Len Jenkins wildcard entry for Drakensberg
Challenge
Underberg -
Three
times winner Len Jenkins surfaced as a wildcard for this years Drakensberg
Challenge canoe marathon in Underberg this weekend when he slipped in a late
entry less than a week before the event.
Jenkins won last year's race in a stunning solo charge that left the classy
likes of Ant Stott and Grant van der Walt out-of-sight for virtually the
entire race, but since then has disappeared off the canoeing map.
Jenkins has been focusing on his engineering career for much of the year,
and by his own admission has not been training much. However he is explosive
on races that are made up of shorter stages, and earned the nickname “King
of the Fish” for his ability to race away at maximum intensity or anything
under three hours.
The Drakensberg Challenge starts with a short, sharp and technically very
demanding 24 kilometer leg from Castleburn bridge to the Swartberg Road
bridge on the outskirts of Underberg, which Jenkins won convincingly last
year, despite taking a swim in the notorious Valley of a Thousand Rapids.
The longer 38 kilometer second stage exposed Jenkins last year, and at one
stage allowed the chasing pack of Stott and Van Der Walt to get Jenkins in
sight, before he pulled away through the Lower Gorge to win comfortably.
“I love the atmosphere in Underberg for the race,” said Jenkins, who enjoys
revelling with the paddlers at the traditional Saturday night party while
many other elite paddlers get an early night. “The racing is always
competitive but the vibe is a lot more relaxed somehow.”
“The water is also so clean, which makes a big difference,” added Jenkins,
who played no part in this years K1 Dusi title tussle.
Jenkins enjoys training away from the public limelight, which often makes it
difficult to predict his form. However a few weeks before the race Jenkins
admitted he was keen to defend his title in the Drakensberg Challenge, but
would have to get back into shape fast to be able to deny the likes of Ant
Stott. “I’d need to shed about six kilograms to get back to racing shape,”
he admitted.
Experience counts a great deal on the Drak Challenge, and Jenkins, with
eleven Draks behind him, will start as one of the most experienced seeded
paddlers on raceday.
Much will also depend on the water levels on the day. If Jenkins is
under-prepared for the defence of his title, then the real prospect of a
full Umzimkulu River will suit him nicely. The river came down in spate last
week after well placed thunderstorms in the Southern Drakensberg, and at one
stage was roaring at 175 cubic meters per second.
While this flood subsided as quickly as it arose, the weather forecast for
this week points to steady rain on Thursday, with further thunderstorms
forecast for the next few days, which will be sure to add further water to
the river and negate the possibility of a low river for the race.
The Drakensberg
Challenge takes place in Underberg on Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 February.
Late entries are still being taken. More information can be found at
www.drak.co.za
ENDS
