![\"ccs-62657-0-06516300-1434636754.jpg\"](\"https:\/\/wp-media.bikehub.co.za\/production\/uploads\/2023\/02\/ccs-62657-0-06516300-1434636754.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nMurray Starr (left) and Tamika Haw (right) are just two of a sizeable group of paddlers looking to blur the lines between sports codes when they take on the 2015 BSi Steel dusi2c MTB stage race this weekend. Anthony Grote\/ Gameplan Media<\/span><\/p>\n Mulder, who has a K1 Dusi seventh and tenth place as well as a K2 tenth and eleventh to his name, will take on this weekend\u2019s challenge with colleague and fellow paddling convert Smith.<\/p>\n \u201cRoland and I work together at Republic Sports Adventure in Durban North and he is also a very experienced paddler.<\/p>\n \u201cWe both got into triathlon around the same time and with mountain biking being the sport our clients at Republic seem to be most interested in, we naturally then grew into that as well.<\/p>\n \u201cWe took up mountain biking just two months before last year\u2019s dusi2c but after completing the Karkloof Classic we decided to try our hand at dusi2c and thoroughly enjoyed it.\u201d<\/p>\n Finishing 2014\u2019s race in a highly respectable 40th position has left the pair highly motivated ahead of this year\u2019s clash as they go in search of an even better return this weekend.<\/p>\n \u201cLast year we finished in just over seven hours and our main goal this year is to shave a bit of time off that.<\/p>\n \u201cIt would be really awesome to try get ourselves into the top 20 too but we\u2019re not sure if that is even possible for us at this stage.\u201d<\/p>\n Being surrounded by former and current top paddlers, Mulder and Smith won\u2019t be the only paddling converts hoping for a solid mountain biking effort this weekend.<\/p>\n \u2018Dusi Duke\u2019 Martin Dreyer will be under the cosh throughout Saturday and Sunday\u2019s journey as he looks to stick to the back wheel of his wife and KZN women\u2019s MTB stand-out Jeannie (USN\/Hi-Tec) as the pair look to challenge for the highly competitive mixed team title.<\/p>\n While race founder and organiser Glen Haw ensures the two days go smoothly for all, his three top paddling \u2013 and now cycling \u2013 children will look to fly the family flag high on the trails.<\/p>\n Sisters Tamika and Bianca claimed the bottom step of the podium at the 2014 Dusi but will now go head to head as they take on the challenge with their respective boyfriends, Gandar and Houston \u2013 both top paddlers themselves with Gandar having finished sixth in this year\u2019s Dusi and Drak Challenge alike while Houston made the 2015 Dusi\u2019s fifth position his own.<\/p>\n Haw\u2019s son Murray forms yet another \u2018paddling pair\u2019 after he and former Dusi U18 Boys\u2019 runner-up Damon Stamp teamed up together while Under-23 paddling talent Murray Starr tackles this weekend\u2019s dusi2c with Tim Lee.<\/p>\n While some of canoeing racing snakes look to do impress on their wheeled transport this weekend, some of the watersport\u2019s evergreen personalities will take to the start line as well.<\/p>\n Owen Hemingway \u2013 the only person to have completed all 22 editions of the N3TC Drak Challenge and 27-time Dusi Canoe Marathon finisher \u2013 will take to the trails with DUCT River Riders team mate Han van Aardenne.<\/p>\n Eric Bothma \u2013 himself a 27-time Dusi finisher and whose 19 finishes sees him the proud owner of the title of most Non-Stop Dusi finishes \u2013 is another paddling character set to enjoy the dusi2c\u2019s trails this weekend when he competes with Subaru Toppies team mate Mark Christie.<\/p>\n