ADVENTURE - SPORT - LIFESTYLE
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VOLUME 3 • ISSUE 5 • 2011
ADVENTURE
• IN REVIEW Mafia Motoring 101 • Of Mermaids and Warriors • A Closer Look at PARAGLIDING
SPORT
• 50th Berg River Canoe Marathon • Ghost Mankele Avalanche • EnduroX, the Next Big Thing
LIFESTYLE
• DO IT NOW Double Nelson Golf Day • Ubud – Arts, Culture and Rice • SiyaShova Rides for Hear Us Foundation
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Vol. 3 • Issue 5 • Oct/Nov 2011
SUBSCRIBE NOW - p.13
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Ambassadors
Meet our
FRANCOIS STEYN
FRANCOIS STEYN REVIEWS Upcoming events and reviews from Francois:
2 • DO IT NOW
Upcoming events: My wife and I are riding from Paarl to Cairo on two 200cc Chinese bikes from September. Follow us on www.crossingafrica.co.za Upcoming reviews: BMW X3 xDrive35i, Chevrolet Captiva 2.4 LT, Suzuki Jimny, Daihatsu Terios 7-seater, and some diesels and bikes... October | November 2011
christiaan greyling
LANDIE VISSER
christiaan greyling
LANDIE VISSER
ADVENTURE RACING & TRAIL RUNNING
ADVENTURE RACING & TRAIL RUNNING
Upcoming events to watch Christiaan perform in:
Otter Trailrun – Tsitsikamma: September 2011 Hobbit 100km Trailrun – Eastern Cape: 15 October 2011 Eden Duo 150km Adventure Race – Wilderness: 30 October 2011
Upcoming races to catch Landie at:
Otter Trailrun – Tsitsikamma: 30 September 2011 Hobbit 100km Trailrun – Eastern Cape: 15 October 2011 Hermanus Trailrun – Western Cape: 29-30 October 2011
www.doitnow.co.za • 3
DINList
& CALENDAR If you are looking for something do over the next three months, here’s a list of great activities you might want to try out or see. Enjoy!
AUGUST 2011 OCTOBER S S
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Adventure
Riverboarding // Zambezi (Zambia)
Horse Ride through Spier Vineyards // Stellenbosch (Western Cape) Sail on the Maharani Yacht // V&A Waterfront (Cape Town) Ride an Ostrich // Oudtshoorn (Western Cape) Boat Whale Watching // Durban (KZN) Skydive in Mossel Bay // Mossel Bay (Western Cape) Vleesbaai 4x4 Dune Route // Vleesbaai (Western Cape) Big Swing // Graskop (Limpopo) Interact with Elephants // Plettenberg Bay (Western Cape) Abseiling // Magalieburg (Gauteng)
Sport
Cycling // Vodacom Tour de Soweto – Soweto (Johannesburg): 2 Oct
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DECEMBER 2011
Marathon // Kalahari Augrabies Extreme Marathon –
Augrabies
(Eastern Cape): 6-12 Oct
Running // Harrismith Mountain Race 15km – Harrismith (Free State): 8 Oct Equestrian // Avis South African Derby 2011 – Kyalami
(Johannesburg): 8-9 Oct
Triathlon // BSG Energade Triathlon Series – Midmar (KZN): 30 Oct MTB // Overland First Ascent Challenge – Montagu (Western Cape): 5 Nov Trail Running // 3 Peaks Challenge – Atlantic Seaboard (Western Cape): 5 Nov Triathlon // Challenge Cape Town Triathlon, Iron Distance Triathlon
– Cape Town: 6 Nov
Road Cycling // Momentum 94.7 Cycle Challenge – Gauteng: 20 Nov Walk // Sisters with Blisters - Bryanston (Johannesburg): 26 Nov Motocross // Dirt Bronco – Dirt Bronco Raceway (Krugersdorp): 3 Dec MTB // Die Burger Cycle Tour - Western Cape: 4 Dec Run/Walk // 23km Summer Holiday Race/Walk - Drakensberg: 16 Dec Surfing // Fever X Surf - St Mike’s Beach (South Coast): 17-18 Dec
Lifestyle
Festival // Oktober Bierfest Sandton – Fourways (Johannesburg): 27 Oct
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Concert // Kings of Leon – Soccer City Stadium (Johannesburg): 29 Oct Music // Jacaranda 94.2 Deuriemikke Carnival – Centurion (Pretoria): 30 Oct Festival // Vredefort Dome Festival – Parys (Free State): 4-6 Nov Festival // FNB Whisky Live Festival – Sandton (Johannesburg): 9-11 Nov Market // Montagu Christmas Market – Montagu (Western Cape): 12 Nov Concert // Janet Jackson – Teatro Montecasino (Johannesburg): 12 Nov Expo // Digital Life Expo - Coca Cola Dome: 2-4 Dec Festival // East Rand Summer Festival - Boksburg: 10 Dec Expo // Green Life Style Expo - Unit Park (George): 18-20 Dec
NOW
inTRO
FOUNDER’S LETTER
Spring has sprung and summer has most definitely arrived. For me, this time of year means spending as much time outdoors as possible and doing all the things I enjoy most. In celebration of the warmer weather, I had one of the most entertaining dives in Ponta when both boat motors stopped working in mid-break, as we were making our way to the dive site. The skipper of the dive charter we used did a really good job in making sure that we didn’t end up on the wrong side of a situation that could have gone very bad. Holding onto the dive boat, while in the water, and keeping the bow facing into the break was quite an adventure, and one that I can now tick off from my DIN List. Although it was highly entertaining, it is definitely not recommended, unless living on the edge is more your thing J. We had a few nauseous divers after that experience! But if you plan on visiting Ponta anytime soon, be sure to have an R&R at Fernando’s. Don’t expect too much from the setting or the bar, but what they lack in visual appeal is more than made up with a VERY generous mix of Tipo Tinto Rum and Red Sparletta drink that they serve. Trust me on this one!
the bells and whistles, directly to your inbox. The second option is to purchase the magazine from a leading chain of retail stores in and around Gauteng. Details of these stores will be available soon on www.doitnow.co.za. But that’s not all … With December just around the corner, when you visit any one of the listed retail stores mention that you are a DIN subscriber and take advantage of great discounts on ‘toys’ available from these stores. An exciting DIN event that’s not to be missed is the DIN Double Nelson Golf Day held at Jackal Creek Estate Golf Course on 11/11/11. Come join us for a great day of golfing and much more as we raise funds to build a new room furnished with beds for the Doulos Care Centre, www.doulossa.org/ourwork.php. Also, keep checking our website for the details of the BIG DO IT NOW 2012 event - all will be revealed soon… Enjoy the remaining weeks of the Rugby World Cup; go Bokke! Until the next time … Remember, DON’T HESITATE!
DON’T PROCRASTINATE! DO IT NOW! Francois Flamengo
Thanks for all your valued feedback received in response to the questions I put to you in the last issue, to find out how you felt about using social media like twitter and Facebook, and if you received the DO IT NOW magazine digitally would you read it. Based on your answers we’ve decided not to go purely digital any time soon, and instead we’ll introduce some very cool features from the next issue, which will only be available to online readers. These enhancements include links to the relevant Category pages, DIN Ambassador pages and Contributor pages on the DO IT NOW website, as well as links to videos and other websites. This will enable you to easily read an article on a paddling event, for instance, and click through to the paddling category, which contains even more photographs and videos, as well as a description of the sport! In addition to subscribing to the magazine and to make the magazine more accessible to our readers, we will be introducing two new ways of getting your hands on DO IT NOW Magazine. The first is to SMS your email address to a number that will be made available soon, and we will email the link of the electronic copy, with all
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On the Cover - Photo by Bertus de Beer Jumpers: Jasper Williams (back left), Dirk Venter (back centre/right), Claire King(front) and Gavin Chapman (far right).
NOW
meet the CREW
DO IT NOW TEAM
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FOUNDER
Francois Flamengo
MANAGING EDITOR Elri Flamengo | elri@doitnow.co.za SENIOR DESIGNER Peet Nieuwenhuizen | peet@doitnow.co.za TEXT EDITOR Tracy Knox ADVERTISING & SALES Morné Labuschagne | morne@doitnow.co.za MARKETING & BRAND AWARENESS Cheryl Whelan | cheryl@doitnow.co.za ACCOUNTS, SUBSCRIPTIONS & BACK ISSUES Terence Mdluli | subscribe@doitnow.co.za WEB ADMINISTRATOR Marieke Viljoen | marieke@doitnow.co.za ADMIN & INVOICING Linda Wakeman | linda@doitnow.co.za PUBLISHER DO IT NOW CC DISTRIBUTION (Subscription only) The Tree House WEBSITE DEVELOPMENT DO IT NOW Interactive PRINTING Paarl Media
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HEAD OFFICE DO IT NOW CC Hammets Crossing Office Park, Building 805 No 2 Selbourne Ave Cnr Witkoppen Rd & Market Str Fourways, Johannesburg Tel: +27 (11) 462 1261 Fax: 086 612 8674 Website: 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 content of the DO IT NOW Magazine is accurate at the time of going to press, DO IT NOW Adventures (Pty) Ltd cannot accept responsibility for any errors that may appear, or for any consequence of utilising the information contained herein. Statements by contributors are not always representative of DO IT NOW Adventures (Pty) Ltd opinion. Copyright 2009 DO IT NOW Adventures (Pty) Ltd. No part of this magazine may be reproduced in any form or stored on a retrieval system without the prior permission of DO IT NOW Adventures (Pty) Ltd. DO IT NOW Adventures (Pty) Ltd 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.
6 • DO IT NOW October June | July | November 2011 2011
Advertising and Sponsorship Opportunities
For more information on advertising and sectional sponsorship opportunities in the magazine and on the website, please request the DO IT NOW Company Profile, Rate Card, Specs & Schedule Sheet via email morne@doitnow.co.za or telephonically from the DO IT NOW office on +27 (011) 462 1261.
REGULAR CONTRIBUTORS
Thank you to all our contributors who help make this magazine such an exciting adventure! 1. Alan Hobson // inNATURE Winter Tactics: Increasing Your Odds of Catching Trout Alan has been fly fishing for more than 35 years and his passion for anything Pisces is contagious. He achieved his R.E.F.F.I.S. and THETA accreditation five years ago and is constantly developing the ultimate fly. He also collects malt whiskies, which are displayed in his pub in a century old church.
8. Michael Scholz // in THE HOLE MIRROR, MIRROR ON THE WALL … Who is the funniest of them all? A journeyman professional golfer and adrenalin junkie, Mike enjoys scuba diving and fly fishing, but mountain biking tops his list of activities. A passionate but relative new-comer to mountain biking, Mike enjoys the fitness, the ‘burn’ of serious hills and the competitive nature of the sport.
2. Claire Barnes // inALTITUDE Skydiving Contributor Claire is a young thrill seeker who was bitten by the skydiving bug and competes at a novice level. When she’s not jumping out of planes, she enjoys soccer, cricket and indoor climbing.
9. Neil Ross // inDULGE Recipes: Chilled Green Pea and Mint Soup with Grape Salsa and Raspberries with Citrus Vanilla Syrup Neil has worked his way around the world enjoying every ‘foodie’ minute of it. Gentlemen’s clubs such as Brookes in London opened up many wonderful learning experiences, including cooking suppers for Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother. South Africa is now his home and he couldn’t see it. Neil currently cooks up a storm of culinary delights at the Inanda Club.
3. Claire King // inALTITUDE Flying High at the Margate Boogie Claire loves to try new stuff; if it’s outdoors and active, she’s game. Her main passion is skydiving and she is a PASA Coach, FAI Judge and has medalled at various SA National Championships. Most weekends Claire can be found team training, coaching or judging skydives. 4. Dawie du Plessis // inTRANSIT Travel Contributor Dawie is a self-taught photographer and writer with a passion for travelling and adventure. Many of his images can be found on the Getty Images and Gallo Images sites, and his work showcases many of SA’s major and international companies. He’s also a skydiving instructor and film-maker with numerous credits in the movie industry. 5. Deon Breytenbach // inH2O Winter White Water Madness at MoustASH Festival 2011 and Freestyle Kayaking World Championship 2011 Deon has been paddling white water for the last 13 years and competed in both local and international freestyle competitions. Currently based near the Blyde River Canyon, he spends as much time as possible introducing new faces to the world of white water paddling. “Have kayak, will smile.” Deon is supported by Fluid Kayaks. 6. Francois Steyn // inGEAR IN REVIEW: Mafia Motoring 101 Adventure rider, Chartered Accountant and Lecturer at the University of Stellenbosch. He’s happiest on two wheels and favours the dryer, barren regions of southern Africa. 7. Jacques Marais // inFOCUS SHOOT! A Family Adventure A professional photographer, author and columnist, Jacques photographs and articles grace the pages of too-many-to-count local and international newspapers, websites and premium magazines. You name it and he’ll capture the moment perfectly one way or another, be it extreme events or diverse action and adventure disciplines, receiving numerous prestigious awards for his efforts.
GUEST CONTRIBUTORS
10. Peter Fairbanks // inSURE Need a tax break? Then start saving for your old age! Peter is very passionate about his work and risk management in general. He feels that even the smallest contribution to the wealth creation and protection of his clients is what makes his job so rewarding. Peter loves sport in general, as long as it is on ‘terra firma’. 11. Richard Flamengo // inTERTAINMENT Music, Movie and Game Reviews Richard is a movie, music and games (MMG) enthusiast, who loves relaxing at home playing games or going to watch movies, with a box of salt and vinegar popcorn. Richard enjoys all sorts of music ranging from lekker sakkie sakkie Afrikaans stuff through to hard-hitting rock. 12. Dr. Rikus Scheepers // inSHAPE Sourced article: Don’t Mess with Jumper’s Knee! Rikus is a Chiropractor in a private multi-disciplinary practice in Middelburg and Witbank. He enjoys being active and spending time outdoors, scuba diving, mountain biking, trail running and any kind of activity that gets the adrenalin flowing. He likes to challenge himself on all levels to achieve his goals and then celebrate them with a cold one! 13. Steven Yates // inCREDIBLE PLACES Ubud – Arts, Culture and Rice Indonesia – Part 3 of 3 Steven works as a Business Consultant to pay for his extravagant lifestyle of travelling and adventure sports. He loves cycling, scuba diving, rock climbing and just about any sport. 14. Wynand and Pietré Smit // inALTITUDE Travel and Mountaineering Contributors Wynand and Pietré Smit, a Lawyer and Geologist respectively, are based in Pretoria and have an insatiable appetite for mountaineering, their Land Cruiser Pickup and Nesquik’s pink milk. They have travelled extensively, climbed on three continents and love sharing gouda with good friends!
(TO THIS ISSUE)
ADVENTURE ADVENTURE header page photograph by: Ocker Odendaal inTRANSIT: Xen and Adri Ludick; inH2O: Hanli Prinsloo, Thomas Peschak and Annelie Pompe and Griselda Naude inALTITUDE: Walter Neser SPORT SPORT header page photograph by: Ocker Odendaal inTERVIEW: Jennifer Stern and Dermot Brogan; inTRODUCING: Mikey Skelton, Gary – photoguys.co.za, Patricia Alves, Andrea Marroquim, Damien Laird and Lerissa Kemp; inACTION: Massimo Bastiotto, Tim Moolman, Joanne van Achterbergh, Jasper Williams, Eunice Visagie, Gameplan Media, John Greeff, Damion van Tromp, Bryce Munro, Dean and Cody Venish, Stephen Weber, Brian Capper, Sonja Terblanche-Otto and Steven Buhr inPREPARATION: Christiaan Greyling, Landie Visser, Morné Swanepoel and Snap Dragon Photography; inSHAPE: Dr Endre Kennard LIFESTYLE LIFESTYLE header page photograph by: Ocker Odendaal inVOLVED: Ria Moothilal
www.doitnow.co.za • 7
8 • DO IT NOW October | November 2011
C
M O
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2 1 0
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r, a e z t . t co . wi w n t tno n o oi io us d t . ow rma ll o www Fo k & e inf o r o eb r mo fac fo
in
www.doitnow.co.za • 9
NOW
inDEX
Vol 3 | Issue 5 | 2011 | www.doitnow.co.za
Base
// DINList and CALENDAR: p. 4 An exciting three-month Adventure-Sport-Lifestyle calendar. // Subscription pages p. 12-13 DO IT NOW subscription form and competition. // inFO: p. 14-15 Information page, check out our competitions, feedback and updates. // inSTORE: p. 16-17 Exciting products and subscriber discounts. // inFOCUS Reader Competition p. 126 Stand a chance to WIN R500 by entering the reader photo competition. // inVOLVED: p. 128-129 Incredible stories of involvement in the community, environment, marine, wildlife and other areas of life. // inCLOSING: p. 130 A sneak preview of upcoming features and articles.
