Jason conquers Dusi for the first time

Jason Bryden from Krugersdorp finished his first-ever Dusi Canoe River marathon which took place from February 16 to 18.

With his partner Sean Jones, they crossed the finish line in 12 hours and 45 minutes as the 90th K2 (Double Kayak). This was a very challenging but satisfying achievement for the pair considering the fast-flowing water and big white water rapids.

Considered the world’s toughest Canoe Endurance river race, the Dusi is a three-day paddling and portaging race of 120km from Camps Drift in Pietermaritzburg to finish at the Blue Lagoon in Durban.

Gauteng Canoe Union spokesperson Jennie Dallas explained portaging is when paddlers get out of the river and run carrying their boats up hills, and across fields for a few km before being able to get back into the water.

“It is recognised as the world’s toughest canoe endurance marathon and has been taking place annually since 1951.”

Jennie added, “The history and beginning of this iconic race which was first done in 1950 were born during World War II when Ian Player (brother of Gary Player), sitting around a campfire in Italy, tired and homesick, came up with the idea of formalising a race downriver from Pietermaritzburg to Durban – racing down the Msunduzi and uMngeni rivers.

“After an initial expedition was planned but then abandoned halfway in 1950, eight paddlers set off from Alexandra Park on 22 December 1951. Six days, 8 hours, and 15 minutes later Ian Player was the only paddler to finish, having survived two days of low rivers and then a flash flood and finally a night adder bite.

“The eight paddlers were meant to race in pairs, but Player’s partner Miles Brokensha quit at Mfula Store on Christmas Eve, so when a ‘bedraggled and exhausted’ Player arrived in Durban he was outside of the initial set of laws, but undisputedly the first person to ‘do the Dusi’.”

Player won the next two races with Fred Schmidt before retiring, unbeaten in the Dusi.

“By the 1956 race the entry had reached 48 starters and changes started happening. From a non-stop format the race implemented compulsory overnights stops at Dusi bridge and Khumalo’s Causeway. For the first time, the field of six doubles and 18 singles was set off in batches, on what was a desperately low river.”

Jennie concluded by saying the 2023 race had plenty of water with recent heavy rains, and fortunately, the problems with the quality of the water which affected many beaches in Durban during December were resolved in time, to enable the paddlers to enjoy the fast flows.