Canoeist prepares for Dusi
Benoni canoeist Jarryd Breeds partnered with Springs based paddler, Tommy Booth, to prepare for the upcoming Dusi event.
They are both members of the East Rand Kayak Club.
The Dusi Canoe Marathon will take place between February 18 and 20, in the uMsindusi River in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal.
At a final river race of 2015, recently organised by the Florida Lake Canoe Club (FLCC) in Roodepoort, paddlers practised their running, stamina and endurance on a low level Klip River.
It was a 32km river race from Daleside to Meyerton that 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.
Jenny Dallas, from the Gauteng Canoe Union, says the FLCC race is great endurance training for the world’s toughest canoe endurance event – the Dusi.
Despite the hot conditions and tough river sections, the fitter paddlers with good running skills enjoyed the challenge.
Several companies sponsored riverside refreshments whilst car dealers sponsored the logistics and meals.
Lifejackets, boats and other superb prizes were up for grabs.
Jarryd and Tommy finished third in the senior age category position in a time of two hours and 37 minutes and are looking forward to a successful Dusi next year.
