Daryn defeats Dusi
It took 11 hours and 23 minutes over three days but a resident and his partner managed to finish the world's toughest canoe endurance event recently.
The Dusi is considered the world’s toughest canoe endurance event and one Krugersdorp resident Daryn Kortzen can proudly say that he conquered it.
Daryn partnered with regular paddling friend Kevin Hunt to once again finish the Dusi which took place last month.
According to Gauteng Canoe Union spokesperson Jennie Dallas, it took a gruelling three days (12km) with portages but the pair managed to paddle across the finish line as seventh best in the veteran age category, and 104th boat overall.
“They finished the event successfully despite numerous other boats having broken in the river on rocks in shallow sections. The first day took them four hours and 11 minutes and the second day was three hours 51 minutes. The final day of the Dusi was done in three hours 20 minutes, clocking a total of 11 hours and 23 minutes over the three days,” she said.
The Dusi Canoe Marathon has taken place annually between Pietermaritzburg and Durban in February since the 1960s when it was first explored by Ian Player (Gary Player’s brother) after the Second World War.
“At that time there were few dams and water releases were not available – the boats were also made of canvas and wood, unlike the lighter carbon fibre of today’s race boats and the dams which today can provide a water release if water levels are too low – because of these problems, the boats had to be carried and the paddlers run past certain sections – hence it is an endurance event,” Jennie concluded.
