The race for the women’s title in The Unlimited Non Stop Dusi on Friday 8 March has been thrown wide open by the confirmation that defending champion and K1 women’s record holder Robyn Kime will not be racing this year.
The Maties student, who won her fourth consecutive Dusi title earlier this month, confirmed that her summer campaign that included the N3TC Drak Challenge and Dusi marathons, had left her under academic pressure, and her engineering masters studies needed to take precedence.
“I really enjoyed my K1 Non Stop, but it has been a hectic summer of racing, and I need to get back to my studies,” said Kime.
However she stressed that she expected more and more women to take on the race in single canoes, something that until recently was considered too onerous for any paddler, let alone females.
Last year she raced to a brilliant 14th place overall and fourth K1 home, and shaved more than an hour off Hilary Pitchford’s women’s K1 record.
“Particularly with it being a K1 season, I expect quite a few women will do it in singles,” said Kime. “Hardly anyone has been racing in a women’s K2, and at this stage you don’t want to risk getting into a double and leaning for ten hours!”
“It is actually not that much slower in a single, and if the rivers are low as they often are for Non Stop then singles is the way to go,” said Kime.
Since Hank McGregor in 2006 in a sub eight hour time, more and more elite male paddlers have been taking on the tough ultra marathon in singles. Hilary Pitchford was the trailblazer for the women, and has done several Non Stops in a K1.
“It actually good fun in a single,” said Kime. “Sure the running is a little bit more awkward, but then you have to take it easy. Getting there is all that matters.”
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