Regulars p. 20-23 inTRANSIT: Exciting and entertaining travel
stories from Africa and beyond.
p. 24-29 inGEAR: Adventure-Sport-Lifestyle activities
featuring vehicles with gears.
p. 30-37 inH2O: Water sports and adventures. p. 38-41 inALTITUDE: Aerial / high altitude adventures. p. 44-45 inTERVIEW: Interviews with a variety of sport’s
men and women.
p. 46-55 inTRODUCING: Featuring informative articles p. 56-89 p. 90-97 p. 98-99 p. 102-105 p. 106-109 p. 110-113 p. 114-115 p. 116-117 p. 118-119 p. 120-125
on a number of sports and why athletes compete in them. inACTION: Information and feedback on various sporting events. inPREPARATION: Information, tips and or training programmes for various sporting activities and events. inSHAPE: Important information covering topics such as health, nutrition and exercise. in THE HOLE: Golfing articles and celebrity interviews. inNATURE: Outdoor experiences and activities such as fishing and hiking. inCREDIBLE PLACES: Articles about incredible and magical places. inDULGE: A wine and dine section with a twist. inSURE: Valuable information about insurance and related topics. inTERTAINMENT: Movie, music and gaming reviews. inFOCUS: Photography section with a competition and event-specific photography tips. Key: Adventure | Sport | Lifestyle
10 • DO IT NOW October | November 2011
38 68
Adventure
p. 16-41
// inTRANSIT 20-23
// inGEAR 24-29
// inH2O 30-33 34-37
OLD FAITHFUL Discovers Botswana and Namibia, part 1 - Gauteng to Khutse and Central Kalahari Game Reserve IN REVIEW Mafia Motoring 101 Of Mermaids and Warriors Ras Mohammad National Park
// inALTITUDE 38-41
FREE FLIGHT: A Closer Look at PARAGLIDING
Sport
p. 42-99
// inTERVIEW 44-45
An interview with Femme Fatale Fleur
// inTRODUCING
46-48 Drifting – The World’s Newest Motor Sport Frenzy 49-51 Let Capoeira be a part of your lifestyle 52-55 My Skateboarding Story
// inACTION
30
56-58 59-61 62-65 66-67 68-71 72 73-75 76-79 80-85 86-89
KING OF THE FORT - Schanskop Downhill Challenge 2011 Flying High at the Margate Boogie 50th Berg River Canoe Marathon The Ocean Basket 9 Miler+ Winter White Water Madness at MoustASH Festival 2011 Freestyle Kayaking World Championship 2011 Liquorland Kei National 2011 Endurocross, the next big thing Ghost Mankele Avalanche Downhill MTB The Wreck Challenge is here to stay!
// inPREPARATION 90-93 94-97
// inSHAPE 98-99
5 Tips for a 5 Day in 5 Hours Trail Run Welcome to the World of the MMA Warrior Don’t Mess with Jumper’s Knee!
Lifestyle
p. 100-129
// in THE HOLE
102-103 DO IT NOW Double Nelson Golf Day 104-105 MIRROR, MIRROR ON THE WALL …
Who is the funniest of them all?
// inNATURE
106-109 Winter Tactics: Increasing Your Odds of Catching Trout
// inCREDIBLE PLACES
110-113 Ubud – Arts, Culture and Rice, Indonesia – Part 3 of 3
// inDULGE
114-115 Recipes: Chilled Green Pea and Mint Soup with Grape
Salsa and Rasberries with Citrus Vanilla Syrup
// inSURE 116-117
73
Need a tax break? Then start saving for your old age!
// inTERTAINMENT 118-119
Music, Movie and Game Reviews
// inFOCUS
120-125 SHOOT! A Family Adventure
// inVOLVED
128-129 Team SiyaShova Rides for Hear Us Foundation
DON’T HESITATE! DON’T PROCRASTINATE! DO IT NOW! www.doitnow.co.za • 11
COMPETITION
WORTH R4 599!
SUBSCRIBE AND WIN Subscribe now to DO IT NOW Magazine and stand a chance to be the lucky winner of an elegant and durable aluminium load bar with a t-track for easy fitting of load accessories. Features:
›› Designed for creating a minimum of wind noise and resistance and available in 5 lengths for accomodating different roof widths. ›› All Thule’s aero bars are equipped wth t-tracks - an ingenious feature with great benefits. Load accessories are easily slided in place into the track. The full length of the load bar can be used, making more space for attaching several accessories.
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LIFESTYLE VOLUME 3 • ISSUE 4 • 2011
2011 VOLUME 3 • ISSUE 3 •
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SPORT ADVENTU RE
ADVENTURE
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LIFESTYLE
• Paul’s River Pisces • Dakar Supporte of Wine Dakar • Darryl vsrs Tour 2 Gem• One Wh • Indulge in the Pleasure • 12th Annual Ro on Sailing out011 eel, One • Mabuasehube, a Kalahari Secret’s and Game Reviews Jamaic • The Movie xy Wahi a • Music, • Pimp yo , Malawi ne Cup ur Kaya • An African Experience • Rory ‘Meltdown k Debate - MMA• joBerg2c: The Great Pilg Great Off-road Expedition • The • SHOOT! An rimage • Take a Hike fantastic • Fly Fishing & Co Magical’ McIlory • Family Fun - Oar Rafting • Induna X-fest 2011, 9 Days • The Rise and Falffee - Bale Mountains • 9 Provinces, 9 Peaks, l of Prop 12
www.d oitnow.coReader o.za ow.cSUBSC .za www.doitn RIBE NOW - p.11Competitions E NOW - p.11
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COMPETITIONS
WIN 250! R I-KNOWTHE-PLACE !!! If you know the place in this photo, then email your answer to competitions@doitnow.co.za and stand a chance to WIN a R250 voucher! Entries for the competition close on 5 November 2011. The winner will be drawn from all the correct entries and announced in the DO IT NOW December/ January 2012 magazine and on the website. Congratulations to Jozanne Louw, who correctly identified Sodwana Bay as the place in the DO IT NOW Volume 4, Issue 3 competition. Enjoy spending your voucher!
CORRECTION
Want to WIN R500?
It had been brought under our attention that an incorrect name was supplied to DO IT NOW for the photographer of the photographs in the article “Dan Hugo wins XTerra SA 2011 Championship” in DO IT NOW Magazine Vol 3, Issue 2. These photographs were actually taken by Oakpics.com. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.
Check out our reader photo competition on page 126 to find out how you can make this R500 yours. Congratulations to Giovanni Radoccia, the winner of our August/September competition.
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For all the latest news, happenings, events and competitions, visit our very cool and interactive Facebook page and website. There are some fantastic photos and footage from a number of DO IT NOW’s adventures and experiences that will transport you into the heart of the action, making you feel as if you were right there at that exhilarating or scary moment! Get it all on www.doitnow.co.za and www.facebook.com/DO-IT-NOW. SUBSCRIBE online at www.doitnow.co.za or complete the subscription form on page 13 and stand a chance to be the lucky winner of an elegant and durable Thule aluminium load bar with a t-track for easy fitting of load accessories worth over R4 599! So don’t hesitate, don’t procrastinate, DO IT NOW and subscribe!
ICONS EXPLAINED visit www.doitnow.co.za for more information TV MAGAZINE
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14 • DO IT NOW October | November 2011
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WHAT’S NEW ON OUR WEBSITE ›› Category pages
Getting all the latest info on a variety of events, activities and sports in SA and abroad has never been easier. Just log on to our website and check out the Category pages, which showcase a host of articles, videos and galleries, each on their own page. Have a look at the exciting new categories that have been uploaded since the last DO IT NOW issue: www.doitnow.co.za/issue13.php
›› Ambassador pages
Want to get to know the DO IT NOW Ambassadors a little better? Then take a look at out our DIN AMBASSADOR pages for some background information on our Ambassadors, as well as all their articles, photos, videos and more! We have also got some great new Ambassadors. View their pages at: www.doitnow.co.za/ambassadors.php
WHAT’S HAPPENING ... ... In South Africa over the next two months? Kinetic Full Moon Adventure Race - Middelburg 14-16 October 2011 Join Kinetic for another exciting Full Moon adventure race with disciplines such as mountain biking, trekking, kayaking, swimming, rope work and orienteering. Teams are expected to navigate using a map and landmarks, travelling throughout the night and can decide if, when and where to rest. The first team to complete the whole course, with all the checkpoints will be declared the winner. http://www.kineticgear.co.za Momentum 94.7 Cycle Challenge - Waterfall Country Estate 13 & 20 November 2011 Join 25,000 cyclists as they take to the streets of Johannesburg and where the bikes rule the road! There is fun to be had by everyone with the Kiddies Challenge on the 12th, the Mountain Bike Challenge on the 13th and Road Challenge on the 20th November. www.cyclechallenge.co.za DO IT NOW Double Nelson Golf Day - Jackal Creek Golf Estate 11 November 2011 Join DO IT NOW for a great golfing day for a great cause! We invite you to join us in raising funds to build a new sleeping hall at the Doulos Chaildren’s Home in Jo’burg, as well as furnishing it with the necessary beds required. Space is limited and their are great prizes up for grabs plus exciting activities during the day. Start getting your four ball ready! Contact cheryl@doitnow.co.za for more information. What: DO IT NOW Double Nelson Golf Day ›› 10 x four balls available When: 11 November 2011 (11/11/2011) ›› MC for the event - Michael Scholz Where: Jackal Creek Golf Estate ›› Prizes / Auctions / Lucky Givaways
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inVOLVED is the heart of DO IT NOW and it is our aim to give back to those less fortunate than us, as well as protect our animals and planet! The concept behind inVOLVED is to do just that - get involved! If you know of an institution or group in desperate need of help, please contact us at info@doitnow.co.za and we will see how we can help bring their plight to the attention of our readers. Turn to pages 128-129 for more involved stories.
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ARK ALLIGATOR
The Alligator is also suitable for fishing, kayaking and river paddling, as well as a good photographic platform.
The Alligator 3.2 is a great recreational inflatable kayak for one person – and is especially suited for kayaking white water rivers (up to any grade you dare!).
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This nimble craft is light and manoeuvres easily. It is built with self bailing holes and thigh straps to keep the paddler in full control when negotiating rapids. There is even space to carry one or two drybags of kit for extended trips.
16 • DO IT NOW October | November 2011
Alligator is 3.2m long, width of 87cm a 28cm tube diameter. packed dimensions are 54cm x 40cm x 40cm weighs 18kg.
The Alligator comes equipped with boat a bag, pump and repair kit. Paddles are not included. FROM ARK INFLATABLES price R6,990.00
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IntelliSports Shado Sport Family and friends can now track you live from anywhere in the world while you race! The Shado Sport unit is a palm-sized GPS that offers a personal level of security for you and your family. With the IntelliSports web application you can have a wealth of information at your fingertips allowing you to extract information on the whereabouts of anyone or anything, in real-time, 24/7. Slim and compact, the Shado Sport unit takes personal and professional tracking to the next level! FROM intellisports price R2,450.00
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NOW 18 • DO IT NOW October | November 2011
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// inTRANSIT: OLD FAITHFUL Discovers Botswana and Namibia, part 1 - Gauteng to Khutse and Central Kalahari Game Reserve // inGEAR: IN REVIEW Mafia Motoring 101 // inH2O: Of Mermaids and Warriors * Ras Mohammad National Park // inALTITUDE: FREE FLIGHT: A Closer Look at PARAGLIDING
PHOTOGRAPH BY: Ocker Odendaal DESCRIPTION: Precision flying during the Heidelberg Air Show
Adventure
inTRANSIT:
Words & photos by Xen & Adri Ludick
20 • DO IT NOW October | November 2011
OLD
FA IT H F U L Discovers Botswana and Namibia PART 1 of 4
Gauteng to Khutse and Central Kalahari Game Reserve It is always good to start a long journey with one or two rest days. And that is exactly what we decided to do before embarking on our 7,200km trip through central Kalahari, up to the Okavango, through Kaudom, past Etosha to Ruacana and Epupa and then on to Purros, Palmwag, central Namibia, the KAA section of the Kgalagadi in Botswana and finally back home.
››
Our first two nights would be spent at the popular Khutse Game Reserve, so we left Midrand and headed towards Zeerust, then on to Gabarone, crossing the border at the Tlokweng Border Post. From here we travelled to Molepolele and Letlhkeng. Trying an alternative route, we proceeded through the Pioneer Gate Skilpadshek Border Post near Lobatse, past Khanye to Moshupa, Thamaga, Molepolele and finally to Letlhkeng - where fuel is available. This route is about 20km longer, but it is a very scenic one and you don’t have to contend with the awful Gabarone traffic and road works, thus saving approximately an hour in travelling time.
www.doitnow.co.za | Adventure • 21
Although Botswana is a relatively flat country, you can still find fragments of ancient rocks; possibly the oldest rock in the world at more than 3.5 billion years old. Leaving Molepolele, we proceed to Letlhakeng on tar, but thereafter it was a good, easy to travel gravel road. Letlhakeng is 100km from the Khutse entrance gate and the last place to fill up. It’s also where I always enjoy indulging in some retail therapy at the true African stores. The next little village is Khudumelapye, through Salajwe, and finally the entrance and anticipation of spotting a myriad of game the reserve has to offer. The area had received good rains just prior to our arrival, so we were in for a few detours through the veld to miss literally dams of water. On a previous trip when we had travelled on this road, Xen had experienced problems controlling the car on the slippery mud surface. But on our last trip, work had been done to level the road so we were confident that travelling this road in future would be easier, even in the rainy season; and it was. The town of Kungwane is off the main road and a worthwhile detour before travelling the last 43km, which is very sandy, to the reserve. As we arrived at the gate it was hard to contain our excitement at having finally arrived and what lay in store for us. We enquired if the campsite at Moreswa 2 was available as it has such a beautiful view over the pan and would be relatively quiet. It was available, however on our last evening we had to share it with a father and his son, who had originally booked the site. The lesson learnt from this double booking was: ‘Don’t trust the office at the gate – stick to your booking’, as people arrive from Central Kalahari and don’t go through Khutse Gate or arrive late at the campsite. For two glorious days we relaxed in hammocks, read, enjoyed nature and prepared ourselves for the next few weeks of travelling. ‘Shloep, shloep’ sounds woke us the next morning and we realised that it was the gemsbok walking over the pan, which was covered in water from the recent rains. Between the waterhole and solar system is an area that is frequented by a leopard, and we were so privileged to see it again. We also saw a pack of 14 wild dogs. Whilst sitting at the waterhole watching the giraffes and gemsbok coming to drink water, the pack of wild dogs appeared some 10m
22 • DO IT NOW October | November 2011
from us and moved towards the waterhole. The next minute the wild dogs started chasing the giraffes and gemsbok, positioned on opposite sides of the waterhole, so that they had it for themselves. That evening we counted seven gemsbok, but by the next morning we only saw six. Having heard the wild dogs barking during the night, we assumed that the missing gemsbok had met its fate.
From Moreswe we drove north past the Molose waterhole to Khwankhwe Pan. On the way we saw a hare running in our direction, but when it spotted us it applied its super efficient ABS brakes and covered in a cloud of dust, it darted into the safety of the bush. We burst out laughing and relived this comical experience for many kilometres. We also saw a beautiful spotted eagle owl and reminisced on the giant eagle owl we had been so lucky to see on a previous visit. Every time we travel from Khutse to Central I promise myself never to do this route again. The route is approximately 250km long, has deep sand and is not an enjoyable drive. Besides Khori bustards and some other birds, we have never seen any other animals. When the printed map says ‘deep sand’ it really means that the sand is thick, especially during the midday heat. Old Faithful handles the road very well and we have even helped quite a few stranded people. However, on one occasion we rented a vehicle so we can fully understand how it feels to get stuck and have to dig out a vehicle in the middle of the day; it’s no fun! Along this route we also saw four burnt out vehicles that were not fortunate enough to complete their journey. On another occasion we came across a vehicle that had a branch lodged between the rear tyre and the shock absorber. The minute we saw smoke we pulled over and removed the branch and thankfully not much damage was caused to the tyre. Another valuable lesson learnt was to regularly check your rearview mirror and should you suspect a problem, pull over and investigate.
