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Name: Gary
Kroukamp
Comment: A suggestion for both Soutpans and Cradock Weir. The public
love watching at these 2 sites and the new cleared section at Soutpans is
great. I would suggest a public address system at both to let everyone know
who is attempting it and to commentate on the action.
Name:
Ted Waldburger
Comment: Thanks once again for a great event with superb
organisation, in particulatr the improvement to roads is a big help.In the
context of remaining competitive with other sports there is a need to review
the camping facilities at the Spa. Having camped there for the last 11 years
the standard of the abulutions leavs a lot to be desired.There was no hot
water in the main men's ablutions -cold showers in 8 degree temps is no fun
for the more mature set! The smaller toilet block near our campsite was
never going to cope with the demand if the cistern is filled via a drop at a
time and of course there are no doors on the toilets but this has not
changed over many years.
Finally, on returning to the camp on Saturday around lunch time I discovered
my electric camp fridge had been stolen. This fridge requires two people to
lift so was stolen with the help of a vehicle and therefore was not the
result of a opportunistic passer by.Clearly security is not up to standard.
Having camped at a number of multi day events it does not take a lot of
effort to get things right and the main ingerdient seems to be adequate
supervision to ensure that facilities are maintained throughour the period.

Name: Marais de
Villiers
Comment: The incident at the Spa early on Sunday morning where a
paddler shocked a student(s) with a stun gun was excessive and amounted to
assault. Irrespective of the revellery amongst the students it is not good
for the image of our sport that paddlers take the law into their own hands
and mete out this kind of aggressive punitive action on another's person.
The perpetrator was lucky that he was not mobbed by the indignant students.
There were plenty of witnesses to this callous deed. Please investigate and
nip this potentially explosive situation in the bud. Best canoeing wishes
and our sincere thank's to all the Cradock folk for yet another wonderfull
Fish !
Name: Adlof
Comment: This was once again a very well organised race. Hats off to the
organizers and a great thanks to the Landowners as the one way road next to
the river below Keith's is just great.
Sorry for the B-batch guys that got lost in the mist must have been an
absolute bummer to realize you have paddled an extra 20+ minutes on the dam,
better luck next time.
A shoot at the weir is a great idea, but if I listen to all the comments and
opinions I believe that if there are funds available that something should
rather be done at Toast rack. On the Highveld Crock there is a low level
bridge/weir called Rambo's and another, higher bridge has been built on top
of the existing one. I believe something similar can be done to Toast rack
with a new bridge or a section of the bridge being lifted to accommodate the
height of a paddler without hitting his/her head. One of the pillars at the
bottom can also be removed that would result in a much easier negotiated
entry and exit(smaller danger of wrapping boats an getting trapped and
having to be rescued. I believe a number of the top paddler will say the
race will be made to easy, but if you want to keep growing the event, the
dangers should be managed and not the inconveniences.
Name:
Barry Penn
Comment: Congratulations on 2009. Please convey my thanks to the
lifesavers (excellent) and those responsible for attempting to keep the
portable loos respectable. The one way system for the seconds worked very
well. Having escaped with minor head and facial injuries and having
witnessed and assisted 3 other competitors with similar injuries (one fairly
serious ) I would encourage the use of protective head gear on day one. My
helmet allowed me to complete the event. Thank you very much for a great
event.
Name: Matthew
Comment: Huge thumbs up for the promo DVD we received in the recent
SA Paddler. It is a brilliantly finished package that I am sure will be a
marketing angle adopted by many a race in the future. Hats off to the Fish
committee for their unsurpassed innovation and attention to detail, it is
easy to see why the Fish has become known as the best river race on earth.
