Berg marathon to host SA K1 championships
The cult 240 kilometre, four stage marathon has built a worldwide reputation as one of the toughest canoeing challenges on the planet.
AS preparations for the 62nd edition of the iconic Berg River Canoe Marathon swing into top gear, the four-day race has been confirmed as the host for the Canoeing South Africa SA K1 River Championships for 2023.
The cult 240 kilometre, four stage marathon from Paarl to Velddrif through the middle of the Western Cape winter has built a worldwide reputation as one of the toughest canoeing challenges on the planet, but it has historically not been used as one of the regular events that decide the domestic national river marathon titles.
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With the SA K2 River Champs going to the popular Fish River Canoe Marathon in September, the decision to award the SA K1 rights to the Berg has sparked interest in the elite marathon racing community, particularly amongst those planning an assault on the global titles at the world champs and Masters Cup titles in Denmark early in September.
2022 Berg champion Hank McGregor is an avid fan of the Berg, and has made no secret about the fact that the long hours of base training and the four back-to-back endurance days on the Berg have been instrumental in his success at the World Marathon Championships, logic that has been reinforced by the success of other current Berg stars like Andy Birkett and Hamish Lovemore.
This year’s Berg River Canoe Marathon will take place from Paarl to Velddrif from 5 to 8 July.
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