DO IT NOW Magazine #2 - Adventure, Sport & Lifestyle by DO IT NOW Magazine

LHDS 0118031313 DIN2/2009

Introducing the new

ntains!! Going to the Mou

Honeydew Toyota 56 Olievenhout Rd, Northriding Jaco: 082 903 5290 | Tel: 011 801 6500 or visit us at www.honeydew-toyota.co.za

Honeydew Toyota We Sell the Lifestyle

Boendoe Bashing

shing Boendoe Ba Boendoe Bashing

... At the beach

...Part of the Family

DO IT

inTRO

06 >> doitnow.co.za

It’s been two months since the launch of the DO IT NOW Magazine, and it’s with great excitement that we bring you our second issue. It’s bigger, better and packed with loads of educational and fun reads, competitions and great visuals.

The launch of the magazine at the Fish River Canoe Marathon and Momentum 94.7 Mountain Bike Challenge cycle race was a great success and we will continue to make our magazine accessible to you at a number of other great sporting events in 2010 including the Dusi and sani2c. We are extremely proud that our magazine is available at CNA, Exclusive Books, Sportsmans Warehouse and in a number of leading newsagents and Spar retail shops countrywide. Our heartfelt thanks to everyone who supported us by purchasing the first issue of DO IT NOW, and we are confident that this issue will bring you many hours of reading enjoyment and entertainment. At the end of the day, this is YOUR magazine and without you, it would remain a dream.

During 2010, you can expect great things from DO IT NOW. We have a fantastic lineup of passionate contributors to help cement the magazine as a respected companion for the South African Adventure-Sport-Lifestyle community. Furthermore, DO IT NOW will be expanding each of its magazine pillars to bring you even more news on the many disciplines loved and participated in, by our sportsmad nation. The 2010 DINList, our ‘bucket list’, is constantly growing and we are looking forward to starting the year off with Dusi and Wakeboarding weekends that will set the tone for the remainder of the year. As 2009 draws to a close, I would like to wish you all a very blessed and merry Christmas and a FANTASTIC New Year.

Happy holidays and see you all in 2010! Francois Flamengo

Founder doitnow.co.za >>

DO IT

inDEX Regulars

Vol 1 | Issue 2 | 2009 | www.doitnow.co.za

joe\s Beerhouse Windhoek, Namibia

Base // inFO - p. 12-14

// inVOLVED - p. 40-41

Information page, note our competitions and event dates.

Feedback on DO IT NOW’s involvement in the community.

// MAP - p. 34-35

// inCONTACT - p. 96-97

The DIN Map will be available in every edition.

Suppliers and Brands DO IT NOW supports.

// DINList - p. 36

// inCLOSING - p. 98

Information on upcoming DO IT NOW activities and visits.

Sneak preview on upcoming features and articles.

// inCOMING & CALENDAR - p. 38-39 Upcoming events and a two month calendar.

Regulars p. 18-23 p. 24-31 p. 32-33 p. 44-64 p. 65-67 p. 68-69 p. 70-73 p. 76-79 p. 80-86 p. 87 p. 88-90 p. 91-93 p. 94-95

¢ inH2O: Water sport and adventure activities. ¢ inGEAR: “Adventure-Sport-Lifestyle” activities featuring vehicles with gears. ¢ inALTITUDE: Aerial adventure and sport activities. ¢ inACTION: Tracking the DIN Action Team in their cycling events and information on other types of sport. ¢ inTHE WORKSHOP: Practical sport-related mechanical advice. ¢ inPREPARATION: Training programmes and tips on various sporting activities. ¢ inSHAPE: Important information on nutrition, exercise, strengthening your core as well as other sport-related exercises. ¢ inTHE HOLE: Golfing articles. ¢ inNATURE: Outdoor experiences and activities e.g. hiking and fly fishing. ¢ inSURE: Valuable information about insurance and related topics. ¢ inTERTAINMENT: Book, CD, music and gaming reviews. ¢inDULGE: Wine and dine section with a twist. ¢inFOCUS: Photography section with discussions, competitions and event-specific photography tips. Key: ¢ Adventure | ¢ Sport | ¢ Lifestyle

08 >> doitnow.co.za

Featured Articles

> ADVENTURE p. 16 to 33

inH2O

18 Exploring Sodwana 22 Should I Paddle?

inGEAR 24 The Long Way to Katse Dam 28 Lauberville - Setting New Standards for Big Dune Driving

inALTITUDE 32 Why We Jump

> p. 42 to 73

SPORT

inACTION

inTHE WORKSHOP

44 Fish River Canoe Marathon 46 Dusi Advice from the Pro's and not so Pro's 50 Blyde XFest 2009 52 Adventure Racing, the Ultimate Challenge 54 joBerg2c 60 A Beginner's Take on the Nando's Magalies Adventure 63 Profile on Arran Brown, Professional Cyclist

65 For the Love of Cyclilng, Arran Brown on Bike Setup 66 FIX IT NOW! Cycling Mechanics

inPREPARATION 68

Triathlon Training: 8-Week Sprint Programme

inSHAPE 70 71 72 73

Sport Specific Training Core Training Optimal Nutrition for Optimal Performance The Benefits of Streeeeeeeetching

> LIFESTYLE inTHE HOLE 76 10 Golfing Questions for Whackhead Simpson 78 Bunker Shots Simplified

inTERTAINMENT 88 CD, Movie and Gaming Review 90 Mad Cows and River Spiders - Book Review

80 Rwanda, A Place of Hidden Treasures 84 Fly Fishing for Yellowfish

inDULGE 91 Hentiesbaai Galjoen Braai 92 South Africaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s own Highland Whisky Bar

inSURE 87 Cheaper is Not Always Better

inFOCUS 94 Photography Explained

inNATURE

p. 74 to 95

If you are interested in advertising in the DO IT NOW Magazine, please request the DO IT NOW Company Profile, Rate Card and Specs and Schedules Sheet via email at sales@doitnow.co.za or phone Rhys on +27 71 898 2888.

doitnow.co.za >>

DO IT

the TEAM etc.

The DO IT NOW Team comprises of the following individuals:

FOUNDER Francois Flamengo MANAGING EDITOR & OPERATIONS Elri Martins SALES and MARKETING MANAGER Rhys Foster OPERATIONS Gert Janse van Rensburg

CREATIVE DIRECTOR Tessa Dreyer GRAPHIC DESIGNERS Hayley Cameron & Ilzé Eva TEXT EDITOR Tracy Knox ON SALE AT CNA, Exclusive Books, Sportsman’s Warehouse & Selected Spar stores

ADVERTISING SALES Rhys Foster rhys@doitnow.co.za ACCOUNTS, SUBSCRIPTIONS & BACK ISSUES info@doitnow.co.za

PUBLISHER DO IT NOW CC DISTRIBUTION Ezweni Distributors DESIGN & LAYOUT LiyHouse Design Studio PRINTED & BOUND BY CTP Book Printers

ISO 12647 compliant

Please Recycle

Legal Representation: www.couzyn.co.za

Printed on paper from sustainable afforestation | Recyclable

HEAD OFFICE DO IT NOW CC Postnet Suite #152, Private Bag X033, Rivonia 2128 Tel +27 (0)83 415 3899 info@doitnow.co.za www.doitnow.co.za DO IT NOW (ISSN 2074-6113) is published bi-monthly While every effort is made by the DIN Team to ensure that the contents of the DO IT NOW magazine are accurate at the time of going to press, the Founder cannot except responsibility for any errors that may appear, or for any consequence of using the information contained herein. Statements by contributors are not always representative of the Founder’s opinion. Copyright 2009 DO IT NOW (Pty) Ltd. No part of this magazine may be reproduced in any form or stored on a retrieval system without the prior permission of the Founder. DO IT NOW supports and encourages responsible practices with regards to all Adventure, Sport and Lifestyle activities. We also believe in the conservation and protection of all fauna and flora.

10 >> doitnow.co.za

on the COVER inH2O // Exploring Sodwana inGEAR // The Long Way to Katse Dam inACTION // Fish River Canoe inDULGE // South Africa’s own Highland Whisky Bar

(to this issue) Thank you to all our contributors who helped make this magazine such an exciting adventure!

