South African adventurers are accomplished; many of their achievements are documented as World firsts and records. Our adventurers have traversed and circumnavigated countries and continents; they’ve rowed across oceans; scaled mountains; cycled extraordinary distances and descended rivers. In October, for the first time, 12 South African adventurers come together to tell of their recent expedition experiences at FEAT, a dynamic and captivating evening of time-limited presentations.

FEAT, Fascinating Expedition & Adventure Talks, is an evening of time-limited presentations where each adventurer speaks for seven minutes – no more, no less – focusing on an aspect of a recent expedition. Striking photographs illustrate their words, which tell of emotions, challenges and discoveries – of people, places and themselves.

feat – noun, a noteworthy or extraordinary act or achievement, usually displaying boldness or skill

Created by adventure racer and writer Lisa de Speville, FEAT brings South Africa’s adventurers together. “Most people would love to embark on an expedition; but they feel tied to ‘real life’,” she says. “It takes a different, special kind of courage and drive to abandon socially accepted norms of home and work to set off – often solo – on self-motivated and self-organised expeditions. Whether the adventure involves oceans, countries, continents, rivers or mountains, these achievements are extraordinary. I’ve yet to meet a person who is not captivated by tales of these adventures.”

Speakers at the inaugural FEAT are: Alex Harris, Andrew Kellet, Cobus van Zyl, Darron Raw, Kyle Meenehan, Mandy Ramsden, Marianne Schwankhart, Mike Blyth, Peter van Kets, Pierre Carter, Ray Chaplin and Riaan Manser. Their presentation topics cover the disciplines of mountaineering, kayaking (river and sea), big wall rock climbing, paragliding, adventure films, ocean rowing, adventure racing, ultra distance mountain running and long distance walking.

FEAT aims to publicise the achievements of South African adventurers, bringing their outdoor experiences indoors. FEAT is the ultimate armchair adventure experience.

The inaugural FEAT event will be held in Jo’burg on Thursday, 7 October 2010, at the Wits Theatre in Braamfontein. Tickets are only available through Computicket. Ticketing opens on Monday, 2 August 2010.

FEAT is made possible by its sponsors – Biophys, Buff, CAPESTORM and Hi-Tec – and media partners, www.AR.co.za and Go Multi Magazine.

For more information, visit the FEAT website at www.featsa.co.za

Venue: Exercise & Nutrition Centre, Rivonia. Cnr North & Rivonia Roads (in the downstairs Energy Bar). Tea, coffee and other refreshments, as well as tasty food, are available from the Energy Bar – perfect for those coming directly from work.

Time: 18h30 – 20h30 (content starts at 19h00)

Theme: Kinetic Full Moon video (8-minutes) and then Swazi Xtreme 2006, Vlok & Fordyce video (52 minutes)

Your questions about Swazi Xtreme – what to pack etc – will be answered after the videos.

All welcome

Diemersfontein Tuesday 29 June 2010:

Ball and Nel’s lights were seen crossing the dam wall at Diemersfontein at 1:48am.  Despite the late hour Ball’s two children were wide awake and excited by their father’s return.  The adventure racing duo were part of the first group of riders to leave Pietermaritzburg on Saturday 12 June 2010 and successfully completed the 2400km race in 16 days and 20 hours. Whilst they had not set out to win the race or new records they were determined to remain the first two tyre tracks on the race course.  Entering the last third of the race the determined pair started riding substantial distances and, over the last few days, worked off very little sleep as they rode deep into the night. 

Leaving the support station at Rouxpos in the Swartberg foothills on Sunday morning Ball and Nel rode over 200 kms through the Anysberg Nature Reserve, across the Little Karoo to Montagu and on to MacGregor arriving just before midnight.  They slept for an hour and then continued on, following the old wagon route over Coeniesrivier into the Agterkliphoogte Valley.  Resisting the lure of great food and hospitality at the Oestervanger Guest House on the farm Kasra they then continued over the Trappieskraal to Trouthaven in the valley of the Holsloot, arriving in the early afternoon of Monday.  Aware of the 10 km portage up the valley of the Stettynskloof that lay ahead they then pushed on.  Arriving at the Stettynskloof Dam with three hours of daylight remaining, the fatigued pair elected to run the footpath that now threads its way up the valley, rather than risk having to find their way through at night.  In the last light of the day they emerged from the valley and were able to pick their way down to the Elandspad jeeptrack.  The last 22 kms of the race route from the Elandspad through to the finish at Diemersfontein Wine Estate normally take riders 2 hours to complete.  It took the exhausted Ball and Nel 8 hours. Notwithstanding their debilitated state the two arrived in Diemersfontein in high spirits, “it was the best adventure yet” Trevor Ball  “you think 16 days is impossible but then you get there and you find you can.  Unbelievable fun.”   The two were being chased across in the latter half of the race by fellow adventurer Alex Harris.  At one point Harris was only 6 hours behind them.   However, their long nights and little sleep allowed them to keep ahead of him.  

