Hansa Powerade Fish River Canoe Marathon

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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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