Florida paddlers gear up for the Dusi
Shaun Maphanga hopes to add to his Dusi medals
The Florida Lake Canoe Club (FLCC) hosted a Dusi Marathon seeding race recently.
The race took place on the Klip River from Daleside to Meyerton, and consisted of a 30km paddle interspersed with two 2km portages, during which the paddlers have to carry their boats while running through the nearby veld.
As the paddlers are gearing up for the FNB Dusi marathon – one of the toughest endurance canoeing events – which takes place in February, the race saw more than 100 entries, making it one of the best-supported river races experienced in months.
With the heavy rainfall and storms during the past couple of months, the water level of the river was high, and flowing superbly wild, fast and furious – and all the experienced paddlers enjoyed it thoroughly.
Shaun Maphanga, one of the top West Rand-based paddlers, is hoping to add to his collection of Dusi medals in the upcoming doubles event, together with his partner from Emmarentia Dam, Alex Roberts. The pair finished third in their first training race with a time of two hours and 14 minutes, earning 106 seeding points.
Shaun also achieved a bronze in the veteran age category (single kayak), in the 2017 Dusi marathon, which was seen as one of the toughest events in more than a decade.
Do you perhaps have more information pertaining to this story? Email us at roodepoortrecord@caxton.co.za (remember to include your contact details) or phone us on 011 955 1130.
For free daily local news on the West Rand, also visit our sister newspaper websites
Remember to visit our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages to let your voice be heard!
