Canoes fill Emmarentia Dam as part of training for the Dusi race
EMMARENTIA – Preparing for the country’s biggest canoeing challenge.
Boats filled the dam as canoeists prepared for this year’s Dusi Canoe Marathon.
While many take Sunday as a day to rest and prepare for the week to come, the Gauteng Canoe Union took the day as a chance to prepare for the annual Dusi Canoe Marathon. On the day, members of the union gathered at Emmarentia Dam for their Dabs Dusi Jozi Jol. The Jozi Jol was an opportunity for serious paddlers to discover their readiness for the Dusi in February.
Canoeists on the day had to complete a grueling 19.5 kilometres of paddling and running as part of their training. At 8am they took to the dam for their first 8 km’s of paddling. As they got deeper into their first leg the blistering heat and competition from fellow canoeists were not making it any easier. Immediately after this, without getting a chance to rest, they had to get out of the water and get their boats on their shoulders and get ready for a 3.5 km run through Emmarentia and surrounding neighbourhoods. The end of their run had them back where they started at the dam and they had to once again lap the dam for another 8km’s. All in the name of preparation for the Dusi and the love of the activity.
The Dusi Canoe Marathon, which is recognised as the peak of their canoeing river race season. It is held over three days between Pietermaritzburg and Durban. The 120-kilometre canoeing spectacular is run along the It is run along the Msunduzi and Mgeni Rivers. The race discipline alternates every year, one year the K1’s (K1 are single personnel kayaks) are recognised and all serious competitors use K1’s. The following year it is a K2 (K2 are double personnel kayaks) year and they get the podium positions recognition. 2019 will be a K1 year and some of the very best in the world will descend on Kwa Zulu Natal to compete.
The union did recognise that there would be those that wanted to enter the Jozi Jol for non-competitive reasons and they allowed upcoming young junior and new paddlers to get a taste for the sport. The social race for them was an 8 km paddle and excluded the running and second 8km lap. With friends, family, and coaches all in attendance to sport them, competitive and social, the day was thoroughly enjoyed by all.