<< Arthur Bell // inTHEWORKSHOP - FIX IT NOW! Cycling Mechanics Arthur is an absolute bike-aholic, who loves working with bikes as much as riding them. If not busy with cycles, you’ll find him experimenting in the kitchen or sipping on a good whisky or wine. < Arran Brown // inACTION - Profile on Arran Brown, Professional Cyclist // inTHEWORKSHOP - For the Love of Cycling - Arran Brown on Bike Setup Arran is a professional cyclist for Team Medscheme, who would like to become the next best sprinter in South Africa. << Steve Adams // inDULGE - The Little Whisky Bar Steve, co-owner of a whisky bar in Dullstroom called Wild about Whisky, is passionate about whisky, photography and travel. He believes in dreaming big and that life is too short to accept mediocrity. < Michael Scholz // inTHE HOLE - 10 Golfing Questions for Whackhead Simpson; Bunker Shots Simplified A journeyman, professional golfer and adrenalin junkie, Mike enjoys scuba diving and fly fishing, but mountain biking tops his list of activities. Although a relative new comer to the world of mountain biking, Mike enjoys the fitness, the "burn" of serious hills and the competitive nature of this sport. << Mandy Rawlins // inSHAPE - The Benefits of Streeeeetching Mandy Rawlins has a Bsc (Physio) from UCT. Her sport, friends and Jack Russell are the loves of her life and she believes that life is short, so you have to give it everything you’ve got. As far as injuries are concerned, Mandy believes that healing takes place in the presence of movement. < Jonathan Boulton // inNATURE - Fly Fishing for Yellowfish Jonathan is a qualified Zoologist and internationally certified Instructor. He has guided and fished throughout the world’s most remote fly fishing destinations including Russia, the Seychelles, Alaska and the Amazon Jungle. He owns the Mavungana Fly Fishing Centre in Dullstroom that offers everything from equipment to lessons and excellent river and stillwater fishing trips. << Craig Dutton // inFOCUS - Photography Craig is a self-trained freelance photojournalist. The passion behind his work comes from his involvement in the sports he shoots. Craig is an adventurer at heart and is always looking for the next quest to shoot and write about. < Richard Flamengo // inTERTAINMENT - Reviews Richard is a movie, music and games (MMG) enthusiast, who loves relaxing at home with games or watching movies with a box of salt and vinegar popcorn in hand. Richard also enjoys all sorts of music ranging from the ‘lekker sakkie sakkie’ Afrikaans stuff through to hard-hitting rock.

<< Claire & Kent Horner // inPREPARATION - Triathlon Training: 8-Week Sprint Programme Claire and Kent are semi pro triathletes. They own www.mytrainingday.com, a brilliant online coaching website and triathlon information site. Kent and Claire are training for the 70.3 and Iron Man next year. They are also hoping to compete in the 70.3 World Champs, and the Xterra Champs is definitely on the cards for Kent. < Peter Fairbanks // inSURE - Cheaper is Not Always Better Peter is totally dedicated to his work and risk management. He feels that even the smallest contribution to the wealth creation and protection of his clients is what makes it all worthwhile. Peter loves sports in general, as long as it is on ‘terra firma’. < Samuel Sithole // inSHAPE - Core & Sport Specific Training Sam has been working in the health, sport and fitness industry for over four years. When it comes to training, he strives for positive results, not perfection. He lives an active lifestyle and loves to meet and interact with people.

Guest Contributors ADVENTURE // inH2O: Deon Breytenbach // inGEAR: Paul Carrick // inALTITUDE: Claire King & Clare Barnes SPORT // inACTION: Dave Macleod, Craig Wapnick, Hardus de Bruin and Konrad Munnik // inSHAPE: Tamsin Theunissen LIFESTYLE // inNATURE: Simon Collier // inDULGE: Francois Wessels

doitnow.co.za >>

DO IT

inFO

Words by Elri Martins

Spot the Truck I-KNOW-THE-PLACE ... If you know the place featured on the photo submit your answer to iknowtheplace@doitnow.co.za and stand a chance to win a bi-monthly R500 voucher.

Take your best creative photo when you see the DO IT NOW Truck in traffic or the ‘gramadulas’ and you could win the annual prize worth more than R5 000! Only the most striking and creative images will be considered and remember to have the DO IT NOW logo clearly visible! Send your creative photograph to spotthetruck@doitnow.co.za Here are a few tips: Try to capture the truck in action with sand or mud flying through the air, or photograph it in a unique or scenic landscape.

i-monthly on the DO IT NOW Winners will be announced b NOW Magazine. website as well as in the DO IT

[

Spot the Truck Entry by Jacques Delport

inVOLVED is the heart and soul of DO IT NOW! Our aim is to give back to those who are less fortunate, as well as protect our animals and planet! A DO IT NOW inVOLVED bank account has been set up and DO IT NOW has committed to donate a percentage of its monthly earnings to this fund. Our ultimate goal is to encourage our readers, co-workers and service providers to do the same.

inVOLVED DO IT

Get

The concept behind inVOLVED is to do just that - become involved! As such, the DO IT NOW team’s aim is to become actively involved with various charities, church, animal and environmental conservation organisations and institutions. Proceeds

]

from the inVOLVED fund will be donated to these organisations to help them meet their own needs. Thereafter, they will become part of the DO IT NOW network and their details will be published in the DO IT NOW Magazine. Feedback on and photographs of these experiences will be featured in either the DO IT NOW Magazine or on the DO IT NOW website. We don’t want our involvement to stop there, so we will endeavour to make followup visits to these groups, so that we can continue to build a relationship with them and see how they are faring. Read more about our latest inVOLVED initiatives on page 40 - 41.

If you know of an institution or group that is in desperate need of help, please contact us at involved@doitnow.co.za.

Our aim is to expand the DO IT NOW brand in a variety of directions in the coming years. The DO IT NOW Magazine is only one of these directions, but also our main focus at this moment. For this reason, we would like to encourage all our readers to please give us your suggestions as to what information you would like to read about in the DO IT NOW Magazine. These topics can fall under any of the DO IT NOW pillars: Adventure-Sport-Lifestyle. This will help us meet all your reading expectations and more, in terms of community support, services and networking.

12 >> doitnow.co.za

We would love to find out what YOU have in mind for this magazine, so please send your suggestions via ... Email: dinmag@doitnow.co.za Fax: 086 517 0934 Website: www.doitnow.co.za Attention: DO IT NOW Mag Suggestions

Be a part of it all - visit www.doitnow.co.za

25° 47’29.46”S

ADVENTURE

This section is dedicated to ‘Adventure’ and a wide variety of related topics. The magazine and website features personal experiences and provides answers to questions about training, what equipment is required to enjoy it safely and advice on popular destinations. Some of the categories covered in this section includes scuba diving, high performance driving, kayaking, rafting, boating, off-road driving, big dune driving, dirt biking, Bronze Shark fishing, hunting and paragliding.

SPORT

This section covers sport-related articles. Currently, the main focus is on mountain biking as it specifically relates to the DO IT NOW Action Team and their activities. The section also includes other sporting events/activities such as exercise routines, Touch Rugby, Iron Man and the Dusi.

LIFESTYLE

This section aims to provide valuable information on the DO IT NOW lifestyle. The magazine and website features experiences, valuable information and contact details about various categories and will be expanded over the next few issues. The current categories include hiking, fly fishing, exciting personal experiences, photography, insurance, recipes and competitions.

DO IT NOW EVENTS inPLACE

Do you want to share your ADVENTURE–SPORT–LIFESTYLE experiences with our DO IT NOW readers? If so, contact us via email at editor@doitnow.co.za.

inJANUARY

inFEBRUARY

Audi High Performance Driving RDING WAKEBOA @ Bronkies 30 / 31 January 2010

- Henry J. Kaiser

see DIN website for final dates

For more on these and other events go to www.doitnow.co.za

doitnow.co.za >> 13

27° 58’47.95”E

The DO IT NOW Magazine (and website) is divided into three pillars:

DO IT

- Hebble DO IT

DO T NOW TV!

Would you like to see some of the DO IT NOW adventures and experiences on TV? Well, it’s on its way. DO IT NOW TV is where it will all happen. To be featured on the DO IT NOW website, various links will take you to the most exciting adventures and experiences, making you feel as if you were right there at that exhilarating or scary moment!

Don’t miss any of the action by registering NOW on www.doitnow.co.za to get our regular newsletter on what DO IT NOW is up to, the latest events and a host of opportunities to join the fun! Also get a peak at what the December issue has in store for you!

So keep an eye out for DO IT NOW TV on www.doitnow.co.za!

DO IT NOW Supports Action Cricket Team Words by Riana van der Westhuizen Photo by Lindsay Mann Photography

There are a number of sports in South Africa that are loved and participated in by many individuals, but unfortunately don’t get the coverage and support they deserve even though they are played at a national and international level. One such sport is Action Cricket and one such team is the Northern Gauteng’s Under 15 Action Cricket Team. The team recently participated in the Junior Inter Provincial Action Cricket Tournament in Cape Town, at the Claremont Arena, during the week of 29 September – 3 October 2009. So when DO IT NOW was approached to sponsor personalised bags for the team, we were thrilled to be able to get involved and help. The bags were presented to the team at a friendly match between DO IT NOW and the U/15 Northern Gauteng Action Cricket Team. The results of this match won’t be made public, due to the damage it might cause to some of the adult male’s egos … . At the Junior Inter Provincial Action Cricket Tournament, seven teams participated in the Under 15 category and included WP (2009 – gold winners), Northern Gauteng (2009 – silver), KZN (2009 - bronze), Eastern Gauteng, Central Gauteng, Western Province (invitational) and the South Western District. Northern Gauteng played like stars to bring home the silver medal.

