Martin Dreyer Academy Blog

                                        Richard learning a new skill

The CNN crew were an absolute pleasure to accommodate. They never shyed away from getting ‘down and dirty’, and made the Valleys boys feel at ease with their laid back attitude but very professional approach. They were taken by the beauty of Nagle Dam and the surrounding rural area. I thought one day of filming would be difficult to capture everything about my Academy, however viewing some of the footage that evening, they seemed to have captured it just right.

5am – An early Saturday morning start, we ventured over to Thomas’s home to wake him and get some raw footage of a day in the life of a’Change a life’ Academy athlete.

A very real and impromptu opening to the show, as Thomas scrabbles under his bed in the dark to find his training kit and Hi-Tecs. Heading to the dam, we shoot more of my guys strolling casually (as normal) to the dam, bantering and laughing all the way.

Some paddling and running shots, a few interviews and handing out of their monthly USN sports supplements and weekly foodpacks, then delivered to their families. A full days work, with a total of 3 1/2hrs of filming, which will be edited into a 7min show and broadcast around the World – Exciting stuff.

It is interesting that my three top ‘Change a Life’ guys - Lucas, Thomas and Erice, are uplifting their own lives and their families, by building houses in the valley. Eric brags that his house is the biggest and fanciest, “4 rooms Mart and it has a toilet inside”. These three youngsters have managed to afford these homes through their racing- winning prize money and getting incentives. One forgets the harsh living conditions these folk endure. I ask Thomas, “where is the basin”? He looks at me and frowns, “Mart, we have no running water in this whole area, the pipes have been broken for 6 years now”. His Mother and Sister cart a 25l drum of water on their heads from far down the hill with grace and ease – no complaints, because this is Life, deal with it.

                                         Thomas’s house -3 rooms, R35 000

There’s a big buzz at Nagle Dam as athletes are arriving in preparation for SA Sprint Champs this weekend. Many of the big guns will be racing as well as a large contingent of development paddlers from around the country.

      I delivered a trailer of Lotto boats to the Dihlabeng Slalom Club in Bethlehem

I went up to the Dilhabeng Canoe Club in Bethlehem last week to deliver some new Lotto boats and I am excited to the paddling potential of these athletes improve as they receive real support. This is where South Africa’s Olympians for Slalom, Master Cele and Cyprian Ngidi live and train. At the end of the month they are off to France for a 3 month training camp. For the last two months, “Change a Life” athlete Nkosi Cele has been shadowing these two paddlers, and now will take over coaching at this club. An exciting opportunity to earn a salary for the first time in his life.  

    “Change a Life” athlete, Nkosi (left), with Olympians, Master & Cyprian

         Kids giving their all - In Slalom you only use a one bladed paddle 

                                 Time Trail – Lance Style

The professional start for the STAGE 5 TT made even the ‘fish ‘n chips’ cyclists exit the ramp in true Lance Armstrong fashion. The views we experieced on this day were some of the best we got to experience during the entire Epic, as the 27km snaked itself 860m upwards behind Worcester. Not having a seeding, I had been placed well at the front of the field for the reverse order start, and by 9:15am I was ready to put my feet up and enjoy a full days re-fuelling and relaxing.

Stage 6 was now the beginning of the count-down to the end, but this was the furthest I had ever ridden and 6h02, the longest day in the saddle. The undulating route from Worcester to Oak Valley in Elgin Apple country, as shown in the riders info booklet, was very deceiving as some of the climbs reached 26%- honest leg-burning efforts needed. 

                                      Local Apple Farm Labourers giving their all….

Waking up on day 7, the dust had been settled by some night-time showers and although the end was close, Dr Evil (the route master) had no intentions of easing up on the well-worked over 447 remaining official teams, (600 teams to start). 

Each day melted into the next, so much so, that this was life and the outside world didn’t exist.

Having travelled on the N2 highway past Botrivier a thousand times enroute to Plett, it was refreshing to arrive at this quaint little dorp via the ‘back roads’. The journey back was highlighted by the loose rock and sandy ascent up Dassenberg, where even the pros were downsized to portage.

The slower more rugged the going, somehow was to my advantage….

Finishing with awesome singletrack in Lebanon against the majestic Hottentots Holland mountains evaporated the ‘tired from the legs. I couldn’t complain having a ‘snake bite’ on my rear wheel, 3km’s from the end as this was my first bike admin of the entire race. All means of inflating the tyre failed ( later found out that the rear rim had split) and so continued on with a pap wheel. 

