Dusi canoe marathon in march 2021, in pietermaritzburg, kwazulu natal. At the dusi, we take your feedback as paddlers ver. Although it is a major challenge, this marathon is still so popular amongst sportsmen and women, as well as their fans. Popeellis completed the dusi canoe marathon, arguably the worlds most prestigious canoe race, 46 consecutive times between 1965 and 2010. Drak form shows up dusi contenders pietermaritzburg the thrilling n3tc drak challenge in partnership with fnb on the weekend served to give a very important perspective on the mental and physical preparation of the contenders for the 2020 dusi canoe marathon from 2729 february, despite the fact that it is a k1 race on a different river. Defending dusi champion andy birkett rewrote the drak history books after he won his seventh consecutive drak. In among the huge field of paddlers setting off for the dusi canoe marathon will be three stalwarts aiming for their 40th dusi medals. Popeellis has become synonymous with the race and has been affectionately named the dusi king. The race attracts around 2000 paddlers, and receives national media coverage in south africa. The 2020 dusi canoe marathon has been given the green light so its time to dust off those cobwebs. Pietermaritzburg following on from one of the best dusi canoe marathon s in the past decade, endurance paddlers have a two week turnaround before the annual garden city commercials nonstop dusi, which gives paddlers the opportunity to tackle the fabled dusi. The dusi canoe marathon has paid tribute to fourtime champion mark perrow, who died in a plane crash on the weekend, hailing him as a great champion and a trailblazer for the sport. About the dusi the dusi canoe marathon was founded in 1951, and covers roughly 120km between the cities of pietermaritzburg and durban in kwazulunatal on the east coast of south africa.
Contenders are gearing up for the 2020 dusi canoe marathon and the. After a successful dusi canoe marathon k2 debut for dusi duke martin dreyer and his wife jeannie in 2019, the couple will return in 2020 to try and. It takes place every year in january along the dusi river between pietermaritzburg and durban and is one of the biggest and toughest canoe marathons in the world. The reigning sa k2 river champions and longstanding k2 marathon partners jenna ward and kyeta purchase are out to use their paddling strengths to make a bold statement at the dusi canoe marathon. It is run along the msunduzi and mgeni rivers over a total distance of. The dusi canoe marathon was started by ian player in the early 1950s and this book. Dusi canoe marathon event in pietermaritzburg, kwazulu natal. We aim to highlight some of the behind the scenes scenes over the next few days, so keep an eye out for our dusi canoe marathon 2020 recap it was one for the books. By the 1930s, canoe trips were made on rivers like the orange river and the vaal river, with the first canoe race on record being made on the vaal river in 1939 in 1951 the inaugural dusi canoe marathon, was held, the south african canoe federation sacf was then. Get to experience the real atmosphere of the mad and the biggest canoeing event in south africa. The third and final stage of the dusi canoe marathon takes paddlers 32km from msinsi resort at inanda dam to blue lagoon. Young turks mtolo and msiya deny khwelas nonstop dusi milestone th march 2020 nonstopdusi comments off on young turks mtolo and msiya deny khwelas nonstop dusi milestone young turks msawenkosi mtolo and thabani msiya held their nerve to win the 2020 garden city commercials nonstop dusi canoe.
The race entry topped 100 for the first time in 1967 when 112 paddlers started on a full river with the cape brothers roelof and willem van riet ready to start their. Milestones on the cards for a handful at 2020 dusi sport24. Photo gallery day two 2020 welcome to the 2020 dusi canoe marathon. We are welcoming in a dynamic committee that are excited to keep this iconic event at the forefront of paddling in south africa. The 1st placed male and female will both receive the same amount of prize money, however where the twist comes in, is there will be a bonus amount for the 1st place boat based on a handicap. The 62yearold competition still attracts serious endurance athletes and old warriors. Sections of this book recount the first expeditions down the untamed. With canoe cracking rocks, steaming rapids, broiling heat and arduous terrain, the dusi canoe marathon makes for a race that truly tests mental and physical strength. It is run along the msunduzi and mgeni rivers over a total distance of 120 kilometres 75 mi. The dusi canoe marathon is a marathon canoe race1 held over three days between pietermaritzburg and durban, south africa. Sports event in pietermaritzburg, south africa by dusi canoe marathon on thursday, february 27 2020 with 646 people interested and 215 people going. A look at the every day paddlers on the first stage of the 2020 dusi canoe marathon. All the festival goers have the chance to book some accommodation.
