It has been a very different FNB Dusi Canoe Marathon build-up for perennial podium contender Sbonelo Khwela, however he firmly believes that 2019 could be the year that we see him on the top step of the podium on Saturday, 16 February.
The former K2 Dusi champion has had to reshape his entire Dusi preparations due to a number of set-backs at the end of 2018 where he fell ill twice and was unable to get his training regime under way for Dusi.
โI wasnโt feeling well for a long time and went to the doctor who said I was ill as a result of stress,โ the Euro Steel/Red Bull star said.
โIt was a difficult year for me with some family issues so the illness was stress related.
โThen just before the Hansa Fish I contracted bilharzia, got treated but the treatment wasnโt enough so I fell ill again and couldnโt start my training and wasnโt strong during the early Dusi build-up races.โ
Itโs been a busy start to the year for the 13-time Dusi finisher as he has had to up his regime to get himself ready for the challenge come Thursday. Despite a tough few weeks of training, Khwela believes that he is in great shape.
โI have definitely found my rhythm again, I am happy with where I am.
โI think that I used to train too early and get to the race and be tired and make silly mistakes but I think that I am starting to peak at the right time this year.
โIt is exciting for me that I am going into the race feeling far fresher than I have done in the past and the I think I am going to give the other guys a hard time,โ a confident Khwela added.
As the summer rains continue to fall in KwaZulu-Natal the Msundusi and the Mngeni Rivers are at terrific levels at the start of race week. Khwela hasnโt experienced this sort of build-up in a number of years but has taken advantage of it.
โI have been tripping a lot in the last few weeks with the good water levels and I am looking forward to racing at this sort of level.
โIf there is more water then I think it will help myself and guys like Banji (Thulani Mbanjwa) because it is a little less technical,โ he explained.
The top contenders for Dusi glory has not changed for a number of years; however there might be a few more paddlers added to the crowd of championship hopefuls. Khwela knows the challenge is going to be immense but he looks forward to it every year.
โThe Dusi is always going to be tough and we all know that,โ he stressed.
โTo see Hank McGregor going well just makes it even harder and he was in good form at the Campbellโs to Dusi Bridge race last month.
โThe Dusi always surprises and over a long three days it is going to be an interesting race.โ