2010 looks to be a very full sporting year for all South Africans but for us we will be staying away from the big cities and full stadiums and ploughing our trade in the beautiful wilderness areas of the country. The core of the Team from 2008 and 2009 is the same with the guys showing great commitment to the events over the past two years. The exciting prospect for us is that we have now got commitments from two of the Garden Routes top multi sports women. Jeanette Walder has raced with the top teams in the country and is also a top canoeist. Rhona Zonnestien is the ladies winner of the Southern Storm in the veterans section and will be out showing everyone a clean pair of heals on the trails of the Garden Route.
With the new structure of the Team we believe that with the valuable experience gained over the last two years we are ready to put the Team on the map as one of the top teams in the country. We have got the ability to achieve great results in the various events planned for the year.
Jeannette has secured and entry to the Cape Epic Mountain Bike Race and will be teamed up with experienced Nicky Wolf from Joburg to do the eight day race.
The same weekend will see the guys taking on the Garmin Wartrail near Lady Grey. This three day multisport race involves a 65 km high altitude mountain run, 135 mountain bike race along the Lesotho border and then 65 km of canoeing on the Orange River.
The Swazi Extreme Adventure Race in April will hopefully see James and Jeannette taking part as members of other teams due to the long distance needed to travel from the Garden Route.
Jeff will be taking part in the local Mountain bike Cross country series in an effort to win his age group. (He is currently lying a very close second)
July sees the Oyster Festival in Knysna with a host of events. Rhona is the current vets’ lady champ of the Featherbed Trail run and will be defending her crown. Jeff is the “mad man” who competed in all the events last year except the canoe race which he has committed to do this year. Jeanette ran the full marathon last year and will be competing in most events this year.The “Nite Races “ are right up our alley with navigation and darkness our allies so we will be hoping for full participation there.
The Hessequa 250km Adventure Race is scheduled for August and we are going all out to improve on our third place last year. The Trans Baavians bike race also happens in August and we will be there to with Jeff and Jeanette possibly having a go at winning the mixed pairs.
Rhona will be defending her Otter and Southern Storm titles in September and James and Jeanette may run the Otter Trail Run if they can get entries.
The year will once again be rounded of by the Eden Duo where we would like to have winners in at least two categories (the mixed and the juniors under Chris Crewdson)
Most of these events will have TV coverage and with contenders in different categories we will be trying to get some exposure. The “Where are the Pennypinchers Adventure Racing Team” competition is growing and has had positive feedback from the public and will continue this year. Chris has developed a great relationship with the local press and keeps the article flowing. The local radio station is unexplored and very new but I think we can come up with some ideas to get on that as well.
The blog has become a great tool and will hopefully be linked to the Adventure Racing website this year an possibly in time the Pennypinchers website to.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Tips From the local for the Drews training session
The most important thing to remember about the session on Sunday is that you are all responsible for your own and each others safety out on the course. There are quite a few areas where there is no cell reception so bear that in mind as you skip your way up Whiskey Creek.If you go past this point you are on the right track. (spare a thought for the lettuce patch this is our pump)
I do recommend the following:
A pencil to write down the check points (Drew to provide paper)
Water proof map and cell phone
A compass (and know how to use it)
A good amount of grub (THERE ARE NO SHOPS ON THE ROUTE)
Water can be found out on the route but only drink it if its flowing
The paths on the hike legs are old (v old) but mostly clear if you start bundu bashing head back to the last place where you were on the path and look around.
A small first aid kit,space blanket,whistle,knife and windbreaker should see you survive till the morning if you have a problem.
Most all have fun. I look forward to the war stories on Monday.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Attakwas Mountain Bike Race
For the third year in a row I have arrived at Chandelier Game Farm just outside Oudtshoorn for the now 138km long mountain bike ride to Groot Braak via the Attakwas Kloof. As was the case in the previous two years I entered the race in November and promised myself that would be fit by the time the middle of January arrived. Work, drought, friends and family all took their toll on the training programme and I arrived at the start line with one goal to survive the 138 km to Groot Brak.
