Friday, 14 January 2011 13:35
K3 crew looks to conquer Drak
With a new record entry for the Global Trader Drak Challenge canoe marathon certain as entries pour into the race headquarters in Underberg, there were plenty of raised eyebrows when a solitary entry for a K3 canoe landed on the race organisers desk.
Conventional wisdom suggests that it would be nearly impossible to thread one of these massive three-seater craft down the tight narrow and rocky upper reaches of the Umzimkulu river, but that has not scared off the brave trio led by one of the pioneers of K3 racing, Willem van der Merwe.
The estate manager at St David's Marist Inanda school, where he is also the master in charge of canoeing, Van der Merwe has completed countless other major canoe marathons in a K3, and discreetly completed the first ever descent of the GT Drak in a K3 last year, a feat that attracted little attention.
This year he will return with two road-running icons, Comrades legend Alan Robb and former Two Oceans winner Brian Chamberlain, to conquer the 70km race from Castleburn bridge, close the the Drak Gardens hotel to Early Mists farm on the road to the Coleford resort.
“I’m not all that worried about the extra size of the K3,” said Van Der Merwe. “It’s funny, I actually feel I can turn a K3 just as well as I can a K2!”
“Obviously the first 5km are a slight concern for us because it is very tight going through the Valley of a Thousand Rapids, but after that I’m not worried at all. If things get a bit tight then one of us just jumps out, pulls the nose through and hops back in.”
Last year Van der Merwe and his K3 crew, which included one of the pupils from St David's Joseph Roller-Rundle finished comfortably in the top half of the field, enjoying the good water conditions in the Umzimkulu river.
“The St David's canoe club has allowed me to introduce many youngsters to the sport and it’s been great to see them grow and develop. Some have even reached national junior level which is just the cherry on the top,” said Van der Merwe.
Whilst the three musketeers have been putting in the hours on the water and training hard at the Emmarentia Dam, the GT Drak has a particular appeal to the three seasoned athletes that will be taking on the challenge in the K3.
“We’re all in our 60’s now. We’re not out there to keep up or compete with the youngsters," said Van der Merwe. "We’ll just race our own race and have fun!”
“The scenery is so beautiful," he added. "You can drink the water and the locals in Underberg are very friendly!”
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