Canoeing: A test of endurance
LINDEN – Resident braves the Berg River Canoe Marathon, discusses competitive canoeing.
Completing one of the most difficult canoe races in South Africa, the Berg River Canoe Marathon, is no easy task. But Linden resident George Louw (37) managed to do just that.
Louw braved the river, not for the first time, in the four-day, 240km race from Paarl in the Western Cape to the coast.
He finished 44th in a time of 21:51:00.
“It has been 15 years since I have been in the Berg River and much has changed. The weather was awesome, which is not always the case,” he said.
Louw is a member of the Dabulamanzi Canoe Club in Emmarentia where he enjoys practising with fellow canoeists.
“I try to practise five or six days a week and paddle for about 10km,” he said.
Louw, an engineer by day, husband and proud father to his nine-month-old son, said the highlight of the race was seeing his family supporting him along the riverbank. He grew up in the Western Cape and found competing in the Berg, as it is commonly referred to, took him back to his childhood.
“I grew up next to the river. My father, also a canoeist, took us out on the dams and rivers. So I have been paddling for about 30 years,” he said.
But Louw only started canoeing competitively 15 years ago.
He said canoeing helped him overcome mental blocks throughout his life. Whether it was studying during exams in university or facing difficult challenges in other areas of his life, canoeing had always assisted. This is why he decided to compete in the Berg again.
“Like with the Berg, the biggest obstacle in life is your mindset. You have to overcome it, deal with the challenges,” he said.
Louw, who enjoys a technically challenging race, completed various races this year and finished the Klip River Canoe Race a few weeks before the Berg.
He plans to compete in another one of the most challenging canoe events in South Africa, the Fish River Canoe Marathon, in October.
Louw’s tip for beginner canoeists:
“As soon as you grasp the fact that your paddle can help you to keep your balance better than your hands, you will be more confident. Paddle as many different rivers and dams and get good gear to avoid heatstroke or hypothermia”.
Details: Dabulamanzi Canoe Club, 011 486 0979.
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