Front left: Alex van der Merwe (Coach), Brenden Carsten, Mathys de Beer (Captain), Lex Pienaar, Michiel van der Westhuizen (Manager) Back left: Rowan de Beer, Hein Schoeman, Rendin Riekert, Morne Mostert, Jason Jenkins, Winly Damon, Ruan van der Westhuizen, Mitchel Casson

Action Sports, South Africa’s premier indoor sport provider, offers the ultimate in indoor sports venues across South Africa for Action Cricket, Action Netball and Action Soccer. Action Sport is played at a social and corporate level, with Arena Team Leagues for the more competitive player. The provincial and national teams are selected from this league.

[

For more information, visit http://www.actionsports.co.za

Go to www.doitnow.co.za to check out our bi-monthly polls where we get to know our readers and find out what appeals to them, their interests and lifestyle preferences.

]

What is your favorite brand of sunglasses?

These results will also appear in each issue of the DO IT NOW Magazine.

44% Oakley 37% Rudy Project 19% Ray Ban

Readers are welcome to submit their experiences and photos to:

14 >> doitnow.co.za

.za dinmag@doitnow.co

Subscribe to DO IT

DO IT NOW

Adventure

www.doitnow.co.za

Adventure Sport Lifestyle

YES! I want to subscribe to the DO IT NOW Magazine Please COMPLETE AND FAX to 086 517 0934 or POST to, Postnet Suite no 152, Private Bag X033, Rivonia, 2128

Personal Details of Subscriber: Initials:

Title: Surname: Street Address:

Postal Code: PO Box: Postal Code: Contact No. (Work):

(Home):

(Cellular): (Email): ID No.:

Sport

Details for Subscription, if bought as a Gift: Title:

Initials:

Surname: Street Address: Postal Code: PO Box: Postal Code: (Home):

Contact No. (Work): (Cellular): (Email): ID No.:

¡ Gift subscriptions cannot be cancelled until the annual contract has expired. ¡ If you wish to cancel your subscription, please notify us in writing. ¡ Please note: Depending on the time of the month, regular delivery begins 6 to 8 weeks after the processing of your application.

Subscription Option: £ R134.73 for 6 issues | £ R254.49 for 12 issues

Lifestyle

Payment Option:

Additional Information:

Method of payment: £ Internet Payment* £ Cheque**

Please send the magazine to: £ Street Address £ PO Box

* Proof of payment faxed to 086 517 0934 or emailed to elri@doitnow.co.za ** Cheques to be made out to: DO IT NOW Adventures

Please debit my cheque / savings / transmission account Bank:

Acc Name:

Branch:

Branch Code:

Account No.: Debit my account on the £1st |£ 15th |£ 25th of the month. Please debit my credit card with R

subject to annual increase.

Expiry

No.:

Please debit my £ Visa Card | £ Diners Club | £ American Express

Expiry

Last 3 digits on the back of the card

Direct bank deposit / Electronic Fund Transfer DO IT NOW Banking Details | Bank: Standard Bank Branch Code: 006305 or (Standard Bank Universal Branch Code: 051001) Branch Name: Northcliff | Account Name: DO IT NOW Adventures Account Number: 41 140 561 6

Date:

Signature:

DO IT

Driving // [inALTITUDE] Why We Jump - A Breath of Fresh Air

Long Way to Khatse Dam Lauberville - Setting New Standards for Big Dune

// [inH2O] Exploring Sodwana Bay Nitrox Should I Paddle? // [inGEAR] The

ADVENTURE

> DO IT NOW | inH2O: Words by Francois Flamengo Photos by Elri Martins

Exploring

Sodwana Bay When it comes to recreational diving and sport fishing within the borders of South Africa, Sodwana Bay is tough to beat. The area has all the right stuff; untouched African bush, awesome weather all year round, fantastic reefs and the list goes on and on. I have been visiting Sodwana between two and four times a year, for the past six years. With each visit, I have learnt something new about this South African gem thanks to Digger, an Australian skipper, dive master, surfer and owner of the dive operator DA BLUE JUICE. Anyone who spends more than five minutes with Digger and starts up a conversation about Sodwana and the surrounding area will immediately notice the deep love and passion he has for the place. On my last visit to DA BLUE JUICE, I learnt that there are more than enough options available to keep any adventure seeker captivated on a five-day visit to the area. As Digger pointed out, this is potentially one of the few places in the world where you can dive with the marine ‘Big Five’ in the morning and see the animal ‘Big Five’ in the afternoon.

Here are some of the highlights and experiences we had during our last visit to DA BLUE JUICE. 27° 29' 6.32" S 32° 35' 8.48" E

World-class Diving Without breaking the bank to experience the luxury of diving on well-preserved reefs, Sodwana is packed with underwater treasures to be explored. Only a few meters away from the beach is the Quarter Mile Reef, followed by Stringer Reef, Two Mile Reef, Five Mile Reef, Seven Mile Reef and finally, the Nine Mile Reef. All these major sites can be broken up into magnificent hotspots where divers can witness a wide selection of marine life including Leatherback Turtles, Big Bass, Rays, Eels, Whale Sharks and so much more. If this is not enough, the walls at Seven Mile and the swim troughs at Nine Mile provide divers with a fantastic reef topography that makes every dive unforgettable. However, one of the main highlights is the opportunity to snorkel with the dolphins, frequent visitors to Sodwana. But enough said about diving!

18 >> doitnow.co.za

Perfect Sundowner Spots Lake Sibaya is a gigantic fresh water lake just north of Sodwana. Its surface covers more than 75 square kilometers and it is the largest fresh water lake in southern Africa. The jeep tracks that leads to this incredible location from Sodwana are best travelled using a 4x4 vehicle, although 2x4 vehicles can be used (but make sure you have a backup plan in case you get stuck in the thick sand). To reach the lake, you just need to sign in at the reserve gate. Once you have chosen your ideal sundowner spot, from which to witness another incredible African sunset, be on the lookout for hippo and crocs lurking in the water, as this is home to many of them.

DIN recommends you take a few kilogrammes of prawns, lemon butter, peri-peri sauce and a cadac, and spoil yourself with a delicious late afternoon lunch, before starting your drive back to your camp or resort.

African ‘Big Five’ There are four superb nature reserves to choose from that are within an hour or two's drive from Sodwana. These include Hluhluwe Umfolozi Park, Greater St Lucia Wetlands Park, Mkhuze Game Reserve and Phinda Resource Reserve. DIN recommends the Hluhluwe Umfolozi Park for two reasons. The first is because it’s the only park, under formal conservation, in KwaZulu-Natal where you can see the African ‘Big Five’. Secondly, it was established in 1895 and is one of the oldest nature reserves in the country. During the summer months, November to February, the gates are open from 05h00 to 19h00 and in the winter months, March to October, from 06h00 to 18h00. You can choose a guided tour or use your own vehicle. There are loads of activities on offer, as well as a boat trip over the Hluhluwe Dam … need I say more? w

DINfo box

For more information, contact the Umfolizi Park on KZN Wildlife on +27 (0)33 845 1000, by fax on +27 (0)33 845 1001 or alternatively by email: bookings@kznwildlife.com

doitnow.co.za >> 19

> DO IT NOW | inH2O: Words by Brian Coetzee

NITROX

... Deeper for Longer Bird Watching Don’t miss the opportunity to spot a myriad of birds that are mostly common to this area such as the lively little Rudd’s Apalis, Bluemantled Crested Flycatchers, Collared Sunbirds, Dark-backed Weavers and White-browed Robin-chats. It is well worth booking for a one-hour guided walk with Jabulani (Jabu), one of the expert guides that knows the birds in the area like the back of his hand. The fivekilometer walk through the Sodwana bush is done at a very easy pace and is an ideal option for bird enthusiasts to see as many birds as possible. There are various routes to choose from, but DIN highly recommends the route that takes you past the highest dune in the area and boasts a magnificent view of the ocean. A guided tour is a great way for anyone who loves nature and wants to appreciate the bird life in Sodwana.

DINfo box

For more information, contact Jabu on +27 (0)79 868 1111 or +27 (0)84 060 1940

Off-road and Quad Biking With so many jeep tracks leading north and south from Sodwana, it’s also fun to just head out and take an hour’s drive in either direction to explore the area. DIN recommends you take someone with that knows the area well, because it’s easy to get lost.