Alex Harris, the Freedom Challenge dark horse, arrived in Diemersfontein 12 hours after Ball and Nel, finishing on Tuesday June 29th at 14h10.  Harris who started in Pietermaritzburg three days behind them,  was forced to chase the two across the country, “you know what it’s like chasing after 2 tire tracks for 14 days and to know that you are moving faster then them but still can’t catch them”  Harris completed his race in 14 days 8 hours and 10 minutes, the second fastest recorded time in the history of the Freedom Challenge.  Whilst this was Harris’ first Race Across South Africa it was not his first time on the race course  “I spent time in some of the tricky sections to make sure that I didn’t have any navigation issues”   Harris credits his quick time to sticking to his race strategy.  “My strategy was to ride strong every day and avoid doing risky portages at night”.  True to his strategy Harris arrived at the final support station at Trouthaven at 15h40 on Monday.  When some of the other serious contenders and veteran campaigners might  have pushed into the night, Harris bunked down for the night; “I wanted to do Stettyns in the light so I could see the path but also to appreciate the beauty of the valley after a very long race” 

Firmly settled in at Diemersfontein, Harris must now wait to see how the rest of the field fares.  Leading contender, Carl Crous, left the support station at Cambria on Sunday night at midnight and rode  up the length of the Baviaanskloof to Willowmore, arriving in the late afternoon.  Leaving again at midnight he continued across the expanse of the Moordenaars Karoo to Prince Albert.  However, like so many of the riders further back in the field he was lashed by gale force winds and often forced to push his bike.  Despite arriving in Prince Albert in the early afternoon and marginally ahead of Harris on lapsed time, he stopped for the day, stating “The wind has taken it out of me.  My race is over”. However, by midnight he was on the move again and it must now be seen whether he can better the pace of Harris over the last 500 kms of the race.

Elsewhere in the field, Giant rider Glenn Harrison riding a 29er seems set to better the existing single speed record for the Freedom Challenge Race Across South Africa.  After battling corrugations and rain in the Moordenaars Karoo, Harrison was then confronted with heavy headwinds as he rode across the Little Karoo towards Montagu.   Now, with a small weather window, he is riding towards the Stettynskloof and the possibility of finishing on Wednesday, a day behind Harris with whom he started in Pietermaritzburg and at least 5 days inside the existing single speed record that was set by Andre Britz in 2006.

For more information:
www.freedomchallenge.org.za

Rondawel –

Leading the field adventure racers and Freedom Challenge veterans Trevor Ball and Ugene Nel left the Damsedrif support station in the Baviaanskloof on Friday morning.  They rode through Willowmore and alongside the Droeberge (“dry mountains”), passing the provincial boundary sign in the evening, and continuing on to the village of Prince Albert where they arrived well after midnight – a big day of riding both in terms of time (22 hrs) and distance (257 kms).   On Saturday morning they took on the 800m ascent up the historic Swartberg Pass before riding though the botanically rich mountains of the Swartsberg Nature Reserve and into the isolated Gamkaskloof, also known as or ‘Die Hel’.   Following in the footsteps of Denys Reitz and generations of travelers before them Trevor and Ugene then carried their bikes up the historic mule track know as up The Ladder which runs out of Gamkaskloof.  They rode into the hamlet of Vleiland before continuing to Rouxpos where they arrived shortly before midnight.  On Sunday morning the two headed out towards the Anysberg Nature Reserve and the town of Montagu.  The two may forego further sleep in an effort to arrive at the Diemersfontein finish by Monday night and ahead of chasing rider Alex Harris. 