For the uptodate coverage of the race watch our instagram and facebook stories. The dusi canoe marathon was founded in 1951, and covers roughly 120km between the cities of pietermaritzburg and durban in kwazulunatal on the east coast of south africa. Inspired by a true story of an unfancied blackwhite duo who managed to win the gruelling 120km dusi canoe marathon in 2014, beyond the river sadly cant muster more than bland motivational. Every year, the worlds top canoeists and teams come together to tackle the exciting dusi canoe marathon, which continues to be the biggest event of its kind in all of africa. The heroes on the final stage of the 2020 dusi canoe marathon. Dusi canoe marathon commences south african history online. To avoid disappointment it is advisable to book your accommodation well in. It is the biggest canoeing event on the african continent, and one of the worlds most popular river marathons, attracting between 900 and 1600 paddlers each year. During one of the toughest fnb dusi canoe marathon races held between pietermaritzburg and durban over the past weekend, members of the soweto canoe and recreation club scarc yet again proved their resilience by convincingly securing three spots in the top 20. Durban after wrapping up her year of studies in cape town, 2017 and 2018 dusi canoe marathon runnerup christie mackenzie is back in kwazulunatal and getting her dusi preparations underway. Traditionally a canoeing powerhouse, maritzburg college did not disappoint at this years fnb dusi canoe marathon. The first recorded trip down the river was in 1951 when ian player and fred schmidt paddled down from josephines bridge to the sea at umkomaas village where the river flows into the indian ocean.
Excitement is building in the kingdom of the zulu as final preparations are underway for the staging of the 2009 hansa powerade dusi canoe marathon come 15th, 16th and 17th january this worldclass canoe marathan between pietermaritzburg and durban, on south africas east coast, attracts around 2000 paddlers and another 2000 3000 seconders, helpers or supporters. Role model canoeing into the history books vukuzenzele. Player was at the time famous for having won the first dusi canoe marathon earlier that year and later became famous in wildlife conservation, especially for having saved the white rhino. Day 3 is most paddlers favourite day simply because the section of river between inanda dam and the finish in durban is some of the best river paddling in. He couldnt have dreamed, though his vision was great, how the race would expand as it has. Dusi canoe marathon 2020 dusi day 2 race highlights.
The stories are being told and shared and we have some great memories from the 69th edition of this iconic race. Having raced onto the podium in a k2 in their u23 days, the haw sisters, tamika and bianca have decided to turn up for the 2020 dusi canoe marathon beginning on february 27th. The history of the dusi canoe marathon dates back in 1951 when ian player was sitting around a campfire in italy. The dusi canoe marathon is a marathon canoe race held over three days between pietermaritzburg and durban, south africa. The race attracts between 1600 and 2000 paddlers each year, making it the biggest canoeing event on the african continent. Haw sisters throw their names into the dusi hat canoe marathon.
His latest achievement was winning the gold medal at the famous dusi canoe marathon. While the international canoe federation states the standard distances are up to 30 km, many races are significantly longer. The dusi canoe marathon is one of south africas most iconic endurance events. It is the biggest canoeing event on the african continent, and one of the worlds most popular river marathons, attracting between 900 and 1600 paddlers each. He also hold the record for having won the race 15 times. Tired and overwhelmed by homesickness, he came up with the idea of formalizing a race down the river from pietermaritzburg to durban. Dusi canoe marathon, pietermaritzburg, south africa. He went on to publish a book about the development of the dusi canoe marathon in 1964, titled men, rivers and canoes. The dusi canoe marathon is one of the most iconic canoe races in the world, attracting between 1 600 and 2 000 paddlers each year. Dusi canoe marathon 2020 on 2729 febuary in south africa is one of the. For the contribution history and old versions of the redirected page, please see. Dusi champion andy birkett rewrote the drak history books after he. Milestones on the cards for a handful at 2020 dusi. Dreyer won k2 titles with deon bruss 2002, ant stott 2004, hank mcgregor 2006 and in 2008 he paved the way for another slice of dusi history when he partnered valley of a thousand hills raised michael mbanjwa to become the first black paddler to win the race.
Dusi canoe marathon the dusi canoe marathon is an annual canoe marathon from pietermaritzburg to durban, which starts on the msunduzi, and ends on the mngeni. There seems to be no record of canoeing on the rivers of southern africa before the 1930s. The history of the dusi canoe marathon dates back in 1951 when ian player. Its not the first time the dusi marathon saw an allsister pair win. Defending dusi champion andy birkett rewrote the drak history books after he won his seventh consecutive drak challenge title and has now bumped himself further up. Canoe marathon is a paddling sport in which athletes paddle a kayak doublebladed paddle or canoe singlebladed paddle over a long distance to the finish line. Dusi canoe marathon 2020 will go down in memory as one of the most memorable races. The path ahead is steep and long but we will get t. Dusi canoe marathon hotel and restaurant news hartford. The contents of the men, rivers and canoes page were merged into dusi canoe marathon. History was made in south africas dusi canoe marathon on the weekend, when both the mens and womens winners in the k2 race taking victory in record times and michael mbanjwa became the first black winner in the 57year history of the event. If they can pull it off, it will be andys 10th win but it will be. He was the first black person to finish second in this 120km event.