What else? Yes, there’s more … tiger fishing, shore fishing, deep sea fishing, chartered flights, surfing, mountain biking, but I’ll stop here to give you a chance to discover and explore them for yourself. DIN recommends you visit DA BLUE JUICE in your quest to explore this magnificent area and if you are lucky, Digger might even take you to a very special spot that is very hard to find and known as Baboon Junction.

DINfo box

For more information, contact Digger or Michel from DA BLUE JUICE on +27 (0)82 924 7757 or by email bluejuice@icon.co.za. Alternatively, visit their website: www.dabluejuice.co.za

20 >> doitnow.co.za

“Mother Nature provided the Earth with a NITROX atmosphere known as Air. “She never said that air was the best medium for divers. “Here, as in many fields of endeavour, human beings have used their knowledge of natural laws to go one step beyond what nature has provided for them.” J. Morgan Wells Ph.D. (1987)

Some may refer to it as ‘Enriched Air Nitrox’ and others as ‘voodoo’ gas. What is this you may ask, and why are so many divers around the world diving on nitrox today? Enriched Air Nitrox (EANx) refers to air in which the percentage of oxygen has been increased. As divers, we know that nitrogen is the gas that limits our bottom time and the main contributor to decompression sickness. By increasing the amount of oxygen in the gas we breathe, we automatically decrease the amount of nitrogen that is absorbed by our bodies under pressure, thereby reducing the risk of decompression sickness and increasing the length of time a diver can remain at depth without the need for decompression stops. Of course, increasing the amount of oxygen in our mix does have its own dangers. Oxygen breathed under pressure can become poisonous and the diver must be fully trained to analyse their mix and adjust their maximum operating depth. Diving physicians world wide recommend that divers over the age of 40 dive on nitrox. The increased levels of oxygen in the mix, outweigh t h e p ro b l e m s a n d p o s s i b l e disadvantages. Any diver, young or old, can dive on nitrox - with the “ ... All a diver c o r re c t t r a i n i n g ! We r u n a comprehensive Nitrox course that needs to do is covers the history of nitrox diving present their and partial pressure of gasses, and teaches you how to dive safely on nitrox certification nitrox. Nitrox is available to divers at most of your favourite diving locations. All a diver needs to do is present their nitrox certification card and request the gas mix they require. Test your mix, record you maximum depth and you are ready to dive.

card and request the gas mix they require ...”

> DO IT NOW | inH2O: Words by Deon Breytenbach | Photos by Linda Boshoff & Shane Raw

If you are interested in taking up paddling, this article will help you make an educated choice about which paddling discipline will suit you best. So, who should attempt paddling? Well, pretty much anyone who enjoys nature and water should give it a bash. There are a number of different disciplines to choose from, so no matter what your skill, phobia, fun or fitness level, you are sure to find something that tickles your fancy. However, the two main factors that should influence your choice are your fitness and fun levels. Your fitness will dictate how much you can initially attempt before seizing up, and your desire for fun is what you want to get out of paddling for your

22 >> doitnow.co.za

soul. For some, the fun side might be floating leisurely down a meandering river course whilst spotting some special birds you've never seen before. For others, it might be pushing the limits of what is endurable such as paddling through a heaving mass of towering waves and boils. If you are like me, you might decide that your fun will be found in the freedom of expression freestyle paddling. So to keep things simple, letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sort these disciplines into broad categories.

River Paddling

Ocean Paddling

Sit on Top - Sit on Top Kayaks are exceptionally easy to paddle and are mainly used for flat water paddling or running rivers with small easy rapids. With one to two sessions, you should be styling it down the river. This option is great for relaxing floats, fishing, birding or exploring meandering rivers at a relaxed pace.

Sea Touring - Sea Touring Kayaks are long, fast and have loads of packing space. They are used on the ocean, lakes, dams, estuaries and meandering river courses. Fitness and fun levels will vary depending on what you are planning. Two to three lessons should provide you with the basics. This option is great for multi-day sessions, kayak fishing or just an easy trip around your local bay.

Racing Kayaking – At some stage, most of you would have spotted racing kayaks strapped onto a roof rack. These long composite kayaks are designed for speed and then stability. This is one of the more popular disciplines in South Africa and has been around the longest. It is one of the easier disciplines to get involved in, as there are loads of clubs all over South Africa. Racing kayaks can be paddled on water ranging from completely flat up to Gr2-3 rapids. With two to four sessions, you should be able to keep things up right and moving forward. White Water Kayaking - This is, in my opinion, by far the best way to experience rivers. White water kayaks are generally made from plastic, hard wearing and are long lasting. White water kayaking has a bit of everything for everybody. You can choose between the easy and fun sections of Gr1-3 white water or keep at it and hit the waterfalls with the ‘big boys’. White water kayaking has sub categories for the different kayak designs and uses, such as freestyle kayaks, river runners and creaking kayaks. One to two sessions should be enough to get you on the river, and a further two to three sessions will have you ‘rolling’ in moving current. But be prepared to be swept away by the world of white water kayaking as it becomes your new, favourite home-away-from-home.

Surf Ski - Surf Ski’s are a little trickier to get the hang of, initially, as they are not as stable as touring kayaks. This option will require a little bit more in terms of initial fitness. It can be graded as easy to ridiculous fun. With two to four sessions, you should be able to make it through the breakers and into the backline. Surf Ski’s are used in surf ski races and are generally paddled behind the break line. Surf Kayaking - Surf Kayaks are designed for surfing ocean waves. It is similar to paddle skis, but you sit inside the kayak and use a splash deck. This also requires a bit more in terms of initial fitness compared to tour kayaking. This type of paddling can be graded as easy to really ridiculous fun. With two to four sessions, you should be getting the hang of carving/edge control; the art of rolling back up might be a different story, depending on how comfortable you are in the water.

If you are still unsure about what to attempt first, then send an email (dinmag@doitnow.co.za) and we will put you in contact with the right people in your area that can help you hit the water like a seasoned pro.

doitnow.co.za >> 23

> DO IT NOW | inGEAR: Words & Photos by Paul Carrick

24 >> doitnow.co.za

We decided that a weekend trip from Jo’burg to Katse Dam in Lesotho would be pretty cool. Pete had never been to Lesotho and had just bought a new BMW 800 GS, an excellent dual-purpose touring bike. Chris had also recently upgraded to a BMW 1200 GS and was keen to head back to the Mountain Kingdom after our last wet and slushy trip on the ‘flat’ roads to Sani Pass. My BMW 1200 GS Adventure was the ‘veteran’ bike, with a single trip through the country. We left Jo’burg on Friday afternoon to beat the traffic and made Harrismith in good time. We stayed over at Pringles Country Inn near the Engen OneStop, which is really convenient, well priced and has a great little restaurant and pub where you can relax over a cold frosty.

We left early the next morning after a mandatory ‘adventure’ breakfast, a Wimpy Dagwood, and this was going to prove a wise choice a little later in the day. From Harrismith, we took the Maloti Route past Sterkfontein Dam, to the Golden Gate National Park. This is a fantastic stretch of road for a bike with nice sweeping turns, a good surface and magnificent scenery. This area is well worth the visit if you can fit it into your trip, as there are some amazing geological formations to look at, as well as a variety of antelope. Once past Golden Gate, we passed through the scenic village of Clarens and then it was a quick ride to Fouriesberg, the last place to fill up before crossing the border. If you’ve got a little tank (the GS Adventure has a 33l tank, so most bikes seem to have small tanks in comparison) taking a small header or refill might not be a bad idea. Of course we didn’t take any because Pete and Chris figured they’d just siphon from my bike and we weren’t going that far anyway. Were we? The border crossing into Lesotho is a breeze. Arrive, jump off, stamp, jump on, wave to the police, 1st gear, 2nd gear, break, stop, write on a little form, stamp, jump on, pay R20 at the boom and a mere 20 minutes later, after a friendly chat to the border post controllers, we were on our way again. We always take our vehicle papers with, but as yet, I haven’t been asked to produce them for either the bikes or cars on any of my last four trips. However, they always check your license disk on the Lesotho side, so don’t take a chance with that! As you pass through the border, there is a very populated stretch of road that travels through villages and rural settlements until you get to the bottom of Moteng Pass. The pass is unbelievable, 1st and 2nd gear and lots of switchbacks. If you’re a little tentative about putting your bike over around corners, you’ll almost definitely be cured by the time you get to the top. The road there is pretty good though, but there are the occasional rock falls so you need to keep your wits about you. Unless you’re trying to break speed records (not a great idea in Lesotho) there are a number of viewpoints up the pass that are worth stopping at. This good road continues on until Oxbow, and then… … all hell breaks loose. The road is actually a smattering of tar over a complex network of holes. It’s really bad! The way to get past this section is to turn it into a game of dodge the pothole, or dodge the biggest pothole you’ve ever seen, or drive off the side of the road - this