Coming into this home stretch polar adventurer Alex Harris appeared to have established an effective lead over the rest of the field.  Leaving the Toekomst support station in the Darlington Dam section of the Addo Elephant National Park on Thursday, Harris rode hard through the Groot Rivier section of the trail and the Goede Hoop area of the Baviaanskloof Wilderness Area arriving at the Cambria support station at midnight.  Normally covered in two days by Freedom Challenge pariticipants, this single day effort moved Harris to the front of the field.     On Friday morning Harris he looked to consolidate the lead and made very fast progress up the valley of the Baviaanskloof, stopping only to enjoy some of the famous chocolate pudding at Damsedrif before continuing on to arrive at Willowmore in the evening.   On Saturday he too passed the provincial boundary sign as he rode alongside the Droeberge from Willowmore to Prince Albert before climbing the Swartberg Pass and then descending down into the Gamkaskloof.  Sunday saw him climbing heading up the Ladder and on to Rouxpos before riding out towards Anysberg and Montagu. 

Harris has looked to build a lead based on fast riding and good sleep. Many race followers have been surprised by his riding speed along the trail.  Whilst many assumed that he had the mental determination for this extremely taxing race, it can now be revealed that Freedom Challange’s dark horse is a national track cycling champion.  He began track cycling in 2005.  Despite never previously riding a track bike within five months Alex became the new South African Track Champion for the 1000m Time Trial and the 1500m in his 35 to 39 yrs category. Five months later he won a silver and a bronze medal at the World Masters Track Cycling Championships in Manchester in 2006.  He may prove very tough to beat. 

Giant 29er single speed rider Glen Harrison has been battling gamely to stay in contact with Harris.  When Harris left Toekomst, Harrison, who started in Pietermaritzburg with Harris, was only three hours behind him.  However, Harrison conceded more than 5 hours to Harris when he got lost on the Perdeberg in the approach to the Baviaanskloof.  At 3 am on Saturday left Cambria and rode up the length of the Baviaanskloof, stopped to sleep briefly at Willowmore before heading out towards Prince Albert.  Battling the rutted surface on his rigid frame 29er and slowed by rain and a headwind, Harrison was forced to stop riding and sleep under a tree.  Shortly before dawn he arrived at the farm Rondawel, within spitting distance of the Western Cape boundary sign.   He then continued through to Prince arriving in the early afternoon and promptly slept until 10 pm when he left to ride up the Swartberg Pass and on to Gamkaskloof.  He has not been heard from since.   

The most recent shake up of the race occurred further back in the field with the separation of “Commander” Carl Crous, Marnitz “sponsored by PG Glass and riding for Miles for Smiles” Nienaber and August “Boskind” Carstens.  This unlikely trio have been able to push each other great distances and achieve remarkable feats including summiting  Lehana’s Pass at night.  They arrived in the Swaershoek Mountains above Cradock enjoying an effective 6 hour lead over the rest of the field.  However, above the Coetzerspruit the trio arrived at a junction.  Unable to agree on the direction take they went their separate ways.   As a result they surrendered their effective lead to Harris.  However, since then Crous has been storming ahead.  On Saturday he rode across the Camdeboo Plains and past Toekomst.  Stopping to sleep briefly at the Kleinpoort farm stall Crous arrived at the Bucklands support station on the Groot River just before dawn.  Refreshed by a meal and shower he continued on towards Cambria, arriving in the early evening having regained the lapsed time race lead. If he is to win the race Crous, who carries a 24 hr added time penalty incurred through replacing his bike in the Stormberg, will need to ride long hours and great distances over the next few days.    

Following Crous across the Camdeboo Plains on Saturday, Nienaber and Carstens were unable to match his relentless pace and slowly fell behind him.  They too arrived at the Bucklands support station early on Sunday morning. However, as they had not slept at all since the previous morning they opted to stop.  Reports later in the day were that they were still sleeping.  