The Xaxa campsite is 60km from Xade and an oasis with a beautiful natural waterhole. That morning we woke before sunrise and heard lions roaring in the direction of the waterhole. We immediately packed up our belongings and within 250m of our campsite we saw the biggest Kalahari lion and lioness we’ve ever seen. They were in a teasing and playful mood, so we watched them for about an hour, enjoying their antics. Xaxa is known for its bullfrogs in the summer and the campfire stories were filled with tales about how aggressive they are and that they are also known to bite feet! Upon arriving at Xade we realised that we were running low on fuel and decided to drive to Ghanzi, which is about 187km away, to fill up. The first 68km was on a very poor road, but the rest was a good gravel road. On our way back we were delighted to see a badger on the side of the road, a none-tocommon sighting. It was late afternoon when we drove the final 72km from Xade to Piper Pan, which took us about two hours. The sunset over the Kalahari flats is something you can’t describe in words or capture by photo. In the last of the disappearing light we watched a goshawk carrying a little brown bird that it had caught from one tree to another, and we marvelled once again at the wonder of nature and how fortunate we were to be here, to be one with it. The next morning we went for a game drive around Piper Pan, which is very picturesque and attracts an array of animals. Despite it looking dry to us, we got stuck in black cotton soil. In this flat area, with no people in sight for days, we tried all possible recovery techniques to get out, but the more we tried the deeper we got stuck. Xen eventually
found a bush that we could use to winch the car out and it’s amazing how the fear of snakes or spiders disappear when the adrenaline kicks in. We fearlessly crept through and over the dense bushes to set up the branch protectors and winch cable. When we finally pulled Old Faithful out, the wheels looked like a pottery wheel. Happy to be in motion again, we travelled to Deception Valley via the San and Tau Pans and spotted a leopard walking over the pan in the middle of the day. For me, Tau Pan is the most spectacular pan of all and full of animals. A few years ago a lodge was built close to this pan, so it’s busier now with more vehicles travelling around it. Whilst heading to Kori 4 campsite on the Tau / Deception Road, we spotted yet another leopard walking in the road. We also saw a warthog with uncharacteristically long hair, which we decided to call the ‘alternative flower child’. In Central you always see big groups of gemsbok, red hartebeest, giraffe, eland and many more. As we arrived at Kori 4 in Deception Valley, where we would spend the next two days, we were welcomed by a peaceful group of gemsbok grazing around our campsite. The evenings were spent enjoying the barking geckos and sunset, always an indescribable experience. On the morning we left, we were bid farewell by a leopard not 100m away from campsite. Always remember that when travelling in Central you need to be self sufficient and carry enough water and petrol with you. In the next issue of DO IT NOW we head north to the beauty of the Okavango swamps •
Recommended campsites at Khutse Game Reserve and Central Kalahari Game Reserve: Central Kalahari has campsites at Deception, of which six campsites are not close to the pan. Kori is on the pan and has four campsites that we recommend as they are known for leopard sightings, which we can vouch for. Lekhubu has one secluded campsite that is in the middle of the bush. Letiahau has one campsite and Piper Pan has two, all are very nice although quite a distance away from Sunday Pan, which has three campsites and we recommend No 1 because of its great view over the pan. Passarge Valley has three campsites and here we recommend No 2 as it is also lovely and has a fabulous view over the pan.
found here, it has its own beauty and peacefulness. Molose Waterhole has four campsites and you have to drive to the waterhole, but this is where we had lions walking through our campsite at Molose 1. Moreswa has four campsites and we recommend Moreswa 2 for its gorgeous view over the pan.
The 10 Khutse campsites are situated close to the Khutse Pan. They are too close to each other and we don’t enjoy staying there. However, if we didn’t have an option we would choose No 1, 8 or 10. Each campsite has a centrally-placed pit latrine. Mahurushele Pan has two campsites near the edge of the pan and Sekushuwe Pan has one campsite under a large camel thorn acacia. Khankhe Pan has four campsites on a dune overlooking the pan and we recommend No 1 and 4. Although there are not many animals to be
www.doitnow.co.za | Adventure • 23
inGEAR: Words & Photos by Francois Steyn
IN REVIEW:
a i f a M M o t o ri n g 1 0 1 n where you met Giulia, the woma ly Ita in y ida hol a m fro ed urn So you’ve ret ng that her get married. The only problem bei of your dreams, and decided to a mafia soon to become the son-in-law of father’s name is Tony and you’re gift he’s o the famiglia and as a wedding godfather. He’s accepted you int ribbon. rifle and a white hat with a black given you a violin case for your in ghtly drive-by shootings you’ll be tni for the for s eel wh is d nee Now all you it has to uirements, it has to be black and charge of. There are only two req to be fast, ans it doesn’ t necessarily need spell R.E.S.P.E.C.T. The latter me though it’s a bonus if it is. C off the market, the new e to spend and the Chrysler 300 larg d dre hun five r ove just h Wit eries are perfect for the job. Grand Cherokee or BMW 5-s
Jeep
Jeep Grand Cherokee
BMW 5-series
24 • DO IT NOW October | November 2011
www.doitnow.co.za | Adventure • 25
JEEP Grand Cherokee Limited 3.6
The Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited 3.6 V6 has an aggressive stance with loads of bling, from the large sevenbar grill in the front to the chrome wheels, window surrounds and door strips along the side. The narrow greenhouse is tinted in the rear, perfect for keeping your business your business. The up market, stylish interior is a leap forward from the previous model, with a thin wood panel along the doors and dash, and surrounded by silver strips. The leather seats are heated and extremely comfortable, and the dual climate control works well. The multifunctional steering wheel and centre console with touch screen display has a premium look and feel to it. The former houses the audio and cruise control buttons, as well as the onboard computer controls. There is only one stalk on the left hand side for the lights, indicators and window wipers. Situated behind the gear lever is the control centre for the Selec-Terrain system, much like Land Rover’s Terrain Response, and the Quadra-Lift air suspension. The latter is operated via two buttons, up or down, which allows you to lift or lower the suspension by as much as 104mm while driving within certain speeds. When you park and open the doors, the suspension automatically drops to the lowest setting, and when at its highest, with 270mm of ground clearance, it will drop a notch by itself if you exceed 35km/h. It will also drop to aerodynamic mode when travelling above 110km/h for more than a couple of seconds to save fuel. However, the onboard display warns you before this happens. The Selec-Terrain knob has five pre-programmed options, namely Auto, Sport, Mud/ Sand, Snow and Rock. This electronically coordinates 12 different management systems including hill start assist, traction control, transmission shifting and the transfer case amongst others to get you through any obstacle. The low range button and hill descent buttons are to the left of the Selec-Terrain control.
26 • DO IT NOW October | November 2011
The new 3.6-litre V6 Pentastar petrol engine is more powerful than the previous V6, now delivering 210kW and 347Nm of torque, and claims to be more fuel efficient. Drive is permanently sent to all four wheels via a very smooth five-speed auto ‘box. It has the option of manual shifting, but it takes the better part of a second after throwing the lever before the cogs swap. At a steady 90km/h in dense fog, the onboard computer showed an average fuel consumption of 10km/l over some 40 kilometres. This is in part due to the tall fifth gear, with the revs at around 2,000r/min at 120km/h and the lowered ride height. The rest of my time with the Jeep was at normal speeds and occasional hard accelerations, which saw the figure drop to and settle at a more realistic 7.5km/l. Although the Grand Cherokee looks like a shopping truck, especially in black, it is more than capable off-road and you’d be hard pressed to find an obstacle that will get the better of it. All the safety features are standard, there’s ample room in the rear and the seats are also heated. The rear seat rests fold flat for a large luggage compartment, and dust and gravel is easily cleaned with just a brush. Special features include reverse camera and all around park assist. This system is a bit paranoid and leaves you metres off the mark if you take heed. It can be switched off though, but helps if you really cannot see. The rear-view mirrors also dip automatically when you reverse. Auto dimming xenon headlights are standard and on the Overland model, a panoramic sunroof as well. I like the small touches, which shows Jeep really has thought of everything to take on the competition. A perfect example is the flash light in the rear luggage compartment wall, which charges while stowed away. At around R532,990 it is also very
well priced against the competition.
COME DISCOVER OUR WORLD
CENTURION 012 643 0660 CLEARWATER 011 675 5852
ww ww ww . j .oj oddyyssttyyrree ss ..ccoo. z. za a www.doitnow.co.za | Adventure • 27
BMW 530D Series If you don’t like slow, gas-guzzling SUV’s and you crave superior refinement and something fast, then the BMW 530D deserves some consideration. Although
it has a conservative appearance, the black paint, bonnet creases and large silver 19-inch spoked rims lend it a subtle aggressiveness. The interior is well laid out in typical BMW fashion, with no surprises. Everything is either wrapped in leather or soft-touch, high-quality plastic. Steering wheel controls work well and the i-Drive knob is very user friendly. From here, everything from Bluetooth cell phone functionality to the owner’s manual can be easily accessed. There is a panoramic sunroof and the rear-view camera has two red lines that indicate your maximum turning angle at any given time. Green lines on the screen show you your intended course at the current steering wheel position. All very clever stuff and you can actually trust it because it is spot-on accurate. At speeds below 60km/h, the rear wheels turn in the opposite direction from the front wheels for a very tight turning circle. The 3-litre, turbo-charged straight six oil-burning mill is a world beater and offers more torque (540Nm) than a normally aspirated 6-litre V8 petrol engine. It also generates 180kW of power, which is sent to the rear wheels via a superb eight-speed Steptronic gearbox. You have the option of full auto, sport orientated auto that hold the gears for longer and full manual shifting via the lever or paddles behind the steering wheel. The changes are almost instantaneous and ultra smooth. In top gear, the revs are a mere 1,500r/min at 120km/h. Over the more than 1,000 kilometres we covered, including some spirited driving, the average fuel consumption was around 12km/l. Not bad for a car that will reach 100km/h in just over six seconds Your new life with Giulia is set to start on the right foot. But if you’ve also watched one too many mafia (or ‘The Fast and the Furious’ for that matter) movies, you know you now need to start looking out for the gunmen on their Honda CBR1000RRA Fireblade superbikes in your rear-view mirror, who will try to come between you and your next birthday. With its 131kW and 112Nm of torque, rocketing a mere 210 kilogrammes to a top speed of around 300km/h, there are not many cars that will shake it. In first gear you’ll reach the 13,000r/min red line at over 150km/h, after which a few short shifts through the slick six-speeder will see you in jail in no time in the real world. This is a mad machine, but at relaxing and more legal speeds it is still very easy to use. At a digitally indicated
and go on to a limited 250km/h top speed. There is also a system called Brake Energy Regeneration that uses the kinetic energy created during braking to charge the battery and further reduce fuel consumption. Between the seats to the right of the gear lever is a switch to change the driving modes. In Normal mode the suspension soaks up undulations with ease and the gearbox changes up as soon as possible to keep fuel consumption in check. Flick into Sport mode and the revs rise as it selects a lower ratio. The suspension firms up and the digital display shows the drivetrain coloured in orange and asks whether you want to customise the Sport mode. By doing this you can select whether only the drivetrain or chassis, or both should be beefed up. The third mode is Sport+. This enables Dynamic Traction Control, which allows some wheelspin and controlled power oversteer. Throughout the week I could not fault the car on anything, but I could also not get myself to fall in love with it. It did everything perfectly in pure BMW style, but it was still just a large black car. In Sport+ though, using the flappy paddles to change gears and charge up Du Toit’s Kloof Pass everything started making sense. I think they call it pure driving pleasure. Yours for a tad above 600 grand, it includes BMW’s bulletproof maintenance plan and warranty.
In conclusion, these two technological masterpieces are perfect to earn you the desired R.E.S.P.E.C.T, essential if you want to survive in your new famiglia, and they are great looking in black too. Good thing you won’t be washing your own car!
120km/h, with the revs at 5,000r/min, it feels mild mannered and relaxed. The seating position takes no time to get used to and is not that extreme in superbike terms. The 320mm brakes are super sharp and have combined ABS on the RRA models, quite a handy safety feature if you’re going to use it every day. The chassis is a peach and you can turn the Fireblade by telepathy. It takes minimal rider input to flick it over from side to side and the limit of adhesion when leaned over is far beyond my limit of experience or common sense. Over the two weeks I tested the
Honda CBR1000RRA Fireblade
it returned 17.6km/l. Not bad at all for a guided missile. The list price at the time was R151,999 and I know you will be able to pick one up for
28 • DO IT NOW October | November 2011
way below that if you shop around a bit. This means that for the price of a VW Polo you can buy a brand new machine that will put cars in excess of a million bucks to shame. Even the 270kW and 530Nm of the crazy 6-litre V8 Chevy SS Ute I rode earlier this year felt subdued after my time on the Fireblade. •
Honda CBR1000RRA
inH2O:
Words by Hanli Prinsloo (www.hanliprinsloo.com & www.iamwater.co.za) Photos by Thomas Peschak & Annelie Pompe
30 • DO IT NOW October | November 2011
“Just dive to the bottom and see how you feel,” he tells me. I am wearing a battered old windsurfing wetsuit, mismatched scuba diving fins and a very large, mouldy mask. I am 19 and we are sitting in a small wooden rowboat in the middle of the Gullman’s Fjord in Sweden. It is to be my first experience of freediving. I splash off the boat into the sub-ten-degree water and take a few hurried breaths through my snorkel, kicking clumsily to the bottom and sat on the sand. It is deathly still around me. There are no fish or vegetation. I am completely alone. My mind empties of thoughts and I feel the weight of the ocean above me, around me, holding me. It is like coming home. Thirteen years later I am still a devoted freediver, feeling more at ease in water than on land. In water my movements, breaths and thoughts slow down and I am present, graceful, at ease. On land I am clumsy, sometimes talk too much and my thoughts are constantly in motion. I have always been in love with anything aquatic. For me, the happiness of a childhood can be gauged by how much water you have around you. I grew up on a horse farm outside Pretoria that had two dams, two rivers, two baths, one swimming pool and a sister who shares my love of water in any form. In fact, my sister and I believed we were mermaids and spent endless hours making up our own mermaid language under water, speaking in little squeaks and squawks, much like dolphins I would like to believe. As water sisters, it was a language that we could only speak under water and only to each other.
Photo by Thomas Peschak
Freediving is a form of diving where you go as deep, as far or for as long as possible on one single breath of air. It is a lifestyle sport where what you eat, think and how you move affects your dives. For over 10 years I have explored the world beneath the waves on one breath in competitions, on expeditions and with sharks, seals, whales and dolphins. It is a life lived in love with the ocean. I still believe that I am a mermaid and continue to gauge my happiness by how close I can be to water. As a freediver it is my obsession to explore the human body in water. We are adapted for total submersion, for time spent under water in a way that is exciting, sometimes inexplicable and wholly inspiring. We were made to be in water.
www.doitnow.co.za | Adventure • 31
Photo by Thomas Peschak
Yet it’s interesting how easily one takes things for granted, even if it is so central in our lives. I could not begin to imagine my life without water; a vast ocean wilderness to play in that is full of dolphin and whale friends, sharks and a myriad of fish, seal pups waiting to have their bellies scratched and ridiculously vibrant corals that border on kitsch so bright are their colours. I’m not quite sure I would know what to do with my life or time if there was no water.
Photo by Annelie Pompe
From our history as ocean harvesting mammals or the nine months developing in our ocean womb, the human body is adapted for freediving and breathhold diving in incredible ways. This adaptation is called the mammalian dive response and is something we share with our ocean cousins; the seals, whales and dolphins. During a breathhold dive, the body’s mammalian dive response kicks in and the body starts saving oxygen. There are four elements that make up the dive response: bradycardia - a dramatic slowing down of the heart rate as soon as your face touches the water; and vasoconstriction - the blood in your legs and arms is forced back to the heart and brain by a constriction of the blood vessels in your legs and arms. When doctors told Jacques and Enzo in the cult film ‘The Big Blue’ that they SHOULD AND COULD NOT dive below 50 metres, the reason was the possible collapse of the thoracic cavity due to the compression of the lungs. But these freediving pioneers dived below 50 metres and researchers scrabbled to explain how they could. Our incredible bodies are created to manage this compression by a blood shift that occurs where the capillaries around the lungs fill out to protect your chest from increased pressure. The fourth is a little-known response that we share with seals called the spleen response. The spleen effect has been proven recently by scientists to also be active in humans. When we dive we awaken our inner sea mammal and as the body starts conserving oxygen, our inner seal awakens and our spleen contracts, squirting out oxygen-rich red blood cells, thus allowing your dive to be prolonged. Our bodies also carry a memory of water, of total submersion, and everyone is born with a mammalian dive response, similar to that in whales, dolphins and seals. Our bodies are perfect in water.
