Among the participants in this year’s Dusi Canoe Marathon – which celebrates 73 years in existence this year – will be Lyle Wheeler, 74, who will be lining up for his 53rd consecutive Dusi.
The race, which has become one of KwaZulu-Natal’s oldest and most iconic sporting events, will take place from Thursday to Saturday February 15 to 17. The event organisers announced a couple of route changes to improve the race and ensure all competitors have a better all-round experience.
The new start venue for the 2024 Dusi Canoe Marathon at Bishopstowe Hall was announced recently.
It has been confirmed that the finish of the opening stage, and the start of the second stage, has also been moved about six kilometres downstream. One of the traditional portages has also been removed with the corresponding stretch of river around Finger Neck now a compulsory paddle for all paddlers.
The finish of the opening stage will now be just above the confluence between the Umgeni and Msunduzi Rivers, about 100m after the Second Saddles Portage. The distances for all three days are now about 35km or 36km.
Organising committee chairman Steve Botha, said the changes were made to improve the race and because they had been “listening to what the paddlers want”.
“The paddlers have come to us with suggestions and as much as possible we try and accommodate what they want,” he said.
“Feedback we’re getting now is positive. At the end of the day, we listen to the paddlers and hear what they would like to see out of the race. We try and accommodate what they want.”
This year Lyle Wheeler, 74, will participate in his 53rd consecutive Dusi, having taken part since 1972. Mr Wheeler and his son Billy Wheeler have again partnered for the race.
“Billy has partnered with me before, but he is hard of hearing which means we pass messages to each other by hand signals while on the water. I am in the front and through using my fingers, I communicate with Billy, telling him when to use power, ease off, what line we are taking and where to portage,” said Lyle.
As a youngster, Lyle was fascinated with boats and made his own craft with tar and pieces of cut hosepipe, which infuriated his father, he said. He came across the Dusi by chance, he said, explaining that he had been working at the post office near Bishopstowe when he looked out the window one day to see a line of people running across the fields carrying canoes.
“I was informed it was the Dusi Canoe Marathon and it took me a while to realise that back then, much of the Dusi was done on foot, rather than on the water.
“I trained with Len Jenkins and we spent all our time running, carrying and dragging our boats, getting fit, building stamina and getting used to the physical aspect of the Dusi,” he said.
“Then there were minimal roads in the valley, so we used game and buck trails to find our way.”
His advice for those wanting to participate in the event is that no matter how many Dusi’s a paddler has done, you are never master of the route. You should, therefore, always plan your races meticulously. He said his wife, Maureen, keeps excellent time for him. She knows exactly where he should be and when he is to reach check points – if he is 10 minutes late, she knows he is in trouble, Lyle explained.
He has finished every Dusi he has started – he has “managed to conquer it all,” he said.
“There have been many changes through the years and particularly after the severe floods a few years back. However, the spirit, competition, challenge and character of the Dusi remains constant, and that’s what keeps drawing me back,” he said.
