Participants prepare for non-stop Dusi

With the mercury set to head past the thirty degree mark, together with clear skies and a medium water level predicted, this year’s testing ordeal through the uMsunduzi and uMngeni River valleys could become even tougher.

With the men’s title race Lance Kime and Thulani Mbanjwa will go head to head with the unlikely combination of 2014 Dusi champion Sbonelo Zondi and Canoe Marathon World Champion Hank McGregor.

With soaring confidence after his and teammate Andy Birkett’s feat just a couple of weeks’ ago, Zondi will be tough to beat.

Fellow former Non-Stop Dusi podium finisher Kelvin Trautman, and his team mate David Wood, as well as Andrew Houston and Carl Folscher will also be in the mix.

The women’s race can be seen as the battle of the K1 versus the K2 as five time Dusi winner Robyn Kime goes in search of Non-Stop Dusi victory number two alone.

The mixed doubles category has caught the attention of some of the country’s finest river paddlers and will see the division’s defending champions Jen and Jacques Theron go up against the last minute combo of Hilary Bruss and Shaun Griffin.

Racing gets underway at 5.30am at Camps Drift on Friday with the

leading men expected to reach the finish at Durban’s Blue Lagoon around 1pm.

– Sapa