Elsewhere on the trail other dramas continue to play themselves out.  Female competitor Greda Gruner fell behind her riding companions in the Stormberg.  For the last four days she has been riding alone, the first woman in the history of the race to do so.  The only interruption in her solitary journey came when she was joined for an hour by chasing rider Justin “Big Blade” Bouwer who started in the last group to leave Pietermaritzburg and has now been working his way up through the field.   The big E’s,  female rider, Estelle Labuschange and riding partner Errol Derrick, were forced to sleep for the night at a shed when they got lost near Seekoeigat in the Stormberg,  Coming through the same section 4 days later, extreme triathletes Leon van der Nest and Keith Little also looked to have lost their way in the darkness.  However, after retracing their tracks they were able to work their way through to the Romansfontein support station where they arrived after midnight.  School principal David Bell continues to ride on with a broken wrist whilst number of other riders are battling stomach complaints.  Headwinds caused by the latest approaching cold front are also slowing their progress as they endeavour to make the race finish at Diemersfontein outside Cape Town within the 26 day cutoff.

For more information:
www.freedomchallenge.org.za

Cambria –

Trevor and Ugene were amongst the first group of mountain bikers that left Pietermaritzburg  on Saturday June 12th.  Since then the adventure racing twosome have led the field and ridden 1419km without anyone in front of them.  Crossing the Camdeboo Plains they received news that Alex Harris, who started three days after them, was hot on their trail.  On Wednesday 23rd June they made a serious push.  Riding from the Toekomst support station, located on the banks of the Darlington Dam section of the Addo Elephant National Park, they crossed the Steytlerville Flats, stopped briefly at the Bucklands support station on the banks of the Groot Rivier and then proceeded over the Perdeberg to the northern foothills of the Baviaanskloof Mountains.  With their way illuminated by the full moon they continued through the Groot Rivier Poort before dropping into the Baviaanskloof Wilderness Area on the Osseberg jeep Track.  After taking on the 11 river crossings on this section of the trail they finally arrived at the next support station in the village of Cambria at 7:30 am.   By the time they stopped the two had been continuously on the move for 26 hours.

After a very brief nap Trevor and Ugene departed Cambria at 9:30, anxious to push through the Baviaanskloof and consolidate their newly gained advantage.  However, slowed by their momentous efforts of the previous night the two were unable to push all the way through to Willowmore and stopped for the day at the Damsedrif support station in the Voorkloof section of the Baviaanskloof.  On Friday morning they were headed through Willowmore and on to Prince Albert in another big day of riding.  Stopping in the late morning in Willowmore Ball was heard to remark “If they’re not broken by the time they get to the Kloof then the Kloof will break them…”   With Alex chasing them down they are planning at least one more 24+ hour ride.  “Alex must keep chasing, we don’t intend on making it easy for him” says Ugene.

Behind them Adventurer Alex Harris departed on 15th June.  With due regard for the the initial navigational difficulties and challenging winter weather through to Rhodes Harris started the race relatively conservatively.  He then slowly started building an advantage by pushing through support stations when others elected to stop. Entering the Camdeboo section of the trail he started to push harder.  On Thursday he then matched the big move of Ugene and Trevor and rode the 228km from Toekomst to Cambria.  Making better time then the adventure racers he arrived in Cambria shortly after midnight, was able to rest well and is now headed up the Baviaanskloof towards Willowmore. 

Starting from Pietermaritzburg in the same group as Alex was Giant Single Speed rider Glen Harrison.  Riding a rigid fork, Giant 29er single speed Harrison managed to overcome some initial difficulties and has picked up the pace as the trail has opened out into the Karoo.  Eight days into the race and Harrison was only four hours behind Harris.  Despite being slowed by a number of punctures he was able to push through Toekomst and on to Bucklands where he stopped for the night.  On Friday afternoon he rode through to Cambria with Gawie du Plessis, Stott James and Ray Farrenkothen who had started out from Pietermaritzburg three days before them. 

In addition to the race playing itself out at the front of the field, the race for the overall lead is developing is becoming a neck-and-neck affair.  After a monumental effort that saw them ascending 1000metres up the Drakensberg escarpment on the snow-covered Lehana’s Pass at night, Freedom Challenge veteran “Commander” Carl Crous, Marnitz “sponsored by PG Glass and Riding for Miles for Smiles” Nienaber and young recruit August “Boskind” Carstens were ahead of the pace of the rest of the field passing through the village of Rhodes.  On Tuesday in a relatively easy day of riding they rode through to the Slaapkranz support station in the Vaalhoekspruit. 

