The nationwide storm last week saw the Leith rise to 70 times its normal flow. Local legends from the Otago University Canoe Club (OUCC) were all over it, tackling what they estimated was about a Grade 4 rapid.
While the Leith normally cruises along at around 0.8-1 cubic metres of water per second (cumecs), the torrential rain spiked it up to a peak of 70 cumecs on Tuesday night, before it dropped down to about 30 the next morning. By eight in the morning, five OUCC members were at the canoe sheds raring to go, and by nine videos of their exploits began doing the rounds on Twitter. They dropped from the Dundas Street bridge again at around 2:30pm. Rain lashed the paddlers as they navigated between rocks, rapids, and residual debris from the weekend.
It wasn’t for the faint-hearted. When the river flooded in 2017, then-president of OUCC Fergus Farrell told us that the course was about a Grade 4, requiring “advanced whitewater experience” due to the “concrete sides and incredibly fast flow”. Current president Taylor Gaude said on Wednesday that the hardest part is dealing with the wide weir in front of the Clocktower, but the most enjoyable parts are under the bridges where the Leith flows fastest and smoothest.
Other paddlers raised concerns about the Leith’s particular hazards. “I was worried about running into a shopping trolley or a Lime scooter,” said one paddler, which they’d seen down by the Botans. “We don’t normally have to worry about that.” Guess that’s part of the local charm. OUCC Vice-President Lotte told us that “the water in the Leith gave me instant chlamydia,” but she didn’t seem too concerned.
Taylor said that he “wouldn’t recommend [taking on the course] for beginners, given how fast and non-stop it is… you need training for sure.” He added that “safety is our number one priority. We always stop at that main weir in front of the Clocktower, to make sure you don’t get fucked up.”
Still, onlookers seemed to have a great time. One spectator told us she was “late to an appointment but it was totally worth it,” while another described the scene simply as “sick as fuck, bro”.