While resting up in my room at the Houw Hoek Inn, after 5h28 saddle time.I received an sms from good friend, Iain Don-Wauschope: “You buggers, you beat us by a minute today.”                                                 My reply- “1minute, 1second… A win’s a win. Make you a deal, winner takes all tomorrow.”                      Iain- “GAME ON”.

                                Finishing with Ferdi and Iain on Stage 3

With our ego at stake, Hennie and I charged off from the start of the final Stage 8, target locked on Iain and Ferdi, who had started a batch ahead of us. With having only 65km to work with, we were lucky to track them down early and scuttle past them on a big climb. A compulsory 2km portage up and over the ancient Voortrekker wagon track was to my liking, felt like the good ol’ adventure racing days. From there you could smell the stable doors. Our 46th place finish was the ‘cherry on top’, on what was an exceptional 8 day Mountain Biking experience.

                               Great experience – but happy its over.

52% of Cape Epic Riders voted Burry & Christoff to win – they settled for second.     Interesting fact – Bulls Team didn’t win a Stage but won overall, just shows in endurance racing – “Steady wins the Game”

 Winning Sisters from Denmark – dominated the Woman’s racing

CNN SHOOT….

This Saturday 10^th the ‘Change a life’ athletes will be charging up ‘n down, in ‘n around the Valley of a Thousand Hills, showcasing their talents- cycling, paddling, running- to the rest of the world. CNN are coming to film “A Day in the Life of the ‘Change a life’ Athletes”. CNN crew will be staying two nights in the Valley proper, to experience the real thing. They are wanting to profile an individual:  from family, getting up in the morning, training, to going to bed at night.

A  SUNDAY DRIVE….

Knowing during the easter weekend, my Academy training was in the capable hands of my wingman, Lucas, I disappeared to the Drakensberg to stay in a quaint cottage nestled in the mountains of the Umzinkulu river source. Couldn’t resist a trip into the mountains in Lesotho.  

                                       Callum and I doing some altitude training….

 STAGE 3 of the ABSA Cape Epic saw the retirement of my partner because of a very unfortunate incident. 10km into the race just after we had entered a sandy stretch of single track, a fellow competitor took a wobble ahead of my partner, Albe, and as Albe Skirted around him, this competitors cleat connected with Albe’s knee cap which immobilised his leg. The pain was excrutiating, but he soldiered on for another 40minutes, however things did’t get better. It’s always a tough one when one participates in a team sport where your partners well being is instrumental to your successs. I’m sad we couldn’t continue on as a team, but also realise it could have been me with the injury.

 So the rest of the stage for me saw me catching up with friends and having a leisurely day.

STAGE 4 and we woke to a perfect morning, and although the wind was pumping, it was working in the right direction for us.

The leaders blastered off the start, and within 400m, the top seven teams had opened a small gap on the rest of the field.

WIth my new seeding as a solo rider, startin right at the very back of the field in the last batch, i was able to enjoy supporting fellow competitors as they headed out for the day, that would see us riding 89km with 1680m of climbing, taking us from Ceres to Worcester. I paired up with a beast of a rider, Hennie Kriel, who worked me over for the first half of the stage, but fortunately my endurance helped me to match him in the latter part of the stage. Even with the handicap of starting at the back, our time placed us 51st across the finish line yesterday. [Although i am not seeded, i am still official and will be pairing up with Hennie from today so will start in C-batch from tomorrow]                                                        

Wearing the African Leaders jersey, Kwazulu-Natalians, Max Knox and Brandon Stewart.

STAGE 5: 27km TIME TRIAL. Seems easy?…. 860m climbing… that’s the crux!

…So far, touch wood, it hasn’t been so bad. Today’s endless single track riding and spectacular climbs were well worth every turn of the pedals. I heard plenty of moans from fellow competitors as we hit yet another sandy patch after sandy patch, but luckily for me i don’t really mind the sand and seem to have some sort of a technique worked out.

Again, a casual start for myself and Albe, saw us start at the back of our A batch. Also not knowing that they had combined batch A and B (160 not 80 riders), we found ourselves further down the field than expected. By the time we realised though it was too late as we hit the first stretch of single track and already a slow moving queue of riders. Over the next 50km we managed to work our way through a fair number of the teams, putting us in 69th position across the finish line- now lying 63rd overall

SUNSCREEN, SWEAT and DUST…and NO TEARS

There seems to be plenty of excitement at the front of the race, new teams constantly taking the lead, as most of the top teams are battling with flat tyres during the stages- (the risk you take when you race with the lightest and thinnest of tyres to reduce the weight of your bike- i’ve seen they even shave the knobblies off the tyres to make their equipment lighter).

