A last minute international flavour has been added to the mix for this year’s Hansa Fish River Canoe Marathon which takes place in Cradock this weekend with American slalom star Austin Kieffer and Australians James Morfitt and Brendan Rice having confirmed their participation in this year’s clash.
A strong field is already gathering in Cradock for this year’s clash with nigh on all of the best elite river marathoners from throughout South Africa set to be there. Kieffer and Morfitt’s participation has however spiced things up significantly as their entry adds an intriguing element of the unknown to the encounter.
“I was in South Africa last year and when I left I decided that if ever I came back then I just had to take part in one of the river marathons,” explained Kieffer. “I obviously met a lot of guys while I was out here last year and when speaking to them and researching things on the internet and social media, it just became so apparent that the Fish was the one!”
Kieffer narrowly missed out of bearing the stars and stripes at the 2012 London Olympic Games in slalom paddling after being pipped at the post in the trials. His pedigree, particularly his paddling skill set, is however unquestioned, something which will serve him well in Cradock.
“I have no idea what I’m in for. I’ve never been anywhere in South Africa outside of Cape Town let alone to Cradock so I have no idea what to expected but I’m really looking forward to the Fish and I’m really excited!
“Being in a canoe is very different to a slalom boat or a surfski, hopefully I will be able to take what I know from slalom and apply it to the river as best as I can though.”
Kieffer joins to mighty Mocké clan on the annual road trip from Cape Town to Cradock on Wednesday and is hoping to get some insight during Thursday’s training session.
“I hope to get some tripping in on Thursday and run some of the big rapids like Keith’s Flyover and maybe a couple of the weirs just to get a feel for things.
“For me the whole trip is all about the experience though. Looking at the results from previous years I know a couple of the guys so hopefully I can look to stay with them and follow a couple of them down the trickier sections.”
Jasper Mocké was however less casual about Kieffer’s prospects. “Austin is quite a modest guy. He’s obviously never raced a K1 before but I did a training session with him on Monday though and he definitely has the speed to stay with the guys!”
His on-the-water efforts aren’t the only part of his maiden Hansa Fish experience that the American is looking forward to as the attraction of Friday and Saturday nights’ music concerts – which will see Locnville (LCNVL) as well as Shortstraw and Gangs of Ballet in action – also looms large.
“I’ve heard of a couple of the South African bands that will be performing at the concerts and it is just incredible and so exciting to have such big names performing at a canoe event’s after party!” said Kieffer.
Meanwhile Australia’s Morfitt is no stranger to the South African paddling fraternity after the Australian spent over six months on the local racing circuit last year while Rice takes to the 2014 start line as a somewhat unknown quantity however his strong sprint and surfski background may yet add another interesting dimension to the men’s top 20 race.
“On the back of his stint out here last year, James (Morfitt) got his best ever Avon Descent result earlier this year and he is now back in SA ready to really race Fish!” confirmed good friend and fellow elite paddler Hilary Bruss.
The Hansa Fish River Canoe marathon takes place on Friday 10 and Saturday 11 October 2014.