32 • DO IT NOW October | November 2011
So it is a terribly frightening thing when something you can’t imagine living without is in jeopardy. I don’t want to spend even five minutes thinking about what it would be like not to have my body immersed in water, ocean fairy lands, crystal clear rivers, iron-red dams and a pool or bath, let alone a glass of water to drink. But all the symptoms of our beautiful and ailing blue planet points that way. Our oceans, fresh water and a child’s right to grow up close to and with water are being seriously threatened. I believe we have some behavioral changes to make. We need to start thinking about our greatest loves and fears, and let go of the small stuff. I’ve spent so much time thinking about the ocean, my great love for it and even greater fear of it being hurt that I have quit all the other things I was doing to focus my undivided attention on it. Teaching courses, speaking of our body’s perfect aquatic adaptation, marine wildlife and what they need, and I spoke of it all so much that action was inevitable. It was the dolphins you see. One day when I was freediving with some dusky dolphins and they were playing and squeaking, I swear I could understand them. Then one swam right next to me, putting a tentative pectoral flipper on my shoulder as we swam down together, playmates, friends and equals. A powerful thought resounded in my head - I WOULD DIE FOR THIS, for these incredible creatures to be protected and have this life of freedom and joy, and for us to be able to experience them. Later that day when my dramatic revelation had subsided a bit, I realised the only action to take would be to live for this and dedicate all I have towards its conservation. And this is how the I Am Water Ocean Conservation Trust came to be.
The I Am Water Trust aims to foster ocean conservation through human experience. We believe that once someone has experienced the beautiful world below, they will want to protect it. Through various education and awareness projects, we are able to share our aquatic fairyland, thus opening people’s eyes and hearts to the ocean, her greatness and need of us. •
Your body is over 70% water, and so is “ Earth. We are all Water, and we all share
the opportunity and challenge to protect our last wilderness beneath the waves. The I am Water Ocean Conservation Trust aims to do this through education and awareness. We endeavour to spread the love and protection of the oceans through introducing South Africans to the ocean environment and raising awareness around important conservation issues.
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I Am Water Projects
Freediving courses for previously disadvantaged individuals, conservation for surfers, responsible ocean harvest, awareness around marine protected areas, transformational ocean wilderness retreats and more.
Swim coaching
In our PDI Freediving Courses we often work with individuals who have no prior knowledge of swimming, let alone freediving! After a day of experiencing the ocean there is always a desire to learn more. We have created a network whereby swimmers and newbie swimmers meet once a week for eight weeks to share their water experience. If you are keen to get involved in this coaching programme, please email info@iamwater.co.za
Ocean Cleanups
Harbours and marinas often turn into underwater dumpsites. Together with local Scuba diving clubs we take our Beach. Cleanups underwater and get rid of some of the rubbish that results in the death of a turtle, a seal or a sea-bird.
Beach Cleanups
Join us on our monthly beach clean-ups! Just bring a black bag, sun-block and some friends.
Get Involved MAKE A DIFFERENCE
Visit our website www.iamwater.co.za and sign up for our newsletter and read more about our projects and adventures!
inH2O:
Words by Francois Flamengo Photos by Griselda Naude
Dive the Red Sea and Discover
www.shutterstock.com
Ras Muhammad
34 • DO IT NOW October | November 2011
It was on our third morning that we would be diving Ras Muhammad, a national park and one of the best coral reef sites in the world. We arrived early and even at this hour, were one of many boats in the vicinity. A bell sounded to signal the start of the dive briefing and I couldn’t wait to find out more about this renowned site and get into the water to experience it. Osama, the main dive guide on the SSY, gave us a thorough briefing and warned us to keep an eye on our depth metre, as it’s very easy to get caught up in this magical marine wonderland and find yourself unknowingly venturing too far down into the deep blue. Like kids in a candy store, we kitted up in record time, jumped into our water chariots and sped out to our spot. Osama gave the command that we had all been waiting for; to get ready and then he counted us down; 3, 2, 1, go. As I entered the water I knew this was going to be an exceptional dive. The viz was excellent and easily more than 40 metres. My first view was of a massive and magnificently vibrant coral wall that strained towards the water’s surface, falling short only a few metres. It was only on our second dive here that we realised this was the deep blue that connected the popular Shark and Yolanda Reefs. Swimming from one to the other, with the endless blue beneath you, is an amazing experience. As we started our decent to about 20 metres, we encountered a school of about 200 Barracuda; something I had never seen before. I’ve come across one or two of these big boys cruising together, but never a school that big. They moved ever so slowly, gracefully, and I recall thinking that if they thought I was a tasty piece of bait, then I’m toast. The current pushed us leisurely forward and as the school started to disappear from sight, I marvelled at all the massive pelagic fish that patrol the wall; big kingies and tuna being personal favorites.
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In the last issue of DO IT NOW I told you about my incredible diving holiday to the Red Sea and stay onboard the new and very luxurious Scuba Scene Yacht (SSY), which is making big waves in more ways than one. In this issue I would like to tell you about a dive site that’s situated in a marine reserve in the northern part of the Red Sea, and currently ranked number one in my dive log; Ras Muhammad.
After about 15 minutes Osama used his shaker to signal to us that we should start making our way to Yolanda Reef. Again, and not to sound like I’m exaggerating, the current gently pushed us along at the perfect pace, making it extremely easy to preserve air and witness the vast array of delicate coral at this site. Fish life was abundant all across this reef in a riot of scintillating colour. It’s almost impossible to put into words just how incredible, alive and vibrant this underwater world is. Another highlight on this dive was the large amount of Giant Moray eels snaking their way in and out of the coral, which we saw throughout the entire dive. What a sighting! Normally you only see parts of the body, as they are really skittish and hide away. But if you had to ask me how many we saw in full view on this dive, it would be difficult to say. By now we had almost reached 45 minutes on our dive computers and with everyone still on a good level of air, we reached the site of what remains of a wrecked freighter. The ship slipped into the deep in 1986 after a severe storm, but much of its cargo remains incongruously strewn across the reef, including the very famous toilet seats. Having been there for such a long time, the marine life has since made these bathroom artifacts their home. With everyone in the group exercising very good buoyancy, a knowing Osama gave us the thumbs up to pose, in some very interesting positions, with these renowned toilets. Ah, the depths we will go to for some decent toilet humour! Ras Muhammad is a truly extraordinary dive site and a MUST DIVE! But as a result of its huge popularity, the site is visited by hordes of divers on a daily basis. From my experience, I would definitely recommend that the earlier you are in the water, the better your dive will be. Our second dive on Shark Reef was later in the morning and way more crowded, making the experience a little less ideal. If the North Red Sea is on your bucket list, then make sure you visit this site. And if you are looking for a real royal experience, then diving with the SSY is the only way to go. Make sure you don’t miss the December issue of DO IT NOW where avid diver Henk Badenhorst takes us back in history and explores the spectacular SS Thistlegorm.
www.doitnow.co.za | Adventure • 35
More on Ras Muhammad It is said that the name Ras Muhammad is derived from a
How to dive Ras Muhammad If you’re planning on diving Ras Muhammad, a liveaboard
wind-carved cliff in the area, which resembles the features of Prophet Muhammad, believed to have visited the area in the 7th Century.
is your best option to maximise your diving time on these fantastic dive sites.
Ras Muhammad National Park occupies one of the world’s most extraordinary settings: a slender, dramatically arid peninsula at the very southernmost tip of the Sinai, rising to a dramatic promontory that looks out over some of the most gloriously rich coral reefs, which emerged after a change in the coastline 70,000 years ago. The Ras Muhammad peninsula marks the nexus of the shallow Gulf of Suez and the deep intercontinental chasm of the Gulf of Aqaba, itself a small portion of the Great Rift Valley that stretches deep into Africa. Coral reefs of the fringing and hermatypic type exist close to the shoreline along the coast around Ras Muhammad. More than 220 species of coral are found in the area, of which 125 are soft coral. The coral reefs are located 50cm to 100cm below the sea surface, and have a width of 30m to 50m in most places, though in some spots on the western coast the coral reef is 8km to 9km wide. Coral reef sites include Shark Reef and Yolanda Reef, South Bereika, Marsa Ghozlani, Old Quay and Shark Observatory. The wreckage of the SS Thistlegorm, located off the coast of Ras Muhammad, is another popular site for divers.
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The area is home to more than 1,000 species of fish, 40 species of star fish, 25 species of sea urchins, more than a 100 species of mollusc and 150 species of crustaceans. Among others, sea turtles, such as the green turtle and the hawksbill turtle appear regularly in Ras Muhammad.
36 • DO IT NOW October | November 2011
Diving season Ras Muhammad favours the diver all year round, with the warmest water in summer (June to August), where temperatures often exceed 40°C and low temperatures of around 27°C. Colder waters are prevalent in and around February, where daytime temperatures average around 23°C and low temperatures of 14°C. •
Reef Summary • Good for: Reef life and drift dives • Not so good for: Beginner divers • Depth: 5 - >40m • Visibility: 10 - 40m • Currents: Moderate - strong • Surface conditions: Generally calm • Water temperature: 20 - 28°C • Experience level: Beginner - advanced • Number of dive sites: >12 • Distance: 16km (1 hour) south west of Sharm el-Sheikh, 65km (4½ hours) north east of Hurghada • Access: Resort day trips and liveaboards • Recommended length of stay: 1 week Source: Wikipedia / www.goegraphica.com / www.dive-the-world.com
inALTITUDE:
Words by Walter Neser (www.vultureconservation.co.za) Photos courtesy of Walter Neser
sing a long stretch of bushveld Kerri Wolter and the author cros Mariepskop in the Lowveld. of north ns, with no landing optio
E E R F T H G I FL
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t ard abou e h I y a d The ught one o b I g in id paragl ing the y l f d e t and star t was 22 a h T . y a d t y very nex till enjo s I d n a o ay. years ag to this d t h ig l f every
the fun m paragliding = twice
Tande | November 2011 38 • DO IT NOW October
e Vulture Manoutsa - one of the largest Cap e cliffs and thes on ted loca is nies breeding colo experience able rgett flying there is a rare and unfo
Paragliding started in the mid ‘70s when skydivers and mountaineers in the French Alps used skydiving canopies to foot launch from mountains and descend into the valleys below. In those days performance and safety were not a big issue, but the sport and equipment used has come a long way since then, making it one of the safest and most affordable forms of aviation today. The equipment required is minimal by aviation standards. All you need is a wing, harness, reserve parachute, helmet and flight instrument, all of which fit into a backpack and weighs about 15kg. There are wings and harnesses that have been specifically designed for hiking, flying and mountaineering that weigh as little as three kilogrammes without compromising safety. Your flying position in a standard paragliding harness is as comfortable as a ‘Lazy-Boy’ chair, allowing you to really relax into it and enjoy the silence of solar-powered flight. When starting up, you can expect to pay between R15,000 to R30,000 if you buy everything new, or anything from R5,000 for checked used equipment, which may be a wise choice for your first glider. A paragliding course will set you back about R7,000 and all the equipment you learn on is included. Thereafter, a minimum of 35 flights are required to qualify for a license.
If you don’t like flying alone tandem paragliding makes it is possible to share the experience with a friend. For those who don’t want to learn to fly themselves, but still enjoy the exhilaration of flight can team up with a qualified tandem instructor (TFI). In competition, paragliding has various disciplines. There’s cross-country flying where the world record now stands at a straight line distance of just over 500km and was set in South Africa by South African pilot Nevil Hulett. Aerobatic flight is where pilots’ practice over water and do spins, spirals, rolls, positive G-forward loops and more. The last is the racing format and this is where competitors compete to fly around a set course, which could be anything from 30km to over 170km, with tasks taking anything from two to five hours to complete, depending on the difficulty and weather conditions. Scoring is done by submitting a tack-log from a GPS. What draws me to paragliding is the freedom. I can carry my equipment in a backpack, walk up a mountain and prepare for take-off in a few minutes. In good conditions I can stay in the air for hours, covering many kilometres as I enjoy the most amazing sights from a bird’s eye view, while challenging myself to make the most of the day by bettering my personal best distance flown or reaching a particular goal. Such is my passion for this incredible sport that I recently moved to live near a mountain so that I can take to the air on a whim. My latest challenge is to land at home, a fairly easy flight of 10km and one that will be very satisfying if achieved. Furthermore, I get all this with a minimum carbon footprint, making it a very environmentally-friendly activity.
www.doitnow.co.za | Adventure • 39
or reach the Marinus Brenkman and the auth Free State. SE the in ntain mou a of mit sum ls Photo by Joe Enge to launch Marinus Brenkman on the way up Photo by W Neser
d base, Francois de Villiers touching clou W Neser by o Phot bi, azim Thab e abov high
I started rock climbing and mountaineering long before I took up paragliding, and whenever I reached a summit I dreamt of being able to fly down. On some occasions I would spend hours watching birds soaring effortlessly on the breeze coming up the mountainside, and dreaming. These days I use the birds as an indicator of what conditions I can expect once airborne. They often lead me to my next thermal, a bubble or column of warm rising air that can be used to gain height and enable me to circle just like vultures, eagles and other birds do, sometimes all the way up to the base of the clouds. Encounters with birds in flight are quite common, but I’ll tell you more about that another time. What I really like about paragliding is the safety aspect and unlike BASE jumping or skydiving, a paraglider is opened and inspected before taking off. It is then gently inflated against the wind and once everything looks ok, a few steps forward gets you airborne and there is no jumping off cliffs involved. Landing is equally gentle, as the wing flies slowly and generates a lot of lift so that the approach and touch down, which is done against the wind, is like taking a walk. The thing I enjoy doing most with my paraglider is Sky Camping (Vol Bivuac), which is similar to hiking in the mountains. Along with your camping gear and supplies, you pack your flying equipment for a week or 10 days of adventure, flying and hiking in the wilderness. The idea is to land in a place where you can camp and still be high enough to launch from the next day, so that there is minimal walking required. If you land down, you can always pack your bag and hike up to a suitable place to launch from again.
40 • DO IT NOW October | November 2011
Uncertified competition class glider - for experts only Photo by W Neser
“So, if you haven’t yet discovered paragliding; it’s a free-flying sport that can be as mild or extreme as you like it.” •
DINfo box i Paragliding in South Africa is regulated by the South African Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association (SAHPA). Licenses are issued by SAHPA to pilots on completion of a paragliding course, undertaken at one of the many schools throughout the country. A full list of these schools is available on their website at www.sahpa.co.za Once licensed, pilots can fly almost anywhere in the world, provided they stay out of controlled or restricted airspace such as an approach area into an airport.
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All Black Diamond packs can be viewed at: www.activeformdesign.com Ram Mountaineering • 021 532 0549 • www.rammountain.co.za Andy Houseman - Chamonix, France
www.doitnow.co.za | Adventure • 41
NOW 42 • DO IT NOW October | November 2011
www.doitnow.co.za | Sport • 43
// inTERVIEW: An Interview with Femme Fatale Fleur // inTRODUCING: Drifting – The World’s Newest Motor Sport Frenzy * Let Capoeira be a part of your lifestyle * My Skateboarding Story // inACTION: KING OF THE FORT - Schanskop Downhill Challenge 2011* Flying High at the Margate Boogie * 50th Berg River Canoe Marathon * The Ocean Basket 9 Miler+ * Winter White Water Madness at MoustASH Festival 2011 * Freestyle Kayaking World Championship 2011 * Liquorland Kei National 2011 * Endurocross, The next big thing * Ghost Mankele Avalanche Downhill MTB * The Wreck Challenge is here to stay! // inPREPARATION: 5 Tips for a 5 Day in 5 Hours Trail Run * Welcome to the World of the MMA Warrior // inSHAPE: Don’t Mess with Jumper’s Knee!
