Wishing the lady luck for the Dusi
GLENFERNESS – Resident Sonja Bohnsack recently took first place in the women’s category of the Sappi 3338 Elands Memorial Race held on 7 February on the Elands River just outside Waterfal Boven.
The race is a pre-qualifying contest for the Dusi Canoe Marathon which will take place from 19 to 21 February.
Out of nearly 100 canoes that completed the treacherously fast-paced rapids, Bohnsack finished as the first woman in the race, in 41st position overall, and eighth in the Master age category in a time of 2:08:00.
Described as an exciting 23km of fast-flowing, downward gradients with superb wave trains, the race also has very sharp corners and huge holes with stopper waves. Because of this, Bohnsack felt she had her work cut out for her after a six-year absence from canoeing due to a past injury.
Bohnsack was in two minds as to whether to take on the Dusi challenge this year, but with 16 Dusi finishes in previous years and her recent ladies win at the Sappi Elands River Race, she convinced herself that she can take on the mighty Dusi River once again.
“My main aim is not necessarily to win, but to simply complete the race,” stated Bohnsack.
“If I can win in my age group, however, that would be fantastic.”
She continued to explain that she will be giving it her all during the Dusi, but that she also has a great deal of respect for her fellow competitors.
“The ladies from KwaZulu-Natal are really strong, but I will be trying to do the best I can to represent Gauteng,” she bravely concluded.
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