It’s still early days of this Absa Cape Epic and there are plenty of top notch riders, but we can be happy that our home-grown, Kevin Evans, riding with the World Marathon Champ, Alban Lakata, are wearing the leaders’ jersey. 

Stage 3: today has been branded the, Epic day of All Epics. 115 km with 2280m of climbing, we are sure to feel the legs burning for most of the estimated 6h30 of riding time. Lets hope you log onto this page tomorrow morning and again see some smiles behind the dust.

I don’t consider myself much of a biker, having only really ever biked for adventure racing, (where there it’s usually more push-bike than riding), and with my focus on the Dusi canoe Marathon in January over the past years, it wasn’t possible to even consider training up for this Epic race. But, with the recent changes in my Dusi racing career which is allowing me to be more verstile with my racing, how could i decline an offer to ride for 8 consecutive days and be part of the biggest MTB stage race in the world, the Absa Cape Epic. I have heard how gruelling this race can be, so i am thrilled to finally be experiencing it for real…or am I?

 Albe, my cycling machine partner- psyching me up (me looking poep scared)

 Wearing a brave face…

Stage 1: 117km with 2190m ascent- from Diemersfontein, just outside Paarl, to Ceres, has been the furthest i have ever cycled. Having taken a very laid-back approach to the race, and found ourselves near the back of the 600-team (1200rider) starting shoot, we surprised ourselves with a 61 position finish yesterday. So the race is on… and we are fired  up for todays 90km stage around Ceres, which i have heard has plenty of incredible single-track and no doubt some ‘incredible’ climbs.

                                       THOMAS NGIDI -Zulu Warrior

‘Change a Life’ athletes Thomas Ngidi (winner of Non Stop Dusi, 3^rd in Dusi) and Kwanda Mhlophe (under 18 dusi winner) have currently enrolled at the University of Natal for 2010, studying Geography & Environmental Science and Geography & Environmental Agriculture, respectively. The Ken Collins Trust have pledged to pay R15000 towards each ones University fees. Why did they choose to help these two individuals amongst thousands? It came down to basic logic – If these individuals could obtain such incredible results in the sporting arena through sheer hard work, focus, discipline and goal setting, then surely they will have a great chance of success if they apply themselves to getting a degree and follow through with the same principles.

Now this is true Development. Once Qualified, Thomas ultimately wants to “put back” into the Valley. Eliminate bad farming practices causing erosion and improve farming productivity and so food production. Who wouldn’t want to invest in someone like this.

                              GWAHUMBE NATURE RESERVE

What’s happened – I took part in the Sani2c last week. Farmer hospitality and a challenging  route made for a spectacular weekend. Poor Farmer Glen, race organiser, got moaned at big time. I couldn’t believe the amount of squealing that was going on after Day 1, where the muddy conditions sorted the men from the boys. I presume these individuals thought Mtb’ing was a fair weather sport. Sorry to say, but there is no such thing as ‘bad weather, just soft people’. Grab these adverse conditions with both hands and deal with it better that your competitors and you will be ahead of the curve. These varied conditions can easily destroy the very fabric what constitutes Teamwork as it is more likely to expose that not all partnerships are equal in riding ability. Adversity is the Breakfast of Champions.

Unfortunately, due to safety reasons, the first 25km of Day 2 had to be rerouted, bypassing the awesome single track of Yankee Doodle, Murray’s Meander and Nick’s Pass. After the compulsory Nando’s 10 min stop, the course dried up beautifully. Day 2 will be remembered for the long testing climbs. Day 3 was a ‘chip & a putt’, fast flow riding down to the coast at Scottborough, with the odd ‘Heart Rate’ hill to keep things honest. It was a pity I couldn’t ride with Albe, my Cape Epic partner (due to work constraints), but thanks to my good friend Iain don Wauschope for a lekker ride, stepping in at the last moment. We had to do the Adventure and not the real race, as I  too had work commitments. That same day we finished, I had to be in Parys that afternoon, 2 hrs out of JHB, to join Albe at the annual USN conference to do a Motivational Presentation.

My Mission Statement of the Academy were the first words I wrote down when I conceptualised this Grassroots Initiative two years ago. It pleases me in that I truly believe we (Computershare, USN and Hi-Tec) are on course where the Martin Dreyer ‘Change a Life’ my Academy is at and where it is going.

