Paddling camaraderie on the Dolphin Coast
"We want to provide a home for paddling on the North Coast."
What do you do when you find yourself up a creek without a paddle?
Well, if you’re Calvin Harris you found the Dolphin Coast Paddlers (DCP) and introduced locals to the joys of spending some time with friends out on the water.
Harris moved to the Dolphin Coast nearly four years ago and, to his disappointment, found that there was no official structure for paddlers to be a part of in the area.
“At the end of the 2016 Dusi I arranged with the Dolphin Coast Striders to form a paddling group as an offshoot of their club and we have grown from strength to strength since then,” said Harris.
Harris told The Courier that they are the only KNCU (Kwazulu Natal Canoe Union) recognised paddling club between Umgeni and Richard’s Bay and that they have a growing membership.
“We want to provide a home for paddling on the North Coast.”
The DCP get together at Dudley Pringle Dam, with Tongaat Hulett’s blessing, for practices on Monday and Wednesday mornings at varying times and also host evening time trials on Tuesdays during summer.
One of the founding members of the DCP, Shannon Clark took on the notoriously challenging Dusi for the first time earlier this year and ended up winning his category.
Clarke took part as a SUP (stand up paddling) paddler, competing against experienced campaigners and ended up taking the win.
“I wanted to go for the win but the two guys who I was up against had done 10 Dusis (4 times on a SUP) and 13 Dusis (3 times on a SUP) respectively,” Clark said.
“I have a strong running background and was hoping that it would give me the advantage, which it did on the portaging.”
The DCP is one year old and encourages members to join them whether their preference is surfski paddling, canoeing or SUP paddling.
If you are interested in joining the Dolphin Coast Paddlers or for more information, contact Calvin Harris at 082 552 0252 or send an email to dolphincoastpaddlers@gmail.com.
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