(Ross & Graeme Scout Minus 1)

Thanksgiving day for us Americans. A huge day for paddling for the rest of the world. On November 25th, 2004 Graeme Anderson and Ross O'Donaghue, South African Fluid Team members, paddled the minus (or negative) rapids on the mighty Zambezi River.

(Zimbabwe Minus Rapids as seen from Zambian Minus Rapids)

These rapids are found directly below the curtain of Victoria Falls on the Zimbabwe side of the river. To get to these rapids we hiked into the put-in at rapid 1 on the Zambian side of the river, ferried across the river below 1, portaged 1, seal-launched above 1, and paddled up to shore below Victoria Falls. The Zimbabwe minus rapids are to the left as you look up-stream at Victoria Falls.

(Graeme drops into minus 2)

Much of the Fluid International team was on hand to check out these magnificent rapids. The gorge is amazingly beautiful and steep in this section of river. Many of the team members contemplated running the rapids, but Graeme and Ross were the only ones to step up and really commit to running them on this day. With lots of still and video cameras on hand the scene was set for some spectacular kayaking.

(Graeme films Ross's line)

Graeme went first and stuck his line perfectly. He plugged the first drop as planned and went rite through the huge hole at the bottom of the drop. Ross was on line, but boofed the first drop and got a quality beating and some major downtime. After washing through the hole Ross stayed on his line, but the big pushy water managed to keep him upside-down for most of the rapid. Ross's brilliant paddling skills kept him on line and rolling up every time. Both Graeme and Ross made it through the mighty minus rapids of the Zambezi unscathed.

(Ross boofs the drop in minus 2)

This was just one of the many spectacular feats of paddling skill that were demonstrated on the Fluid International Team trip to the Zambezi River. Stay tuned for more exciting stories, video, and pictures to come.