Friday, 11 February 2011 14:48
Stellenbosch student upbeat ahead of Dusi
Robyn Kime may not have had it all her own way in the final stages of her preparations for this year’s The Unlimited Dusi, however this will have little effect on the University of Stellenbosch student’s desire to take home her first K1 victory when she lines up at Camps Drift on 17 February.
Travelling back and forth between Durban and Stellenbosch, splitting her time between training and lectures and having to overcome a recent minor illness certainly doesn’t make for ideal preparations but Kime is adamant she’s ready to tackle the gruelling three day race from Pietermaritzburg to Durban.
“My training’s been a little limited in the last week or so with me being back in Stellies and I’ve also been a bit sick. I’ve only managed three or four short sessions a week recently but I’m better now and I’ve been training really hard since the start of December so I’m confident I’ll be ready,” said Kime.
Having had a strong Global Trader Drak Challenge at the end of January where she led for much of the race only to hand her nearest rival Abby Adie the win late on the second day due to a silly mistake, Kime will be keen to take her good paddling form into Dusi.
“I was going well at the Drak and I’m just looking to race my own race from start to finish next week,” said Kime. “Hopefully this will be enough.”
Kime, now a well established name on the ladies river paddling scene, knows all too well there isn’t any room for short cuts when it comes to preparing for this demanding three day test of one’s technical ability, strength and endurance.
“Being an endurance race you never really know where you stand going into the race because despite all the training you put in you aren’t ever training for the three consecutive days at the same intensity as you race with so you’re never quite sure how ready you are but I’ve worked hard and I’m happy with where I am at the moment,” said the 20-year-old student.
“I’d prefer it if it was a low water level because I’ve been tripping a fair amount and I enjoy it when the race is a little more technical,” added Kime. “Also there are more bugs in the water when it’s full so there’s a greater chance of getting sick.”
Despite Kime’s partner who she won the K2 title with in 2010, ‘Dusi Queen’ Abbey Miedema, having recently relocated to Canada, it is another Abby who provides Kime with the toughest competition in her quest for her first K1 title.
“Abby Adie is a very good paddler and is definitely a very strong contender. Hillary Pitchford and Donna Winter are also always good competitors though and Alex (Abby Adie’s twin sister) has steadily been getting better and better so you never know,” said Kime.
“I’ll try not worry about the others too much whilst I’m out there and just focus on my race,” she added.
The Unlimited Dusi starts on Pietermaritzburg on 17 February and ends in Durban on 19 February.
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