In 35 yrs of racing you can count the number of women who have completed this tough classic race on one hand. 2008 sees the most unlikely of female entrants...

The Zululand Brewing Company, from Eshowe in Natal, with their Zulu Blond Beer is the first sponsor to sign up for the Southern Shamaal PE to EL Surfski Challenge 2008.

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Listed as the "Official Hydration supplier, powering the race" the Natal home grown brand, operated by  six time Duzi paddler Andrew Chennels, Zulu Blond is set to power one of the Worlds toughest Ocean paddling races for four days in December.

Chennels said "I have known about this race for years and have always admired the guys who do it, we are delighted to be associated with the race, its tough competitors and dedicated officials. It is a historic & classic race and one that sits well with our brand as a traditional African brewery".

"The race is a hell of a test for the athletes," said Event MD Anton Erasmus. "And the pressure is on for the seconds as well - so we have associated with a great social brewery to provide some relief from the daily grind.' The brand is fast getting a support base in the paddling community, due to its strong support for the sport. It is billed as being crisp, blonde and refreshing and should be about perfect for the 4 day adventure."

The brewery will hit the road with a mobile bar called the "Wandering Keg" and en route will find a shady spot, hook up the tanks & let the hydration flow. Anton said "every night there will be a load of weary support staff, race seconds & supporters, and few of the racers who are really in need of a few cold ones.

"Richard Chennells has assured us that we will not run out of beer (A bold statement indeed) - but then they are committed to over 2000 litres of this magic brew."

The PE2EL Challenge, re-branded the "Southern Shamaal" runs from 6-9 December 2008.  The event website is under construction but will be available in the not too distant future at:

www.southernshamaal.com

Comments (4)

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Zulu Blonde samples
written by Jamii Hamlin, August 04, 2008

Any chance we can get an early sample supply of this crisp, blonde muti in the Western Cape? As the Strand Downwind Junkies and I'm sure the DWASPO crew will want to include this in all Challenge build up training and not arrive at the event unprepared!

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Official Review
written by Rob Mousley, August 04, 2008

I told the Zululand Brewery that we'd been appointed by the Southern Shamaal organisers to perform due dilligence on all potential sponsors - but it appears that every single member of the organising committee had individually told them the same thing so they greeted my claim with a certain amount of scepticism and said I could taste if I flew up there...

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Apolgies to Rich Chennels
written by Wayne Randall, August 04, 2008

The guy who wrote this obviously had a few Zulu Blondes when writing this, there is no Andrew Chennels in Eshowe, Melmoth, Nkandla, Ulundi, Babanango or surrounding areas ....Richard Chennels is the only master brewer in this area !!!!

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We tasted the Blond...
written by Gavin Dickinson, August 21, 2008

Boys - it's a fantastic brew. Smooth & crisp.

The Eshowe crew put it on for the boys last night at Pirates in Durban - where Anton Erasmuss gave a talk on the new look race. Nobody listened - they just drank the beer & told war stories.

The only man to have raced 10 Challenges in a row Murray Smith was there - having his arm twisted to make it what may be an unbeatable 11!

Game on.

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