Sbonelo Khwela is a product of the Martin Dreyer Change a Life Academy. Rising out of the Valley of a 1000 Hills, he has worked his way up to being one of South Africa’s leading paddlers. After four Non-Stop Dusi titles in a K2, his wife finally convinced him to make the change to a K1 in 2015. It wasn’t long until he saw the reward of his decision, and just a year later became the first black man to take the Non-Stop Dusi title.
Archive | Canoe
What SUP with Dusi 2014?
There are various multi-day endurance events in South Africa, ranging from two days to two weeks, but arguably one of the most strenuous over three days is the Dusi Canoe Marathon. This iconic canoe race (started in 1951) covers 120km over three days (if you don’t get lost), linking the capital city Pietermaritzburg to the province’s largest metropole, Durban. It starts on the uMsindusi River that runs through Pietermaritzburg, taking in a number of weirs […]
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A Freshman’s Guide to K2 Paddling
Kayaking Etiquette… Isn’t that an oxymoron? Change. It’s synonymous for any paddler due to the nature of our watercourses and comes standard with the time of the season. Whether you embrace or shun it, is irrelevant. How we react is what makes our sport so exhilarating, as every day on the water is unique. K2 paddling is very different to K1: the handling, turning and tactics. Adjusting to these differences however, is not easy. It […]
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Capsizing: When A Swim Is Not Cool
River paddling and mountain biking share three mutual characteristics. To excel in these sports an athlete is required to successfully navigate, while maintaining their stability which fulcrums on their weight displacement and is influenced by their power-to-weight ratio. Ineffective maneuvering leads to a loss of stability culminating in capsizing which is generally referred to as “swimming”. As inviting as swimming may sound, paddlers rarely opt for a casual swim in rocky or freezing rivers. This […]
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9 Tips For Knysna’s Big 5 Challenge
Do you believe that “Life’s too short for one sport“? If you do, you’ve probably done a whole stack of different activities in your life already. Slowing down, getting old, playing it safe – these are not options for you and you find even thinking about them repulsive! We’re betting that you are very similar to the vast majority of visitors to this site. You’re one of those sorted people that likes to take active […]
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Must-Know Tips For Your First Dusi
Dusi may have come and gone for 2013 but for those of you doing the race in 2014, 12-time Dusi paddler Jacques Theron has some sage advice for the novices. The Dusi is not just a canoe marathon, it’s also a running race. Due to all the portaging you cannot neglect your running when training. Practice running with and without your boat. Listen to your body during the early stages of your training. Don’t overdo […]
