Dusi Canoe Marathon Rachel van Deventer (in front) tackles one of the notorious rapids with her K2 partner, Caitlyn Odell. Rachel finished her 5th Dusi.
Image: Anthony Grote
Dusi Canoe Marathon Eight of the Maties who finished the Dusi, from left, Zoë Goble, Rachel van Deventer, Dawid Malherbe, Tayla Isaac, Angus Dick, Nicolas Cook, Joshua Glyn-Cuthbert and James Sharpe.
Image: Anthony Grote
Dusi Canoe Marathon Tayla Isaac, who finished her 6th Dusi, took Dawid Malherbe in a K2 down the river for his first Dusi Canoe Marathon.
Image: Anthony Grote
Dusi Canoe Marathon Angus Dick receives a welcoming cool-down after the steep Ngumeni Hill climb from locals supporting the paddlers.
Image: Anthony Grote
Dusi Canoe Marathon James Sharpe in full concentration, getting swallowed by the Arrestor Bed Rapid.
Image: Anthony Grote
Dusi Canoe Marathon Joshua Glyn-Cuthbert, Stellenbosch Canoe Club’s top paddler, came 16th overall in just his 3rd Dusi.
Image: Anthony Grote
Dusi Canoe Marathon Nicolas Cook finishes strong on Day 3 at the Blue Lagoon, the traditional finish of the Dusi Canoe Marathon.
Image: Anthony Grote
A record number of Stellenbosch Canoe Club members took on the 74th edition of the legendary Dusi Canoe Marathon, with all Maties successfully completing this grueling three-day challenge.
This year’s race started in Bishopstowe, Pietermaritzburg, and ended in Durban, testing paddlers’ endurance, skill, and determination.
The Dusi, South Africa’s oldest and most prestigious canoe marathon, spans roughly 120 km along the Msunduzi and Mngeni Rivers. First held in 1951, it is renowned for its fast-flowing rapids, treacherous portages, and unpredictable water levels.
Unlike the Western Cape’s predominantly flat-water paddling, the Dusi demands exceptional river-running expertise. Competitors face intense heat, technical rapids, and steep portages, making it one of the world’s toughest canoe marathons.
Among the most notorious challenges are "The Big Three" rapids on Day 2—Gumtree, Thombi, and Hippo—as well as the tricky Little John rapid and the demanding portages, including Guinea Fowl (4 km through thick bush), Ngumeni Hill (a brutal 2 km uphill climb),and Devil’s Cauldron, a steep, winding section.
The combination of whitewater paddling and endurance running sets this race apart. Nine of the Maties who completed the Dusi this year included Joshua Glyn-Cuthbert (16th overall, 3rd Dusi K1); Angus Dick (28th overall, 6th Dusi K1); Luka Koumantarakis (53rd overall, 4th Dusi K1); Nicolas Cook (58th overall, 5th Dusi K1); James Sharpe (85th overall, 4th Dusi K1); Rachel van Deventer (102nd overall, 5th Dusi K2); Zoë Goble (140th overall, 4th Dusi K2); and Tayla Isaac (156th overall, 6th Dusi K2_ - partnered with Dawid Malherbe, who completed his first Dusi.
Every Matie who started the race finished it—though not without obstacles.Joshua Glyn-Cuthbert suffered a partial shoulder dislocation at Little John on Day 3, after being knocked onto a rock, but pushed through to finish an impressive 16th overall.James Sharpe sprained his ankle on Day 1, yet persevered despite the grueling portages.
Tayla Isaac, one of Maties’ top female paddlers, completed the Dusi despite being off the water for two months while on an academic exchange in Sweden. Dawid Malherbe, recovering from a rib fracture sustained three months before the race, took on his first Dusi alongside Tayla.
Reflecting on the experience, he called it "an adventure of a lifetime and a must-do for any paddler".
Congratulations to all the Maties on their remarkable achievements. Canoeing is a sport of camaraderie, adventure, and endurance, and new paddlers are encouraged to join the Stellenbosch Canoe Club.
Contact Conrad Kriel, Maties chairman, at 079 607 4865.