PHOTOGRAPH BY: Ocker Odendaal DESCRIPTION: Racing action during the Interfile Championship at Kyalami
Sport
inTERVIEW:
Content by Jennifer Stern Photos by Fleur van Eden
en an Eed Fleur v itra M a on with Rh
h wit Interview
e m m e F Fleur
An
Fatale
at the Being burnt n off a stake, throw d jumping building an ing train from a mov ay’s work is all in a d frica’s top for South A n Fleur stuntwoma van Eeden.
a sporty and Fleur had always been m, da en ell Sw of n tow country her in the Swellendam Growing up in the small r athletics coach to put he ed gg be e sh 10 of e e refused to fearless child. At the ag of War is not for girls. Sh g Tu t tha id sa d an r he ghed at ceeded to beat every Tug of War team. He lau prove herself, Fleur pro to ce an ch the en giv y of War team. let it go and when finall the boy-only school Tug on ce pla a lf rse he rn ea ory and boy in her weight categ Although Fleur was a keen and very competent athlete in athletics, hockey, marathon running, competitive horse riding and horse vaulting to name few, it was Tug of War that had tugged at her heart. Such was her passion and dedication that by the age of 11 Fleur was awarded South African colours and Tug of War became an integral part of this rising star’s life. From there it was accolade after accolade for Fleur, who also became the youngest puller in the Senior Women’s Tug of War team to represent South Africa at the World Champs. After finishing school in 2002, Fleur continued her studies whilst representing our rainbow nation for a further three years before taking part in her last World Championship in the USA in 2004. Fleur became a river guide during her vacations and this is when her life course altered. At the suggestion of one of her clients Fleur made a call to Franz Spilhaus, who had just started his own stunt company, Pyranha Stunts. On her 21st birthday, she received a phone call to do her first stunt job; stunt doubling on the movie The Triangle. This involved being mercilessly flung around an airplane about to crash. Instead of being put off this new career path, Fleur loved it. Thereafter, the calls just kept coming and so began the next adrenalin-pumping phase of her life. In her first year of being a stuntwoman, Fleur participated in no less than six block-buster movies, namely Primeval, The Flood, Rainbow Warriors, The Bird Can’t Fly, Bible Code and Drona. Since then, the movie that’s had the biggest impact on her was Doomsday. Says Fleur, “I doubled for the lead actress, Rhona Mitra, and was on set for six months,
44 • DO IT NOW October | November 2011
of which the last month was in Scotland, and amazing! Prior to the start of filming, I was hard at work training for the various fight scenes.” Adds Fleur, “Stunts make me feel alive. It’s physical, you need to be fit and in top form so that don’t get injured. But when you are on the set of a specific movie full time it’s difficult to put in the amount of training hours I like to do to stay in peak condition. When I’m in between jobs, I love mountain biking, running, rock climbing and kayaking. I do as many races as possible, such as the Xterra, local mountain biking and the odd short sprint adventure race. If the opportunity had to arise, I would seriously like to concentrate on adventure racing and mountain biking and see where that leads me.” Fleur’s latest stunt role was in the 3D movie Dredd 2. Here she doubled for lead actress Olivia Thirlby and ‘bad’ girl Lena Heady. She’s the one who was thrown through glass panels, fell out of a building and beaten up by lead actor Karl Urban. With hardly time to catch her breath, Fleur has since worked on various TV commercials, jetted off to the set of the movie Safe House and then appeared in yet another major movie, Chronicle, where she doubled for lead actress Ashley Hinshaw. DO IT NOW caught up with superwoman, I mean stuntwoman Fleur van Eeden to find out more about her glamorous sounding, yet extreme lifestyle:
Q: You’ve been in loads of movies, so which film star/s did you enjoy working with the most and why? A: My favourite actress that I doubled for was Jessalyn Gilsig. She is the most amazing women I have met. She was always so grateful for the stunts I did for her and she knew I was only there to make HER look good. There’s a few more, but Jessalyn stands out the most. Q: I s there a lot of competition in the local and international stuntwoman industry? A: Yes, and your success lies in your skills and how you look, as you have to be able to transform yourself to look like the actress that you are doubling for. Q: Is being a stuntwoman as dangerous as it sounds? A: It’s a very controlled environment, with very skilled stunt co-ordinators making sure of your safety. I feel safer on set than I do on the road. However, there is always the possibility of something going wrong. Q: Tell us about the most outrageous stunt you have done? A: A full body burn! It was on my 24th birthday and for the movie Devil’s Whore when I was burnt at the stake. I was the first girl in SA to do a full body burn. Q: How does your family feel about your being a stuntwoman? A: My mom totally supports me and would also do it if she could. But I do at times only tell her after I have done a dangerous stunt. Q: Who is your role model generally and in the stunt world? A: My role model generally would have to be my 95-year-old gran. She has been through the Second World War and has truly seen EVERYTHING! To this day she is my biggest supporter and is the most positive person I know. My role model in stunts must be Leanne Liebenberg, a SA stunt girl. Q: Movies appear to have the biggest need for stunt people, and most movies are produced overseas. Has being South African helped or hindered your career path in any way? A: South Africa has an extremely fast growing film industry and Cape Town Film Studios has a good future. Since starting my career in stunts, I have not once worked on a South African movie; they have all been English, American, German, French or Indian movies. They love to shoot in South Africa and the stunt people in SA are held in high esteem by the rest of the world. Q: When you are not doing stunts, mountain biking, adventure racing, rock climbing or running, what do you do to relax? A: That’s when I sleep J. I am a partner in a small production company called SwellendamTV. We mainly produce documentaries that uplift and educate the community, and cover sport events. I am a trained video journalist (editing and camera work). Q: Do you have a motto that you live by? A: Feel the fear and do it anyway! Thank you for your time and we look forward to ‘seeing’ you in many more movies and action roles. Keep safe! •
www.doitnow.co.za | Adventure • 45
inTRODUCING:
Words by Mikey Skelton, co-founder of the SupaDrift Series Photos by Gary – photoguys.co.za
Drifting
- The World’s Newest nzy Motor Spor t Fdre the Furious’ and its
an When the movie ‘The Fast g g’ during illegal street racin sequels showcased ‘driftin or t s already a major motor sp scenes, drifting, which wa , ional professional circuits with national and internat is wing in the footsteps of th reached new heights. Follo cular a mind blowing and specta latest motor spor t frenzy, s, has event, the SupaDrift Serie new premier motor spor t ly eady proving to be a high been unleashed and is alr . eng motor racing calendar popular event on the Gaut
46 • DO IT NOW October | November 2011
www.doitnow.co.za | Sport • 47
Drifting is a highly-skilled, high-powered motor sport that calls for drivers to control a 200hp to 600hp car while it slides sideways at high speed through a marked course. It is similar to rally racing, but takes place on a closed course and is judged on execution and style rather than who finishes the course fastest. Drifting combines all the thrilling moments of traditional motor sport into non-stop competition. While speed is an important component of drifting competitions, the primary judging criteria is based on the drift pilot’s driver skill, car control, elegance, machine setup and determination, whilst navigating sideways through a set course. There are strict rules to be adhered to, as well as clipping points and zones to hit whilst your opponent is intent on doing it even better than you and within inches of your car, come rain or shine. It’s a sport that appeals to people whose adrenal glands have pumped a beat or two. The SupaDrift Series’ event schedule features SA’s top and most experienced drifters, along with a colourful array of amateur drivers attempting to make the cut. A practice elimination and qualifying round will slash the competitor base to the top 16, dogged the ‘SUPA 16’. Spectators can look forward to a host of tandem battles that are sure to dazzle and entertain. Action sport junkies, XS Promotions (XSP) has long been a trendsetter and leader in the drift scene in South Africa. Their attendance at all the local motor shows along with their Barloworld Bruma Speed, Sound Chevrolet SS Luminas and purpose-built drift vehicles have allowed the public to experience the world’s fastest growing motor sport by enjoying a ‘suicide ride’ in one of these vehicles. As the organiser and owner of the SupaDrift Series in South Africa, XSP has stepped it up once again and laid charge to building the competitive SupaDrift Series and combining it with a TV Series dubbed the F1-X Chronicles. They are also looking to take the Series on a travelling road show in 2012, which will bring the action to all parts of the country.
48 • DO IT NOW October | November 2011
Whilst there is no denying the facts (thoroughbred race steeds) and figures (pit girls), the organisers have their sights firmly set on the event gaining international status in the near future. Drivers often pull in from Mozambique with the weaponry and credentials (cars and skill) to put on a display that makes for awesome cross-border warfare. The event has had some great ups and challenges too, however, the business and event model is set for more entertainment, more rivalry and definitely more smoke blazing sideways action for the remainder of the Series in 2011. To be able to host an event of this nature at Zwartkops Raceway and achieve a 4000+ strong crowd for a first-time series of events is proof of the strength of this ever-growing drift sport. Series sponsors including Speed and Sound Performance magazine, Turn 1 Wheels and Achilles Tyres and F1-X continue to climb on board and have garnered great leverage from the six 2011 Series events thus far, and there’s still four more to come. With these great sponsors in the mix, the cake is bound to be a black-tar, double-thick chocolate surprise! The next SupaDrift Series (night) event takes place on 15 October at the Zwartkops Raceways blacktop. The action starts at 17h00 and continues till late. Tickets can be purchased at the gate or online at Computicket.com and cost R80 per adult, R40 per child and infants get in for free.
It’s a truly colourful, family entertainment affair not to be missed! •
DINfo box i For more information, please join the SupaDrift Series on facebook or contact xspromotions.co.za
Words by Patricia Alves
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inTRODUCING:
www.doitnow.co.za | Sport • 49
50 • DO IT NOW October | November 2011
Photo by Andrea Marroquim www.shutterstock.com
DINfo box i Steve Grunberg, aka Mestre Estivador, a native Brazilian from Lapa in Sao Paulo, is a pioneer of Capoeira in South Africa. His academy, the South African Capoeira Foundation, was conceived in 1995 and is affiliated to the Federation of Sporting Capoeira of the State of Rio de Janeiro (FCDRJ) and Federation Pernambucana de Capoeira (FPC). He is also is very involved in Brazilian cultural activities such as Batala, an Afro-Brazilian percussion group and Brazilian dance forms, all of which are used as positive tools to coordinate various social projects. Kids’ classes are a wonderful way to get your children active in a fun and pleasant environment. There is also a special programme available that focuses on parents and children training and spending quality time together. For more details about the classes and other information, visit www.capoeira.co.za
www.doitnow.co.za | Sport • 51
inTRODUCING:
Words by Damien Laird Photos by Lerissa Kemp
Skate My bo arding
Story
Do you want to start skateboa rding and FInd more about this out ever-growing sp ort? This is a st about my introd ory uction to the sk ateboarding sc and how I came ene to meet other skaters, who ha positively inFl ve uenced my days . When I was 14 my uncle bou ght me a new PlayStation gam e. It was the latest Tony Haw and together we completed k’s Pro Skater each goal in the game. For tho se of you who may have not Hawk, he is one of the pioneers heard of Tony who revolutionised the approa ch to skateboarding tricks and the sport has become very pop as a result ular worldwide. It was not long after when I watched my first skate competition on TV; I was professional totally enthralled. I’m so happy that I taped the action, as I was study the numerous tricks per able to formed and it helped me to reco gnise many of the different type that make up a good compet s of tricks ition run. A trip to the Gatewa y Skatepark in Durban and see fun the skaters were having was ing how much all it took for me to realise that I too wanted to skateboard. On choosing my first skateboar d at Sidewalk Surfer in Fourwa ys Mall, my lesson on the ins the sport began. For example, and outs of you can buy a complete setup, meaning a fully equipped, skateboard, or you can custom good to go ise your own set-up by purcha sing the parts separately and everything in the shop or at assembling home later. I went for the cus tomised version and enthusia each and every part, and then stically chose watched in awe as the shop assistant expertly put it all tog ether. A standard skateboard consist s of a deck, which is a wooden board made of typically seven plies of wood. A sticky sheet or nine of sand paper, known as grip tape, is applied to the deck’s is this grip tape that enables surface. It you to manoeuvre the board, as it ‘grips’ your shoes when feet in specific ways, to perform moving your each trick. A set of trucks are then bolted onto the deck and are essentially the axles of the these skateboard. Trucks provide the suspension needed to turn whi and absorb the pressure of you lst riding r body weight as you land on the board. Wheels and bearing combined and slotted onto the s are then trucks to complete the set-up. You can choose from different ABEC bearings, which are use types of d to vary the speed of your ska teboard. It is also advisable pads, thin rubber sheets that to buy riser fit between the trucks and dec k. The pads act as shock abs prolonging the life of the woo orbers, thus den deck. A useful tip is to look for a skate tool, as it is the only necessary in taking a skateb apparatus oard apart and putting it bac k together.
Once everything was assemb led, I then lear nt about safety gear and the protection offered of a fall. I would seriously reco in the event mmend that every skater use s a helmet, knee pads, elbo wrist guards when attempting w pads and to progress their skills. If you are worried about wearing a helm looking cool, don’t! Most ska et and not teparks insist on skaters wea ring helmets, and even if they plain smart, especially when do not, it’s just you first start out. Honestly, when riding big ramps, I am that my helmet has protected thankful to say me from potential head trauma. It is much better to be safe than sorry. If you are looking for the best products, there are loads of ska te shops that can help you to with the essentials. To name a get kitted out few of these places, look out for a Boogaloos, Sidewalk Surfer skate shop near you. You will or Revolution find skateboards, shoes, clothes and so much more in these stor es. Riding in parks is where I offic ially fell in love with skateboar ding; it’s fun, social and you what the other skaters are doin get to see g. So when looking for a ska tepark to session, you will find Boogaloos parks around the a range of country on the internet. In Gau teng, there’s a concrete park in Edenvale, another at Brightw at Stoneridge ater Commons and some con crete ramps in Fourways. You check out the ramp parks in Men should also lyn and at the Festival Mall in Kempton Park. For anyone look a big ramp, there is a halfpipe ing to ride established at Base 3 Cablesk i in Midrand. The beauty abo that you can ride your board ut skating is almost anywhere. However, ther e are parks in all the major citie skaters are always willing to s and other share the areas they know of with you. So it doesn’t matter from, as there’s sure to be a where you are spot near you.
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There are thre e main types of skateb oarding
›› Park skating refers to bein g in a skatepark and developing your style over ramps of various shapes and sizes that you will encoun ter. ›› Vert skating is for anybody who wants to lear n how to ride a halfpipe. This is one massive ramp that curves up on opposite sides until eac h side is vertical, which allows people to air right out the top of the ramp and then land back in the ramp on their way down. ›› Street skating is an option if you are unable to access these places. Skaters achieve this by practising their technical skating skills and moves anywhere and on any obstacle. For instance: stai rs, rails and walls. Just remember to only ride in safe and secure areas. When it comes to the types of tricks that are possible, you need to be aware of:
›› Flips are done by kicking the board around as you jump, so that it flips over or spin s around, or both, and then lands back in place und er you so that you can continue to ride away without touching the floor with your feet. ›› Grab tricks are when a ska ter is airborne and then grabs hold of their board with either hand, on any side of the board, whilst stylishly floa ting above the ground. ›› Rail tricks are variations of how a skater slides across a rail or ledge on the board or trucks, and each trick is a specific grind. ›› Spins are when a skater turns their entire body with the board. Spins are named according to the direction of the turn and are measured by the amount of degrees rotated, such as a backside 180 or frontside 360. These days the level of skating is really high, as different types of tricks are combined to create even harder tricks. An example of this is a kick flip to melon grab with a frontside 180. Every skateboarder will have a natural tendency to move forward with either a left or a right body positioning. All tricks are done in whichever direction. The different ways of placing yourself on the boa rd are known as respective stances. If you find it better to have your right foot in the front, then you are a goofy stance rider. Regular footed riders lead with their left foo t. This is like being left or right handed and good ska teboarders can do tricks in both directions. When showca sing a trick in the opposite direction to which you usually ride, this is known as riding in switch stance and perform ing each skateboarding act switch. An example of this is a switch heelflip. Over the years I have met some amazing, friendly and down to earth people that I enjo y skating with regularly. My friends have helped me to incr ease and improve my skills, and we have the best times socially, sharing a laugh and going wherever our boards dec ide to take us on the day. One such friend is Craig Heb rard and this is his take on skateboarding. Q: How did you get into ska teboarding? A: In the beginning it was always a social thing, chilling with friends and competing with each other. Now the only reason is to get better.
