EAST Londoner Royden Gaylard was the only paddler who attempted the Pre-Fish River Canoe Marathon on a stand-up paddle board (SUP) this year and will also be competing in the short-course leg of the Fish River Canoe Marathon next month.
Also competing in the race, is Maxpaddle manufacturer from Durban Brendon Germaine. He will be one of the few paddlers taking on the full-length marathon on a SUP.
“For a number of years, the short course has been attempted on a SUP, but I think this is the first year that anyone is attempting the full marathon,” said Germaine.
“I’ve just started out on a SUP, so it’s my first time trying out the short course on one,” Gaylard said.
Starting at Grassridge Dam, the Fish River Canoe Marathon covers a distance of 81,8km over two-days on October 6 and 7 and will end in Cradock.
Having tackled the Dusi Canoe Marathon on a SUP for four consecutive years and competed in the Fish River Canoe Marathon in a K2 canoe, this will be Germaine’s first attempt at the full marathon on a SUP.
“I’ve done the Dusi so many times that I thought, why not give the Fish a crack? It’s one of the only races where there is a guaranteed water level and it has the potential to become very popular – in South Africa and internationally,” he said.
