SUP duo to make history

TWO Durban North residents, Dominique de Beer and Zanie Cawood are taking up the challenge to become the first South African women to complete the 120km Dusi Canoe Marathon on stand up paddle boards this month. The race has been running since 1951 and in 2014 they opened the race up to stand up paddle boarders.

The brave women who have never paddled a canoe before, said, “We aim to grow this sport here is SA and be pioneers for white-water Stand Up Paddling (SUPing) so that other paddlers can follow and realise just how amazing the sport is and what beautiful areas of our country you get to see.”

The duo started their journey last year in October after they were challenged by one of their fellow paddlers. “Having never paddled a canoe and never done any sort of Stand Up Paddle Boarding (SUP’ing), never mind never doing the Dusi Canoe Marathon ever – this has actually created the most unique responses from people hearing and finding out what we are doing. We have received so much support and raised so much interest from the canoeing and SUP’ing community both in SA and internationally,” they said.

“We have being pushing ourselves harder every day, and it is all such a fine balance between training, building strength, improving fitness and paddling techniques, nutrition and so importantly rest as well. Having never paddled rivers before it was a challenge overcoming the fear of the rapids, and understanding how the rivers operate.

“But once that was achieved, our confidence started coming in heaps and bounds – we are becoming quite the dare devils. This journey has materialised into something far bigger than we could have ever imagined and we know we are making history for local and international paddlers and are so excited to see where it takes the sport,” the duo added.

To follow Dominique de Beer and Zanie Cawood’s exciting journey, visit their Facebook – RSA SUP Girls.