This was my Mission Statement….

My vision will be to support the development of black youths from the Valley of a Thousand Hills, to build a successful team and use this platform as a powerful vehicle for developing basic life skills, which will allow for the upliftment of these enthusiastic individuals

I hope to create and foster a spirit of risk taking, cooperative team work, to stimulate the individuals for ready and vital responses to challenging situations and to promote reliability, organizational skills and responsibility, in and out of the sporting arena.

• To provide opportunities aimed at empowering the selected individuals through sport participation, whereby these individuals will be able to provide for  their families with weekly food packs, pay their own school fees, obtain their drivers license and further their after school education through courses.  
• To create opportunity for self-upliftment and to provide a bridge for these youths to participate in the process of community building and ultimately Nation building.  
• To provide invaluable life-skills and entrepreneurial skill.  
• To promote travel in the sports world.
• To ultimately establish a sports club in the Dusi Valley with a solid foundation to ensure that the objectives ‘snowball’ into a successful and sustainable project ensuring more underprivileged youths attain their dreams.  
• An important means of doing so is to provide encouragement, financial support and access to valuable information. 

          THANK YOU

                             Bulle -Fourie, Morne, Pierre & Victor

With my ‘Change a Life’ Team currently taking a well earned break, I have used this time to take up some great opportunities giving motivational talks. Three stand out heads above the rest.

Was a real treat visiting the Blue Bulls, current Super 14 Champs, in the Bull ring at Loftus. Who would have thought a ‘scrawny’, non-conventional sportsman could offer motivation to the most ‘manly men’ on earth?

Lance Kumalo – head of Unilever Supply Chain for Ola

On my return to Durbs, I did a talk to Unilever at the new World Cup semi-final Moses Mabhida Stadium. The view from the peak of the arch made the ABSA stadium look like a feature from an ant’s village.

Garth from  Rentworks and Headmaster Mtshali from Phangindawo School 

Then I pitched my story to Rentworks, a company that will be starting next week to install  computer labs in two different schools (Masijabule High School and Phangindawo Junior School – which my Change a Life guys attend) down in the Valley of a Thousand Hills. Each Lab will have 30 computers, aircon and 24hr security. They will also train a tutor  (a Change a Life athlete), to oversee this classroom.                                

Sport Development is one thing, but following through to ‘Life Development’ is what it is all about. It’s always been a concern of mine how do I take my guys to this next level. Over the next two months, Rentworks will roll this program out to six Schools in the area. This is what warms my heart. 

Tom Ngcobo, no doubt my strongest paddler, left the valley on Friday to travel to the Drak Challenge with the other ‘Change a Life’ boys to have a fun outing as this is now their off-season, camping in Underberg. Yesterday, after the race Tom climbed into a different vehicle. A  brave decision which will change his Life forever. This vehicle was travelling to Jhb. Today he will catch a bus to Parys to the Likkewaan Canoe Club to be take up the offer  Chairman Saal de Jaager (ex springbok sprinter) has given him. Saal is passionate about getting Development going at the Club and wants Tom to lead this Initiative, coaching in the afternoons. Having a Security Company, he will train Tom for 6 months to be an Alarm Technician where he will earn a salary and have work going forward. Parys weekly Time Trial – watch out, things are about to be shaken up.

 Drak Results

Water level – perfect.

13^th – Tom Ngcobo (3^rd under 21)

18^th – Lucas Mthalane

20^th – Zonele Nzuza

25^th – Mzamo Zondi (3^rd Junior)

30^th – Eric Zondi

43^rd – Kwanda Mhlophe

1^st Doubles – Skhumbuso Nigidi/Nhlanhla Cele

DEVELOPMENT LEADERSHIP COURSE

 Venue: NCC clubhouse

Accommodation: The Gables B&B

Fact: 23 Clubs around SA, pursuing ‘Canoe Development’

I invited the “Leaders in Development Canoeing” to attend a  two day course that I organised with the help of George Forder. I asked George Forder to facilitate this two day course.

We discussed at length as to what should be covered and in the end, decided ‘everything’, covering all aspects of Development from ‘A to Z’.

Such as:

• Running of a Club- Constitution, committee election, finance….
• Accountability, timeliness, etiquette….
• Safety – CSA indemnity, Union Registration….
• Rules for equipment use – Repair, responsibility….
• Life Skills – Discipline, hard work, goal setting….
• Training – Technique, paddling sessions…. 

The positive energy that emulated from the two days spent together was priceless. Those who had become despondent, were recharged from the fresh ideas and also the selfless commitment of the others.

