Avon Descent
The Avon Descent is an annual, two-day, white water event along the Avon and Swan Rivers in Western Australia. It includes both paddle craft and small motor boats, and runs from Northam to the Perth suburb of Bayswater. It is held in August of every year. The first Avon Descent was held in 1973. The event was filmed by the second year. The descents are regularly photographed at each years event.
Sponsors and commercial support regularly changes, sometimes annually. Past sponsors include Coates Hire and Multiplex.
While it was still operating on main line track, the Hotham Valley Railway had special trains on the Avon Valley part of the Eastern railway to coincide with the race.
Course
It is the only event in the world where both power craft and paddle craft compete. The course has Grade 2–4 white water rapids and is long.There also have been guides to canoeing the river - in general terms as to how to negotiate the river.
The region map of the Avon valley first published in 1987 included a section relating to the event.
Change and check points
The course has check points, teams changeover points, and powercraft fuel stops.Check locations
Rapids
Named rapids identified in the outline map.- Glen Avon rapid
- Toodyay rapid
- Leatherhead rapid
- Moondyne rapid
- Lookout rapids
- Championship rapid
- Syds rapid
- Walyunga rapid
- Bells rapid