John paddled through countless rocky rapids and endured long stretches of white water to finally glide across the finish line 
after 14 gruelling hours.
He successfully made it through some of the more perilous parts of the journey, like the infamously named “The Shredder” at Emu Falls.
Being a first-time competitor, John made sure he was in peak physical condition and began training
at the beginning of the year, running 30 kilometres and paddling 40 kilometres every week.
It might sound exhausting, but John said the effort was worth it. “I would recommend the Avon Descent to anyone looking for a challenge. Knowing you have an experience you’ll never forget is worth the pain you go through to finish,” he said.
“The best part was the camaraderie between my mates. There were nine of us altogether, but I stayed close to a group of three the whole way through. I’ll definitely consider doing it again next year.”