IF recent form is anything to go by then the K2 partnership of Christie Mackenzie and Saskia Hockly are sure-fire contenders for this year’s Dusi Canoe Marathon title.

They recently won the 50 Miler and then the Inanda Dam to Durban race which covers most of the final two days of the Dusi route.

The events are a great way of highlighting the top contenders for next month’s race.

Added to their impressive performances is the fact that they have won multiple local and international races in surfski and river paddling.

They also represented SA at world champs and in 2024 they won a silver medal at the ICF Canoe Marathon World Championship in Croatia.

They are also long-time friends, with Hockly seconding Mackenzie for the last three Dusi Canoe Marathons.

Chemistry between us is strong

Mackenzie, who has completed 10 Dusi Canoe Marathons, holds four K1 titles but a K2 crown still eludes her, and it is something she hopes to change at this year’s race from February 19 to 21.

“Saskia and I are so competitive so whenever we get on a start line, our goal is to win. We’ve also enjoyed the build-up to the Dusi; being able to train and race with the person you really enjoy spending time makes all the difference,” explained Mackenzie. “Every time we jump back in a K2 together it feels natural. I also feel the strength of our friendship and the openness and honesty we have with each other helps.

“I feel a lot of people struggle when they have a personal relationship because sometimes they might take something said in the heat of the moment or criticism to heart. Saskia and I have a relationship where we know we love one another, we know we are good friends, so anything we say during training or racing isn’t taken to heart. We don’t fight with each other, we can be blunt with each other because we know each other so well,” she said.

Birthday celebrations on hold

Hockly, who completed two Dusi Canoe Marathons in 2020 and 2021, celebrates her 22nd birthday on Day 2 of the race, however, her focus is fully on the race.

She gave some insight into how their K2 partnership was formed.

“I will be downing a beer at the end of Day 2 but my focus is fully on the race. I’m not one for big celebrations. I first met Christie at a world championship in Romania in 2021. I was a junior at the time. Christie was also living in Johannesburg at the time but it was only when she moved back to Durban a year later that I got to know her. She joined our paddling squad at the time; we just clicked and have been friends since then.

“It took a lot of convincing from Christie’s side for me to actually agree to do Dusi this year after 2021 because I switched my focus to surfski racing. She reminded me though that she was calling a favour after I had asked her to team up in Croatia for world champs. She made a joke back then saying, ‘If I do this then you’re doing a Dusi with me one day.’ I guess that day is this year,” she said.

Having seconded Mackenzie for the last few Dusi races, Mackenzie’s parents and Hockly’s parents will be providing support for the pair over the two days.

Next up for the pair is the Campbells to Dusi Bridge race on February 8, the last event paddlers will have to tackle the Dusi route.

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