WITH under a month to go to this year’s Dusi Canoe Marathon, Durban North resident Josh Spooner is hoping to draw on all the experience of his K2 partner and Dusi veteran, Mark Evered-Hall.

The 26-year-old, who is a member of the Crusaders Canoeing Club, is aiming to complete his first-ever Dusi while his father-in-law Mark, will be aiming to complete his 32nd overall.

The Evered-Hall family have a storied history in the iconic race, becoming the first crew spanning three generations to complete the Dusi back in 2012, comprising of Mark, his father Tony (Ant) and Mark’s son Joshua.

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Then last year, Mark completed the Dusi with his father Ant, who at 80 years, nine months and 11 days, became the oldest-ever finisher at the race, beating Hugh Raw who was 80 years and four months when he completed the race in 2021.

“Having Mark’s experience with me on the race gives me huge peace of mind. He is so experienced and he knows the right lines and the route so well. It is awesome to have someone who has done it so many times, who is also so positive about the Dusi that I know I’m in good hands,” Spooner explained.

Spooner, who began dating his now wife Sarah (née Evered-Hall), in high school, said he learnt about the Dusi through her experience.

“I started dating Sarah just after she did her first Dusi Canoe Marathon so I ended up doing a bit of seconding on the route. I grew up playing water polo and rugby, but when I met the Evered-Halls that’s when I really discovered more about the Dusi. When I married into the family Mark jokingly said if you’re in the family you’ve got to do the Dusi. That naturally got to where we are now as there was a bit of a waiting list. Mark has taken so many people down the river that I put in my application for 2025,” he quipped.

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While he has done some paddling on the Dusi course, Spooner said he would make a call on doing more Dusis after his first.

“Our goal is just to complete the Dusi without placing any time limits on the race. Who knows, I might want to do another after that and there is part of me who thinks maybe down the line Sarah and I can do one together. Through our training it has been incredible to meet so many paddlers who hold the race in such high regard and I’m honoured and hopeful to be among the finishers on the day,” he said.

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