Route description

The first three editions of the Championship were based entirely on the Old Radunia River. This is a section of the River Radunia which is approximately 7 km long. You can read more about the origins of the Old Radunia River in the history section.

As the Championship evolved and the strainer competition was included in the programme in 2010, the route was extended. Now, it includes the Old River as well as the Radunia Gorge, and a section of the Radunia River upstream from the town of Kolbudy. Because the information about the character of the Radunia River is widely available, and keeping in mind the peculiarity of the Old Radunia River, here we concentrate only on this section of the Championship route.

Normally, the water in the Old Radunia River is supplied by its right-bank tributary, , the Reknica River. It is possible to paddle on the Old Radunia only during the spring snow thaw, or when the weir in Kolbudy, which usually blocks water from the Radunia River from flowing into the Old Radunia, is opened. It will be the latter that will provide water during the Championship. We plan to redirect the water at the flow rate of 6 m3/sec. This means that the usually shallow and calm stream will change into a fast flowing river with numerous obstacles. Considering the speed of the flow, the boulders in the riverbed, and the sudden changes of the flow direction, the Old Radunia River can be classed as WWW Level 2-3. Simultaneously, considering the trees blocking the riverbed, decks, and footbridges, the Old Radunia can also be seen as a typical strainer river. The combination of these two characteristics makes the route very challenging and accessible only to the most experienced paddlers.

More details of what to expect on the route.

Rapids, some fallen trees, the odd wave caused by submerged boulders, winding river, and frequent changes in direction of 180 degrees, are some of the thrills you can expect. In general, the river it is reasonably wide, but where something is happening there is not much choice of the paddling route: the formation of the main current and the positioning of the strainers do not leave much room for manoeuvre - one has to paddle where there is a passage for the kayak. These characteristics are changeable as they depend on the water level at a given time. We should remember that normally water does not flow in this riverbed, or at least not in such quantities as during the Championship. As a consequence, dry tree branches and anything that for months has been laying in the riverbed accumulates on each of the strainers.

The current is not stabilised. It is only just beginning to form. The water is still looking for places where it can flow freely, it is only now washing out new tracts. We cannot therefore expect the same paddling conditions as on a typical strainer river where the current has long been stabilised and can easily be read by experienced paddlers. Here we must expect surprises. Where the water should be shallow, it is quite the opposite, where we would have expected nothing to be blocking the flow, the river unexpectedly spills over and overflows the riverbed... but that is the charm of paddling here, however we digress as our aim here is not to discuss the beauty of the river. These are personal musings and everyone should experience the river for themselves.

Nevertheless, in order to enjoy playing on the river, we should remember several basic rules:

• Never paddle alone.
Always maintain a distance allowing for eye-contact with the paddlers ahead and behind you.
• Always provide mutual safety assistance on strainers and other obstacles.
• Do not feel embarrassed to portage an obstacle if you judge it too difficult.

This is important, or what can be dangerous!!!

Any spot on the river can be dangerous. On each tree there is a possibility that our kayak will get caught and we can capsize and at moment - these are the usual dangers. When getting into our kayak, regardless of our experience, or the number of paddled rivers and kilometres, we must always remember that we are dealing with an element which may not necessarily be friendly. In the past, the river has been known to put in their place and to show who really sets the rules of the game, all those who may have felt too confident in their kayaks.

There are, however, places on the river which require particular attention:

• We come across the first such spot by the remains of an old water mill, downstream from a metal footbridge when paddling on the Old Radunia River some 2 km from the start. The footbridge itself is not a problem. It is high enough to easily paddle under. Besides, the river spills out on a ford just before it. But the footbridge is a good landmark as several hundred meters down the river, there forms a powerful rapid with high waves. At the same time, below the rapid the river bends at an acute angle rendering the river ahead completely invisible. If a strainer was to form here, it may be dangerous for the paddlers.
• The second spot worth remembering does not pose significant danger, but at certain water level may become the source of some trouble. It is also an indicator that you have already covered more or less half of the route. This is a wooden footbridge, in line with the buildings visible on the right bank - these are the first buildings you will see after the start in Kolbudy. At a high water level it is possible to paddle over the top of the footbridge, and at the low level you can try to go under near the left bank. There is a problem at exactly the flow of 6 -7 m3/sec which we are going to release during the Championship. Neither under, nor over will work. The riverbanks here are rather unfriendly for a possible portage, and on this straight section without eddies the water flows fast.
• ATTENTION!!! - The next spot must not be overlooked.
  Several hundred meters before a road bridge, which of course we cannot see, the river branches out. We cannot see the bridge, but on the bank of the fork there is an enormous boulder of 2-3 meters in diameter, before which the river splits into two arms. You must not paddle straight ahead. This arm ends with a siphon. Before the boulder we have to sharply turn right and paddle to the spot where the two arms merge back into one below the siphon.
• A man-made drop about 1 km below the road bridge just before the power plant in Bielkowko is the next tricky spot. As at any man-made barrier of a river there forms a deep circulating stopper. But relax. This is where we organise slalom using the stopper for playing. We line up life guards, we install safety nets - in short, it is formidable, but not dangerous.
• There is one more surprise at the end, near the finish line. Where the Old Radunia River joins its waters with the water draining canal from the power plant, very fast moving water flows into standing water. To top it off, an underwater palisade runs across the riverbed. The result is a dead cert: a sticky stopper. Nothing out of the ordinary, but worth knowing.