Local paddlers ready for the Dusi

With the world’s toughest endurance race coming up in February, numerous paddlers headed down to the Umzindusi River between Pietermaritzburg and Durban on 30 November to participate in a two day river race.

The section that the paddlers competed on will also form part of the 3-day Dusi Challange.

During this event, paddlers had the opportunity to train for the Dusi and to test doubles partnerships as well as gain familiarity on the superb rapids of this awesome fast flowing downhill river.

The Dusi and Umgeni rivers join up to provide superb white water paddling opportunities.

Allthough the Dusi has its compulsory portages based on tradition, 50 Miler has no such qualms and the paddlers had the opportunity to master rough terrains on this river that swerves through the gorges and valleys.

Jandré Bezuidenhout from Randfontein, who is currently studying at Tukkies, and Emile Theunissen from Florida teamed up to test their doubles partnership on this challenging river in one of the most scenic parts of the country to finish as the top finishers from Florida Lake Canoe Club and the West Rand area.

This dynamic duo covered the 50 miles through the rocky s-bends, channels and islands in 5 hours 29 minutes over two days to finish in an overall 77th position.

Florida Lake Canoe Club hosted the final race of 2013 on the Klip river in Meyerton, which was the end of the Belloord Series, which takes the format of a Dusi training race, on Sunday 8 December for Gauteng paddlers preparation.

Belloord, a West Rand based labour consultancy sponsors the series of races and qualifiers in the series will be in the draw to win one of 5 boats with full equipment including paddles, lifejackets and spraydecks as well as numerous other prizes.