The plan for the new chute at Collett's Weir is yet another example of what
makes this the race a favourite of the paddlers, yet another outstanding
improvement to an already fantastic race. Cannot wait for October and to
hear the roar of Keith s again
Name: Matt
Comment: That DVD was a stroke of genius, what a great way to see the
river! I would have loved to see more on Soutpans as this is a big talking
point amoungst the old-paddlers trying to scare us newbies... We will NOT be
shooting Keiths!!! 2009 Fish will be my first and the excitment is building
at a crazy pace! I have a seasoned paddler (a Coelacanth no-less) driving me
in a K2, which helps with the nerves, just a little... So Here's to a super
race! Looking forward to it - BIG TIME! PS - all you regulars feel free to
share some of your secrets and tips.
Name: Graeme
Comment: That DVD was brilliant - Dusi Committee should take note. I
am taking a Novice down this year & what a nice what to show him what to
expect, except for Keiths, that it....didn't want him to run away. keep us
the good work and the best race on the calendar.
Name:
Lawrence
Comment: Hi there
guys,
based from London, I have to say that sending out that DVD was a stroke of
genius! I showed it to some guys at the club and there's a good chance your
DVD could generate real interest within the "average" overseas paddler and
not just the top guys. A while ago I sent out an email asking for something
like this ... Trust the fish committee to deliver!
Now if the guys in KZN would follow suit...
Name:
Adolf
Comment: Thanks for the DVD that we have received with our SA PADDLER.
This is the only way that we (the fish and chips) can follow the action of
what is happening at the front of the race. I have considered being a 2nd
for a race just to be able to follow the action in the front, but this is
much better!!! No we can be part of the race and still see what happened at
the front. How about adding the previous K1 footage to the promotion in a K1
race year or the previous K2 footage in a K2 race year?
Keep up the good work!!!!
Name:
Gareth
Comments: Just recieved the promo DVD -
great job, I thought it was awesome. I can't wait for the race - keep up the
good work.
Name: Jennifer
Comments: A huge boquet to the organisers of this awesome race. It is
certainly my favourite and I must compliment you on the fantastic suport you
give to the seconds (we have recently moved to the Cape and the races in the
Western Cape are most second 'unfriendly'). Also for a fantastic initiative
with your new website. Glad to hear that the lifesaving at Cradock has been
addressed (I was almost a victim two years ago), and the Collet Wier
initiative sounds like a fab idea - for paddlers and seconds. Keep up the
great work!
Name: Jennie Dallas
Comment: Fish is awesome - the highlight of our canoe year for more
than 50% of our clubmembers - we simply can't get this much enthusiasm going
for any other event as it is suitable for lesser experienced, relatively
novice paddlers as well as the older tired ones just wanting to have easy
fun.
We acknowledge the effort and hardwork put in by the FISH committee with
the roads, farmers, access, shutes etc and EVERYTHING IS GREAT - i feel
almost GUILTY asking for one more thing.....
Please can we have access to the top section of the river on Weds as well
as Thurs? We are not meaning to be greedy but travel a LONG way to do Fish
and want to enjoy the river as much as possible while we are there -
we also find that since there is ONLY access on Thursday for trippers,
the section/Keiths etc is very crowded and the whole trip takes so long with
congestion - many of us could do the top section trip on Weds which would
relieve some congestion on Thurs....
ALSO those of us from Gauteng would prefer (as we have done before) to
trip the top section ON THE WAY DOWN from Jhb - arriving midday at the dam
and tripping to Heuningkrantz for example - then Thurs we can play at
Marlowe and Cradock (which has lifeguards) instead of spending most of the
day driving and being tired out from dust sand and crowds......
Keep up the good work - it is an absolutely
exceptionally well organised race that is enormous fun!
Name: Anton
Comment:
It was my 3rd Fish and I am now convinced that
you and your team should take a bow for organising what is, for me, the best
canoe race in the world....and I have done the Sella and the Dusi! Don't
change too much. Yes, more shoots would make for more fun, but the Fish is
already the complete canoeing experience: rapids, honest flats, trees,
rocks, weirs, portages, good viewing and sunshine.....but not too much of
any of those to make it inaccessible to the pack. And it is wonderfully
organised. Thanks to you people.
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