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All systems go for Dusi Canoe Marathon

Two women in canoes
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This year’s Dusi Canoe Marathon will have the largest number of international paddlers in its 68-year history.

General Manager Steve Botha says it is exciting to see several international competitors among the strong Dusi favourites.

This year’s three-day epic adventure from Pietermaritzburg to Durban kicks off on February the 14th. Organisers are expecting 1000 competitors.

Botha says water levels are also looking positive with full dam levels along the route.

“This year we have the biggest contingent of overseas paddlers to ever come to South Africa and race the Dusi. We have guys coming from Hungary, Spain the UK, America. So that’s great to see that we’re doing something right. The guys that have come years gone by have obviously gone out and said you need to come and do this race, and that’s what we’re seeing this year.”

Valley of a Thousand Hills competitor Thulani Mbanjwa has been performing well this year, taking top spot in the Super Bock Campbell’s to Dusi Bridge qualifier.

He finished the 2017 K1 race, in third place. Mbanjwa says the competition is as tough as it’s ever been:

“Dusi competition is always hard hey, just to get to the top 10 is always tough. Defending champion Andy Birkett is going very well. He is definitely the guy to beat. Sbonelo Khwela is also going very well. I’ve raced against him and I’ve seen he’s going well. And surprising last week we had Hank Mcgregor visiting us. You know Hank that guy is not scared of racing.”

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