54 • DO IT NOW October | November 2011
Q: Are you a goofy (skating wit h your right foot forward) or a regular footed rider (skating with your left foot forward)? A: I’m regular. Q: What do you love about bei ng on your board? A: The clarity I get from con centrating on the trick I’m doing. Q: Where is your favourite spo t to skate? A: The road outside my hou se. Q: What are your two most enj oyable tricks? A: Fakie backside flip and faki e pressure hardflip. Q: Which professional skater gives you the most inspiration and why? A: Rodney Mullen. He is THE best flatland skater that has ever lived, rivalled by few . He has been able to do stuff on a board that boggles even the best of skaters’ minds. Q: What advice do you have for new riders wanting to improve? A: Skate hard, as often as you can, and never forget that all wounds will heal. Q: Say something cool. A: Stick a trick big or don’t stick it at all. Have fun and never let life get the better of you. So there you have it, stra ight from the mouth of a skateboarder. If you are just starting out or already an accomplished skater, remember not to put pressure on yourself to be better than others. There is no real competition when we do this for the love of the spo rt. The way to do well is to focus on your own riding and as long you can progress personally from day to day, that is the ultimate. Be happy for your friends if they lear n som ething new and don’t take any trick for granted. I am alw ays ready to help my fellow athletes to grow because in ska teboarding we all lear n from each other, and I want everybo dy to do well. Some tricks do take a while to land con sistently, so work hard and know that even the professiona ls started with the basics. The only thing left to say is, “Go skate with your heart and you will FInd that love in an y experience.” •
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inACTION:
Words by Massimo Bastiotto, First Nature Photos by Tim Moolman - www.timmoolman.co.za
The first gravity race on the Fort Schanskop road, in Gauteng, took place back in 2004, but it was poorly recorded and not much is known about it. Since then, and for some unknown reason, gravity racing in our province took a hiatus. In fact there have been no races held since 2004 outside of the Western Cape, undoubtedly the heart of gravity racing in South Africa. But it didn’t take long for extreme enthusiasts visiting our fairest Cape to meet one or two of the crazy guys that take part in gravity sports and bring it back to their city. This is exactly what happened to my partner in crime, Lloyd Clark, and I. In December 2008 we met Mike Zietsman, a Hout Bay local rider ranked fourth in the world at that point, and we were hooked. When we expressed interest in hosting gravity racing in Jozi, Mike was pretty sceptical about its viability due to the type of hills on offer in Jo’burg. But we were keen to find out and to our surprise we found some great sites. One in particular was the access road to Fort Schanskop, located inside the Voortrekker Monument Nature Reserve, and home to the 2004 race. It was perfect; steep at the beginning, technical the rest of the way down and most importantly, safe. There is only one access into the Fort so we could control car access in and out, thus removing the risk of serious collisions. Needless to say, we were amped to host a race there and challenge the Western Cape’s dominance of this sport. In 2010, our dream was made possible when the South African Gravity Racing Association (SAGRA) helped First Nature to bring gravity racing back to Gauteng and stage the very first non-Western Cape race in years. As the road was on the Fort Schanskop hill, the name of the race ‘KING OF THE FORT’ was born. The turn out at the 2010 event was great and attracted a lot of Gauteng riders, who appeared out of the cracks and gave the visitors a good run for their money. Overall, it was a fantastic event and there was much anticipation around what would happen in 2011. In January 2011, First Nature announced that the KING OF THE FORT Schanskop Downhill Challenge was going to take place on the weekend of 18 and 19 June. To our amazement, the hype started immediately and expectations grew rapidly. Various sponsors were locked down early and they were just as excited about the challenge as we were. With such a positive response and following on last year’s success, we knew this year’s event was going to be awesome. Naturally, the excitement grew as we approached race weekend.
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With First Nature hosting the event, SAGRA was in charge of the actual racing, enforcing rules and regulations and making sure that the race was run in as safe a manner as possible. Points would count towards the SAGRA National Championship and national level points counted towards the International Gravity Racing Association (IGSA) World Cup. There are many disciplines in gravity racing and The KING OF THE FORT Schanskop Downhill Challenge offered three of them. There was Downhill Skateboard (Open, Junior and, for the first time ever in South Africa, a Women’s category), Street Luge and Classic Luge, which is also known as butt board. Classic Luge is based more on the old-school style of Luging, with different techniques, rules and regulations to that of Street Luge. Riders started arriving from the Wednesday, as Thursday was Youth Day. To ease everyone into the race vibe of the weekend to come, riders got together for a free ride session at Steepways. This consisted of a short course with five hairpins and, as the name implies, a very steep gradient. With skaters from all over the country showing off their different styles and phenomenal moves, it was a superb afternoon and everyone left with fat smiles on their faces, as is always the case at Steepways. A braai was held on Friday night and all the riders got a chance to relax and hang out with their mates from across the land. Some of the riders were new to the hill and some experienced, and the stories from last year provided much needed information for riders pondering the final chicane. Saturday morning saw a chilly wind blowing up the course, which was not welcomed by the riders or marshals. In spite of the cold the excitement remained high, as we had made sure that everyone was entertained with music and there was also a First Nature stall, which attracted a lot of attention from riders looking to upgrade equipment and spectators curious to find out more about the sport they were about to witness. Once registration and the technical inspections were completed, it was time for the first practice runs. After lunch more spectators and media arrived, and we even had a local TV news channel interview us for the weekend bulletin. As organisers, we were very proud of our achievement and the recognition gravity racing was receiving because of our event. Just prior to the qualifying rounds a junior downhill skateboard rider took a nasty fall, but our fantastic medical team responded quickly to stablise and transport him to hospital. Although this crash put a slight damper on the mood of the qualifiers, everyone managed to remain focused despite their concern for a fellow rider. Spirits were raised considerably when Stellenbosch rider Paul du Plessis set a new record in the Downhill Skateboard category, beating last year’s time by two seconds. After such an exhilarating and eventful day the anticipation of what Sunday held in store reached fever pitch, as the sun set behind the majestic Voortrekker Monument.
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The weather gods blessed us on race day with a clear sky and no wind. More good news was that the rider who had crashed was going to be ok. This announcement was made to all the riders, which immediately spurred on a huge cheer and defined the optimistic mood for the rest of the day. By 10h30 everyone was in place and ready to get the last of the practice runs underway. The spectator section at the final chicane was full of camping chairs, shaded gazebos, camera lenses, media and adrenaline junkies, creating an electric vibe that the riders feed off as they approached the finish line. With the racing scheduled to start at 14h00, competitors put on their race faces, wheels were carefully selected, nuts and bolts tightened and leathers taped up. The racing was intense, as was expected, with the final chicane deciding the winner more often than not. In the end, it was the Western Cape athletes who took a clean sweep of all the top prizes despite the best efforts of our Jo’burg boys, who came in close behind. Paul du Plessis was crowned King of the Fort 2011 in the Open Downhill Skateboard category after proving unbeatable on the Fort Schanskop hill where he dominated in qualifying and won every one of his race heats. Russell Naude reigned supreme in the Luge categories to claim both the Street and Classic Luge titles. Nick Hook took the Junior title and Gabi Murray-Roberts won the Women’s Downhill Skateboard category.
The event attracted over 200 spectators, 50 riders, of which eight were first time racers, three women, eight non racers who came out to test their bravery and the balance was made up of local athletes representing Gauteng, the Eastern Cape and Western Cape, as well as a lone rider from Colombia. A huge thank you to the medical team, marshals, riders, sponsors and everyone that lent a helping hand to make this race such a huge success. You can be sure to see the KING OF THE FORT Schanskop Downhill Challenge on the 2012 South African race calendar! •
DINfo box i For more information and photos of the race, the South African racing calendar or any gravity sport, visit www.firstnature.be/awesome
It a n ’s b P d e M ete the en a fa a rg L a l a f a l s t . a t e ws s t ew ex s o T h B o n t i m ye p e i d e o o of e a r r i e e a ve g i P t h s s n c l fo n u e e f re t e S i n c o o e r e th sa is r th ria A N th e i f e wa e S k a t e r fi la rm Ju y io la rs n d a n e d i v n a l s t M t b in nd 1 in s e a g s t h 6 l g C wa a rg a ch so e on lu s h te ju th vie g w b a eld Bo m a t ws e n n t o ps e b ek o he gi t h ve n e a e n u n c re e w er n ut d, ed , s as o e. o if w vi ul or an w he ce . T d ot he ld ju he sp he n m b re r pe ea ad rs c h ca is n
M yin ar g ga Hi te gh Bo at t o g he ie
Fl
inALTITUDE: Words by Claire King Photos by Joanne van Achterbergh & Jasper Williams
www.doitnow.co.za | Sport • 59
Added to this were two Atlas Angels aircraft, with a third on standby, 13,500ft exit altitude and Paul (Simba) Marcellin of Team Nashua load organising and prepping the 16-ways. One of the requirements to achieve a D (the highest) licence in formation skydiving is to complete a successful 16-way formation skydive. This requires more lift capacity than most South African drop zones have during normal operations, so opportunities for 16-ways have been few and far between. This alone was enough to get skydivers racing to the coast for the long weekend. A ‘Boogie’ is a skydiver get together that is held at a venue not normally used for skydiving. Often there are novel aircraft or activities organised, but the general goal is to have a good time skydiving with friends from all corners of the country or globe. Skydivers started descending on Margate from as early as five days before the start date. Let’s call it acclimatisation (beer, bridge swings, go-carting, beach, sun and general lurking). Some even dropped in from as far as New Zealand and Dubai. The 6-, 8- and 12-ways were organised to prepare the less experienced jumpers, but also to filter out those who weren’t quite ready, thereby ensuring that the 16-ways were successful. With two Atlas Angels, which can carry nine jumpers each, 16-ways are possible by flying the aircraft in formation and the jumpers’ co-ordinating their exits to fly together into a single group. This requires incredible skill and co-ordination from the pilots and jumpers. The event was a high flying success and the next Boogie on our radar to look forward too is at Paradise Beach, Jeffreys Bay, in December. It will be hosted by EP. This event is always loads of fun and fast becoming a ‘not-to-be-missed’ event. PAC will be there again to increase load capacity. For our senior jumpers, look out for the SSA 16-way sequential invitational days – they’re going to cook!
DID YOU KNOW?
Margate is named after the original farm, which was named after Margate in England. Mr. Hugh Ballance bought the farm in 1919 for a princely sum of £466, apparently for its ‘beautiful beach and congenial scenery’ rather than its agricultural suitability. In 1921 he subdivided the farm into halfacre plots, forming a township called Inkongweni, meaning ‘the place of entreatment’ in Zulu.
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He battled to sell the plots at first as it was thought that the area was too isolated. Then in 1922 an event worthy of worldwide headlines happened off Margate Beach. In the story told, two whales were seen fighting a giant ‘polar bear’ close to shore. The creature lost the battle and was washed up on the beach. It was said to be 47 feet (14.3m) long, 10 feet (3m) wide and 5 feet (1.5m) high, with a 5 foot trunk, a 10 foot tail and covered in white hair. The creature was named ‘Trunko’ because of its distinct trunk-like feature that was attached to its body (there was no noticeable head). ‘Trunko’ lay dead on the beach for 10 days, but no positive identification was made during this time and the carcass was washed out to sea, never to be seen again.
More on 16-ways The 16-way discipline used to be a FAI formation competition event. Now that it is no longer a formal event, 16-ways present an interesting middle ground between sequential competition formation skydiving (repeating formation sequences as a group) and actual big ways (large formations focused on the number of jumpers in the formation rather than the number of formations completed in a given working time).
Simba’s Top Tips to perfect 16-ways: s divers and floaters, stay high as it is better ›› A to be slow than low. Match the fall rate of the formation a metre or five above it, then ease down and into slot. ›› On approach, visualise a stadium and follow that profile into slot. ›› Only perfect docks are acceptable. No energy is to be transferred into the formation by your arrival. ›› Keep your head entirely still in each point and definitely no looking about to see who has or has not arrived. This affects the symmetry of the formation more than people realise. ›› Where you feel a wave or stretch in the formation, lock it out. Think about not letting the wave that arrives on the left side of your body, for example, to move out off the right side of your body. ›› Fly! Don’t be fooled that a one-, two- or threepoint skydive does not require your total concentration. Discipline is the name of the game! ›› Between points, people in the middle should move slowly and smoothly. There is no rush, and any perception you give of a rush generates a level of anxiety to those on the outside who must wait before they can move or dock. ›› Smile. ›› Track with eyes on stalks. Be super aware of whether or not you are in safe air. The same applies under canopy.
16-way vs. 4-way ere are some points to remember about 16H ways, particularly in how they differ from typical 4-ways: ›› Exits are generally unlinked. ›› Build the formations picture-perfect. Distortion amplifies over distance. ›› Once you join the base, arch harder to consciously fall faster. ›› Outsides: be ready for floating. Formation gets slower and slower as more jumpers join. ›› Divers: don’t cross paths. You should have a clear path to formation with nobody crossing your line. ›› Let it build from the inside out, discipline is vital here. Let it settle and build the formation in layers from inside to out. ›› Keep eye contact with your opposite. ›› Do your job only. Look through the centre and fly that slot. Don’t look around and lose focus on your job. Concentrate on flying your perfect picture. ›› Keys: convey information clearly to the key man or through your channel. ›› Key man: don’t be ‘antsy’. Be patient for the build before keying. ›› Don’t expect to succeed on your first attempt. Build up to your 16-way with smaller formations. Work on skills, confidence and familiarity. Build on the jump and your knowledge over jumps. ›› Be sure you are familiar with your neighbours, their equipment and clothing colours. You need these references when finding your slot or if things don’t go to plan and you need to find your slot. ›› Learn the required skills on small formations before applying them to the bigger ones. This is how to succeed at what you attempt.
Until the next time, fly high my friends.•
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inACTION:
Words by Eunice Visagie Photos by Gameplan Media www.gameplanmedia.co.za
Michelle Eray, Jen Hodson Portage at Misverstand Dam. Photo by Jeff Ayliffe, Gameplan Media
62 • DO IT NOW October | November 2011
50th
Berg River
Canoe Marathon
On a very non-winter’s morning in the heart of the Boland, a record number of paddlers started the 50th Berg River Canoe Marathon. Among them were legends and former winners of the Berg, probably the most gruelling canoe marathon in the world. The Berg usually takes place in extremely harsh weather conditions. It’s wet, cold and with snow on the mountains it’s freezing on the river. Paddlers tend to lose feeling in their hands due to the extreme cold. This year it was more like early autumn than the middle of winter. The river levels were tricky, but easier to manage because the river wasn’t in flood. No wonder eight-time winner Hank McGregor had a friendly warning for the more than 350 entrants, “Don’t kid yourselves, the Berg is never this easy!” McGregor won the 243km race in 16:59:25. The 22-yearold Matie’s student, Pierre-André Rabie, surprised everyone, including himself, with his second place in a time of 17:09:40, while Lance King took the last spot on the winner’s podium in 17:13:24. Michelle Eray won the women’s title in a convincing fashion of 19:06:02 and in the process dethroned defending champion Robyn Kime, who finished in 19:26:00. Jen Hodson, also an Olympian like Eray, was third in a time of 20:01:28.
There was more cause for celebration at this year’s four-day event from Paarl to Port Owen; it was the commemoration of 50 years since the first Berg took place in 1962. Jannie Malherbe and Willem van Riet, two paddlers that were part of the action back then, also participated in this memorable event. Malherbe was the oldest paddler to finish this year’s Berg. Former winners Hank McGregor, Willem and Roelof van Riet, Jannie Malherbe, André Collins, Jacques Theron, Graeme Solomon, Mynhardt Marais, JT Basson, Graham Monteith and the original King of the Berg, Robbie Herreveld, were all present for this 50th event. Former seven-time women’s champion, Jean Wilson, also joined in the celebrations.
Two of the Berg’s biggest legends are André Collins and Giel van Deventer, who paddled in their 42nd Berg this year. They were the most experienced paddlers taking part in this event. Robbie Herreveld, the first man to win the Berg six consecutive times (1991-1996), made his comeback after 15 years. “It felt good to be back. The conditions for this year’s Berg were perfect. Even the river levels made for exciting racing. I prefer it at that level,” he said.
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Day one from Paarl to Zonquasdrift (62km) is usually the day when all the top paddlers check each other out to see who is strong and who isn’t that fit. But McGregor came to this historic Berg with a purpose. He wanted to win in the presence of legends. After the first stage he already had a gap of almost six minutes. Following in his wake was Eray, who paddled away from all the women contenders with the greatest of ease. The second stage is the shortest of the four. Paddlers had to cover 45.6km from Zonquasdrift to Bridgetown. According to Solomon, this day can be the hardest for some just because you expect it to be easier due to the distance. This was a drama-filled day for podium contender Lance King, who had finished second in the last two years behind McGregor. King was third after day one and only a second behind Rabie. With mere kilometres to go till the finish King got stuck in a tree block, as had many of the paddlers. He swam, lost his paddle and with that his podium spot. But his race was far from over! At the start of stage three, King was lying sixth. This stage is the longest and most gruelling, an almighty 73.8km stretch from Bridgetown to Zoutkloof. Once again McGregor powered away from his opponents and by now his overall lead had increased to 10 minutes. King was the big winner of the day managing to get back on the podium with his strong performance. Eray won her third consecutive stage and by this time Kime had conceded defeat, her focus now on finishing each day and no longer trying to keep up with Eray. “Michelle was just brilliant,” was all Kime could say.
The final day is like the last stage of the Tour de France. Everybody just wants to get the 61.7km leg to Port Owen safely done with and make it to the finish line. McGregor and Eray won their fourth stages and sealed two of the most convincing victories in the history of the Berg.
“Hank didn’t just win the Berg, he did it in style! He could have sat back from day two and just followed our slip streams, but he still went out on the attack every day. He got more respect by doing that,” said King.
