With the dust having hardly settled after the thrilling showdown at The Unlimited Dusi, the two paddlers who suffered the biggest disappointments in the race, Sbonelo Zondi and Andy Birkett, have teamed up to challenge for the title in non-stop version of the race.
Photo: Darren Goddard/ Gameplan Media
The Unlimited Non-Stop Dusi on Friday 8 March covers most of the Dusi course in one day, and was won last year by Birkett in a single kayak, , becoming only the second man to do so in the event’s history. However, the pair’s recent announcement has shaken the paddling fraternity, especially their fellow elite competitors eyeing combinations to challenge for a 2014 Dusi title.
Birkett cagily admitted that the combination was purely for the short term, but many of the country’s elite river racers will have a very close eye on proceedings in this year’s Non-Stop Dusi as offers and counter offers whizz back and forth ahead of the 2014 Dusi doubles year.
“This is purely a Non-Stop combination and there are no strings attached to us paddling together in the future,” explained Birkett. “If I were to say that there was no chance of us paddling next year’s Dusi together I would be lying to you though.”
What a record!
Having won the Dusi three years in a row, twice with doubles partner Jason Graham and once single-handedly, Birkett had a disappointing campaign in 2013, finishing fourth overall after rudder troubles and a rare, yet costly, swim at Tombi Rapid on day two left him with too much work to do on the third and final day.
The Non-Stop Dusi, however, provides Birkett with the perfect opportunity to right a couple of those wrongs in the uMsundusi and uMngeni River valleys, as it does for Zondi, who saw his fairytale victory ripped from his grasp just kilometers from the finish.
“Dusi was quite a big disappointment for me, so I would definitely like to do well in the Non-Stop again this year.
I’m really excited about paddling with Sbonelo. We’ve never paddled together but we might just hop in and see how things go for us on the day. It will be more a matter of me trying to hang onto the boat on the portages so [Sbonelo] doesn’t leave me behind!” chuckled Birkett after observing Zondi’s incredible speed and endurance on the portages throughout this year’s Dusi.
Similar approach
Despite having reigned victorious in the event last year on his own and having never even sat in a boat together previously, Birkett is looking forward to giving the combination a go and is confident they will do well in the ultra-marathon event, particularly due to their similarities in approach to the sport.
“On Monday morning I was still focused on paddling Non-Stop in my K1. After mulling it over in my mind for a while on Monday afternoon I eventually changed my mind and decided I was going to do it with Sbonelo.
“He seems to have a very similar approach to his paddling as I do. He always seems to look to have fun out there, which is hugely importantly to me, and he also never ever gives up!
It is a really long race and there will be times when things aren’t always the most pleasant out there, but that’s where you’ve got to look to work together and help each other out, and I’m sure we’ll be able to do that for each other.”
Birkett and Zondi, together with the rest of the 2013 The Unlimited Non-Stop Dusi Canoe marathon field, will take to the waters of Camps Drift in Pietermaritzburg at 05h30 on Friday 8 March and head for Blue Lagoon in Durban, with the winners expected to arrive between 13h30 and 14h30 that same day.