On Wednesday the trio looked set for another big push.   However, descending off the Bonthoek mountain in the Southern Drakensberg the swing arm on the rear suspension of Crous’s bike broke.  He stopped at the Rossouw police station and effected a bloudraad repair.   They were then able to ride on along the route followed by General Jan Smuts and his commando through the Stormberg, stopping briefly at the Vaalbank support station and continuing through to Brosterlea, in the Molteno District.  On Wednesday the trio then rode on through the site of the Battle of Stormberg, before dropping off the Drakensberg escarpment on the Aasvoelsberg descent into the Great Karoo.  However, to the surprise of many, they stopped in the early evening at the town of Hofmeyer rather than taking adventage of the easy riding, full moon and good weather to continue to the Elandburg support station. 

On Friday,  Crous, Nienaber and Carstens rode over the Elandsburg, across the Fish River, up the Garslandskloof and on to the De Doorns support station in the Swaershoek Mountains arriving shortly after sunset.  Again, they elected not to take advantage of the good weather and full moon and stopped for the night.  Now at the half way stage of the race their lapsed time matches that of Alex Harris to that point. It now must be seen whether this latter day commando are able to match the big days that Harris has started to put in.

Meanwhile the race to complete the 2010 Freedom Challenge Race Across South Africa continues for a number of other participants.  Chris Morris and school principal David Bell, both of whom are struggling with injuries are now headed for the Baviaanskloof; female rider Bec Caskie and fellow Australian Tim James are making steady progress and on Friday reached the Elandsberg support station in the Fish River basin, where they were joined by Capetonian Blackie Swart; faced with the withdrawal of her riding companion, female rider Gerda Gruner is now riding alone and on Friday arrived at Brosterlea.   Extreme Triathletes Leon van der Nest and Keith Little left Rhodes on Friday morning in the company of Jannie Gerber and Nicole du Toit and seem likely to sweep along the course picking up the stragglers from the groups that started in the days before them.

It is anticipated that the first riders in the 2010 Freedom Challenge Race Across South Africa will reach the finish at Diemersfontein Wine Estate outside Cape Town by Tuesday 29 June 2010.

For more information:
Freedom Challenge  www.freedomchallenge.org.za

Media release: As it approaches the half way stage, the 2010 Freedom Challenge Race Across South Africa that sees participants mountain biking 2400kms from Pietermaritzburg to Diemersfontein Wine Estate outside Cape Town has seen its fair share of incidents.

The heavy snow falls of last week slowed the progress of the first batches to leave Pietermaritzburg as they headed through the deep river valleys of Southern Kwa Zulu Natal and into the communal lands of the southern Drakensberg. Heading up to the village of Rhodes, race front runners Ugene Nel and Trevor Ball were forced by ice and snow to walk for 6 hours down the Naude’s Nek Pass, a part of the trail that can normally be ridden in 2. Since then Nel and Ball have maintained a consistent pace as they headed through the Stormberg before dropping into the Fish River Basin and then heading over the Swaershoek Mountains near the Mountain Zebra National Park. They are now riding across the Cambeboo Plains as they head towards the Baviaanskloof.

Behind Trevor and Ugene is adventurer Alex Harris who started from Pietermaritzburg 2 days after them. Over the first three days Harris made quick progress but was slowed when he reached the support station at Vuvu village below the Drakensberg escarpment in the mid afternoon and had to sit out a 45 minute time penalty for a route deviation. Unwilling to then start up Lehana’s Pass with the mountain still covered in snow, the cattle tracks hidden and the light fading he called it a day. Since then however, he has progressed efficiently and has been gradually closing the gap on Trevor and Ugene. It is anticipated that he will catch up to them in the Baviaanskloof.

Matching the moves of Alex Harris is GIANT rider Glen Harrison who is riding a Giant 29er single speed. Harrison left Pietermaritzburg in the same group as Harris. However, he battled with fatigue in the early stages. Since then he has managed to stay on the pace by starting very early and riding late into the night. He is currently riding through the Fish River valley and into the Swaershoek. A big push may seem him through the mountains in a day and back into the Karoo.

Behind these three are “Mechanical” Ray Farronkothen, Mauritian Scott James and Gawie du Plessis who flew out from Australia to participate in this event. They in turn are followed by school principal David Bell, who appears to be riding with a cracked wrist sustained in the Stormberg, and Chris Morris who is battling with a knee injury. Early race leaders, Zane and Jethro de Decker battled with the navigation leaving the Ntsikeni Nature Reserve, spending 5 hours at night trying to find a track off the Swartberg that was only a few hundred metres away they then lost further time crossing the Knira River flood plains heading towards the Drakensberg escarpment.

