Paddling star goes for gold
Shongweni's Sbonelo Khwela aims to claim a podium finish at the Hansa Fish River Canoe Marathon.
PHOTO: Supplied
CANOE marathon paddling specialist, Sbonelo Khwela, is ready to take on the Hansa Fish River Canoe Marathon this weekend.
However, the undisputed king of the Non-Stop Dusi is under no illusions.
“The Hansa Fish is a river race, not a running race like the Dusi,” said Sbonelo.
His long-standing K2 partner, Thulani Mbanjwa, has also worked hard on his paddling in the lead up to the race. “It’s a long tough race but we are confident of a podium,” he said.
Sbonelo learned his trade on the uMsundusi River in the picturesque Valley of a Thousand Hills.
Known as the Dusi River, he knows every rapid intimately. The area is as much a part of him, as he is of it.
He claimed second placed in the 2019 Hansa Dusi Canoe marathon (K1) behind Andy Birkett. His K2 partner for the Hansa Fish, Thulani, finished third.
Sbonelo has a long history of success in marathon stage race events in both K1 and K2 and claimed his maiden Hansa Dusi Canoe Marathon title in 2014, racing in a K2 with multiple champ, Andy Birkett.
On the back of that, he strung together various other results, including winning the Umpetha Challenger (K1) and the Vaal River Marathon (K2).
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For the Dusi, Sbonela claimed third palce in 2015 (K1), 2016 (K2) and 2018 (K2) and placed second in 2017 (K1) and again in 2019 (K1).
After four Non-Stop Dusi titles in a K2, his wife finally convinced him to make the change to a K1 in 2015. It wasn’t long until he saw the reward of his decision and just a year later he took the title. He missed out on his seventh in 2017, but came back strong to win in both 2018 and 2019.
When it comes to running rapids, Sbonelo said, “No matter where you are in the river, it is important to scan far ahead and not focus on what is going on right in front of the boat. If you look only right in front of the boat, you will not have enough time to react.”
“The K2 is obviously a lot longer than the K1,” said Khwela. “You need to be aware of how much space you have to move and there are some different lines that suit the K2 better. Essentially, the lines need to be ‘longer'”
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