Briggs to bring up 50 at 2025 Dusi
Pietermaritzburg – Having navigated his way from Pietermaritzburg to Durban 49 times, Dusi Canoe Marathon veteran Nigel Briggs aims to finish his 50th Dusi when he arrives at Blue Lagoon on Saturday, 22 February.
Briggs has been a stalwart of the Dusi Canoe Marathon and has been at the heart of the event for decades and completed his first Dusi in 1974.
The opening day of the Dusi will also see Briggs turn 71 as he aims to break the barrier that only two people have before him.
After making his Dusi debut 50 years ago, Briggs felt like the race could become an important part of his yearly plan, little did he know it would become this entrenched in his life.
“I said after I had recovered from my first that if I could do this every year then I must be keeping reasonably fit,” Briggs said. “That has become my motivation and to have an aim in life is important because that actually gets you going.
Having finished 49 Dusi’s previously, Briggs has grown an incredible relationship with the race and with a 50th finish on the horizon he explains the other motivation behind returning every year.
“The uniqueness of the race is something that I enjoy. You get fantastic paddlers that will never win the Dusi because they can’t run, and you get brilliant runners who might not do as well as they should.
“I am not great at either discipline, but I really enjoy the diversity of running and paddling.
“The paddling fraternity is another reason I come back and that is a massive part of the Dusi,” he added.
After decades of paddling the famous race, there is a slight element of perpetuity to Brigg’s Dusi exploits with two men ahead of him.
“Initially my goal was not to do this many Dusi’s but when I got to 40, I thought I should carry on and try and get to that 50 mark.
“Down the road you get to thinking about Gudgie (Dixon), who is one Dusi in front of me, and if he’s paddling, I have to paddle. Also thinking about when is Lyle (Wheeler) going to stop? So, I can’t stop yet.”
Despite the recent challenges that the Dusi has faced, Briggs is supremely confident that the Dusi has got a strong future.
“If there was no prize money and no sponsorship the Dusi would still happen,” he said enthusiastically. “I’m pretty sure that if the race wasn’t organised there would still be paddlers lining up at six in the morning to take on the adventure.”
The 74th edition of the iconic South African canoeing event through the Msunduzi and uMngeni valleys from Bishopstowe to Blue Lagoon, Durban takes place from Thursday, 20 February to Saturday, 22 February 2025.
Entries are open online at www.dusi.co.za
For more info visit our website or like the Dusi Facebook page or follow on Instagram.
Please credit Anthony Grote/Drak Challenge for the photograph.
For more information contact:
Nick Tatham
nick@podmedia.co.za
+27 83 610 1232