option is often the best choice. Basically, don’t be in a rush or you will damage your prized metal steed. This ‘road’ continues for 37 km until you get to Tlaeong Pass, the highest motor cable pass in Africa. A few years back I did the Kao Mine road from Katse back to this point on a great dirt road. It was rocky, rough and quite fun in a Land Cruiser, so I thought it would be fun on a bike. It had been raining for two weeks prior to our trip, so the road was slick and muddy. We decided to do a short recce first to see what it was like. If it was ok, then that would be the way, otherwise we’d head down to Mohkotlong and take the ‘good’ dirt road around Tsaba Tseng. So we headed down the mine road, with our super efficient touring tires doing a sterling job. Ok, so maybe they were the wrong choice, but for now they seemed fine. We stopped 300 metres down the road to discuss our options and decided that because it was wet and slippery, that maybe this wasn’t the perfect choice, especially seeing as our touring tires had almost no grip in the mud. So we turned around and headed off … well almost. Chris, who had stopped on a patch of grass, got stuck ... and so our adventure really began. After travelling 40 km down the potholed road, there is a big sign: KATSE =>, which we dutifully followed. It’s a good gravel road, really well maintained and recently upgraded with concrete culverts. Then the road just sort of ended and we were faced with a decision, left or right. To the right was a road, rocky but well defined and almost straight up a hill. To the left was a dirt track that looked like it went nowhere. Decision made, we were going right.

Now in contrast to the mine road, this was a real ‘off-road’ road and there was no way a little rocky road was going to stop us now, and anyway, Katse couldn’t be much further, could it? The map said it was just a short meander over a mountain or two. So off we went once again, over the rocks, over a little river and gradually the road began to deteriorate. The rocks got bigger, the road smaller and there seemed to be more water. w

doitnow.co.za >> 25

About 10 km later, we had our first fall and the 800 GS was baptised with Lesotho mud. The road still looked doable, so we ploughed on for another 5 km and had another spill (Pete again - you see, the general approach on touring tires is to go straight when it’s slippery, otherwise, you end up lying in the mud with your bike, and Pete enjoys getting his knee down ...). By now, we were getting a little tired. Looking carefully at our ridiculously inadequate map, and the cause of much false hope because just where we stopped was a fork in the road, clearly putting us exactly where we thought we should be - one mountain crossing away from Katse.

So we asked some friendly locals how far it was to the dam and were told it was not far. Our attempts to get more details were futile, but hey, how bad could ‘not far’ be? While Pete and Chris took a breather, I headed up the mushy road to have a look at what we were in for, slipping and sliding between small streamlets until I got near the top of the hill. At this point it’s worth mentioning that Pete and I had bike-tobike installed, which can make a long road a little more entertaining, but has a few downsides. At the top of the hill the road became a series of half-meter rock steps with water flowing over them. After deciding that this was definitely not the route to take, I turned around to head back down. Now coming up was entertaining, point straight up, maintain some speed and don’t stop - easy. But going down was a whole different story. The GS Adventure weighs in at 250 kg and with my small 100 kg frame added to that, it’s like an accident waiting to happen. So slipping, skidding and squealing like a girl (sorry girls), I made my way down, concentration high, like a machine. Perfection. And then the bike came to life, half scaring me to death and totally wrecking my concentration. I narrowly saved my butt after almost turning into the fastest mud-sled biker in history, and I’m sure Pete and Chris had a great laugh over my Olympic escapade. After returning to the two rested bikers waiting patiently at the fork in the road, we decided that we’d take the slightly longer alternate route, which looked easier and avoided the rock-ledge road that had bought my exploratory trip to a halt. Chris took the lead and scrambled up the slushy road, while Pete and I took care of some of the larger mud pools. As luck would have it, and just as Pete and I where trying to wrestle a bike out of a mud hole, we caught sight of Chris pulling off a maneuver more suited to ‘Funniest Home Videos’. While

26 >> doitnow.co.za

riding up the path, close to the side of the road that was next to a three-meter high drop off into a meilie field, he hit a rock lurking in long grass. In slow motion, we saw his left foot shoot out, do the hokey pokey and was pretty quickly followed by the rest of his body in an elegant dismount, a graceful step down the embankment, a neat pirouette and then his arms being flung up in total disgust. Chris’s performance was quite something, but way more impressive was his bike doing a complete 360 side flip behind him, without him even realising it! The only damage done, other than some ego bruising and possibly a pulled muscle from the pirouette, was the rather surgical removal of both mirrors. Fortunately, there was little traffic on this road so we were still good to go. After a lot of pushing, spinning, falling, pulling, sweating and some more spills, we finally made it to the top of our mountain. Despite our weariness we all felt a great sense of achievement that helped to overcome the aches and pains and misery over missing mirrors. All we had to do now was pop down the mountainside and we’d be at Katse. That’s what the map said, didn’t it? On the crest of the mountain we were greeted by an extraordinary vista of emerald green mountains as far as the eye could see. It is a truly magnificent sight, as long as you are not hoping to see a big dam with a hotel. And with that, our newly-found enthusiasm died. The energy bars we had with us seemed a little inadequate and for the first time, we realised that we could be spending the night in the mountains – not a pleasant thought!

We decided that we’d never make it back the way we came as it would mean rolling the bikes down a slippery grass and mud slope for approximately three kilometer, something we were reluctant to try and anyway, maybe the dam was just over the next hill. We checked our map again - the dam should have been here! So we kept going, sliding down mud tracks and occasionally ending up flat on our backs next to our bikes, unintentionally. Our touring tires were spinning fairly ineffectively up any slope and soon became the recipients of much verbal abuse. We got to a fairly large river crossing, which I tentatively crossed, feeling a little uneasy as the flow of water was quite strong. After giving Chris some advise, he gave it his all and opened up the throttle, crossing easily and in no time. Pete followed suit and whistled across in a heartbeat as well. At this stage, we thought that the hard part was over, as the road had improved slightly and we seemed to be making better time. For about a kilometer! And then I found myself lying in a rather uncomfortable position, with a soccer-ball sized rock providing support for my back while I tried to bench press my bike off my chest.

slide. Where it was just mud slush, it was like aiming for a target in a straight line and fighting to keep the bike from sliding off the edge of the road. We had one fantastic stretch of road where Pete did a sliding-fall dismount in the mud with a little foxtrot move for style. Not to be outdone, Chris followed 10 seconds later with his own version, but used the tango to finish off his manoeuver. Both bikes ended up horizontal in the mud with the riders standing proudly by, as though it was an orchestrated move. Admittedly, it’s easy to laugh about it now but after traversing this road for an hour, there was still no sign of the dam, a tar road or any other clue that we were closer to our destination. The rest stops became less frequent as the underlying urgency to get out of the mountains grew. At 6pm we finally saw a tar road in the distance that was on the other side of the valley and our relief was fantastic. We crossed the bridge with just 2 km to go to get to the tar road and I thought our adventure was finally over. This was not to be. Pete, who was trying to put on his glasses, drove up a slippery mud section of the road and hit a rock. The resulting close call and super-human recovery was almost the end for me, as I doubled over from laughter. It was a fitting end to our ‘good’ dirt road trip. After hitting the tar road, we made a left turn and shot over the mountain and there before us was the most magnificent sight - Khatse Dam. Although we had missed the sunset, we were rewarded with the most spectacular colours of early evening stretching out over the dam. We arrived at Katse Dam Hotel tired, broken and sore, but very, very relieved. The hotel is nice, but a little pricey for the standard of accommodation. However, when put into perspective of where it is and what it must take to keep it running, it’s not too bad. We didn’t book ahead and had no problem getting a room, but they do take reservations. The next morning we had breakfast and the view over the dam was incredible. It was now time to return home and we unanimously agreed that any sort of off-road route was not an option. Needless to say, we were all still feeling a little tender and nursing some seriously stiff muscles. As soon as we fixed Chris’ bike up with one of my mirrors, we hit the road. Pete and Chris put in enough fuel to reach Fouriesberg at a little pump just after leaving the hotel, but be warned, it is all LRP. So if you’re pedantic about the fuel you use, take extra. As you leave Katse, there are some great views of the dam and dam wall from the road as well as from some of the mountain passes. Only when you take this road do you realise just how big the dam is. It’s huge. We travelled over the dam bridge, through more passes on a good road until we reached Leribe, a place you want to get through as soon as possible. It’s not a bike-friendly town and we had a few incidents where pedestrians made deliberate lurches into our path.

Two more mountains (and all that they involved) and we headed down to a little village. We saw only children, loads of children, and it has to be said that whoever introduced sweets to the children of Lesotho should be shot, hung and resuscitated so that they can have it done to them all over again.

