Unique Dusi vibe attracts young and old alike

Benham is 63 years older than the races youngest competitor, 15 year old Epworth schoolgirl Stacy Green.

For Johannesburg’s Benham, a big water fan, it is far from the pure racing that attracts him back year after year but rather the adventure, the journey and the vibe of the event.

“I have been doing the Dusi since the 1980s and it’s the camaraderie and the pilgrimage that is so unique to the Dusi that I absolutely love,” explained septuagenarian Benham.

“I prefer the bigger waters of the Umko than the paddle/run nature of Dusi. I hate running, especially uphill, with the boat, but the whole Dusi atmosphere is just incredible and something I will never be able to resist,” he added fondly.
“I have taken part in a couple of races around the world, including the Avon Descent in Australia which the Aussies call the ‘toughest white water race in the world’. It hasn’t got anything of even just the first day of Dusi!

“The Dusi is just great!”

Benham’s Dusi experience started many years ago with his then fifteen year old son and, after some time of not paddling together, the pair’s Dusi adventure will be ignited once more in 2014.

“I first experienced the Dusi when my son, Bradley, was fifteen years old. He’s now 43 so we’ve been involved for quite a while!” he chuckled.

“We paddle together for a while until Bradley turned around one day and said that my war was over and it was time for me to pack my kit bag and find another partner. “I’ve paddled with friends for a while but this year Bradley and I will be doing Dusi together again,” he added.

Despite his years of Dusi experience, the passionate, old school Dusi regular is adamant ‘oldest’ is a description used scarcely in his company despite having made the title his own on numerous occasions previously.

“I need to have a word with (race time-keeper and long-time paddling administrator) John Oliver!” said Benham sternly. “None of this ‘oldest’ nonsense!”

“I didn’t paddle last year but for the three years before then I was told I was the oldest participant and even back then I tried telling John (Oliver) that I’m wasn’t the oldest but rather the most senior!”

The unique atmosphere of the overnight stops is another aspect of the event Benham speaks fondly of and speaks passionately about the camping traditions of old.

“Every year we camp on the river banks at the start on the Wednesday evening before the start on the Thursday morning and then we camp at both the overnight stops along the way,” explained Benham.

“The overnight stops are just fantastic. That is where all the stories are shared and the true spirit of the race can be experienced. “It’s a pity so many guys head out the valley at the end of each day these days. Everyone used to have to stay in the valley at the overnight stops and it would be great if this was brought back!” he added.

While hoping to be mid-pack in this year’s race, bar any major unforeseen weather systems, Benham believes the strength of today’s black stars will see a development paddler or two claiming the spoils at the front of the race.

“We’re usually just ahead of the second half of the field. Who knows though, if a hurricane or a tsunami takes out the first half of the race then I’ll be right up there, possibly even winning the thing,” he added light heartedly.

“We have some fantastic black paddlers in the system at the moment and they are great athletes and superb guys as well. (Thulani) Mbanjwa I’m sure will do nicely while Loveday (Zondi) has also been going really well recently,” he added.

On the opposite end of the spectrum young Stacy Green is set to become the youngest participate in 2014 as she and the man behind the incredible production line of paddling talent that continues to stream out of Epworth College, Les Willows, look to take up this year’s challenge.

The Dusi Canoe Marathon 2014 starts in Pietermaritzburg on Thursday 13 February and ends in Durban on Saturday 15 February 2014.

(File photo:Gallo Images)

- Gameplan