Global Trader Drak Challenge is awarded 2010 SA K1 River Champs
Underberg - The Global Trader Drakensberg Challenge has been awarded the
rights to host the South African K1 River canoeing championships in 2010,
underscoring the race's popularity and suitability as a championship
competition.
The race last hosted the national singles title decider in 2007 when German
wunderkind Max Hoff posted a sensational victory on debut, taking to the
river for the first time, in a brand new boat, inn the process edging out
the local talents of Jacques Theron and Hank McGregor on a difficult low
Umzimkulu river.
The Global Trader Drak Challenge consistently attracts the top paddlers in
the country to participate in the event.
While the race always produces ferociously competitive racing, the elite
paddlers flock to the race because it is raced in a friendly and warm
atmosphere, even amongst those dicing for the winner's cheques.
"To be a good event to host the SA K1 champs there must the right balance
between technical river skills and flatter water where the marathon racing
tactics and stamina comes into play," said six times Drak champion Ant
Stott.
"The Global Trader Drak Challenge has all of these, and in almost perfect
proportion," he added.
"On both days there are significant stretches of flatwater to balance out
the large number of rapids and weirs. That makes it a great test of river
paddling ability, and anyone that wins it deserves to be the national
champion."
While the right to hosting the national river championship is not expected
to dramatically increase the number of elite paddlers taking part as the
race already attracts almost all of the respected marathoners and river
racers, it will add further prestige to the popular race.
"We are thrilled to be hosting the national river champs once again," said
race committee boss Paul Cartwright. "We strive to run this event
for-the-paddlers, by-the-paddlers, and they paddlers have supported us
incredibly well over the years."
The Global Trader Drakensberg Challenge takes place in Underberg on Saturday
27 and Sunday 28 February
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Global Trader Drak Challenge 2010 Logo |
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German Olympic superstar Max Hoff won the
Global Trader Drakensberg Challenge the last time it hosted the SA K1
champs. Local paddlers have vowed to make sure that the national river
marathon is never again won by a foreign paddler. |
Dave Macleod/
Gameplan Media |
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Canoeing South Africa championship medals. |
Dave Macleod/
Gameplan Media |
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