Iconic WA whitewater course shortened to avoid 'running race'

The Avon Descent, the longest whitewater event in the southern hemisphere, has been significantly altered for its 2026 edition due to critically low river flow. Organizers made the difficult decision to shorten the race by 17 kilometers, moving the starting point from Northam to Katrine Crossing to prevent participants from having to run alongside their craft.

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People haven't been praying hard enough because the gods haven't been good to us and it's looking very dry, especially up the northern end of the course.

The Wheatbelt town of Northam, the traditional starting point, recorded its driest July in nearly 150 years, receiving only 12.2 millimeters of rain against an average of 81.3 millimeters. This drastic reduction in water levels means kayakers and power craft participants will face a course that is more akin to a "running race" than a traditional whitewater event if the full length were attempted.

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The reality is carrying that kind of weight as well as running down instead of paddling down or powering down the waterway isn't what the race is about.

Greg Kaeding, chair of the Northam Avon Descent Committee, described the decision as "significant" and necessary for competitor safety and welfare. "The reality is carrying that kind of weight as well as running down instead of paddling down or powering down the waterway isn't what the race is about," he stated. This marks the fourth time since the race began in 1973 that the Avon Descent has been shortened due to environmental conditions.

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We actually have to look after the safety and welfare of the competitors and make sure we can adjust our recovery resources.

Despite the challenging conditions, the event has seen a 10% increase in entries, with over 300 competitors registered. Among them are defending powercraft race champions Matthew Even and Matthew Furr. While acknowledging their disappointment with the shortened course, they remain committed to competing. "It's certainly going to be a challenging race," Furr commented, emphasizing that they will give it their best effort under the circumstances.

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It's a shame that we're not doing the full race this year because of the low water level.