The voluntary chatter of candidates during Tea and Lunch, taking advantage of this unique networking opportunity to gather information, was a true indication of their passion and commitment to their own initiatives

The comfortable accommodation was a real treat, making the weekend that much more professional. Especially considering that 80% of this course’s candidates are from a low income group and would otherwise never experience this.

Interestingly,  the most valuable information actually came from topics that became “open discussion”.

Special Guests

• Self management Skills
• If you want to employ someone, need someone with….

      Interestingly, they came up with – +ve attitude, skills, knowledge,    

      sound track record, reliable, on time, think out box, honesty, passion,  

      hard worker, responsible.

1.      Donkey – Whip behind or carrot in front?

2.      Customise work role

3.      VICTOR – ownership, accountable, responsible

                        VICTIM – blame, excuses, denial.

 ·        John Oliver 

1.      CSA necessities…. Indemnity etc.

2.      Keep records – equipment list, how many paddles….

3.      Safety

4.      Correct numbers….

5.      Club colours

 ·        Craig Mustard

1.      Training technique

2.      Training programmes

3.      Training logs

 ·        Hugh Raw

1.      How to repair….

2.      Checklist….

Conclusion:

Selection of Development paddlers for getting equipment from Club/going to races must be based on Attendance and Performance.  

1. Every Club must establish hierarchial performance ladder by weekly recording 2000m time trial.
2. Keep attendance register

• Address concern of swimming ability – provide funding for swimming lessons
• Nutrition assistance.
• Assist to a greater level with daily ‘Development expenses’.
• Need to host more such Educational Development Courses – very worthwhile to have all Development Leaders liasing on a personal level, encouraging and  sharing information.
• Problem communicating with all Development leaders as many lack Internet Access.

Now the Development faction of Canoe SA has a voice… thanks to CSA for sponsoring this very worthwhile Development  Leadership Workshop.

            MAKING HISTORY – FIRST BLACK PADDLERS TO EVER WIN A MAJOR CANOE RACE

In the sweltering heat of the Valley of a Thousand Hills (over 40 degrees from 8am on), my 6 ‘Change a life’ boys raced like true valley warriors. With the help of the rest of the ‘Change a life’ squad who were assigned to seconding the different crews- filling water bottles with USN rocket fuel, pouring iced water over the well overheated ‘engines’, feeding and shouting endless encouragement, each ‘Change a life’ boat crossed the finish line, having redefined their physical limitations and superceding all my expectations, all in podium positions. I pinch myself in disbelief, surely this must be a dream. The only dream there was, is that of Thomas & Eric to win this race, which is no longer a dream but now reality. 

                              CRACK OF DAWN START – first portage.

                             LOW LEVEL BRIDGE – 35min into race

WINNERS and 1^st doubles crew, Thomas Ngidi and Eric Zondi, had a flawless race, spending the majority of the day building a good lead on the next crews- from 1min40 at Campbells Portage, 4min at Guinea Fowl, 7min at Mission Rapid, to having 14mins to play with going across Inanda Dam and over Burma. But it was on that mountain where they had to dig to those inner reserves. Eric cramped on the summit. He looked down at his legs, irritated they were misbehaving. To punish them, he simply pushed through it, the R30 000 first prize was too good a thing to let slip.

Behind them was non-stop tussling between Michael Mbanjwa/Piers Cruikshanks (cracked their nose of their canoe on day 1), Craig Turton/Kelvin Trautman and Greg/Craig Carter-Browns. The action didn’t stop here, as my other ‘Change a life’ crew of Kwanda Mhlophe and Richard Cele (5th place) set these three boats in their range-of-fire, putting in ahead of all three halfway in the race, after the grueling Ngumeni portage.

With a 2.30min gap at Inanda Dam bridge and with Burma portage looming, a 2^nd place finish for Kwanda/Richard looked quite possible. However, the two chasing boats of Craig/Kelvin and Piers/Michael working together across the long flat stretch of Inanda Dam would disadvantage the ‘Change a life’ crew, who did manage to hold them off but with only a few seconds to spare going into the Third Day, at the Dam Wall portage. A brave but smooth move by Craig/Kelvin, shooting the high risk Tops Needle rapid,  saw them move into 2^nd place as Kwanda/Richard took the conservative option of putting in halfway down this Rapid.  The generous release of water from Inanda Dam (40 cumecs), made for exciting white-water paddling. Kwanda/Richard, ran over Burma Hill, and incredibly held onto their 3rd position, holding off last years winners Michael Mbanjwa and Piers Cruikshanks.

