Former Junior and Under-23 Canoe Marathon World Champion Grant van der Walt feels he has an advantage over several of the elite stars going into this year’s Hansa Fish River Canoe Marathon in Cradock, Eastern Cape on Friday 10 and Saturday 11 October, and is eager to take full advantage of the opportunity.
The young ace is quietly building a title contesting campaign in his home province of KwaZulu-Natal and while a podium would be satisfactory, van der Walt is secretly hoping to make the top step of the podium his own in 2014.
“You never want to say you’re going to a race to win it because then you automatically make yourself a target and open yourself up to questions and abuse when you don’t achieve your goals but let’s just say I’m not going to the Fish for a green salad!” described van der Walt.
“I like to believe I’ll be competitive at the Fish this year. I’ve been on the podium the past couple of years and I’d really like to be there again this year, if not win the title.
“I’ve won the Drak (in 2013), SA Surfski Champs in 2009 and multiple doubles titles but the Fish has been the one I’ve been going to the longest and enjoyed the most so to win it would be fantastic!
“A top ten I’d be happy and a podium would be great but a win would make me the happiest guy around!” added the Team Jeep/Varsity College athlete.
Van der Walt is a four-time K2 Hansa Fish winner having successfully partnered Hank McGregor to victory in 2008, 2010, 2011 and 2013 however a K1 title at his favourite race on the South African calendar would be an even greater achievement in his books.
“Last K1 Fish I was a bit unlucky on day one when I took a swim after the portage shortly after Keith’s (Flyover) and lost contact with Hank (McGregor) and Len (Jenkins).
“I managed to get back to them midway through day two but I’d used up so much energy doing so that I just couldn’t stay with them towards the end.
“I’ve learnt from that though. I now know to rather slow down just a little and lose a couple of seconds than rush things and make mistakes which can cost you two or three minutes.
I’m older, wiser and hopefully not slower now than I was then plus I’ve got two more years of racing under my belt now so hopefully that bodes well for me at the Fish this year,” said van der Walt.
With a standard water release annually and most of the top contenders having competed at the event on countless occasions previously the scales are fairly even.
Van der Walt does however believe he has one added trick up his sleeve which may prove decisive in his 2014 title challenge.
“With the river level having been the same for the past however many years, you can’t say you know the river better than any of the other top guys. The rapids don’t change, the flat water is pretty much the same each year, the portages are the same.
“Most of the guys who are also likely to be at the front of the race at Fish this year are all over in the US for Marathon Worlds though, and that really is a big bonus for me!
“Hank, Andy (Birkett), Greg (Louw) as well guys like my brother (Brandon van der Walt) and Stu MacLaren are all going to have to try peak for an event as big as a World Champs is, go through all the traveling that’s related to that and then get up for another big event shortly afterwards.
“That’s really tough for anyone to do!”
The ICF Canoe Marathon World Championships, as well as the ICF Canoe Marathon Masters World cup, take place in Oklahoma City, USA from 23-27 September and team South Africa goes there with high medal expectations.
The rip isn’t without consequences for those also eyeing Fish success though, as van der Walt knows all too well.
“Last year Hank and I were lucky enough to travel home a day earlier than those who were competing in the K2 Worlds events and even then we were still battling a bit with flu and fatigue at Fish but we saw just how much of a difference that extra day of recovery made when it came to racing in Cradock!
“Obviously some guys travel more and better than others but usually Worlds are in Europe and recovering from the travels to and from there, whilst also trying staying healthy throughout, is tough enough.
“This year Worlds are in the States so the guys going over have the added issue of major jetlag to deal with while trying to prepare for an event that is three times the distance of a marathon event just two weeks later.
“So not going to Worlds definitely has worked out in my favour when it comes to this year’s Fish!” he added.
The Hansa Fish River Canoe marathon takes place on Friday 10 and Saturday 11 October 2014.