Training Log Archive: Rob1280

Day 3 - 2023. With 100cumecs going out of Inanda dam on only 4 rapids being made compulsory portages there was something in it for the river paddlers. I caught the 3 change a life paddlers 5sec in front of me in the first 100m and with worked together nicely over the dam, they then ran away from me to below tops needle, unfortunately Mmeli Cele had some boat admin once we started paddling and the Sandile Mbanjwa had a nasty swim at umzinyathi, injuring his shoulder, I’m not either finished the day, I was left chasing Jabulani down and managed to catch him by taking a better line on the five fingers portage. We had a great paddle to the finish together where he smoked me in the end sprint as expected but I still got 18th :) so happy with the race, a lot of training to get here, but retribution for my race in 2009 where I was inside top 20 and broke a paddle on day 3.

Lots of change for this year’s race but it was all worth it.

Day 2, 2023. 100 cumecs coming down the mngeni making the organisers very nervous, they made some good calls for the overall field to portage confluence, a silly one to portage Marianne Foley as we still paddled under the bridge, and a good decision to portage gumtree and thombi. Kinda ruling out potential gains for me, I lost a few places on Ngumeni hills as I was unsure of some of the paths and then was slow on the gumtree portage, paddling up to hippo I saw 3/4 boats portaging but it was not compulsory (yet), so I went for it and came close to making it but sadly swam, thankfully not losing any time, it was big, plenty water going over a big waterfall :)

I caught up to Christi and we chased a bunch of 3 all the way to the finish, they are 8sec ahead of us, and I’m in 21st today, not ruling out a top 20 tomorrow! Some big water on the cards, with only 4 rapid’s compulsory portages, thankfully the will be something in it for the river paddlers.

C • Top 20 2

Dusi Day 1, the start was moved to Bishopstow, halfway along Campbells portage, a running start, to avoid some poor water quality sections. I dropped to B batch which ended up being batch 3. The running start had everyone set on going into the red, which hurt plenty of guys, I managed to keep it orange. We were also forced to run hole in the wall and fingerneck to add back some paddling. I had a great day out, making up lots of places from taking it a bit easier off the start but sadly not making up too many places on what I thought would be my strong sections either way overall clean and consistent in 17th overall:)

Water level was medium, but scary stuff on the cards for tomorrow.

C • Nice start! 2

Easy one with my Dad down to the beach.

Nice and easy in k1’s with my Dad at Dudley Pringle

Afternoon leg stretch.

Easy plod around my folks place, super humid but not even that hot.