18-year-old paddles to victory
The short course is very daunting with major rapids and white water, but not as long as the long course. It misses the more technical section of the meandering river through overhanging trees at the start of the race.
18-year-old Warren Thiel from Weltevreden Park took on the challenging waters of the Fish River at the annual marathon that was held in Cradock.
The Fish River Marathon is a guaranteed water release that hundreds of river-racing canoeists head to every year.
This year the event took place on 27 and 28 September, providing two days of exciting adrenalin-rushing white water wave trains, weirs, chutes and fun.
Warren decided to take on the B-rated short course at the Fish River Marathon as he was not fit or trained enough to manage the A-Rated long course, over a distance of 80kms.
He finished the 46km river race over the two days as the first K1 Finisher, in just over three hours, successfully shot the Cradock Weir which has a 50 per cent swim rate and did exceptionally well.
The short course is very daunting with major rapids and white water, but not as long as the long course.
It misses the more technical section of the meandering river through overhanging trees at the start of the race.
It is an extremely challenging section of the river, especially for Gautengers who have few options for training for the white water rapids within reach.
Warren is a learner at King Edward VII School, where he takes his athletics very seriously and has achieved well.
He has been awarded a scholarship for Athletics, to study at the Charleston University in West Virginia in the USA, and will be heading there in July 2020.