The real movement has come in the last groups to leave Pietermaritzburg. Andrew Barnes, participating in his 3rd Freedom Challenge Race Across South Africa ran the 85 km Duzi Trail on Friday 18th June, finishing a credible 4th in 10 hrs 35 minutes. The following morning he left Pietermaritzburg with the last batch of cyclists and pushed through the Allendale support station and went on to Centocow Mission. On Sunday morning he rode through the Ntsikeni Nature Reserve and on to the Masakala community guest house at the start of the Knira River flood plain where he stopped for the night, being the first rider in the entire field to reach this point within two days. The following morning he headed out over the flood plain and up to the Malekhalonyane Community Lodge on the Mehloding Hiking Trail where he arrived in the late morning, only to retire from the race.

As if spurred by Barnes’ withdrawal, the group ahead of him which included Freedom Challenge veterans Carl Crous and Marnitz “sponsored by PG Glass and riding for Miles for Smiles” and their young recruit August Carstens made what could prove to be the decisive move of the 2010 Freedom Challenge Race Across South Africa. On the day of Barnes’ withdrawal the three left the Malekhalonyane lodge in the early morning and arrived at Vuvu village at 4pm. After an hour break the left the village and with the light going they commenced 1000 metre ascent up the Lehana’s Pass cattle track. Nienaber described the evening as follows ‘We began climbing Lehana’s at 6 pm with a string of Angels and a whole lot of prayers. The moonlight was so bright that we could climb without lights into the havens; the stars were so close and bright; the fairy like snow stared back at us’. Elated by their achievement they arrived in Rhodes after midnight. Every race has its defining moments. By taking on the seemingly impossible Tops Needle in the annual Dusi Canoe marathon the late Graham Pope-Ellis and his partner were able to win the race and open the way for those who came after. The same holds true of Lehana’s Pass and Freedom Challenge. It was first done at night by 2009 winner Tim James in his record-breaking ride and fellow riders Andre Britz and Francois Reikert. It may well prove to be the difference between Harris and this following group.

Arriving in Rhodes, the Crous “commando” met up with Freedom Challenge veterans Mark Mtichell and Allen Sharpe as well as Travis Saunders, who started a day ahead of them and had spent the night before at the Tinana Mission station before heading through Vuvu to Rhodes. Also at Rhodes were Australians Tim James (no relation) and woman rider Bec Caskie as well as Paddy Veenstra, all of who are riding consistently from one support station to the next. On Tuesday morning this group of riders went from Rhodes through to the next support station at the farm Slaapkranz in the Vaalhoek valley. Crous and company may have plans of pushing further but were clearly fatigued by their efforts of the previous evening – the three were reportedly seen around midday asleep in a roadside hayloft.

At Slaapkranz this large group met up with Capetownian Blackie Swart who made steady progress through to Malekhlonyane. However, a knee injury then slowed his progress. The following day he rode past the Tinana Mission around midday and into the valley of the Vuvu river. Unable to find his way through the head high grass and up to the support station by nightfall he opted to bed down for the night, making a small fire and good use of the space blanket that all riders are obliged to carry. Speaking afterwards of his experience Blackie said “it was just the river, the grass, the stars and me. Life at its most basic and most beautiful”. Blackie battled on through Rhodes to sleep the next night with young farmer Christo Swart on the farm Kapokkraal, trying to establish their common ancestry.
Also making good progress along the trail are women riders Estelle Labuschagne and Gerda Gruner who arrived in Rhodes on Tuesday night with local farmer, Ray Sephton and Freedom Challenge veteran Errol Derrick. Following a day behind them are the other two women riders still in the race, Ingrid Avidnon and Nicole du Toit and their partners, Anthony Avidnon and Jannie Gerber.

The last group approaching Rhodes, which they will reach on Thursday, includes Justin Bouwer and extreme triathletes Leon van der Nest and Keith Little who, with Barnes did the trail run.

