Matie paddlers ready for Berg action
Anthony Penderis
The 64th Berg River Canoe Marathon sets off this Wednesday, 15 July, from the Market Street Bridge in Paarl. Over four days and 240 km, paddlers will battle their way to the finish at Velddrif on Saturday, 18 July.
The route winds through the Boland, Swartland, Sandveld, and West Coast — landscapes as beautiful as they are deceptive. The Berg is renowned as the toughest ultramarathon in the world, with conditions ranging from crisp winter sunshine to torrential rain, treacherous flood levels, and icy waters.
Yet paddlers return year after year. At the final time trial hosted by the Stellenbosch/Maties Canoe Club at Vredenheim Dam last Wednesday, veterans shared their motivations. For stalwarts like Francois Loedolff (38 Bergs), Mossie Serdyn (34), and Andries Smit (27), the challenge lies simply in finishing. Daantjie Malan (14) treasures the camaraderie, while 78‑year‑old Johan van Rooyen, the oldest competitor this year with 16 Bergs completed, summed it up with Sir Edmund Hillary’s famous words: “Because it’s there.”
Race Manager Danie Brink, himself a Berg veteran, highlighted the immense demands of the event: “As a four‑day race over 240 km, the Berg River Canoe Marathon poses significant organisational challenges in logistics, safety, and support. For paddlers, it requires extraordinary preparation and commitment. Best of luck to all participants in achieving your personal goals and adding to the rich history of this race.”