Training Log Archive: Rob1280

Elapsed time start for day 2, I had a 5sec gap to close to two boats, which took me a while, not feeling super strong after a hard day 1. I caught them and we then caught another guy. So had a good bunch to work with most of the day.

Siseko's brother took a swim in a long wave train, and then we past Lucas (CAL) after he had blown racing ahead. I hung on to our bunch doing my share of pulling, but got dropped at the bridge rapid with 4km's to go. I was starting to feel quite unstable and tired so just cruised to the finish from there to take 9th. Happy with the result. 8min off the leaders, but that's a long way on this fast flowing river.

Paddled my carbon/polyester Hyperion, ideal boat for rivers like this. I was setup quite high, so when I did get tired stability was a bit of a problem (luckily no swims). I paddled my carbonology cs3@ 211cm, length felt ok in the rapids but too short on the flats, not so happy with the paddle, I think I need smaller blades with longer length in the future.

Men's overall results
1. Siseko Ntondini 3:59:17
2. Thulani Mbanjwa 3:59:17
3. Zonele Nzuza 3:59:55
4. Mmeli Cele 4:02:34
5. Mpilo Zondi 4:02:36
6. Khumbulani Nzimande 4:04:15
7. Nkosikayise Cele 4:06:01
8. Tom Ngcobo 4:06:24
9. Me... 4:07:21
10. Simnikiwe Ntondini 4:08:39

C • Pro-paddler Rob 3

This year we raced from the reitz water works to zogvliet farm just outside tweeling, for both days. The level was full at 35 cumecs, so most of the km splits were sub 4min :) all I remember from day 1 was loads of rapids and fast racing, while day 2 I remember longish flats and a head wind... A fair description would be somewhere in between.

I managed to have a good start, getting onto a bunch of 16 paddlers for the first 3/4km's, then 4 guys broke away off the front, at 12km's we were still racing in big bunch of 12 guys, all Soweto/change a life with Alex and I, I was starting to stretch myself to hang on, and i had to take a bit of a risk in one of the weirs to stay there, eventually 6 guys got away and Alex R, and Richard Cele (CAL) started working together. Alex spun out at another long wave train and didn't catch up again. Richard and I paddled past 2 guys who had blown badly.

I finished day 1 in 11th, with 2 B batch guys just 5sec ahead.

Comfortable tt. Only paddled hard on one lap. Solid time. 3rd bunch.

Easy run

Easy run