The ride home was decidedly boring after leaving Lesotho. If we were to do something like this again, we’d definitely take an extra day or two because it’s a long time to sit in the saddle. We’d also take a better map and possibly a GPS, because it’s pretty easy to get, um, lost…

“SWEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEETS”. It is the most shouted word in the Lesotho hills and in a way it’s sad. These kids in the village got quite aggressive when we didn’t give them any and a couple of them even threw stones at us, it got quite nasty. Anyway, after the screaming-kids village, we got onto a contour road just above a minor stream and once again thought we were home free. We just had to keep moving downstream and we’d get to the dam, easy.

The off-road section of the trip took us eight hours. It was only 40 km long but felt more like 150 km. We made a serious mistake with our first right turn. After Google Earthing our ride, we realised that the route we took was marked as a hiking trail. It would have been more suited to smaller off-road bikes and is something we’re thinking of trying. Allin-all, it was a great lesson in off-road touring.

Ha! Our contour road was a track mainly used for moving cattle and sheep, which kept the road clear of bush but does very little else for a lost biker. The hoof prints had two effects on the muddy roads. Where the mud was drying out, it was a very bumpy ride of alternating teethrattling vibrations and the inevitable cracking of the crust with a nice

My advise to any fellow adventurers – firstly, have the right tires; and secondly, take the right road. But would we change the trip in retrospect? No way, it was EPIC! doitnow.co.za >> 27

> DO IT NOW | inGEAR: Words by Francois Flamengo | Photos by Elri Martins

28 >> doitnow.co.za

Setting New Standards for Big Dune Driving When it comes to the beauty of the Namibian Desert, I’m always amazed by this incredibly diverse environment that is both mystical and clinical. Scientists claim that this is one of the oldest deserts known to man. Life in this solitaire habitat has evolved over many years and the antelope, snakes, birds, lizards and a myriad of other creatures that have made this their home, have had to adapt and develop special characteristics to survive the extreme desert temperatures.

Looking at the desert, one can write volumes covering only the facts about this desolate place. I don’t want to do this, but would rather draw your attention to a very specific destination that I was fortunate enough to explore during a recent visit to Namibia. Lauberville, a mere 34 km from Walvis Bay and the old recreation camp of the former police in Namibia, is a must for any 4x4 enthusiasts who loves to journey into Namibia, to play in their beloved vehicles. So what’s so special about Lauderville? The reason is simply that this area has set a new standard for BIG DUNE DRIVING. Drivers visiting the area can experience the excitement of navigating their own 4x4 vehicles over some of the biggest dunes in the world during the day, and sit around a blazing camp-fire surrounded by beautiful acacia and swaying palm trees in the evening. Lauberville is also the base for a new five-day trip offered by Westcoast 4x4, which I had the pleasure of experiencing – and what an adventure it was! It all starts in Walvisbay where everyone meets at the Anker Restaurant. After a delicious meal, we headed out in our 4x4’s to the camp, a thirtyminute drive on a well-maintained gravel road. Once in camp, we unpacked and settled in. All the vehicles were equipped with a two-way radio so that we could communicate with our fellow adventurers, over the next few days. The camp seemed very basic but we soon found out it had all the vital facilities to give it a ‘five star’ rating for a dune trip; running water, ablutions, warm showers and delicious meals. All the rooms are furnished with new beds, so you only need to bring bedding. There are also three chalets, of which two had the luxury of en-suite bathrooms. The entertainment area is where we all congregated each night to mingle around a huge fire, and this is also where our guides and hosts, Don and Jacques, awarded trophies to the drivers for good or bad driving.

Each day was well planned and organised, with Don and Jacques expertly guiding the group through the dunes of the Namib Naukluft Park. Each trip was different and we got to visit areas like Sandwich Harbour and the airplane crash site from the 1970’s. Don and Jacques would take turns to create challenging routes to test our driving abilities and these ‘obstacle courses’ also presented us with some great opportunities to take action photos of 4x4 vehicles battling the desert giants. Other highlights included driving down the steep slip faces and challenging the massive dunes in high range. A few of these exercises required reaching speeds of close to 100 km/h to conquer it or be conquered. The petrol vehicles on the trip did well and I was very impressed with the abilities of the popular Toyota Prado 4.0 petrol. On the second last day of our trip, we were taken to the desert drag strip and divided into shootout groups, in both high range and low range categories. This time it was the petrol Toyota Hilux 4.0 with the sticker on the back, ‘Powered by six very upset Japanese ponies’ that was rewarded with the gold honours. All I can say is that they must have been very upset ponies because they ran like there was no tomorrow. There are so many other highlights that I could elaborate on, but it just wouldn’t be the same as you experiencing it for yourself.

DINfo box

For more information and bookings on this fantastic BIG DUNE DRIVING destination contact Don Nieuwoudt on (t) +27 82 570 7486 or via email on don@westcoast4x4.co.za

doitnow.co.za >> 29

The following basic rules and 4x4 driving trips are brought to you by Don Nieuwoudt, to help you make your next visit to the sand dunes a more pleasant and memorable experience. 1. Examine the area where you will be driving and ensure that your vehicle is in 4x4 mode before the time. Select high range where the sand is hard and when you will be travelling over long distances. When your vehicle starts losing power in the soft sand, select the low range. Remember high range first gear is more or less the same as low range third gear and every time you have to change gears in soft sand, it is just as good as using the brakes. Your vehicle will loose a lot of momentum and power. If the gear you have selected for your vehicle is too low or high, it will cause your tires to spin unnecessarily and dig your vehicle into the sand. 2. Deflate your tires to ensure your vehicle has maximum traction in the sand. It is recommended that all 4x4 vehicles are equipped with a reliable tire gauge and pump. The tires can be deflated to a pressure as low as .8 bar. In extreme cases, when you are faced with unforeseen challenges, the tire pressure can be deflated even lower to help the vehicle overcome the obstacle. Remember that if you operating your vehicle with tires at a pressure below .8 bar, the chance of the tire being pushed off the rim is far greater. You need to be very careful in these situations and try to limit any sharp turns with the vehicle, when using the engine’s power. If your vehicle is heavily loaded, it is advisable to operate the vehicle with a tire pressure around 1.0 bar. If you struggle, then you can deflate the tires a little bit more. 3. If you need to stop your vehicle when driving on sand, look for a flat surface or where the front of your vehicle is pointing in a downwards direction as this will make it much easier to pull off again. Remember that you don’t need to use the brakes because once you lift your foot from the accelerator, the vehicle will come to a stop because of the soft sand. If you use the brakes, a wall of sand will be pushed to the front of the tires resulting in your vehicle having to work unnecessarily hard to drive over it. Should you be trapped in a situation where you can’t drive over the wall of sand, reverse back a bit to compact your track and this should make it easier to drive forward and over the wall. 4. Stay on the leading car’s tracks to minimise the chance of damaging any eco-sensitive areas in the desert. Driving in the same tracks will also benefit your vehicle as the sand will have been compacted and make your ride easier. Avoid being caught in a predicament by driving close to the slip face. 5. Early morning and late afternoon is the safest time to drive in the dunes, as the position of the sun casts shadows on the dunes and makes it much easier to read them. Midday is the worst time to drive in the dunes as a driver can suffer from ‘dune blindness’ that is caused by the sun shining directly from above. A good pair of sunglasses will help a lot in this regard. I hope these easy tips will be of use, and remember, drinking and driving in the dunes is asking for trouble. Always be aware and you can never be too careful!

30 >> doitnow.co.za

> DO IT NOW | inALTITUDE: Words by Claire Barnes & Claire King | Photos by Bertus de Beer

Why We Jump A Breath of Fresh Air “My palms are sweaty, my heart is thumping in my ears and I can smell jet fuel and fear. I dare to look out of the window and see the ground far below. The plane is full of nervous faces, and I turn to my instructor who gives me a thumbs up and tells me it’s my turn to hurl myself out of the door. It is utter madness, I know that, but here I am. I climb out of the door and position myself on the edge. The wind is howling violently, almost pushing me back into the plane. My instructor yells, “Go.” I look down. There is nowhere else to go. So I take a deep breath, and do it. “As I jump, I feel my fear being left in the plane above me, and experience a sudden calmness; a clarity that I didn’t have a moment ago. I feel free. My mind is sharp and aware of every detail. All the words of the instructor ring clearly in my mind as I look up to see a colourful canopy inflating above my head. And I know how to fly! Just like that. I grab my toggles and fly my canopy through the air, landing softly on the ground a few minutes later. I did it. That’s how my first skydive felt.”

