Highlights of the Hansa Powerade Dusi 2009 will be broadcast on Supersport from the 5th of Feb. Click on Read more below to view the full schedule.

CLICK HERE to see the Hansa Powerade Dusi 2009 SABC news report videos.

CHERRI FORSYTH

WHAT a wonderful example the Dusi paddlers set. We have seconded at the Comrades Marathon a few times and this year for the first time we did so at the Dusi. What a difference there was in the attitudes of the competitors.

We were at the station at Finger’s Neck, the last seconding table on the first day. To get to the table, the paddlers had to run up a steep hill, carrying their canoes on their shoulders, all this after two hours or more of racing. We were bowled over by their gratitude and politeness. Almost everyone thanked us profusely for helping them. What really touched us was that these people, exhausted as they were, every muscle aching and protesting, would bend down so that a young girl could pour water over their heads.

I often had to blink back the tears at their efforts to make a little girl’s day. What special people. We will definitely be back to second again next year. Well done to all the paddlers for making our day so awesome.

“The water quality experienced by paddlers during Dusi 2009 was much better than last year. Samples were taken by Umgeni Water, DUCT and eThekwini Metro at more than 16 points along the race route on the actual race days. The quality in Pietermaritzburg averaged around 3 500 E coli per 100 ml, improving to below 1 000 by the end of Day 1. The Day 2 quality tests (Ibis, Inanda bridge and the finish) were even better at 370, 300 and 216. The quality just below Inanda on Day 3 was 44, and then closer to Durban the results go back up to the 3 000 mark, with 500 at the finish. To put these numbers in perspective, the following “Canoe Use Classes” were recently agreed by DWAF, Umgeni Water and DUCT: