Four top German canoeists have entered the weekend’s Hansa Powerade Drakensberg Challenge in Underberg, adding new spice to the intrigue and excitement around the event, which is hosting the SA K1 River Championships.
The four include Max Hoff, who is no strangers to river racing, and in September came within a whisker of winning the Hansa Powerade Fish Marathon in Cradock with his K2 partner Stefan Stiefenhoefer, pushing eventual champs Hank McGregor and Len Jenkins all the way to the finish.
The other Germans are wild water international star Florian Wohlers, Julian Lohn and Lars Walter.
The four jetted into South Africa with a large contingent of internationals for a training camp during the cold European winter. They will be joining the South African sprint squad, and a big group of top Hungarian paddlers at a Port Edward training camp next month.
They are all are accomplished wild water and flatwater racing internationals, and eagerly jumped at the chance of racing the unique race in Underberg at the start of their stay.
Their technical abilities will be tested to the full, as the Umzimkulu river that flows through Underberg is running low, leaving the section that hosts the race a demanding technical paddle strewn with rocks.
The Hansa Powerade Drakensberg Challenge will host the SA K1 River Championships in Underberg on 24 and 25 February. Entries closed on 17 February, but late entries are still being processed. The race website is at www.canoesa.org.za/DrakChalleng
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