2!!
Five Fingers
Also difficult to explain – A very punchy rapid when there is lots of water. Just keep it straight and keep paddling. I would consider walking round this one.
Pumphouse Weirs
Think this is a compulsory portage
Dogsleg
Piss easy. River goes hard left and hard right in the space of 100m. Stay in the current.
Mango
This rapid changes every few months. Its about 2 kms from dog leg directly under a bridge. Stay extremely river right and avoid the bridge at all costs. Get through here and prepare your mind for the final 12kms home
Give me a shout if you want me to explain anything further