My involvement in skydiving was by chance; a friend started skydiving and planted the idea in my head, just once. Why not? I played with the idea for a while and finally agreed to give it a try. Nothing compares to the moment you launch yourself from an aircraft into the fresh blast of air 11 000 ft above the ground. You are acutely aware of every minute detail. Every sense is engaged and you’re processing information at lightning speed. You are free. Nothing exists outside of here and now. It has changed me in many ways. My mind has opened. My world has expanded. I want to try new sports, see new heights and fill every minute with exhilarating experiences. Skydiving is fun, sociable and stress relieving. It is also much more than tossing oneself from aeroplanes for kicks. The sport is strictly regulated; formalised into various disciplines and gets highly competitive. So while it will certainly scratch the adrenaline junkie’s itch, it is rewarding in many other ways.

In South Africa, most skydivers jump from about 11 000 ft above ground level. They freefall until about 3 000 ft, then deploy their parachutes to land safely. Then they pack it all back in and start again. Regardless of your motivation, it’s something everyone should try at least once – it’s ‘bucket list’ stuff. In such a diverse sport, it’s different for each of us. Some love the rush of freefall. Some love the humility and wonder of flying alone beside a kilometre-high stack of white, puffy clouds – whether in freefall, in a wingsuit or under parachute. For others, it’s the athletic challenge of competing with precision, speed and true teamwork. Whatever our individual motive, through skydiving, we get to share unique moments, spectacular scenery and a passion for living with like-minded people.

... Skydiving is fun, sociable and stress relieving. It is also much more than tossing oneself from aeroplanes for kicks ... 32 >> doitnow.co.za

Photo by Craig Dutton

... In such a diverse sport, it’s different for each of us ...

Frequently Asked Questions Q. How do I get started? There are various options available to you and are as follows: Accelerated Freefall (AFF) (Do It NOW!): Sometimes you just know this is going to be your thing. The AFF programme is a focused, efficient way to learn to skydive and get out there quickly. You experience freefall from full altitude, from your first jump. Two instructors stay with you and assist you throughout the freefall. You have your own parachute and skydive from day one. This personal one-on-one training gets you up to speed and into the sport quickly.

Static Line (Start it Now): This is the old-fashioned way of learning to skydive. After group classroom training, you jump solo with the use of a ‘static line’ to deploy your parachute for you, as you leave the aircraft at 3 500 ft above the ground. You progress to freefall and then increase exit altitude and freefall time, until you’re jumping from 11 000 ft (at jump 17 or thereabouts). This is a slower method of learning to skydive, which is cheaper per jump, but roughly the same cost as AFF to get to a common basic skills level.

Tandem (Do Part of it Now): You can have a once-off experience from a tandem jump, where you are harnessed to an experienced

tandem master. This route allows you to skydive without having to know too much about it. It is also a more passive approach to skydiving and often just enough to make you return to do the course.

Q. Where do I go? Skydiving operates from drop zones. Check out www.para.co.za and click on “Drop Zones” for a full list of South African skydiving clubs.

Q. What do I need to do to go solo and become self-sufficient? We have formalised progression structures and programmes to move through proficiency levels and qualifications, but the basic course completion takes about 10 AFF jumps or 17 static line jumps.

Q. What does it cost? The costs differ slightly from club to club, and range from: R 200 to R230 per jump once you are self-sufficient and have your own gear. R1 950 for the AFF ground school and your first jump. R 850 for the Static Line ground school and your first jump. R1 250 for a tandem jump.

Look out for these exciting up-coming events For some serious spectator action, get yourself to Carletonville, just outside Johannesburg, from 1-6 December to watch the world’s elite swoopers compete in the fifth FAI World Cup in Canopy Piloting (www.fai.org/parachuting and www.swoop4gold.co.za). Canopy Piloting is like a Grand Prix over water, but without the vehicle. Competitors exceed 100 kph under parachute competing for speed, distance and zone accuracy - and all the action happens on ground level. It’s thrilling stuff to watch. There are also ongoing competitions such as SASL (www.skyleague.co.za) and the SA National Championships, an annual event that is usually held in May and a highlight on the skydiving calendar. It is also where selections for the World Championships are made. ‘Boogies’, skydiving get togethers in unusual places often with novelty aircraft, are organised from time-to-time. They are primarily social, but often form the platform from which to attempt new SA records.

doitnow.co.za >> 33

DO IT

Featured DIN Stops in this Issue

DO IT

joBerg2c

DO IT

joBerg2c

DO IT

DO T NOW Adventure Sport Lifestyle

inVOLVED DO IT

Get

The second project was to transform the area around the pool into an oasis for the children to enjoy and be proud of, by getting rid of all the rubbish and replacing the unwanted plants with new, low-maintenance evergreens. ‘Many hands make light work’ and with this motto in mind, the combined efforts of the rest of the DIN team, consisting of Rhys, Gert and Chris, and the children, the area was cleared, litter removed, holes were dug - and the evergreens planted in no time - amid much laughter and ‘kidding’ around. The kids were incredibly enthusiastic and helped us a great deal until the compost bag was opened …. and then you’ve never seen so many little legs move so fast to get away from the smell. Somewhere in between all the building and planting, DO IT NOW provided rolls, viennas, fruits and juice. The lovely house mothers prepared a delicious lunch of hotdogs that were quickly devoured by all the hungry helpers! After refuelling, we were all back at our posts and doing our bit. The projects were a great success and it was so rewarding to have the kids participate and help us throughout the day. Everyone worked really hard and as this incredible day came to an end, Siphumelele’s garden looked great, and once the grass was laid and wall completed in the following week by Roderick, Kumalo and Rhys, it was truly something to be proud of. The endless smiles on all the dirty faces told of a fun day, for a worthy cause! It’s at times like these that you realise how a small act of kindness can bring such happiness to others. You also realise that - you CAN make a difference – so why wait when you can DO IT NOW!

... ‘Many hands make light work’ and with this motto in mind, the combined efforts of the rest of the DIN team, consisting of Rhys, Gert and Chris, and the children, the area was cleared...

DIN Recycles

When the idea of starting a DO IT NOW magazine was borne, we decided to create and print a sample copy of the magazine to see how readers would respond to this new and exciting product. As part of our marketing campaign, we handed out these magazines all over the country! The response was so good that we started working on the first issue of the DO IT NOW Magazine. If you are reading this, then you will know that we were really blessed, and are now on our second issue! As I mentioned in the inFO section, inVOLVED is the part of DO IT NOW that gives back to and gets involved in the community. With the left over sample magazines, we decided to recycle them through PRASA, the Paper Recycling Association

Thanks to the DO IT NOW team and Siphumelele house mothers and kids for giving inVOLVED a hand and taking ownership of this project! of South Africa (http://www.prasa.co.za/) (http://www.prasa.co.za/). After an email and a prompt return call, the recycling van arrived at the DO IT NOW office just two days later to pick up the magazines. We were delighted to find out that we would receive some funds from recycling, and decided that this would be a great addition to the inVOLVED Fund, which is used to help those in need. I was very impressed with the great service provided by PRASA, and how easy and effortless the whole process was. I highly recommend you try it and help us save our environment, one piece of paper at a time! Please recycle your DO IT NOW Magazine.

doitnow.co.za >> 41

DO IT

2010

36 >> doitnow.co.za

DO IT

inCOMING

One action-packed day for those who dare! Imagine being pulled across the surface of the water on a thin board at 30 km/h with the only thing keeping you going is a piece of string connecting you to a Seadoo Speedster Wake Boat. If this is your kind of action, whether you know exactly what you are doing or have absolutely no idea but are willing to give it a go, then this awesome day is just for you! For anyone new to this adventure, wakeboarding is a surface water sport that involves riding a wakeboard over the water's surface behind a boat. DO IT NOW is planning this relaxing yet action-packed day on the Bronkhorstspruit Dam (90 km from central Johannesburg and 75 km from Pretoria). This includes training by a professional wakeboarder, to make sure you get the most out of this really enjoyable experience.

Drive a super sexy, no-introductions-needed Audi A4 during the High Performance Driving Course and learn how to improve vehicle control and hone your skills under full-time expert instruction. This full-day course is held at Gerotek and kicks off with an enlightening lecture on the theory of vehicle dynamics. Perfect the art of driving by practicing high-speed driving techniques, emergency situation simulations and demonstrations of the latest vehicle technologies. This is all done in the safety of a racingcircuit environment.

38 >> doitnow.co.za

doitnow.co.za >> 39

DO IT

inVOLVED DO IT

Words and Photos by Elri Martins

DIN Makes a Difference at

During September DO IT NOW inVOLVED participated in two major community projects. The DIN team

volunteered their time and skills to Do It Day, held on 18 September, a wonderful social responsibility initiative that called upon all South Africans to help in any way they could. inVOVLED went to visit Siphumelele Orphanage in Kempton Park. Our first project was to build a low retaining wall along the one side of their swimming pool to prevent rain water running from the garden into the pool. This was quite a big job and I would like to thank Roderick and Kumalo for putting their backs into it, literally!! The project started on Friday and was finally completed on Tuesday. Although it was hard work, we had great fun!

