Paddlers to see what’SUP’ at Drak Challenge

AS hundreds of canoeists ready themselves for this year’s N3TC Drak Challenge, a trio of brave souls are bracing themselves to make history on the South African paddling scene as they tackle the daunting task of completing the 68km race on a stand up paddleboard (SUP) rather than in a conventional river kayak (K1 or K2).

As if taking on the mighty uMzimkulu River sitting down wasn’t tough enough, Dean Bottcher, Brendon Germaine and Jon Ivins have set themselves the mammoth task of trying to achieve the feat standing up and, should they be successful, will become SUP trend setters globally, showing the many surf and flatwater SUPers worldwide that rivers can be their playground too.

“Stand up paddleboarding is huge internationally and is really growing quickly in South Africa too, so much so that many local surfski events are including an SUP category these days,” explained Bottcher.

“What we’re looking to do, take on a technical river on a SUP with an under stern rudder, is a completely new concept though. It’s never been done before anywhere in the world.”

Together with SUP sensation Corran Addison, the three hope that a smooth Drak Challenge will open the doorway to them taking part in the iconic Dusi Canoe Marathon in mid-February with their ultimate goal being to race the three-day spectacle from Pietermaritzburg to Durban competitively in 2015.

“Hopefully we can make it through Drak in one piece and then we can look to do Dusi in a few weeks’ time with the goal of just finishing this time around and, if things all go according to plan, then look to try race Dusi next year,” Bottcher added.

As exciting as this weekend’s challenge may be, getting to this point has been a long, tough journey with challenges of various shapes and forms constantly raring their heads in the build-up. Despite their being an abundance of challenges, some difficulties of others’ perceived the small group may have battled to overcome have in fact proven not to be an issue at all.

“We’ve had guys say ‘What about weirs?’ but we’ve run one or two now and it was like they weren’t even there!,” said Bottcher.

With unpredictable water levels a characteristic of the Drak Challenge, Bottcher, Germaine and Ivins will have a close eye on the skies over the coming days as they hope for a medium river level come Saturday’s stage one start.

The N3TC Drak Challenge starts on 18 January at Castleburn outside Underberg and finishes on 19 January at Hopewell Farm close to Coleford.