Hansa Powerade Drak Challenge Media Release

 No: drak0808

21 Feb 2008

Grant van der Walt poised rewrite Hansa Powerade Drakensberg Challenge record books.

Underberg – Johannesburg teenager Grant van der Walt is poised to rewrite the record books at this weekend’s Hansa Powerade Drakensberg Challenge canoe marathon, as the junior world marathon champion challenges the cream of the countries river racers.

The Parktown Boys High school pupil thrives on the Umzimkulu river, and showed with his top three finish at the recent Umkomaas marathon that he is not afraid to jockey for podium places with the strongest senior paddlers.

“I love the Hansa Powerade Drak! It is my absolute favourite K1 race,” said van der Walt. “I would love to get a top three finish this year, and it would be a dream come true to win it,” he added modestly.

If van der Walt can produce the fast paced start to stay with the fancied contenders through the narrow and technically demanding Valley of a Thousand Rapids that spans the first ten kilometres of the race, then he may have the tactical acumen to challenge for a win, and become the first junior to win this popular race.

“I learnt so much from racing with Max Hoff, the German who won the race last year,” said van der Walt. “He raced at such a high level throughout, using his wild water racing skills, and his huge training base, and took the race to a new level.”

in that race van der Walt finished fifth, behind the two visiting German Wild Water internationals, and established local stars Jacques Theron and Hank McGregor.

The ongoing heavy rains in the southern Drakensberg mountains have also excited van der Walt, who despite being a schoolboy, is one of the heavier paddlers in the race. “I’d love it to be really full for the race, as I am not the lightest paddler in the field,” he added.

Van der Walt shot to global prominence last year when he emphatically won the junior world marathon championship crown in Hungary. “I really want to try and go to the Czech Republic and retain the title I won last year,” said van der Walt. “But this year finishing my matric is my primary focus.”

Van der Walt proved at the Hansa Powerade Fish marathon in Cradock in September last year that he was perfectly capable of mixing it with the sports household names. On that occasion he raced to third as a sixteen year old, becoming the first junior to race to a podium finish in that race.

His supporters are backing to do the same, if not better in Underberg this weekend, where he will line up alongside seasoned river racers like Ant Stott, Hank McGregor, Len Jenkins and Sven Bruss.

The Hansa Powerade Drakensberg Challenge takes place in Underberg on 23 and 24 February. Late entries close on Wednesday 20 February at midnight. More information is available on the race website at www.drak.co.za

ENDS

Justin Vellacott/
Actionography

Justin Vellacott/
Actionography