The biggest one day canoeing event, The Unlimited Ozzie Gladwin will be held on Sunday, October 31, 2010, at Bon Accord at Albert Falls, with the first batch going off at 9am.
See our pictures of the Unlimited Dusi Canoe Marathon launch below.
The Unlimited Ozzie Guppie Race provides an opportunity for young canoeing enthusiasts, between 5 and 12 years old to show off their skill before the main race at 7.45am.
“We have secured a 12 cumec water release from Umgeni Water for the race and have had a number of calls from paddlers expressing their delight,” said Paul Firman of the organising committee.
The Unlimited Ozzie Gladwin tests paddlers’ skills on many levels; speed on flat water, endurance during the portage and technical skills on the river.
The Unlimited Ozzie Gladwin’s history is tied to the early days of the Dusi Canoe Marathon when communication between paddlers and the supporters of the Dusi was a problem. An entrepreneurial member of the Natal Canoe Club, Ozzie Gladwin, solved the problem and rigged a ham radio in the back of his Chevy allowing family and friends to be kept up-to-date through his hourly reports directly from the Valley of a Thousand Hills.
To honour Ozzie’s contribution an annual canoe race, The Unlimited Ozzie Gladwin, is held in his name to this day.
Total prize money is R30 000 and the new title sponsor, The Unlimited, will be adding a few surprises of their own.
Entries are available from leading canoe shops and online at www.kncu.co.za
The Dusi Canoe launch
The Dusi Canoe Committee recently announced a new title sponsor for the Dusi Canoe marathon at a launch held at the second overnight stop at Inanda Dam. The event will now be known as The Unlimited Dusi and the launch brought together paddlers, SA celebrities and other stakeholders for an action packed afternoon.
Celebrities were paired with previous Dusi winners and the teams put their skills to the test in a short canoe race. This gave guests a hint of the excitement that The Unlimited Dusi promises to deliver in 2011. Race organisers also announced that the dates for the event will move from mid January to 17, 18 and 19 February 2011.
See our picture gallery of the Unlimited Dusi Canoe Marathon launch below.