FLORIDA Lake Canoe Club hosted the final river race of 2015 in Gauteng, as a Dusi training race, with paddlers practicing their running/portaging stamina and endurance on a low level Klip River, from Daleside to Meyerton, on Sunday, November 29.
The 32km river race felt much longer as the low water levels required numerous portages where paddlers had to get out of the river and run past obstacles to continue their race – great endurance training for the world’s toughest canoe endurance event, the Dusi marathon, which takes place in February 2016.
Despite the hot conditions and tough river sections, the fitter paddlers with good running skills enjoyed their challenge. There was ice cold Lucozade and Hansa Pilsener sponsored to refresh the competitors, as well as assistance from Kia/Hyundai Fourways with logistics and meals, and the Roodepoort Athletic Club ensuring there were ice cold drinks on the long hot dusty portage section.
Prizes and lucky draws included sponsorships from Tops Spar and Canoe Concepts with life jackets boats and other superb prizes.
The young u.18 teens, who attend school at Turfontein and Forest Hill, and have trained at the Johannesburg Canoe Club based at Wemmer Pan for some years, clinched the second overall position at the race, beaten by the Sowetan u.23 team. They finished in 2:30 and are looking forward to a successful Dusi race next year.