Eray said she wanted to see how far up the general classification she could finish. She managed a 34th place overall. “This was very hard and I’m glad it is over,” she said with a bottle of bubbly in hand. “To win the 50th Berg is massive. I really wanted to win it. My heart was set on it.” In the end, all 317 finishers more than deserved their finisher’s medal because they were all part of a race that started as a means to get out of the city and take part in one of the most iconic events on South Africa’s sporting calendar. •
CATEGORY WINNERS
U18: 1. Jandré Bezuidenhout (Gauteng) 19:48:00 2. Ricus Scheepers (Gauteng) 20:14:19 3. Danie Botes (Gauteng) 20:28:34 U21: 1. Kwanda Mhlope (KZN) 19:04:51 2. Joseph Williams (WP) 19:05:51 3. Owen Gandar (WP) 19:24:30 Sub-Veterans: 1. Jacques Theron (Gauteng) 17:19:29 2. Graeme Solomon (WP) 17:22:12 3. Robbie Herreveld (Gauteng) 17:26:10 Veterans: 1. Michael Stewart (Gauteng) 17:51:36 2. Ian Trautmann (WP) 18:20:02 3. Wayne Wilson (KZN) 18:30:51 Veterans (Women): 1. Jean Wilson (WP) 20:40:45 2. Robyn Henderson (WP) 21:23:59 3. Lisa Scott (WP) 22:23:19 Sub-Masters: 1. Donnie Malherbe (WP) 18:01:15 2. Chris de Waal (WP) 18:28:38 3. Rory Attridge (Gauteng) 18:45:33 Sub-Masters (Women): 1. Lis Hart (WP) 23:02:20 2. Ronel Dreyer (Gauteng) 25:00:54 3. Sylvia Nel (Gauteng) 25:20:53 Masters: 1. Graham Monteith (Gauteng) 18:13:32 2. Mynhardt Marais (WP) 18:23:12 3. Paul Lange (WP) 20:05:53
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Sub-Grandmasters: 1. Gerhard Beukes (WP) 20:15:38 2. Shaun Butler (WP) 20:18:29 3. George Marx (Gauteng) 20:45:54 Grandmasters: 1. Rob MacLean (WP) 20:41:08 2. Enslin van Riet (WP) 21:02:28 3. Giel van Deventer (WP) 21:29:35 Great Grandmasters: 1. Jannie Malherbe (Southern Cape) 22:09:24 2. Willem van Riet (WP) 24:39:11 3. Mike Howard (Gauteng) 24:56:37
Top to bottom: ›› Mike Barry (left) and Thomas Ngidi ecstatic at the finish. Photo by Jeff Ayliffe, Gameplan Media ›› Action at Misverstand Dam. Photo by Jeff Ayliffe, Gameplan Media ›› Lance King followed by Marc Holtzhausen. Photo by Mouton van Zyl, Gameplan Media
BRING YOUR PERFORMANCE BACK TO LIFE Compression Performance Recovery (CPR) garments are the latest release from South Africa’s leading outdoor brand. First Ascent Compression gear is made using a nylon warp knit elastomeric fabric, that maintains a more consistent level of firm compression. By applying targeted and controlled pressure to your muscles, CPR garments can reduce muscle fatigue and DOMS (Delayed onset of muscle soreness), thus improving performances over time. To test our new technology, find a stockist near you at www.firstascent.co.za www.doitnow.co.za | Sport • 65
inACTION:
Words & Photos by John Greeff (www.centcc.co.za/index.php)
The Ocean Basket
9 Miler+
If you had to ask any paddler what the coldest day on the that Gauteng calendar is, they would say without any hesitation d it is going to be the day of the Ocean Basket 9 Miler+. I woul ! also venture to take a R5 bet on this without thinking twice Set in arguably one of Gauteng’s most beautiful reserves, the Rietvlei Nature Reserve, there is also a more adventurous element to this race as the dam is infamous for having an unknown amount of resident crocs and hippos! Held at the Rietvlei Dam in Centurion, conservationists from the Nature Conservation were once again on guard to ensure that the hippos, crocs and paddlers didn’t invade one another’s space and come to any harm. As the participants were only guests in the reserve, it is understandable that they needed to be considerate whilst on the animals’ turf. What has yet to be determined is whether the conservationists on duty would try and save a paddler from a hippo or would it rather be a case of making sure the hippo didn’t choke on a paddler. That being said, they did an excellent job to ensure there was no best seller on offer to YouTube. The race is truly an awesome event, as competitors get the opportunity to paddle for approximately 17km through this bountiful nature reserve, as the wildlife curiously follow their progress. On a good day you can see countless gazelle and even rhino’s grazing on the banks.
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I arrived at the dam at 06h00 on Saturday morning to find the water as smooth as glass. Could this mean that this year’s race would be the ‘easiest’ Ocean Basket 9 Miler+ ever, and would I be R5 poorer? Alas this was not to be as by 07h00 the wind had picked up enough to make the locals from Centurion Canoe Club wonder if they should rather opt for bigger and slower, yet more stable boats. It was however cold enough for the water in the hosepipe at the boat washing station to freeze and cause some havoc. Rietvlei Dam can conjure up some sizeable waves, which will quickly make you regret setting off in a small, thin boat. So staying in your canoe was a number one priority, as a swim on such a cold day could result in hyperthermia setting in before you reached the finish line. With the race starting at 09h00, the SA vs. NZ rugby match kicking off at 10h05 and a big screen and roaring fireplace waiting inside the clubhouse, the paddlers had all the incentive they needed to improve on their personal best to get to the finish line. At the start of the race nerves, frosty conditions and waves did in fact claim their first victim of the day
when one unfortunate competitor took a swim as the customary ‘paddles up’ was shouted to set the paddlers off. But this paddler was not the only swimmer though. There were many nervous moments for all the paddlers as they battled valiantly against the gusting wind, but a few were no match against nature’s forces and found themselves in the icy blue. The race consisted of five laps around the dam, with each lap being about 3.4km. The tough conditions and fatigue from fighting to stay upright can cause even the best paddler to hallucinate and see sunken treasures at the bottom, and make them want to take a closer inspection. However, as two K2 paddlers will testify, this does not necessarily mean that a paddler needs rescuing. He would rather swim away from the rescue boat to save himself from having to buy beers in the clubhouse for having to be rescued.
After a superb day of racing, the overall winners in the U21 category were Martin van den Bergh and Frans Smit in a time of 01:17:46 and first overall. Following in their wake was the very experienced pair of Michael Stewart and Gavin Payne in 01:18:15.
Adam Lapacz and Sifiso Cebekhulu dominated in the U18 category to win in a time of 01:21:54 and were placed fourth overall. With these youngsters doing so well, the future shows great promise for these Gauteng lads. In the Masters, it was Ronald Pronk and Theo Smit who took top honours in 01:22:46 and placed fifth overall. Pierre van der Merwe and Walter Fisher clinched victory in the Veteran’s category in 01:22:55 and were sixth overall. In the Mixed Doubles, George Marc and Michelle Barker proved unbeatable in a time of 01:30:46 and were twenty-second overall. The first female team to power their way home was Elize Maree and Katarzyna Lapacz in 01:41:13 and were fifty-sixth overall. Known as the toughest flat water race on the calendar, it is also the best sponsored event. The main sponsor, Ocean Basket, saw to it that each competitor received a delicious Prego roll, as well as gear to keep them warm. Appeltizer was there to supply everyone with drinks and Kayak Racing and Canoe Concepts ensured that there were some awesome prizes up for grabs. Until next year, you can bet your R5 on the coldest day of the year being the day of the Ocean Basket 9 Miler+. •
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inACTION:
Words by Deon Breytenbach Photos by Deon Breytenbach, Ruby Strauss & Mirka de Lange
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MOUSTASH FEST 2011
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For the last couple of years, as winter settles in properly, white water kayakers head down to Clarens in the Free State for the coldest white water paddling festival in South Africa on the everreliable Ash River. Hosted by our good friends at Whitewate r Training, this year’s event was dubbed the MoustAsh Festival and took place from 29-31 July. Ruby and I left a warm Lowveld on Thursday morning to hook up with Mirka from Whitewater Training in Parys and lend a helping hand for the MoustASH mission. The great thing about the Ash, when compared to other rivers, is that we don’t have to worry about water levels, as it forms part of the Lesotho Highlands Water Scheme so everything runs on a schedule. We left Parys early Friday in our two-vehicle convoy and arrived midday in Clarens, which was blanketed in snow. Base camp was the Oxwagon Camp in the Maluti Mountains, which is run by Clarens Xtreme. This camp is only five minutes from Clarens and its claim to fame is the most awesome view of the famous Mushroom Rock. I have never seen snow falling and putting up the signs for the festival, while trying not to freeze, was a lot easier than expected. We had just enough time to get everything ready before the first eager kayakers started to arrive. Saturday was competition day and after a comparatively early Friday night, it wasn’t too difficult to get the kayakers moving down to the icy river. The main race was the Boater X. Here we used a 300m Grade 3 rapid, to which we added six gates or spots that paddlers had to negotiate, to avoid penalties for missing the route and swimming. To make all the gates, they had to use all their river skills, especially ‘reading the water’, because if they hit something too early or late, they would have to fight against the current to get to where they should have been, thereby wasting time and energy. The Beginner and Intermediate groups didn’t have to get to all the gates and paddled solo against the clock in their prelims. The Pro and Expert Men, however, had to get to all the gates and paddled two in a heat, in two heats, with each paddler getting a chance to start from the inside line. The start point also required paddlers to ‘seal launch’ off a 2.5m vertical bank into the river. The Beginners were up first and it was 14-year-old Jonatan aka ‘Klein Hannes’ who demonstrated why he has won pretty much every event he has competed in, by posting times so far ahead of his competitors that even if we subtracted the age difference of this youngster from the others, which ranged from their early 20s to early 50s, he would still win!
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The Intermediate heats were dominated by local river guides Dups (Madubeko Daka) and Fortune (Killian Magagani) from ClarensXtreme, proving that a little local knowledge goes a long way. The finals ended with Lloyd Wallace from the Free State in first position, Dups in second and Fortune in third. This was Dups and Fortune’s first white water competition and I’m sure they will be back in 2012 to keep the title local.
The Pro Men’s heats were action packed, but in the end it was Zane Enslin who came in first, with Robin Kock clinching second place. The Expert Men’s event went to a five-way final, with five of us all charging for the fastest line around the first gate. Things were bound to get ‘intimate’, but I was lucky to get a good entry, cutting in between and slightly over KendoMan (Daniel Barnard), while Philip Claasens endo’ed up and lost his paddle for a while. I managed to get out of the chaos and into the current a little ahead of the group and kept it that way to the finish, with Groot Hannes in second and Leon Pieters in third. With the sun high above our heads and the temperature rising to double figures, it was time to head a little downstream to Bridge Rapid for the Extreme Slalom. Bridge is Ash River’s most notorious rapid, as it causes the most swims and likes to snap paddles on a regular basis. By this time, we had already seen a couple of swims and a dislocated shoulder (this was George’s own fault for not looking after his existing injury, bad George! The rapid is not that meaty) and with Bridge’s reputation well known to most, paddlers weren’t that keen on racing in the Extreme Slalom, as this would require them to venture into nasty, boiling eddies that one would normally avoid like the plague. To give you some idea of just how testy it is, the 2010 event saw only one competitor claim a clean run through all the gates, with most paddlers opting to take the penalties and just try to get a good line without even attempting the gates. However, Philip and KendoMan felt the need to redeem themselves for their poor showing in the Boater X race, and the race was on. It was decided that whoever conquered both eddies would be declared the winner. Philip cracked both and it was great for those less experienced to see that it can be done and in a controlled manner. KendoMan only managed the first. With the necessary safety precautions already in place, some of the other paddlers decided to chance their luck and run it knowing that somebody was watching and there to help if things went pear shaped; and it did. Intermediate winner Lloyd Wallace had a long swim at this rapid and after Saturday I think the score is Lloyd 0 – Bridge 6. He was not the only one though. Joe Klopper failed to avoid the very retentive hole at the bottom and after a short, sharp beating, managed to swim out of the hole. Philip then led the ‘party run’, where everyone follows each other and this is when Hannes snapped his paddle halfway down coming through the first drop and had to swim the rest of the way.
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Daniel Barnard, Photo by George Louw
After a very eventful day on the river, we all returned to camp for prize-giving and the booty ceremony. This is a kayaking tradition where all those who took a swim have to down a beer from the nastiest booty that can be found amongst the paddlers. The booty ceremony didn’t create as many smiles from the receivers as the prizes did, especially as it was Philip’s booty and the fact that the tag inside the booty was just long enough to tickle and trick many of the recipients into thinking that there was just a bit more than just liquid coming out. Thanks to our awesome sponsors, Fluid Kayaks, Black Diamond, Blyde Adventure Camp, Mirkava, Peak Uk, Palm, Slackline SA and Le Grand Chateau Parys for providing loads of goodies to hand out, which ensured a smile on every face. After dinner there was a slackline competition and a major thank you to Warren from RAM Mountaineering for organising this. Once again it was Klein Hannes who showed us that young dogs do learn new tricks faster, and won himself a complete kit from Slackline SA. On Sunday morning, 11 of us packed into the Clarens Xtreme shuttle for a social paddle on the full section of the Ash River. If you are keen to find out more about what we got up to, then check out the post on Fluid Kayaks Team blog. A very big well done to Mirka from Whitewater Training for the great organisation. Thanks to the sponsors for their incredible support of this event, and especially to all the kayakers and spectators who joined us on the banks of the Ash. See you there in 2012! •
inACTION:
Words by Deon Breytenbach
Freest yle K ayaking In June 2011 the world’s top freestyle kayakers descended on the town of Plattling in Germany for the Freestyle Kayaking World Championship. This event is held every other year and since 2006 it has been part of the ICF, the international body that controls the Olympic paddling events, and many hope that freestyle kayaking will become an official Olympic sport within the next couple of years.
I was lucky enough to be able to represent South Africa at the 2011 Worlds, but I had to go it solo as unfortunately none of the other team members could make it. My flight to Platting was scheduled to leave on 13 June, but due to unforeseen circumstances this was not to be. Fortunately, my super heroine travel agent, Jen Smith from Flight Centre, came to my rescue and I was happily strapped in for the 13-hour flight to Munich late the next day. We all know that when travelling things rarely go as planned, so when I finally arrived, tired but happy to have made it to Munich, I was rather disappointed to discover that my kayak and paddle had ulterior motives and would rather spend the day in Amsterdam. With six hours to kill at Munich Airport, whilst I waited for my wayward equipment to be returned to me, I did the only sane thing I could think of doing as a first-time tourist to Germany; I tested as many different German beers as possible, whilst maintaining a functional level of sobriety of course. Once reunited with my wander-lust gear later that afternoon, it turned out that I still had to wait another couple of hours for the competition shuttle to collect me; and so the sampling of a few more of the local ales on offer continued. One can but only look (or in my case, taste) for the positive in an unfortunate situation like this! Well, that’s my story and I’m sticking to it J I hooked up with Fluid Kayaks team C1 paddler Seth Chappel from the USA and shared a camping spot with him and some fellow Americans, Ned and Jordan Poffenburger. Thanks for all the help and good times gents! One of my favourite things about white-water kayaking events is that pretty much everybody is in a good mood and the only people not happy to strike up a conversation with a random stranger are the ones who can’t speak English. I made many new friends and caught up with old ones that I hadn’t seen for 10 years since Spain. With all this amazing camaraderie going around, the result was many a fine dinner, with great people from all over the globe; especially the Irish boys. Official training started on the 17th, which meant that each day was divided into segments. Depending on the team size, you either shared, had your own or got more than one segment, but with 26 countries taking part we were on a super-tight schedule. I ended up sharing a slot with the paddlers from New Zealand, Argentina, Belgium
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World Championship 2011 and India; all of them incredible paddlers and fantastic people, especially Junior Female silver medallist little Courtney Kerin from New Zealand. Two highlights of the event for me were seeing so many junior paddlers participating and the heightened level of competition when compared to past events. The official opening ceremony took place on the evening of the 20th and the main square of the town was closed off for this grand occasion. It was great fun, and kind of emotional, marching through the town with the flag bearers, marching band and Bavarians of various ages, who came from the surrounding towns, and sporting all kinds of traditional outfits. For many of us, this was the first time that everything started to feel real and official. The excitement grew even further when an emergency team manager’s meeting was called after day one, and we were informed that if the weather conditions upstream of the venue didn’t dry up a bit, we would need to evacuate due to a flood risk. Thankfully, the weather and dams held.
