“It is most unusual for us to have so much water in the river system at this time of year” said Ray de Vries, spokesman for the organisers.
“The Umsundusi and Umgeni rivers are full and we expect a lot more water to come down the Valley of a Thousand Hills into Inanda Dam which is 99.7% full. We expect the melting snow in the Midlands area will run off into the Umgeni system at Midmar Dam and Albert Falls.
The Dusi was moved out a month later to February from January this year because there is traditionally more water then. Even then the Inanda Dam was not overflowing.
‘It is crazy, here we are in the middle of winter and the system is full. This bodes well for the event not only because of increased water levels, but it will hopefully wash a lot of the hyacinth, a noxious weed, out. This weed is the biggest threat to the future of the race as it blocks up many parts of the river and is dangerous” he said.
The canoeing season kicks in in the next few weeks and the first Dusi qualifier, The Unlimited Ozzie Gladwin, scheduled for 30 October. The event is a good test as it has flat water, portaging and river sections like the Dusi has. It is a K2 (doubles) event which means that paddlers will be testing out their pairings for the big one, The Unlimited Dusi 2012 in February.
More info on the Unlimited Dusi 2012