Avon Descent 50 Years in 2023!
Past Event
50th running of the Avon Descent
12-13 August 2023
The Avon Descent is held annually in August. The two-day course starts with a 52-kilometer stretch beginning in the Shire of Northam, just outside the Northam Visitor Centre at the famous Avon Descent Start Tower. The course proceeds downriver through the town of Toodyay into the upper reaches of the Darling Range escarpment. The overnight stop is the Boral Campsite located at Cobbler Pool 20 kms west of Toodyay.
Day 2 is 72 kms long and sees competitors tackle the valley containing the major white-water obstacles and challenges of the event including Supershoot, Emu Falls, Championship Rapids and Bells Rapids. The rush of the valley leaves competitors with the marathon 30-kilometer, flat water stretch to Bayswater. While the victorious burst their way over the Finish Line the achievers are happy just to finish.
The Avon Descent was first held in 1973 with just 49 competitors, no rules, no officials, no checkpoints and very few spectators. In the years since, over 35,000 people have competed in the Avon Descent, from novices and families, to World Champions and Olympic competitors.
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