One of the finest traditions in the paddling community is that of passing on knowledge between older paddlers, friends, experienced and novice paddlers and parents and children in canoeing families, and this unique trait is no more evident than in the build-up to the 2013 Unlimited Dusi Canoe Marathon.
Hundreds of partnerships are formed ahead of the three-day trek from Pietermaritzburg to Durban with the intent of passing on knowledge and the joy of the sport to less experienced paddling partners.
Amongst those lining up at the start to paddle their first Dusi’s with their dads, will be the father and daughter combinations of Gudgie and Sarah Dixon (The Wykeham Collegiate), Keith and Erin Ellerker (UNISA), Jeff and Sarah Speed (Epworth) and Chase and Holly Edmonds (The Wykeham Collegiate), to name but a few.
When looking at the Dixon combination, Sarah could not ask for a better captain for her first Dusi journey, dad Gudgie has started and completed 38 consecutive Dusis in a row, and the pair are excited to share this incredible experience, and are looking forward to the challenge.
“It’s really exciting and very special to get to paddle the Dusi with my Dad,” said Sarah.
Keith Ellerker, 5th K1 in 1995 and six times Dusi gold medallist, will also be driving his daughter down the uMsundusi and uMngeni Rivers in February.
Both dad and daughter are really looking forward to achieving their dream of paddling a Dusi together. “It’s great to spend time together, doing something that’s fun and healthy,” said Keith.
Erin agreed, “It’s very exciting to have the opportunity to be doing the race with my father – it’s something that he has looked forward to for a long time!”
Sarah Speed and Holly Edmonds will be facing an entirely different challenge, as they will in fact be the ones driving their more senior partners down the Dusi this year.
Holly is part of the infamous Edmonds paddling clan – a family which boasts 188 Dusi finishes to their name and this year they hope to add Holly’s name to the list – and in doing so she will join her sister Bridget who has paddled two Dusis with their dad.
While Chase has completed 28 Dusis having begun at age 16, the same age Holly is now, this year he is looking forward to teaching Holly the lines and letting her learn with the safety of his presence in the boat.
“It is a special and wonderful feeling paddling into Blue Lagoon with your daughter. It gives you a sense of accomplishment and pride resulting in an amazing bonding experience between dad and daughter, and I look forward to sharing this with Holly this year,” said Chase Edmonds.
“It is a wonderful experience, and I have had to learn patience and to keep calm in difficult situations – skills that I will use when paddling my single,” added Holly.
If the surname Speed sounds familiar it is probably because of a certain James Speed, who has been causing ripples in the river racing circuit in the last two years in junior ranks, and who completed his first Dusi with his dad in 2010.
Sarah Speed will, however, be causing ripples of her own this year as she drives dad Jeff down the 2013 edition of the race, on her first Dusi outing. “It is a fun thing to do with my Dad, and it’s great being on the river with my friends and their dads,” said Sarah.
“It’s a wonderful experience and awesome to get to partner the second of my children down the Dusi – it’s a lifelong memory that we will share,” said Jeff. “It’s incredible to reach the finish at the end of each day and have the rest of the family cheering us in. I can’t wait!” he added.
The Unlimited Dusi starts on the 14th of February at Camps Drift, and the race ends at Blue Lagoon in Durban on 16 February 2013. Click here for more information.
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