Fleurhof canoeists inspires all around him to greater feats
Fire-fighting canoeist ready for Dusi Canoe challenge
Bravery when not in the boat translates to fearlessness inside it.
Putting fires out professionally but setting the water alight recreationally, Nkosi Mzolo is ready for the mighty Dusi challenge. To prepare, the Fleurhof resident travelled to Pietermaritzburg for the Ozzie Gladwin Canoe marathon on January 16. The 26km single-day race is an important seeding event for the MyLife Dusi Canoe marathon which will be held from February 17 to 19.
Beginning at the Albert Falls Dam, the Ozzie Gladwin race starts with a four kilometre sprint across the dam before a one kilometre portage around the dam wall, followed by a 21km river section along the Upper Umgeni. The route includes the Albert Falls weir and The Cascades, concluding with three kilometres of testing rapids into the finish at Thornvale Farm.
This is vital preparation for the Dusi, a 120km slog from the Umgeni River, down the Msunduzi River to the finish in Durban three days later. The brainchild of Ian Player, the race was first completed in 1951 when eight paddlers took on the river in boats made of wood and canvas. Only one man made it to the end, Ian Player himself, and the route features the original portage points from that inaugural race.
At the Albert Falls event, Nkosi partnered with Mfaniseni Nyambose to compete in the doubles K2 category, the pair finishing 30th in a time of one hour 59 minutes. “Nkosi is a valuable member of the Soweto Canoe and Recreation Club team based at Powerpark in Soweto. He is one of their top paddlers, a coach, a mentor, a driver, a supporter, and a hero,” said Gauteng Canoe Union’s Jennie Dallas.
A firefighter when not in the water, Nkosi has been part of the Rosebank Fire Department for several years and has recently graduated from university. He completed his studies part-time while taking on the responsibility of being a husband, father and full-time employee, all while training, racing and being a valuable resource to the Soweto Canoe mentorship programme.