40 >> doitnow.co.za

DO IT

Golf Core Training Optimal Nutrition for Optimal Performance The Benefits of Streeeeetching

Arran Brown on Bike Setup FIX IT NOW! - Cycling Mechanics // [inPREPARATION] Triathlon Training: 8-Week Sprint Programme // [inSHAPE] Sport Specific Training -

Inside Story A Beginner's Take on the Nando's Magalies Adventure Profile on Arran Brown, Professional Cyclist // [in THE WORKSHOP] For the Love of Cycling -

// [inACTION] Fish River Canoe Marathon Dusi Advice from the Pro's and not so Pro's Blyde Xfest ’09 Adventure Racing, the Ultimate Challenge joBerg2c - The

SPORT

by Dave Macleod > DO IT NOW | inACTION: Words Photos by Justin Vellacott - Gameplan Media

A classic sporting event is so much more than just a sum of its parts. For the thousands of canoeists who took part in the Hansa Powerade Fish River Canoe Marathon held on 2 and 3 October, their experiences will bear testimony to this. The 28 year-old event is a premium paddling event on the canoeing calendar, and this year played host once again to the SA K1 River Championship - lending even more prestige to the race.

Everybody who is anybody in marathon paddling was there, as well as several big international names including the lanky Cologne-based World 1 000 m Sprint Champion Max Hoff and the Czech women’s wild-water ace, Katerina Vacikova. The sense of anticipation and hype, as the 1 400 paddlers rolled into the Klein Karoo town, was palpable. Right on cue, the miserable weather that had been threatening, rolled away, leaving in its wake a two-day window of superb, clear and warm weather for this popular event. Without a doubt, the manner in which the Cradock community throws open its arms to welcome the paddlers is what sets this race aside from all the others. From the hearty food prepared by the Rotarians and Round Tablers for the throngs of paddlers, to the cheerful smiles across the shop, restaurant and pub counters - the hospitality is unforgettable.

44 >> doitnow.co.za

Louis Copeman and his committee of local farmers run the race and are all passionate about adding as much value as possible to the paddler’s race experiences. This year, that drive and zeal led to the Friday-night concert by Prime Circle and the Southern Gypsy Queen bands complimenting the now legendary post-race after party on the Saturday night. In their ongoing drive to improve the race, the race committee has made a major capital investment into the event. A new road has been laid so that the paddler’s seconds can drive all the way down the river-bank on the first day. In 2010, a massive chute will be built down the Collett’s weir, just 20 minutes into the race, so that the paddlers don’t have to get out of their craft and carry it around. This will add another defining landmark to the race that already boasts iconic thrills such as the notorious Keith’s

... Everything about this race suits him perfectly ... then left him in his wake in the final 15 minutes of the race, to claim the silver medal. The women’s race was just as dramatic. Pre-race favourite Michéle Eray seemed to be continually on the back foot. She was tipped out of her kayak by a clumsy fellow competitor at the Collett’s weir put-in. Then just as she had raced back to the front, she took an uncommon swim at the Knutsford Drop, only 10 minutes from the end of the stage. Flyover rapid that is a grade 3+ monster at the 10 kilometer mark, the bucking waves of Soutpansdrift rapid, and the three weirs that are the hallmarks of the final stage – Gauging weir, Marlow Chute weir and the legendary Cradock weir. This year, these obstacles combined to create a heady mix of thrills and spills that ensured the men and women’s title races provided thrilling, grand-stand finishes. Four-times K1 champ, Len Jenkins, arrived in Cradock for the race wearing the mantle of ‘King of the Fish’. Everything about this race suits him perfectly, from the sub-three hour duration of the defining first stage, to the tough obstacles and energy sapping flat-water grinds. He was always going to be the man to beat, as he lined up a record fifth-consecutive win in his sights. However, this was not going to be an easy feat with a field of top local and international marathoners keen to topple him. Jenkins conspired with arguably his strongest challenger, Hank McGregor, to get away from all the other 'A-batch' hopefuls in the first half of stage one. Then he played his hand beautifully by dropping McGregor in merciless style, in the latter part of that first leg to set up his victory. On the second day, Jenkins simply didn’t put a paddle wrong as he raced alone to obliterate his own race record by an incredible six minutes. Behind, there was heaps of drama. German ‘wunderkind’, Max Hoff, reeled in McGregor and

In typical fashion, Eray fought her way back to the front of the race on day two and was holding all the cards as she approached Cradock weir. However, as fate would have it, she was dumped in the churning backwash at the foot of the weir and had to be rescued by the lifeguards. This left the door open for 19 year-old ‘Maties’ student, Robyn Kime, to race home alone and claim the women’s title. A well-deserved reward for the woman with the least mistakes made during the race. Second place was claimed by the keen-as-mustard Czech Republic star Vacikova. There were plenty of other milestones, with 43 K3 craft entering the race – a world record – and the first-ever K4 allowed to participate by the race committee. This clumsy, long craft is not ideally suited to the rough waters of the Fish, but it was the passion of four paddlers to raise funds for an Oncology Unit in the historical town of Cradock, a serene but typical Karoo farming town. As the race coincided with the start of Breast Cancer Awareness Day, the paddlers taking part got behind this worthy cause and raised an incredible R50 000 through donations, buying pink ribbons and in some cases, having their heads shaved. The thoroughly successful race has catapulted the event into a new era, and left the massive field of participants and supporters hungry for more in 2010.

> DO IT NOW | inACTION: Compiled by Rhys Foster

Dusi Advice

from the Pro’s and not so Pro’s

MAD COWS AND RIVER SPIDERS Extract from the book, Mad Cows and River Spiders - Chronicles of a Dusi Novice by Gary Green and foreword by Martin Dreyer

Ian Player simply states, “Once you’ve paddled the Dusi, your life will never be the same”. He couldn’t have been closer to the truth. I took on the Dusi for the first time in 1996. I clearly remember the long journey driving through the Transkei from Knysna, coming into Maritzburg down Durban Road, laying down a hundred buck bet with my K2 partner as to which way the Msundusi was flowing, confident that it was from the right to left. I was wrong! Me, a full-time salmon fisherman from Canada and my pure-bred Karatara woodcutter partner, bumbled down that Dusi, clueless. Thombi Rapid chewed us up like a raw mielie. Side Shute Rapid put an end to our race, after choosing the incorrect channel. Boat wrapped, paddles lost, head bleeding, we dragged our limp craft up to the road to thumb a lift to Blue Lagoon, totally defeated. Standing at the prize giving, no finishing medal in hand, I had this hollow, sick feeling. Since that occasion I have adopted the principle, “Never give up until you’re carried off the course”.

Martin has since completed 12 Dusi’s and won seven of them.

The DO’S AND DON’TS of Dusi Racing Here is some great advice and tips from a number of experienced paddlers including ‘The Pope’ who has completed 45 Dusi’s and won 15 of them, Rick Whitton and Martin Dreyer, as well as from some paddlers who have come in close to the cut-off.

Name:

Mandy Rawlins

Age: Dusi’s completed: Best result/s: Goal for 2010 (time/place):

40 6 53rd overall (mixed doubles) and 6th in the ladies Taking it easy, but in the top 200

Top 5 tips for the Dusi: 1) Trip the river as much as you can. I am a carthorse and this is the only way I can get ahead. 2) Be consistent with your training. Find a schedule that suite you and stick to it. Don't design a programme with 10 sessions per week, when you know you will only get to do four. Keep it real. 3) Eat healthily, take vitamins and get enough sleep so that your body can recover and build up. 4) Take probiotics a few days before and after you have been in a river. 5) Do interval training during the week and slow, long distances over the weekend.

46 >> doitnow.co.za

Name:

Gary Green

Age: Dusi’s completed: Best result/s: Goal for 2010 (time/place):

47 2 15h16 To finish

Top 5 tips for the Dusi: 1) Never paddle with a partner who suffers from bovinophobia (an unnatural fear of cows). 2) Always portage commercial weir. There is a scenic route down the left bank that includes a view of numerous Weavers’ nests, Red Bishops and a drooling Labrador in the last house with palisade fencing. 3) Whatever it costs to get into the starfish batch, it is worth the money! This will ensure you avoid the devil’s cauldron peaking at 42 degrees whilst the leaders are already drinking Hansa. 4) Never ever go over Burma. Whoever named it Burma Hill was lying. Whilst the ANC are renaming our streets, they might as well rename it Burma Mother F$%&ing Mountain. 5) At the finish, avoid comments like ‘please shoot me if you ever see me in a canoe again’. There is a possibility that any future attempts at the race may draw gun fire!