Lottering (57) takes on river race of 33km in just over three hours
As a member of the East Rand Kayak Club based at Homestead Dam, he relished the opportunity by finishing the race in three hours and 21 minutes as the 11th Veteran age category.
The Standard Bank One Day Liebensbergvlei River Race made canoers thrash between rapids on November 21 in which Kempton’s own Frans Lottering (57) paddled 33km.
Lottering, a sales manager at Integrated Air Solution in Jet Park, partnered up with Johan Grabe.
As a member of the East Rand Kayak Club based at Homestead Dam, he relished the opportunity by finishing the race in three hours and 21 minutes as the 11th Veteran age category.
The race started at the Reitz Water Treatment Centre which finished in Tweeling, a distance of some 33km to the Zorgvliet Farm where the paddlers were unleashed by the river, said Gauteng Canoe Union spokesperson, Jennie Dallas.
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“The Liebensbergvlei River continues to flow towards Frankfort and ultimately empties into the Vaal Dam. The water originates in the Ash River in Clarens which is pumped from the Lesotho Highlands Water Project and is quite chilly with melted snow,” Dallas concluded.
“We focused on exposing new paddlers to the sport, since this year has been very quiet and all the big races were cancelled. I really went for the enjoyment of the river and sharing my experience,” said Lottering.
As a seasoned river man that has paddled for the past 20-odd years, Lottering swooned about his recent journey by telling Express how unpolluted the water was.
“The clean river was an absolute pleasure to paddle as the environment alongside the river was also lovely and clean and is one of the few rivers I have seen where so much care has been taken to keep the waters in good condition.”
His competing career started in 1993 when he entered the Leppin Ironman which made canoeing his first discipline.
“I had to train hard for that first race and my friends who were already canoeists helped me along. At first, just to achieve a stable boat and balance – you have to train like mad and never give up.”
His driving force is to always finish a race, “even if you fall out along the way, that’s how you learn.”
Lottering’s favourite part of racing is when a trainee is by his side and he’s carbo-loaded with the challenge waiting ahead.
“Then the adrenaline kicks in, which is always accommodated with a sense of comradery among all the fellow paddlers chirping and joking along the way.”
When he spoke about his latest racing partner, Grabe, he said: “Lately I have been taking younger and less experienced partners to help grow the sport and share some skill. Johan was great on this race although it’s our first time canoeing together on a river. He showed great promise as we negotiated the large rapids and swelling waters.”
Despite the thrill of competing between rapids and strong currents, Lottering also enjoys to kick back and relax on his buddy-boat.
“Occasionally I paddle on a fishing-ski that is a canoe made especially for fishing on the sea. That’s relaxing and I love being out in the sun. In stark contrast, of course, there’s the competitive side of paddling like the Dusi for which you need to be in tip-top shape.”
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