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Seven more for Huka

Submitted by jonathan on Thu, 1985-02-28 23:00.
Readers may remember our report, in issue number 24 of the first descent of Huka Falls by kayak in December 1981 by Greg Oke and Nick Kerham. Since then a tuber has gone over, holding on to his tube, which he let go of once he hit the pool at the bottom. Other than that, serious kayakers have left the falls alone. Now, I guess as part of the fashion for fall jumping, John Howes (member of the appropriately named Huka Falls Kayak Club) reports on recent events.

On the weekend before the Slalom Nationals, Ian Mercer and Mike Allison paddled the Huka Falls.

Three weeks later, after an excellent day on a dirty brown Tongariro, myself, Mike Allison, Andrew Rees, and Mark Priest had another look at Huka Falls only to find them at a temptingly low level. Following a quick decision, a handshake and a thump on the back from Andrew, I paddled out from the pool above the gorge to see the falls from the business end.

Ahead of me were two drops, a rooster-tail type of stopper coming off the right bank, then another stopper a few metres above the falls. It was imperative to go over the final drop on the left where there was no apparent suck-back.

Blood thirsty tourists crowded the bridge for the afternoon's entertainment.

I paddled over the first drop and found that it is a lot bigger when you are in there. Went for an eddy on the right, another on the left, then right again for the second drop.

In the slack water under the bridge I lined up for the rooster-tail, which is definitely a lot bigger than it appears from the bank. I hit the tongue with speed to break through the stopper with a right brace and just made an eddy on the left bank.

Then for the final plunge - I cut out, broke cleanly through the left side of the stopper and made for that horrible drop. I could no longer hold back the fear any longer and it ripped through me as I fell. The water wrenched at my paddle and boat for a few seconds before throwing me clear and allowing me to roll up.

Andrew and Mark followed me over successfully. Not as high as when Nick and Greg paddled them, but still an exciting experience.

Two days after our trip it was paddled again by Gavin Cook (from Taupo) and Ralph Andrew ( from Tokoroa).

That makes seven more for the Huka Falls.

& The Maruia

On April 7 Mark Lester and Bruce Murray (both of Christchurch) completed successful decents of the Marula Falls. A week later a group from Nelson Canoe Club, including Bevan Walker who had already done the drop, ran the falls. Bevan did it backwards.

Earlier this summer, a jet boat was driven over the Maruia Falls. This was all in the process of making an advertisement for television to sell chocolates. Unlike kayakers, jet-boaters didn't fancy going over with their boat, so a dummy was tied in to make it all look authentic. Michael Hamilton did the stunt driving at the lip of the falls to complete the shoot.

Note: It is now the policy of this magazine, that after the first half dozen or so runs on waterfalls, we only count the fatalities.