This year saw a new title sponsor for the Dusi and we were fortunate enough to shoot the event for the sponsor, The Unlimited Group. It was three days of hard work, but also three days of incredible fun as we traversed “the valley” in pursuit of some very good athletes. Starting at Camps Drift in Pietermaritzburg and ending at Blue Lagoon in Durban with some incredibly scenic landscape in between, this was one remarkable event. With a record K1 field of 1,740 paddlers, the event was held in memory of Graeme Pope-Ellis who died tragically last year.
Bruce Fordyce, who you’re more accustomed to seeing pounding the road between Pietermaritzburg and Durban, paddled his 10th Dusi this year in a K3 with Oscar Chalupski and businessman Marcel Joubert. Another incredible feat was the K2 pairing of Hugh Raw and Dicki Edwards, 70 and 71 years old respectively. And then there was also the highlight for spectators and paddlers alike of the Dusi Floozies – eye candy for the weary.
The race itself was incredible with the lead changing place several times over the three days and the gap between Andy and Ant being a mere 1 second at the end of it all!! Congrats Andy on an exceptional achievement. Robyn Kime dominated the ladies race despite swimming at the Earnie Pearce Wier at the start of day 1. There was also an amazingly strong contingent of “development” paddlers who made a strong statement.
Well done to all the finishers and especially to The Unlimited Group for an exceptional Dusi
The spirit of the Dusi is remarkable as the paddlers are so competitive but are also fantastic sportsmen willing to help each other out. Here Sibonelo Zondi congratulates his mentor Michael Mbanjwa after beating him into 3rd place.
Martin Dreyer's Change a Life Academy paddlers did exceptionally well and day 1 ended up with 8 or 9 out of the top 14 coming from this group. A remarkable achievement.
Sunrise on Day 2 at Dusi Bridge.
This is what has stuck in my mind from the Dusi. These two paddlers broke their boat 30kms from the finish and instaed of giving up decided to carry the pieces all the way until they crossed the finish line. The rules state that you have to finish with the same boat you started with and so it was off to the dry docks to get fixed so that they could carry on the next day. Unbelievable what some people can achieve.
Repairs went well into the night at the Inanda Dam stop over
Michael Mbanjwa starts Day 3 on Inanda Dam. The determination and focus on his face says it all. Watching top athletes up close is a special and unique experience that blows me away every time.
Sibonelo Zondi finishing in 4th place overall. The expression says it all. Well done.
Great series, well done Team Ocean Driven Media
Thanks Ben
Well done Mike when I saw you in the water on the second day i kew you would get these shots. On the third day i was thinking you should up your insurance or put that beast in a housing!!!!!!!! Well done again!!
Thanks Rudi.
No time for fiddling with housings when you’re chasing these guys and girls down the river. But yeah, it was a team effort and the team shone, including our new “apprentice” Kierran!
I should have read the ABOUT US column before I posted the last comment .You guys make a great team well done both of you. Wade please keep up the PRO work…..
You are right as a good team can achieve anything. Thank you for those comments.
Stunning images – well done to the team. Looking forward to seeing your coverage of the next event.
Wow these are great images. Top job lads.