Report by: Jamie Simpson (Kayak the Nile)
This year was the 5th year running of the Nile Special and Brussels Airlines Nile Freestyle Kayaking Festival and it just seems to get bigger and better every year.

Kayakers from all over the World flew in including the World’s number 1, 2 and 3 seeds. It was set to be a kayaking competition of epic proportions.

There were over 70 competitors in total, and over 25 Ugandans competing for a coveted place in The Ugandan freestyle kayaking Team as well as a chance at the $2000 overall grand prize.

Friday was the Big Air competition. Kayakers compete in groups of 7 with 30-minute open surfing sessions. Competitors have to surf on a huge wave named ‘ Nile Special’ and do as many Ariel tricks as they can. The top two kayakers of each heat go through to the next round. The display was unbelievable, with almost all of the World’s best kayakers gathered on one wave, the crowd of over 200 was simply blown away. The Worlds top names did well, Steve Fisher (RSA), Sam ward (UK) and Anton Imler (SWE) were all looking strong. Our Ugandan paddlers Juma Kalikwani, Paulo Babi and Ibra Mugemba all meant business however and were not going to give up without a fight. This year we also had 14 female kayakers, our biggest entry yet. Prossy Merembe the sole Ugandan female paddler was doing her country proud and made it all the way through

to the final five. Quite a feat considering she has only been kayaking for 2 years.

In the Men’s event it was to be Steve Fishers day. The World number 1 proved just too strong and beat Sam Ward by the slimmest of margins. Uganda’s Ibra Mugemba was the highest placed Ugandan of the day.

Day2. The Nile Special Endurance Race
This race has to be the toughest and most extreme kayaking race in the World. 45km of the biggest white water, the fitness, skill and stamina required is Incredible.
Kayakers compete in teams of 2 for safety reasons, as some of the rapids tackled are not for the faint hearted. The women were up first and Jackie Fourie (RSA) and Prossy Merembe (UG) dominated from the word go. They finished the course in an incredible 3hrs 18 minutes.

The men were up next with 27 teams of 2 competing the mass start was quite a sight. The Ugandan kayakers took off at huge pace at the beginning and it looked like we might have a Ugandan dominated day. Bujagali Falls was a spectacular site with 54 kayakers disappearing over the spray of the drop. Everyone made it through the first set of rapids unscathed. Juma Kalikwani and Mtwalibi Mbozi (UG) were out in front. On a long course like this with huge rapids and over 8km of flat pools, stamina and endurance is the key to winning.
Juma and Mtwalibi held on to take the win in 2hrs 52 minutes but 2nd and 3rd spots were to be tighter. Davey O Hare (SCO) and Tyler Bradt (U.S.) just made it in. With the two serious events out of the way, the kayakers started to relax and the Saturday night party was one to remember.

Day 3. The Boda Boda Cross
This unique event was first tried at the Festival in 2006 and was a roaring success. Kayakers have to race down 10km of huge Class 5 white water. After completing the rapids kayakers have to run up a hill with their kayak and jump on the back of a boda boda. These 50cc mopeds then have to negotiate a course back to the start point, where a huge assault course covered in washing up liquid awaits the competitors.

Although this was the fun event of the weekend a lot was riding on it. Points are collated over all three events much like formula 1 racing. The overall top point scorer goes home with $2000.

The men and women’s events were really close. 5 women and 6 men had the chance of winning the money before the start of Sundays race. Anything can happen in this race, you might swim in one of the big rapids, you might pick a boda boda that breaks down, runs out of fuel or simply get lost on the course. The Women were up first. Prossy Merembe took off from the start with Morgan Koons (USA) and Jackie Fourie (RSA) in hot pursuit. Prossy managed to pip the others and take first spot in the race. Morgan came in second and this gave her enough points to take the Women’s title for the weekend. As soon as the women had all made it through the assault course with some hilarious results, the men started getting ready for the big showdown of the weekend.

Ibra set off immediately and showed the rest of the pack he meant business. He flew down the river and was leading from the very start. Anton Imler and Sam Ward were very close behind and when the competitors arrived on the assault course Ibra and Sam were almost neck and neck. Anton’s boda boda broke down a few km from the finish line taking him out of the running.
Ibra showed his athleticism and bounced over the assault course of rafts and bungee cords to come in with a gold medal.

After tallying up all the points it was to be yet again an Overall Ugandan winner. Ibra Mugemba walked home with $2000 and a new place in the Ugandan Freestyle Kayaking Team alongside Juma Kalikwani and Paulo Babi. The three-man team are now all part of the Fluid kayaks pro team and have the opportunity to compete all over the world. Standby for a Ugandan World Champion!

For a full report and a list of the results, please log onto www.kayakthenile.com.

A huge thank you goes out to all our sponsors:
Nile Special Lager, Brussels Airlines, Fluid Kayaks Kayak Session Magazine, www.flyuganda.com, Kampala Aeroclub, Kayak the Nile, Nile River Explorers, The Nile Flyer, Live It Love It Coaching, The Nile Porch, All Terrain Adventures, The Boma Entebbe, Mantana Lodge Lake Mburu, Geo Lodges Uganda, Kyoto Japanese Restaurant Uganda, Two Friends Restaurant and Bar, Nile Horseback Safaris, Nile High Bungee and many others.