 NUMERO UNO

For Thomas and Eric, it was the BEST feeling they have ever experienced, to be the first black paddlers to ever win a major race. Paddling down that home straight, the huge grins on their faces told it all. “Its crazy, I feel less tired now than I did at the start of the race” said an overjoyed Ngidi afterwards. Their winning time of 8h17, gave them a 9min cushion over Craig/Kelvin (8h26).

                                     THOMAS & ERIC APPROACHING TOMBI RAPID – DAY 2

 Kwanda/Richard, the surprise of the day, cruised into 3^rd place in 8h38- both being novices to Non-Stop Dusi, raced their dream race to date. (Apparently Richard seemed surprised to be asked on every portage if he was feeling ok… as if “why should I be feeling otherwise?” and that would be followed by a huge grin).

Apart from the doubles action unfolding from the start, the top singles were playing cat-and mouse just behind. Last years winner and 2^nd place, Mark Mulder and Lucas Nthalane were seemigly ready to challenge each other again, with the addition of ex-Valley boy, Loveday Zondi now working in Jhb.

Mark seemed to take early retirement into 3^rd place as Lucas tagged Loveday all the way to Ngumeni portage. Here Loveday turned up the gas slightly to open a small gap on Lucas, who couldn’t respond so quickly. This gap widened when Lucas struggled going over Burma, whilst Loveday opted to paddle around. However with an hour to go, Loveday “hit the wall” and Lucas started to gain on his Valley compatriot at an alarming rate. If it wasn’t for Lucas’s swim at the notorious Pump House rapid (where Ant Stott and Michael Mbanjwa swam, losing the lead in the 2010 Dusi) their result could have been reversed. Loveday’s winning time of 8h58 was just over 3min ahead of Lucas in 9h01. Another surprise finish for team ‘Change a life’, was our ‘silent assassin’, the unranked Nhlanhla Cele, who came home in 3^rd place, 9h05. Having not been ‘part of the mix’ for much of the day, Nhlanhla raced conservatively but steady… and in Non Stop - ’steady wins the game’.

Apart from my racing snakes outstanding performances, the other ‘Change a life’ Academy athletes were inc redible. For over 8hrs the seconds endured the scorching sun, rutted roads and dust through the valley from Pietermaritzburg to Durban. Always laughing and encouraging and making sure their racing mates were getting what they wanted and needed on the portages. I was humbled at yellow rock portage as Thomas’s Mom arrived with eight 2L bottles of frozen water (she got four families to freeze two 2L bottles).

                            THOMAS’S MOM & SISTER HANDING OVER THE LIQUID GOLD

In this heat, iced water was gold, this was an invaluable contribution considering our water supply was dimishing at an alarming rate. later it was  necessary to hide two of these now half frozen 2L bottles on the Dam Wall portage (Day 3) for Lucas’s support crew to pick-up. To have local and family support throughout the valley and to have numerous family members at the finish line, this is really what it is all about. A victory can feel empty when it is achieved alone.

Having experienced the true elation of crossing that Non Stop finish line first, I can relate to the immense effort, extreme focus/concentration it took to steer that double canoe through all 3 days without a single hiccup. The billboards read in Maritzburg today “ZONDI/NGIDI MAKE HISTORY”. Thomas, Eric I salute you.

A huge thank you to my four  efficient seconding teams. Iain, Peter, Jeannie - your help was invaluable. And to Cameron MacKenzie and Fritz Kamhoot for generously lending the use of their vehicles. And last but not least, to the ‘Change a Life’ boys, siyabonga kakhulu. 

So where to from now? …a short recovery break for these Non-Stop Dusi warriors while a few others ‘Change a life’ athletes fine-tune for Drak Challenge (27^th/28^th Feb), then a new and challenging multisport year begins.

                          Thomas and Eric in the 2009 Stihl Non-Stop Dusi 

                                Big Question – can they pull off a win…. 

With Dusi chaos settling, I was spared a weekend to myself and could put a little focus on training for the ABSA Cape Epic MTB race (starting the 20^th March). I met up with a group of 40 cycling fanatics in Sabie for a weekend of quality long training rides, led by legendary cyclist Andrew Maclean. I am still feeling like a ‘green cyclist’ with my non-shaved legs and baggy riding shorts… a good combination though for looking normal at Coffee shop pit-stops and for super comfortable riding!  

