DURBAN North resident Debbie Lewis and her K2 partner, Howick resident Lorna Oliver, will be one of the most experienced crews to take on this year’s Dusi Canoe Marathon.

The duo have completed more than 50 Dusis combined and are excited about their partnership for the 73rd edition of the famous three-day race from Pietermaritzburg to Durban.

Lewis (58) has completed 20 Dusi Canoe Marathons while Oliver (48) has completed 35 Dusi Canoe Marathons which is an impressive haul for any paddling CV.

“I’ve been asking Lorna for years and years to paddle the Dusi with me. We’ve always paddled several marathons together but never the Dusi. It just so happened that she was coaching at Epworth School and would often give the schoolgirls a chance to complete their first marathon during the K2 years. This year, however, Oliver had no obligations and was excited to paddle the Dusi with me.

“We’ve done a few races together this year, and like the marathons we’ve competed in, we just clicked. She also has a wealth of river knowledge and experience, knowing which lines to take on the uMsundusi and uMngeni rivers. She is such a calming influence, and I’m quite excited to see where we may end up at this year’s Dusi,” she said.

Speaking on what keeps her coming back, Lewis said it was the camaraderie, the endurance aspect of the race and the goal to inspire the younger generation of female paddlers.

“That is something both Lorna and I would love to see is more youngsters coming through. The Dusi is unrivalled, especially in the endurance aspect. On a personal leve,l I know that if I stop paddling, I’m going to be miserable. For me, it’s also about the importance of keeping my body fit and also challenging myself, can I still do it?” she said.

Oliver, who holds the record of most Dusi Canoe Marathons completed by a woman, said she, too, is looking forward to this year’s team-up.

“Debbie is awesome, and after the first three races of this season, I’ve asked myself why we didn’t paddle together sooner. We just clicked, and we are comfortable around each other in the canoe. She has asked me for years, but because of my commitment to Epworth, it wasn’t possible, but I’m so proud to team up with her this year. We are doing every race we can in the lead-up to Dusi as it gives you more practice. The more you paddle together, the better equipped you will be on race day,” she said.

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