Local paddlers to tackle Dusi qualifier

MARTIN Dreyer’s Computershare Change a Life Academy’s Zulus will test their canoeing strength at the upcoming Umpetha Challenge on Sunday, 30 October, a race which signals the start of the lengthy FNB Dusi Canoe Marathon build-up.

The Umpetha Challenge has been a favourite race for the Change a Life paddlers, who have historically dominated the hill-top finish, and Martin believes the race plays a critical role in kick-starting his paddlers’ Dusi preparations. “It has been a really slow start to the KZN paddling season for our guys because of the drought,” he said. “It seems that the guys are a little stuck in the mud in terms of their training.”

The Umpetha Challenge has been dominated by the Academy’s Sbonelo Khwela in recent years. “The Umpetha is on a stretch of river that the guys all know really well and the unique finish at the top of the hill at the Bishopstowe Hall is another element that really gets them excited. Our guys feel like they are finishing on the top of a mountain running with a boat is a strength of theirs and so with a tough portage up to the finish, the Umpetha really plays to their strengths.

“This, added to the fact that it is the first Dusi seeding race, means that the guys are easily motivated to do well while it will also be a good gauge to see where they stand,” added Martin.

The Change a Life Academy has been a shining light in development sport for the better part of the past decade, and with Martin’s guidance it has also branched out into mountain biking and running.

“We’ve had some fantastic results in recent years, but we don’t want to put all of our focus on just three or four guys at the top of the sport and only support them, we want to focus on the younger guys too.

“We want to expand the base of youngsters that we influence, so growing the sport among the younger group of paddlers in the Valley is the goal. At the same time we also want to maintain support for the guys that are at the top,” said Martin.