A Dusi with lots of differences, one that won’t easily be forgotten. This year’s race didn’t start in Pietermaritzburg, and it didn’t even start near a river, instead it started on a polo field at the Bishopstowe Country Club with a 3km run down to the Msunduzi – because of the water quality. On day 2 there were compulsory portages around Washing Machine, Cascades, Slide, Willems Chute, Gauging Weir, Gumtree, Thombi and Hippo – because of the water quantity. Then there was even more water on day 3 so Tops, Island, 5 Fingers and Pumphouse also became compulsory portages. Those who were there assured us that there was plenty other massive stuff and that the race was still epic. To add some perspective: on day 2 5-10 cumecs is considered normal but this year there was 70 cumecs going over Albert Falls which really pumped things up after confluence and then on day 3 where a good release is 35 cumecs, now there was over 100 cumecs. That’s full, fast and furious. The current Dusi King said he was “racing scared” so well done to those who finished.
In the end the race favourites, Andy Birkett and Christie McKenzie, won comfortably. Andy now has 13 Dusi wins behind his name and is closing in on the Pope’s 15. CJ now has 3 K1 wins and came 21st overall. Go girl – Go Dabs! Back in 2005 Abbey Miedema set the record at 30th overall and was the first lady in a K1 to make the Top 50; this 30th was equaled by Abby Solms in 2017 and now Christie has set the bar at 21st. Amazing. Our top Dabs guys also scored PBs. First home was Rob in 18th, and then MJ in 29th. They were 1st and 2nd Sub-vets. Marky Mark was 40th and 3rd Submaster while Alex was 44th and 2nd Vet. Also in the Top 50 from our pond were Wongama in 23rd, Mlungisi in 27th, Siseko in 30th (who was very brave just to finish day 1), and Asibabale in 34th who is U18 and a Dusi novice. 9 in the top 50 is not bad at all. Not in the Top 50 but still on the podium were Owethu who was 2nd U16 and Lesedi who was the 3rd U18 girl. Both were also Dusi novices and Lesedi becomes the first female Scarcie to finish the Dusi – well done Lesedi!
Dabs, the biggest and best club in the country had just 7 singles and 2 doubles finishers. In total, only 268 boats finished this year’s Dusi; South Africa’s long standing premier river race. Back in 2003 it was also a K1 year in which a record 1124 boats finished. 577 singles, 547 doubles, 1671 paddlers in total. Martin Dreyer won; Dabs’ first man home was Russell Willis in 10th. We had 131 paddlers finish, plus there were 16 Witsies from Emmarentia, many of whom were then absorbed into Dabs, so almost 150 guys and girls from our pond (SCARC didn’t exist back then); now there were less than 30 from Emmarentia. The decline in participation is not new; this is the trend of the K1 years over the last decade in terms of total boats finishing Dusi:
- 2011: 1013
- 2013: 929
- 2015: 869
- 2017: 627
- 2019: 552
- 2021: 480
- 2023: 268
The K2 years show the same downward trend – and the numbers look worse because there are typically more boats in a K1 year than a K2 year. Scary stuff. Sad for all of those who know that Dusi, high or low, is an epic weekend, sadder still for those who work so hard to stage this iconic race.
Many who stayed away from this year’s Dusi blame the water quality and pollution, but the downward trend is not unique to the Dusi – all our major river races are dwindling in numbers:
- Drak 2023: Only 288 boats finished – the lowest number since 2003 (bar 2013 when there was literally no water.) This race had an average of 425 boats finishing between 2000 and 2010 and peaked at 628 in 2007.
- Fish 2022: Only 240 boats finished – the lowest number since 2000. This race had an average of 850 boats finishing between 2000 and 2010 and peaked at 1008 in 2005.
- Berg 2022: Only 82 boats finished – only 2017 was lower. This race had an average of 175 boats finishing between 2000 and 2010 and peaked at 317 in 2011, their 50th Anniversary year.
- Umko 2022: Only 52 boats finished, the lowest we believe in over 40 years.
- Vaal 2022: Only 45 boats finished, this after the race nearly didn’t happen.
Note: Entry numbers are always higher, and given that more and more people are doing Dusi in a K2 or Fish in a K3, the numbers look better if you talk people as opposed to boats, but the only consistent record is boats and finishers.
Money and Time (or the lack there-of) is a major factor for most of us, but it’s not just that. Looking at Dabs, there are almost no juniors getting onto rivers, we don’t have a WITS/Varsity feeder system and we don’t have too many 30-year-olds either. We are, sadly, too many aging men. Clearly this all needs to be reversed. We desperately need new blood. We need to do recruitment drives to get people (particularly young execs) into our club and our sport. We also need to get more of our flat-water paddlers to experience the fun of a being out on a river. We need more people to participate because the reality is that we are reaching the point where it’s not worthwhile (for organisers or sponsors) to stage a race for just a few boats. Point in case was the Elands that was cancelled due to lack of support, and we then fear that it, like the Ithala (a river that makes Day 2 of the Drak almost boring) may not happen again. Wow, doom and gloom, but if we don’t grow or at least support our sport, if we neglect our races, then one day (ala Eskom and our electricity) we simply won’t have them. We need your help to stage recruitment drives, to revive the likes of the Elands and Ithala, to participate in races; please put up your hands!
Up next; the one and only High Altitude Surf Ski Challenge – you don’t want to miss this, even if you aren’t paddling, the party should be good. Bring your mates. As our Navy’s admirable Admiral likes to say: “Don’t Be Scared.” Good luck to all our brave Dabs flag flyers, make us proud; and here’s wishing you all lots of DABS FUN.
Find Dusi moments on the Dusi Canoe Marathon Facebook page.