Another international paddling star has joined this year’s Berg River Canoe Marathon fray as Hungarian ace Adrian Boros lodged his entry for what is sizing up to be a fiercely contested race from Paarl to Velddrif from 13-16 July.
The 25-year-old world champion from Tolna in Hungary, who finished runner-up to Hank McGregor in the ICF Canoe Marathon World Champs K1 race last year before winning the gold medal in the K2 with László Solti, said he snapped up the offer to race in the 2016 Berg.
“I am convinced that the Berg Marathon is going to be a good preliminary event for our selection competition in Hungary and for the World Championships as well,” said Boros.
“The Berg completely fits in with my other plans for the year. It is two weeks after the European Championships, so I will come prepared to the race,” he added.
While he concedes that he will have the added burden of being a novice on the 240 kilometre haul to the Cape West Coast, Boros said that challenge inspires him.
“The harder the race, the greater the success is,” he said confidently, and added that he was looking forward to having to adapt to make up for any gaps in his knowledge of the course.
“I do not know much about the flow rate or if there are any dangerous areas on the river. I think I will have to improvise,” he said. “That is going to be exciting.”
Boros is a regular visitor to South Africa, having taken on the Dusi Canoe Marathon thrice in the past, and is looking forward to his return to the charged South African river racing scene.
“I have absolutely fallen in love with the country,” he said. “I could not miss one opportunity to go back there to race.”
He said that the prospect of having a strong international team, which already has three other elite stars signed up, allowed him to race with team mates and then test himself against some of the best marathoners in the world.
“Frankly, I am happy to hear about the other good international paddlers coming to race. That way I can also measure myself against my competitors’ physical status,” said the professional athlete.
Boros joins fellow elite paddlers Brendan Rice and Josh Kippen (Australia) and Czech Republic ace Petr Mojžíšek in the international team.
- The 2016 Berg River Canoe Marathon starts in Paarl on 13 July and ends at Velddrif on 16 July. More information can be found at www.berg.org.za – Gameplan Media
