Ready, set go for 2025 Dusi Canoe Marathon
The
2025 Dusi Canoe Marathon kicks off at Bishopstowe Country Club on Thursday
morning with plenty on the line for title hopefuls in both the men's and the
women's race.
This year's race will be another exciting instalment of the historic race as the organisers gear up for a historic 75th in 2026.
There are challengers aplenty for Andy Birkett's men's crown and 2025 will see Birkett out to claim his 15th Dusi title. The 34-year-old has won every edition of the race since 2014 and continues to cement his spot as a Dusi hero.
His Euro Steel teammate and 2024 K2 winning partner Matthew Fenn will be a paddler to watch in this year’s race. Having had another year of training with Birkett, Fenn will provide a stern test for the champion elect.
Another paddler breathing down the neck of Birkett is Msawenkosi Mtolo. The Plastrading.com paddler has finished as the runner-up in the last two editions of the race, whether it be K1 or K2 and has been in confident form throughout the build-up races to the Dusi.
Mtolo continues to grow and mature into a resolute Dusi paddler, and the 27-year-old will be itching to pounce on any mistake made by Birkett throughout the race.
Sandile Mtolo has also been in strong pre-Dusi form and will also prove to be a significant threat throughout the event.
Sbonelo Khwela, Siseko Ntondini and the ever-green Thulani Mbanjwa are amongst the A-Batch and will also be amongst the paddlers fighting for a top five.
The women's race will also have a significant amount on the line as Euro Steel's Christie Mackenzie chases a fourth consecutive K1 title at the event.
Mackenzie has risen to the top of women's K1 paddling in recent years and has continued to flourish in a single. She won the N3TC Drak Challenge earlier in the year and comes into the Dusi in strong form.
Her challenge will be from, among others, her Euro Steel team-mate Nikki Birkett. Birkett proved that she is equally as strong by losing an end sprint at the Drak Challenge last month and will also prove a threat over the three days to Durban this week.
Also amongst the women's title hopefuls is Bridgitte Hartley. Hartley continues to add river podium finishes to her illustrious CV of canoeing achievements and her determination will be a factor that the other title contenders will have to consider.
2025 could see the rise of some exciting junior paddlers in both the men’s and the women’s race with the next generation of paddlers coming to the fore.
This year will also be a milestone year for a number of paddlers but none more so than Nigel Briggs. Briggs will become just the third paddler in the race's 74-year history to reach 50 Dusi finishes when he gets to Blue Lagoon.
Lyle Wheeler and Gudgie Dixon are the other two to reach that milestone and this year will see that duo become a trio.
With plenty of rain and water in the Msundusi and Mngeni River systems, paddlers will enjoy fantastic conditions on the river.
The 2025 Dusi Canoe Marathon will once again provide stories for the ages as paddlers swap tales of their adventures from Pietermaritzburg to Durban.
The 74th edition of the iconic South African canoeing event through the Msunduzi and uMngeni valleys from Bishopstowe to Blue Lagoon, Durban takes place from Thursday, 20 February to Saturday, 22 February 2025.
