Worthwhile Dusi for Tommy and Frith
Springs resident Tommy Booth achieved his goal of moving up five positions.
He was well prepared for the single Dusi (K1), but believes it was a tough and special marathon.
“I wanted to end in the top 100 and am happy to have been able to achieve my goal,” he says.
Tommy believes this was due to his six-month-old daughter Corinne and his wife Izaan being there to support him.
Read: Tommy ready for Dusi
“I found the first day to be the toughest, as traditionally there were only four portages but this year there were more due to the low water levels,” says Tommy.
Stage two is the longest and hardest stage, with a 46km stretch, which Tommy managed comfortably.
Stage three, from Inanda Dam to Blue Lagoon in Durban, is a 36km stretch.
“Since the dam was built about 30 years ago, the water level was at the lowest it has ever been.
With the level only being ankle-deep, there were about 15km portages,” says Tommy.
However, this didn’t deter the young canoeist, as he claims running is one of his stronger points.
“Being placed 100th was quite an achievement,” says Tommy.
Frith Cooper
Frith and her canoe partner Deon Gerber finished 279th in the K2 double canoe.
“This was my second Dusi and I found the water levels adding to the toughness of the marathon,” she says.
“There were long portages where we had to carry our canoes for about 8km.”
Read: Frith beat River Bite race
On the first day, Frith found the water flow to be good, but the second day was quite a challenge.
She says many people dehydrated due to the hot summer temperature of 35° and the water tables running out of water for the paddlers.
“Rapids were non-existent and we still had to carry our canoes for longer periods where there was no water,” she says.
She claims they were warned on day three that the water levels were very low.
“For paddlers to run Burma Hill is like running the Comrades,” she says.
Frith and Deon originally planned on finishing day three in four hours, but they eventually managed to finish in 8:47:42.85.
“A tough and difficult race, but worth every minute,” she says.
