Youngsters paddle for a good cause

A group of school-going paddlers based at Dabulamanzi Canoe Club also completed the Ultra Paddle virtual race.

The organisers of the cancelled Berg River Canoe Marathon arranged the virtual race for canoeists from around the world to share in the enthusiasm for the event while raising money to support Canoeing South Africa’s food relief programme.

Ordinarily, the race is a four-day event over 240km from Paarl to the West Coast town of Velddrif that attracts a core of paddlers keen to test themselves against the river, the torrid weather and the sheer distance of the race that has made it one of the toughest of its kind in the world.

The Western Cape winter brings with it freezing winds on the river, torrential rain and flooding water.

For the virtual race, canoeists had to paddle 240km. There was a gold category for those who could complete the distance in four days, and a silver category for those could complete the distance in 24 days.

A bronze category was available for those who wanted to paddle 50km over the 24 days.

The youngsters at Dabulamanzi were eager to take up the challenge to support those in need.

High performance paddling coach, Attila Adrovicz managed the junior members of the club and provided technical support and encouragement while logging their progress.

While Emmarentia Dam could not give the canoeists the same conditions as the famous race, freezing winds on the water played their part.