With the race moving out of the mountains of the Drakensberg much of the hard climbing, difficult navigation and portaging comes to an end. Passing through the Karoo, the Baviaanskloof, the Swartberg and the Breede River, those riders looking to win the race will be helped by the good weather window and full moon as they start riding deep into the night. Those other riders just looking to complete the race will need to maintain a regular pattern of riding from before sunrise until sunset if they are to reach Diemersfontein before the 26 day cut off.

www.freedomchallenge.org.za

Team Cyanosis has completed a number of international races with their best finish at the 2007 & 2008 editions of the Portugal XPD race; a credible fifth place. They are highly regarded as a strong international team. 

With Debbie Gerrand ruled out of this year’s World Champs due to injury, the team has again partnered with professional endurance athlete Jen Segger, from Canada.  Jen is a World-renowned endurance athlete with a number of wins under her belt. She will be a strong addition to the Cyanosis team of Nicholas Mulder, Clinton Mackintosh & Ryno Griesel.

There are two ways in which you can support the team’s trip to Spain –  

• Take a 4-ball on the 29 July 2010 at a cost of R 2,300.00 (includes green fees, cart hire and dinner with guest speaker)  
• Sponsor a hole and have your company’s banner on the green and tee box.  The rate to sponsor a hole is R1,500.00; or R2,000.00 for the par 3 holes.

We are currently finalising this year’s guest speaker and from the number of gues that have expressed interest to be part of the day you can be assured that we will pull another rabbit out of the hat. Last year’s guest speaker was adventurer Alex Harris; he was well received and he will again attend our golf day in support of the team.  

We expect to have the final tee sheets in the next few weeks and are planning for a full field of 120 golfers (30 x four balls) with prizes for all golfers.           

RSVP to Clinton at cdmac@w-lan.com

kind regards,

Team Cyanosis

Clint Mackintosh, Nicholas Mulder, Debbie Gerrand, Ryno Griesel, Jen Segger  

www.teamcyanosis.co.za

Swazi Xtreme, the 10th and last edition of this event, takes place from 6-9 August 2010 in Swaziland. Entries by pairs and 4s for the three day staged SPORT events or the 60hr non-stop event. Visit www.swazixtreme.wordpress.com for envent and entry information.

Merrell Eden Duo takes place from 30 October 2010 in the southern Cape. Race distances include 50, 150 or 200km. Team format is pairs. Visit www.24-7adventure.com for details on the event.

You can race for 50, 150 or 200k’s with a team mate of choice! Visit www.24-7adventure.com for details on the event.

The race begins when the first batch of riders departs from in front of the City Hall in Pietermaritzburg at 6am on Saturday June 12th with the goal of arriving at the finish before the 26 day cutoff.  The race occurs on the visually stunning Freedom Trail , which was created in 2003 as a fully serviced mountain bike trail running across the interior of South Africa.  The Trail is a breathtaking mountain bike route that links nature reserves and remote wilderness areas.  The Freedom Trail was created with the intention of ensuring meals and accommodation are available every 50- 80 kilometres making it possible to travel across South Africa off road and unsupported.  The rest of the field of 39 racers in the 2010 Freedom Challenge Race Across South Africa will depart in batches over the course of the next week, with the last group setting off on Saturday June 19th.

In addition to cycling, some riders have prepared for the 2010 Race Across South Africa by hiking Table Mountain with a bicycle on their back, sleeping in the garden to get used to the freezing temperatures of the Drakemsberg and trying to load two litre ice cream containers, that will be available at the 26 support stations, with as much food and clean socks as possible. 

This year’s race lineup includes, five Australians, a Mauritian, six female competitors and one racer, sponsored by GIANT, riding the challenging distance on a single speed bicycle.  Andrew Barnes, Keith Little and Leon van der Nest are completing the Extreme Triathlon. They will run from Durban to Pietermaritzberg on Friday 18th June in the 85km Duzi Trail run. The next morning they will  set off as part of the last batch of riders in the Race Across South Africa. They must reach Wellington in time to  paddle the 240km Berg River Canoe Marathon. 