Katot let rip into the air with a rifle shot and 796 riders shot out of the blocks. Hano ,Jeannette,Marco and Nico and I hung back and let the dust settle. We knew it was going to be a long day. The first 42 km through Chandelier and Doorn Kloof were quite fast as usual but already the road was littered with bikes upside down and people fixing punctures.The first water point entailed a quick stop to refill bottles and have a slice of watermelon and I was on my way. Now riding alone as the McCain gang had joined up and were about 20 Min's ahead.The second water table marks the beginning of the Attakwas Kloof and after 60 odd kms the real mountain biking began. The huge valley is filled with Proteas and Fynbos and even a couple of streams that were flowing.
The end of the kloof is marked by the Bonniedale Guest farm and a watering point which is sponsored by Spur with burgers and chips . I had a cup of chips with salt and hit the road knowing full well that there was still a tough 4 hours of riding left. There were a lot of riders sitting in the shade staring into space having blown and not quite sure how because they were only just over half way.
I have been there before so know the feeling but this year I had gone a bit slower and made sure I drank enough along the way. The next two legs through forestry and farm lands really highlighted the state of drought n the area with many empty lands and dams scattered along the way. The heat bouncing off the gravel roads was oppressive and nearly every tree had a cyclist siting under it next to the road,head in hands and wondering what they were doing out there.
A cool head wind which slowed Kevin Evans down brought welcome relief to those of us out there in the afternoon sun.
The steep down hill into Groot Brak brought to an end another great race through a beautiful part of the Garden Route. I will recommend this to any Adventure racer because they have got the mentality to deal with the fact that there is always a sting in the tail and things always take longer than expected and if you start slowly you will always make it to the finish. I managed to finish in the top half of a field where 300 people of the 800 starters did not finish and had a blast doing it with only a couple of bumps and bruises to show for it.
The year of 2010 has began at last on the sports front and along with all South Africans let it be a great one.
Katot let rip into the air with a rifle shot and 796 riders shot out of the blocks. Hano ,Jeannette,Marco and Nico and I hung back and let the dust settle. We knew it was going to be a long day. The first 42 km through Chandelier and Doorn Kloof were quite fast as usual but already the road was littered with bikes upside down and people fixing punctures.The first water point entailed a quick stop to refill bottles and have a slice of watermelon and I was on my way. Now riding alone as the McCain gang had joined up and were about 20 Min's ahead.The second water table marks the beginning of the Attakwas Kloof and after 60 odd kms the real mountain biking began. The huge valley is filled with Proteas and Fynbos and even a couple of streams that were flowing.
The end of the kloof is marked by the Bonniedale Guest farm and a watering point which is sponsored by Spur with burgers and chips . I had a cup of chips with salt and hit the road knowing full well that there was still a tough 4 hours of riding left. There were a lot of riders sitting in the shade staring into space having blown and not quite sure how because they were only just over half way.
I have been there before so know the feeling but this year I had gone a bit slower and made sure I drank enough along the way. The next two legs through forestry and farm lands really highlighted the state of drought n the area with many empty lands and dams scattered along the way. The heat bouncing off the gravel roads was oppressive and nearly every tree had a cyclist siting under it next to the road,head in hands and wondering what they were doing out there.
A cool head wind which slowed Kevin Evans down brought welcome relief to those of us out there in the afternoon sun.
The steep down hill into Groot Brak brought to an end another great race through a beautiful part of the Garden Route. I will recommend this to any Adventure racer because they have got the mentality to deal with the fact that there is always a sting in the tail and things always take longer than expected and if you start slowly you will always make it to the finish. I managed to finish in the top half of a field where 300 people of the 800 starters did not finish and had a blast doing it with only a couple of bumps and bruises to show for it.
The year of 2010 has began at last on the sports front and along with all South Africans let it be a great one.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Where are the PpART this time??????????
Picture of another area of this hikeThis competition is by far the toughest even though the location is still on the Garden Route. This is the on the second to last day on one of MTO s hiking trails. It is the highest point on the trail on the second to last day. Check out http://www.mtoecotourism.co.za/tsitsikama.htm for some more info.
Monday, December 7, 2009
Where are they this time
This stand of exotic trees was planted as a trial in 1925. There is another trial in Grootvadersbosch Nature reserve near Swellendam. We did an amazing Adventure Race through that area in 2007 and it is well worth a visit.As you can see stretching is an important part of training.We had so great answers in the previous competition so if if you have any interesting history of this particular spot let us know with your answers.
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