Final race in preparation for Dusi
Despite the hot conditions and tough river sections, the fitter paddlers with good running skills enjoyed the challenge.
Florida Lake Canoe Club hosted the final river race of 2015 in Gauteng, as a Dusi training race.
Paddlers had the opportunity to practice their running/ portaging stamina on a low-level Klip River, from Daleside to Meyerton, in late November.
Krugersdorp natives Richard Daws and Eric Brown, also members of the Florida Lake Canoe Club, finished their grueling event cheerfully in three hours and nine minutes.
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 FNB Dusi Canoe Marathon, which takes place in February 2016.
Despite the hot conditions and tough river sections, the fitter paddlers with good running skills enjoyed the challenge.
Kia/ Hyundai Fourways assisted with logistics and meals and the Roodepoort Athletics Club ensured there were ice-cold drinks on the long, hot and dusty portage sections.
Prizes and lucky draws included sponsorships from Tops Spar and life jackets, boats and other superb prizes from Canoe Concepts.
Read more:
• Dusi paddlers cross the finish
• Gold medal hopefuls toughening up for Dusi