The race this year is guaranteed to be an epic battle. ‘Commander’ Carl Crous who is competing in the Freedom Challenge for the third year, and his racing rival Marnitz Nienaber are expected to be major contenders in this year’s race. Other contenders include second place 2010 Tour d’Afrique racer Jethro De Decker and his Cape Town based mountain bike racing brother Zane. Jethro completed the 10 country 120 day Tour d’Afrique ride less then three weeks ago and is looking forward to putting away the slick tires and returning to the dirt. “I love mountain biking.  I think the most challenging part of the race will be putting the bike down and forcing myself to get some sleep.  It will be difficult to get off the bike after cycling through some of South Africa’s epic mountain bike trails”, says Jethro De Decker.  Another threat is accomplished mountaineer and south pole trekker Alex Harris.  Harris, who is use to isolated areas in the world having climbed the Seven Summits, is looking forward “to seeing some of the most remote parts of South Africa”.  Other returning racers to watch for include Andrew Barnes, who led much of the 2009 racee, Allen Sharpe and Mark Mitchell.  Mitchell, who finished 3rd in 2009, is looking forward to another epic ride, “I went away from the Freedom Challenge in 2009 knowing that we live in the most spectacular beautiful country with the most amazing incredible kind people in the world. I want to experience that again, and of course there is always the issues you have with yourself that have to be resolved. In a race as gruelling as this one, you have to dig deep to conquer and overcome your weaknesses”.

The 2010 Race Across South Africa has already claimed its first casaulty. Competitor Jaco Strydom completed the Freedom Challenge in 2008, shortly thereafter he was diagnosed with cancer.  He has devoted much time since introducing riders to the Freedom Trail.  Strydom is also working with the Freedom Challenge to extend the trail northwards towards Kilimanjaro.  On 29 May 2010 he set off from Beit Bridge with a view to riding 1400 kms along the proposed extension of the Freedom Trail to arrive in Pietermaritzburg in time for the start of the 2010 Freedom Challenge. He rode 1000kms through the Wolkberg and into Mpumalanga. Three days ago descending the Drakensberg escarpment at Kaapsehoop, into the battlefields of northern Kwa Zulu Natal, he fell and broke his ankle. He will be watching the race from his hospital bed.

Freedom Challenge Director David Waddilove is looking forward to this year’s race.   “The Freedom Challenge offers participants a unique opportunity to enjoy some of the most spectacular parts of rural South Africa and to experience the diversity of her people whilst taking on this extreme endurance event. Some riders will be racing against each other; others will simply be looking to finish within the 26 day cut off. Some riders will battle with the elements, including freezing winter temperatures and snow.  Others will battle with injuries or mechanical failures.  All of them will be tested physically and emotionally and in ways that they have not previously experienced, whether they be Freedom Challenge novices or veteran campaigners.  The true test of each of them will lie in how they respond to this challenge. So not only is it a journey across the country but it is a journey into the soul.”

The 2010 Freedom Challenge Race across South Africa can be followed live at www.freedomchallenge.org.za

With six months from squad selection until the 4^th edition of the six-day Abu Dhabi Adventure Challenge, Ms de Speville decided to establish a squad instead of choosing a team outright as she did in 2008 and 2009. “Six months is a long time and anything can happen; from passport issues to injury, a family crisis, work drama… The final team will be chosen after Swazi Xtreme, a 60hr non-stop adventure race in early August,” she explains.

As with previous years, Ms de Speville received applications from many suitable candidates. Her deciding criteria were youth, inexperience and location – selected squad members reside in Jo’burg and Pretoria. “Some applicants had too much experience, which is great for everything else except ‘development’ initiatives like this – they could probably teach me a trick or two,” Ms de Speville adds, laughing. “Others live in outlying areas where I am unable provide them with sufficient support and infrastructure to prepare them for the race; and a number have the benefit of already racing and training with people with experience who can teach them what I can – minus a trip to Abu Dhabi, that is.”

The Team www.AR.co.za squad members are: Adri van der Westhuyzen (28, Jo’burg), Keane Ludick (26, Pretoria), Ilze Jansen van Rensberg (22, Pretoria), Lizelle Smit (21, Jo’burg), Lizelle van der Merwe (27, Joburg), and Steven Erasmus (28, Jo’burg).

“I’ve got a great bunch here,” says Ms de Speville. “Choosing only two of the women and one of the guys will be a difficult task. But that’s something for August, not now. For the next two months my focus is on equipping each squad member with skills and experience in the disciplines of paddling, navigation and ropes. These skills will benefit their racing long-term.”

The squad meets for the first time on Sunday, for a paddle coaching session.

ends

Contact

Lisa de Speville, 082 936-2509

lisa@ar.co.za , www.ar.co.za

Team Blog: www.teamwwwarcoza.blogspot.com

Event website: www.abudhabi-adventure.com