Podium finish for Umgababa lifesaver
Bandile Ncanana displayed a great deal of stamina as he navigated his way through the tough obstacle course on the beach.
PROTEA lifesaver Bandile Ncanana of Umgababa took part in the Red Bull Quicksand competition in Durban on August 17, taking third place on the podium.
Also read: Umgababa lifesaver excels in Africa championships
The annual contest took place in South Beach along the iconic Golden Mile in excellent weather and saw hundreds of athletes of various abilities sweat it out in the sand through obstacles. The unique race featured giant manmade sandcastles, towering up to 10m high, which outlined the challenging and undulating track.
According to a statement by the organisers, participants had to navigate these sandy obstacles, testing their speed, strength and resilience in a battle against both the terrain and the clock.
“On top of the obvious challenge that comes with running on sand – runners expend up to 1.6 times more energy on sand than running on a road surface – the course throws trenches and rollers at competitors, demanding a mix of endurance, bursts of speed and quick changes of pace,” said the statement.
After the race, Bandile said the achievement was worth celebrating.
“I’m super proud, and thank you to everyone who believed in me this year. To the 2025 season, here we come,” said an excited Bandile.
Earlier this year, he was selected for the South African President’s Lifesaving Team which competed in the ILS Africa Championships in Durban, from March 19 to 20, against international contestants.
Do you have more information pertaining to this story? Feel free to let us know by commenting on our Facebook page or you can contact our newsroom on 031 903 2341 and speak to a journalist.