With the past few days soaring heat, it’s hard to remember the last month of continuous drizzly and misty conditions, but what I can remember are the rains we had just before this heat wave. The rains soaked the earth and filled the rivers to incredible levels, peaking at 260cumecs over Guaging Weir the one night. With such awesome tripping opportunity,  I took a few of my boys from Saddles to Mfula Store doing the Non-Stop route so missing out the whole of Confluence, (I think they were shaking at the knees).

…and the partnership saga for Non-Stop Dusi continues, as some of the top contenders seem indecisive as to whether or not they are racing. Whats certain is that defending champions Michael Mbanjwa and Piers Cruikshanks will be going for a win.

With no days to go before the early 5:30am start tomorrow, I have been busy sourcing seconds for my ‘Change a life’ crews – Eric/Thomas (3^rd Dusi), Kwanda/Richard and Lucas (who will be braving it in a single again and determined to reclaim a podium position), and also Nhlanhla in a single canoe. Lucky for only having four boats to worry about this time around, compared to the 9 for Dusi, although the seconding is a much more involved experience because there are no restrictions as to where the seconds can go.

INCREDIBLE FACT: if Burma is part of your portaging itinerary, you end up running a total of 30km with your canoe on the day.  

                       ERIC & THOMAS CROSS THE FINISH LINE – 3RD OVERALL

In the Race organiser’s words at the media briefing, “This is the biggest thing in Dusi history, alongside  Dreyer and Mbanjwa’s win in 2008”

Tripping the Dusi route by car and foot. 

Lack of real rain destroyed any paddling opportunities to fine-tune knowledge down the rapids. So we jumped in the ‘Change a Life’ bus and tripped the entire Dusi from A to Z by car and foot a few days before race-day.

Armed with bush knives, panga’s, slashers and a bow saw, we gave the entangled, overgrown vegetation on Burma a ‘short back & sides’ trim to guarantee easy passage up the goat path and over to the water’s edge on the other side.

A cruel blow was dealt to the partnership of Nkosi and Tom, in that Tom was unable to compete as his shin splints were still too severe to run. And so the ‘Change a Life’ team was one top crew short. Knowing/seeing the determination and effort Nkosi has put into training, made me feel sad for him as he stood partnerless on the eve of the biggest race of his life. He had no choice but to dust off the cobwebs of his single canoe to go man alone.

Day to Day account of the top four ‘Change a life’ Boats.

The start Canon blasted and the still waters of Campsdrift churned alive, as the 60 paddlers from A-batch jostled for position.

Day 1

My top ‘Change a life’ crew of Thomas & Eric went into the first long 6km portage with all guns blazing. They scalped six crews, going from 14^th to 6^th. In Thomas’s words “Its now or never”. They continued to push to the limits and crossed the finish line in an incredible 3^rd overall. 

Youngsters Kwanda and Lance had a text book day, confidently finishing (6^th) in the sought after Top Ten – gold medal category. Zonele and Nhlanhla swam down the tricky Maze rapid. On the last portage – Cabbage Tree,

Zonele was suffering from the intense pace earlier on. Such is the toughened character of these Valley boys, that he never let up, finishing 9^th. These two crews were lying 1^st & 2^nd in the under 21 category respectively.

Lucas and John’s legs failed them on the portages, when cramps paralysed them midway. However they kept it together on the water and soldiered on, finishing 11^th position. My hopeful three boats in the Top Ten was on track.

Day 2

Elapsed Time – Competitors start in the order they finished from the day before.

With a only a 3min lead on 4^th, Thomas and Eric took off like there was no tomorrow. Todays racing was tricky because of the full river, making no room for error.

Negotiating the tricky river obstacles like experts and 2 1/2hrs of racing under the belt and 1/2hr to go, the 4^th boat finally caught them on the Inanda Dam and so they crossed the finish line together.

Kwanda and Lance were holding onto their 6^th position until halfway, when disaster struck. Shooting the much feared Tombi Rapid, they fell out at the bottom – which wasn’t a train smash as themselves and their boat were okay. Subsequently their boat washed downstream and wrapped around a rock – game over. I really felt for them, 4 months of dedication and hard work out the back door. They grovelled with their sinking ship to the finish line barely in the Top Hundred.

Zonele and Nhlanhla too got eaten like a raw mielie in Tombi Rapid, along with half the Dusi field who attempted it. Another swim further downstream, saw them drop from 9^th to 16^th.  I strongly advised them to use a more stable boat, but they wanted the same boat as their role model Michael Mbanjwa and now it was costing them. Lucas and John powered into the Top Ten having a great day all round.

