Who can enter the Dusi, and what qualifications do I need?

The Dusi Canoe Marathon is a three-day race from Pietermaritzburg to Durban: Bishopstowe to Dusi Bridge, then Dusi Bridge to Inanda Dam, then Inanda Dam to Blue Lagoon. It is run under the ICF Marathon Racing Rules, the national federation's (PSA) rules and the Dusi's own race rules, which take precedence where they conflict. The 2026 race was held on 19 to 21 February.

Entry criteria:

• Age: entries are only accepted from qualified paddlers who are 15 or older on 1 January of the race year.
• Club: all South African entrants must be registered with a PSA-affiliated club for the current paddling season, which runs from 1 April to 31 March.
• River rating: all South African entrants must be AR river rated under the PSA safety regulations.
• CR exception: a paddler who is at least CR rated may, on special request to the organisers, paddle in the back of a K2 with a partner who has completed at least 5 Dusis.
• Foreign entrants must satisfy the KNCU and Dusi safety officers that they can handle the racing conditions.
• Previous Dusi finishers need no further qualification beyond club membership. Any race you do helps your seeding.

You may enter before you have your AR (or CR) rating, but you must get it before the race. There are no refunds if you don't.

The organisers may accept or reject any entry, and may amend the rules at any stage.