The 48th iconic Surfers Challenge kicks off on February 11 at Kwelera Mouth and will see its tough participants walking, running and paddling their way to the finish at Nahoon Beach.
The scenic route along the region’s magnificent coastline, also meanders through Sunrise-on-Sea, Rainbow Valley, Gonubie and Bonza Bay.
Since its earliest days when a small pioneering group of road runners and surfers first established the challenge, much has changed.
The coastline has presented different obstacles impacted by the weather, with tides having affected the two major river crossings.
The original event was a 17km run with no options to run or walk the 2km, 5km, and 17.5km distances, starting at Blue Lagoon, Gonubie and Kwelera respectively.
The paddlers are now governed by wind direction, but originally traversed the Indian Ocean in a similar direction to the traditional Surfers Marathon.
Participants will keep a keen eye on coastal conditions over the next four weeks, given the summer rainfall already received and how it has affected the terrain, and especially the river mouths. This year, the event’s highly competitive participants will once again be challenging each other to the hilt.
Only Danny Biggs from KwaZulu-Natal, a Comrades Marathon gold medallist, has recorded consecutive wins from 1985-87.
Biggs also won the Duzi Canoe Marathon in his heyday as an athlete.
The late Zolani Ntongana, who was born and bred in Dutywa, won in 2001, 2005 and 2006.
The women’s race has over the past few years been the domain of Hanlie Botha, who has on occasion been challenged by Pretoria’s Myrette Brink.
The brilliant Botha has since gone on to win more Surfers than any other athlete, in any category.
Entries are open and all details are available on www.surferschallenge.co.za.