USN FUELING STATION

Later that afternoon, in the blazing 40  degree heat, I took Thomas and Eric to check out the first part of Burma Hill – to make peace with this colossal mountain where it would be the make or break of their race.  

Day 3

Lucas/John had a freak accident when another boat T-boned their canoe in the first rapid of the day – Tops Needle, making a hole in the nose and causing them to swim. His Top Ten chances were figuratively speaking, washed downstream. They fought back bravely to finish 13^th.

Zonele/Nhlanhla pulled up two positions to finish 14^th, even with another swim .

Kwanda/Lance cruised Day 3, enjoying the scenery, interacting with the other paddlers, placing 91^st. 

Home Gerome….  Paddling along the final stretch with the crowds applauding loudly they stopped and waved numerous times, savouring the moment, before crossing the Finish Line in Third position – becoming the first Black crew to get a podium placing.

A titanic battle for that last podium position was in the making. Thomas and Eric paddled with Jacques and Piers (3 & 4^th position) across the dam and ran for all they were worth down to the river. Forty minutes into the race, Jacques/piers were 1min 30sec ahead. Then came Burma Hill. Thomas/Eric shouldered their Canoe and attacked the mountain like their lives depended on it. Jacques/Piers opted to paddle around and came unstuck when they took a swim in Five Fingers rapid. Now all that stood in their way of securing a podium position was the biggest rapid of the race – Pumphouse Weir. It was here that race leaders Stott/Mbanjwa swam and Birkett/Graham took over the lead to win the Race. Thomas steered a great line through the monster roller coaster rapids to come out below the rapid unscathed.

        Michael Mbanwja/Ant Stott, Andrew Birkett/Jason Graham, Thomas Ngidi/Eric Zondi 

Others….

Juniors, Mzamo and Mmeli lost valuable time when they swam at Earnie Pearce weir, only minutes from the start. Throughout the race, they just couldn’t make up the time lost, and in the end finished a very credible 25^th overall and second juniors.

Richard and new recruit Spha had a stormer (18^th), against all odds finishing in the Top Twenty on day 1, then some mistakes here and there, saw them finish on Day 3 in 33 position.

Nkosi, who paddled in a single canoe, was a machine, as he finished in 39^th position overall. Showing me that he was definitely Top Ten material if Tom could’ve paddled.

For Skhumbuso and new recruit Thobani, running doesn’t come easy. They struggled with the portages on Day 1, but never gave up and managed to ground their way up the rankings, to finish in the Top fifty in 44^th position.

New recruits Scelo and Siboniso, paddling in the junior category raced their hearts out. Their inexperience saw them capsize numerous times but they managed to keep their wits about them and finish proudly in 60^th position.

Very new recruits Moses and Thabani, survived to finish 180^th.

 Sixteen months ago, I never dreamed that the my Academy would be achieving such results. The journey has been worth every effort. The biggest thanks to Computershare ‘Change a Life’, for their phenomenal support in making all this possible. To Stan, Ursula and Mnandi, thanks too for making time to come into the Valley of a Thousand Hills, to witness the Valley boys in full action. Thanks also to USN for an unlimited supply of the ‘Ultimate Nutritional Supplements’, and to HI-TEC for a shoe for every occasion.

Andrew Birkett and Jason Graham upset the bookies, when they crossed the line first on Day 1, beating pre-race favourites Ant Stott and Michael Mbanjwa into second. A titanic struggle ensued on Day 2 when Stott/Bungi caught the leaders and they paddled neck and neck to the finish line. A more exciting script could not have been written, when both leading boats took out for the mammoth Burma Hill portage. Stott/ Bungi made their break as they summited and never looked back. Extending their lead to 1min 30sec on the water. Being the less powerful paddlers, it now looked like it was game over for Birkett/Graham. However lady-luck came to their rescue, when Stott/Bungi fell out in the Pumphouse rapids, 1hour from the finish. There was no stopping them now, Birkett/Graham crossed the finish line first – putting an end to one of the most exciting Dusi races.

The girls race was won comfortably by Dusi Queen Abbey Miedema and Robyn Kime, but not without its dramas. Abs and Robyn goofed in the Confluence Rapids and then again dropping over the High side of Hippo rapid. Finishing 24^th overall shows their pedigree. The other two women boats of Abie Adie/Lindi-May Harmse (38th) and Hillary Pitchford/Jen Hodson (41st) tussled neck and neck all the way, also finishing in the Top Fifty.