My prelim rides took place mid morning and I had some great paddlers in my heat. It never ceases to amaze me that no matter how calm and collected I am before a heat, when it’s time for action and I peel out into the current from the waiting eddy, I get this silly grin and the butterflies in my stomach take flight. But as soon as I’m given the all clear from the judge, I just smile, relax and remind myself to have as much fun as possible; and it always is. In the end, my rides weren’t my best by far, however I managed to improve my world ranking by 33 places to 79. I would have liked to break into the top 50 freestylers, but seeing as I didn’t it just means that I need to keep having fun, train a bit harder and make sure I drop another 33 places at the 2013 World Champs in the USA. That is if the world doesn’t fall of the turtle’s back next year. The 2011 Freestyle Worlds was an exceptionally enjoyable experience. Not only did I get to eat, sleep and live kayaking for two glorious weeks, but I also improved my own skills and rekindled some of my competitive drive again, to come back and ‘hook it’, as said by Ant Hoard when he is wearing his danger tape. I am unbelievably grateful to my loving wife, Ruby, my family and friends for their unrelenting love and support; to the event organisers and all the great people I met (especially the Irish freestyle team) during those crazy two weeks. And to my sponsors, DO IT NOW, Fluid Kayaks and First Ascent because without their assistance, I either wouldn’t have made it there, had nothing to paddle with or frozen to death. You all rock my boat! •
inACTION:
Words by Dean Venish Photos by Dean & Cody Venish & Stephen Weber (www.picasaweb.google.com/deanoven)
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is Back Home ping The Kei National has returned to its original stom spectator. ground, much to the delight of many a rider and d but it Now don’t get me wrong, last year’s Kei was goo The one lacked that personal in-your-face Kei treatment. be back!” that says the next day, “I made it,” and “I will is proof of this and I quote: “You Jade Gutzeit’s comment on my Facebook wall still race some real enduros every guys put on a great event, good to know we enduro legend made every single now and then.” Such high praise from this hs of planning, cutting, marking Kei ‘helper’ beam with pride and all those mont and paperwork worthwhile.
Altus de Wit
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CJ Blackman
Toni Jardine
The Kei National, like many enduros, is divided into special stages and regulation sections. This event had two special stages, namely SP1 (8km) and SP2 (12km), and a regulation section. The riders took part in all three, except for the Clubman riders who ‘only’ did SP2 and the regulation section. Now when I say ‘only’, Clubman riders still had one mighty battle on their hands to make their time of two hours in the first lap and then an hour for the next lap in the SP2 section;
an in-your-face section boasting a tough course of tricky river beds and a gnarly rooted and wet section that just mentally and physically wore you down. With more than half of the Clubman riders completing just one lap, this was an achievement in itself. The rest of the field consisted mainly of national riders. These riders spend lots of cash travelling to different parts of our land on a monthly basis, bashing, dragging and pushing their machines and bodies beyond the limits on hard core terrain to do one thing, and that’s to win! Ok, some do it for the love of the sport and a sense of achievement, and some are just mental.
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Reinhard van der Merwe
Mike Morris
Tsukhulo Mojaki
Steven Landman
Defending E1 Class champion and national enduro title holder Jade Gutzeit was there and on a mission to win, not unlike the other top riders. Brian Capper, the Supermoto champion, was also participating and a force to be reckoned with having already proved his worth on an enduro bike. There was also Daryl Curtis, Riaan van Niekerk and the kiwi Chris Birch, who had just returned from Erzberg, probably the hardest extreme enduro known to man kind, and were no doubt feeling jet lagged and exhausted. Young gun Marc Torlage was snapping at these experienced riders’ heels in a bid to take over the crown. The local crowd was very vocal in their support of Jade (partly due to the Kiwis kicking our butt in the rugby), but it was Chris who won the hearts of the East Londoners, especially the kids, when he found the time to hug and pose with fans despite having just completed several hours of hard enduro riding. Congrats Mr Birch, East London salutes you. In the Clubman’s Class, a special mention must be made of someone very dear to my heart. This kid has come through the ranks by competing in the Dirt Diggers Junior Development Enduro for the last two years, done the odd fun ride and finally at the tender age of 15, and in Grade 9, took part and finished his first Kei National. Sage McGregor on his KDX 200 resolutely dragged, pulled and occasionally rode his machine around this tough course to complete the two laps required and claim a well deserved 18th place in the Clubman’s Class.
For anyone thinking that coming 18th out of some 42 Clubman riders is not an achievement, well let’s put this into perspective. You are in your first national enduro event, you are lined up with your heroes the likes of Jade, Chris, Capper and Curtis (I was nervous just talking to them), whom you have only ever seen in the magazines that you spend all your pocket money on each month, you don’t have the luxury of DSTV and have to go over to your mates’ houses to watch the PVR version of Friday night’s enduro and can stand up and say that you crossed the finish line, is definitely an awesome achievement in my book. This Kei National certainly had everything to test the abilities of all the riders; rocks, sand, bush, thorns, river beds with lots of water, cold and wet conditions and many a spectator who either laughed or clapped at every mistake a rider made – and believe me at Python pit there were many. Oh and not forgetting the odd strand of wire that got caught up in some of the riders’ wheels (sorry Mr Birch). But as they say, that’s racing and one must take the good with the bad. Despite losing time removing a loose fence wire on the second last stage, Chris almost managed to catch up to Jade. However, Jade proved too strong and finished tops in the fourth round of the 2011 national series. Our very own Mark Fox came home in seventh overall, with only seconds separating him from a spot or two higher, and just goes to show how close the top 10 riders were and even the slightest mistake could cost a rider big time. Other local riders competing were Steven Landman, who clinched the third podium spot, with Peter Jung in fourth. In the Senior Clubman’s Class, the top three positions were claimed by locals Chris Landman in first, Rowan Darlington in second and Adrian Bowman in third. The Silver Challenge Class saw Dricky Morkel take top honours for the first time this season and was followed by Aiden Sansom in second, Tyron Miller in third and Craig McGregor (Sage’s uncle) in fourth. With a roaring after party at the fabulous Inkwenkwezi Game Reserve going on long into the night, all eyes were set on the penultimate round of the 2011 Liquorland National Motorcycle Championship, the Castrol Winterberg Enduro, which took place on 13 August from the Loerie Ruskamp north of Jeffrey’s Bay in the Eastern Cape. A national enduro is incredibly exciting and I would highly recommend that anyone with the slightest interest in the sport, or anyone who just loves raw action, go and watch an extreme endurance event.
Just one warning though, dress as if you were going for a hike in the bush and take some extra water with you, as an exhausted rider might just need it. • www.doitnow.co.za | Sport • 75
inTRODUCING:
Words by Francois Flamengo Photos by DO IT NOW
Jade Gutzeit
pper Brian Ca
Marc Torlage
E n d u ro , s s o r c The next big thing
Get ready for constant action, constant crashing and a lot of passing. You really won’t know what is going to happen until the chequered flag comes down.
Enduro racing comes in many different formats, such as a traditional outride into a bush, to the more extreme set-ups at the Roof of Africa and Romaniacs. But now there’s a new format in town and it’s starting to catch on real fast. Welcome to the world of endurocross, the ultimate action-packed adventure for all riders looking for an extreme adrenalin kick!
To the casual observer, an endurocross event may seem to be some kind of plan to take the rider and or their machine out; and I can’t argue too much there, as it is one of the toughest forms of racing around. But the bottom line is that because the riders that compete in these events are usually so good at racing other offroad disciplines, if an endurocross track was laid out any easier it really wouldn’t be a challenge. For the crowd’s all this action implies many ooooeees, ahhhhhs and eish!
Endurocross or indoor enduro, also known as Enduro-X or EX, is a hybrid of supercross and enduro racing. It is an off-road race held entirely indoors or in a stadium, and it’s this intimate environment that creates a superexciting atmosphere for all spectators watching, as they take in the fantastic energy, to make it the most spectator-friendly version of enduro.
To help kick start endurocross in South Africa, Fever Publications has been instrumental in promoting this extreme sport through the South Coast Fever, its flagship newspaper. Fever also recently hosted its second Fever X-treme Endurocross event in Port Shepstone on 11 July. The riders that competed were a combination of local Natal enduro riders and a number of highly respected South African off-road and enduro racing gurus, the likes of Marc Torlage, Brian Capper and DO IT NOW’s Ambassador, the legendary Jade Gutzeit. The event drew a large crowd, all eager to see their favourite riders battle it out on the course in their quest to be recognised as the ‘King of the Track’.
The racing format is similar to a supercross event, as it also utilises a starting gate, class heats and a series of qualifying rounds, with riders who have made the cut transferring to the main event. An endurocross course is much faster than a trial course and much slower than a supercross course. Tracks incorporate various crazy, challenging and technical obstacles such as monstrous rocks, log pits, sand, mud, concrete pipes, truck tyres and water holes, similar to the most difficult sections found in off-road enduro events. The track is designed to test riders mental and physical capabilities to the limits, forcing the rider to stay focused at all times. A split second loss of concentration can mean the difference between clearing an obstacle or eating dirt.
The event kicked off at 10am with an hour’s warm up session, which gave riders an opportunity to scout the course and try out all the obstacles in a non-competitive format. As more riders entered the course, more mayhem broke loose and the spectators soon realised that they were in for a real treat. Bikes and bodies soon littered the track as everyone tried to find the easiest line. The more seasoned and experienced riders got a chance to show off their talents and put their experience to good use as they ‘massaged’ the track to create better lines
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that would help them to clear some of the really gnarly obstacles come race time. Unfortunately for some of the lesser experienced riders, the track was not as easy as the pros had made it look and they soon paid the price for their over zealous attempts to conquer this unforgiving track. This all made for great spectator entertainment, which I know is sick, but it truly is good fun to watch! For the main event, the riders were divided into smaller groups, varying levels of experience. Each heat consisted of three laps and the rider’s objective was to get to the finish line as quickly as possible, to ensure they made the cut and progressed to the next heat. With such skilled riders taking part, it was no surprise that the heats were primarily dominated by Jade Gutzeit, Brain Capper and Marc Torlage. They were all business and in top form, fuelling an already electric atmosphere for a final that was destined to be epic. The final heat did not disappoint, and it was Jade who powered ahead to create a gap between himself and his rivals, which he managed to hang onto until the finish. A very determined Brian came in second, with Marc in third. Fever X-extreme is truly a fantastic event and the DO IT NOW team is eagerly looking forward to being at the next one. I would highly recommend this event to all motorsport enthusiasts, and hopefully in the near future we will see more sponsors getting involved, more tracks being built and the start of an endurocross series in South Africa. DO IT NOW spoke to local motorbike legend Brian Capper to find out what his thoughts are on endurocross and why he is considering racing this format permanently in the future. This is what Brian had to say …
EnduroX: The new indoor SuperX of the off-road world By Brian Capper
In the late ‘90s, the Camel International SuperX was the biggest series to hit South Africa and US. I remember going to the Sun City Superbowl, in what was then Bophuthatswana, as a nine-year-old kid to watch the great Greg Albertyn compete against American hotshots Fred Andrews and Tommy Clowers. I’ll never forget the goose bumps all over my body when the sound track ‘Thunder Struck’ played, as all the top riders made their way out of the tunnel and into the arena. And then again at the end when ‘We are the Champions’ played while Fred Andrews stood on top of the podium spraying bubbly.
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Those were good times and memories that I still think about frequently. To be honest, they motivate me every time I get on the start line; and it’s these same feelings that I experience today when I think of EnduroX. I honestly believe that EnduroX is going to be like SuperX and Speedway was back in the late ‘90s. Friday night racing in Johannesburg or Kings Park Stadium in Durban, with flood lit tracks, brilliant fireworks, lots of incredibly hard racing action and a place where families and friends can go to instead of a restaurant or night club. People love entertainment and for some crazy reason they love to see riders falling. EnduroX has got it all and there’s nothing better than a ‘bar to bar’ battle on the race track. South Africans are starved for real, homegrown, exciting motor racing action and with this format, run properly, there’s no reason why it shouldn’t be the next big thing. Remember when SuperMoto hit the streets in Pinetown? There were 20,000 screaming spectators lining the town’s perimeter, most of which were probably not even motorsport enthusiasts. But entertainment is what we all seek and this is what EnduroX is all about. I really can see EnduroX being the next worldwide trend. There are so many other advantages to this sport. As an EnduroX course is closed, the entire track can be viewed from one point so that the spectators don’t miss a thing. The course set-up is super challenging and a combination of Xtreme Enduro, Trials and SX, with logs, rocks, jumps and berms. As bikes and riders traverse these seemingly impossible obstacles, heart rates (the riders and spectators) shoot through the roof and there is definitely no lack of thrills and spills. Then there’s the unpredictability factor that makes for great entertainment and even better TV coverage. It’s one thing riding over obstacles, but it’s another thing doing it fast, so the minute you throw in the unpredictability factor CHAOS is imminent. You can be out front with a five second lead and just a small error could see you come in stone last. That’s the nature of this beast. When all is said and done, spectators get the opportunity to meet their heroes and see them up close and personal, check out their metal steeds, poise for a photo or get an autograph between motos. I’m putting my name behind this and see this as my next venture to succeed in. Who’s coming with? •
inACTION:
Words by Damion van Tromp & Bryce Munro Photos by DO IT NOW
2011 GHOST Mankele
Avalanche
About the Rac e and Course
By Damion van Tromp Mankele Mountain Bik e Park was opened back in 2007 and so became one of my fav on ourite riding destinatio ns. I say this in all honesty having just arrived ho me after another aweso me weekend of riding with a bunch of good friends. The trails and riding there are a gre mix of torturous climbs at , sweeping single track and some of the most adrenalin filled, rocky descents available. It has been the venue a number of single da for y and multi day stage races, as well as host to several Cross-coun try and Downhill Provin cial and National races. Being situated near Ne lspruit, in Mpumalanga, makes it a weekend trip well worth taking if you are up for a bit of an en dorphin kick.
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Ghost RT Lector 7700 Black 2011
The Ultimate Trail Seeker
With our RT lector 7700 the dream of a perfect all-rounder has become reality! With this Ghost you are up for the most demanding tours, hard marathons or complicated downhills. The innovative needle bearings reduce friction to a minimum, resulting in the most sensitive chainstay of all time! The pm-and E-type direct and many other technological innovations make your Ghost lighter and shifting gears faster and that means more fun for you.
The RT Lector 7700 will be your perfect companion in any scenario: steep uphills, speedy downhills or longer tours alike. Just some of the awesome features: • R. Derailleur: Shimano XT 10-Speed • Shifter: Shimano XT SL • Shock: FOX Float RP23 100 mm Boost Valve • Fork: Rock Shox Reba RL Air PopLoc 100 mm Tapered • Saddle: Selle Italia SL • F. Derailleur: Shimano XT • Cassette Sprocket: Shimano XT 10-Speed 11-34 Whatever you do, do it with Ghost!
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www.doitnow.co.za | Sport • 81
Three years ago Mankele Bike Park upped their ante when they decided to host what was possibly the country’s first Super D race’ the inaugural ‘Mankele Avalanche’. The race is modelled on Super D/enduro racing that originated in Europe’ with the motherof-all-events being held once a year in France’ the ‘Megavalache’. You may be wondering what Super D racing is, well it’s a great way to get your mountain biking kicks without the hassle of all that climbing. It is a gravity-fed event that is a mix of cross-country and downhill racing, which focuses more towards the downhill element. The Mankele Avalanche race involves three stages of approximately seven kilometres over two days, with each rider doing two runs per stage. Each run lasts between 10 minutes (if you are super strong and have no sense of self preservation) to 45 minutes for those who completely underestimated the technicality of the trails. The fastest time of each stage is taken, which then gives a cumulative time over the three stages for the rider’s overall ranking.
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The great thing with this type of racing is that you really don’t need any specific type of bike, nor do you need to be that fit. Although many who collapse off their bikes after a race run would beg to differ. Most riders ride to their absolute maximum in pursuit of being the fastest down the mountain and with that, the associated bragging rights. So the race ends up being a 15 minute, flat out, pulse-racing sprint down some extreme terrain. Most make it down in one piece, but others write cheques they just can’t cash. Being a firm favourite on the calendar for myself and many trail riders, I was rather disappointed this year having to sit the event out due to illness. That being said I did get to have my cake and eat it when I volunteered to be the event sweep and was given free reign of the course at the tail end, without the pressure of having to race. It was great watching the competitors throwing themselves whole heartedly at the course and even though, in some cases, the trails chewed them up and spat them out, they all had big, dirt-filled grins on their faces at the end. The diversity of riders that arrived at this year’s event, which took place on 9 and 10 July, was a real contrast to previous years and many novice mountain bikers pitched up to take on the course. In the inaugural year the majority of racers were downhill riders, who arrived sporting their downhill machines only to realise there is a fair amount of pedalling involved. Since then the race has been, quite frankly, dominated by crosscountry race whippet Bryce Munro, showing up many downhill and trail riders on his ridiculously flimsy XC race machine. Respect!
The morning of day one greeted the competitors with a typical winter morning that saw many of them scrambling for the closed shuttle truck, usually used to transport frozen chickens. The banter that flies between competitors is always a good laugh and really sets the tone for the event. There is no tension or serious rivalry and everyone is there to enjoy the atmosphere and primarily the awesome trails. Stage one starts on a contour trail that undulates along the hillside, but before you know it you are careening down a rocky single track with intermittent wooden bridges and your heart is pounding. A couple of short reprieves before the next technical section and then off the brakes again for a shot of adrenaline. Next up is one of my favourite features at Mankele, the ‘bush tunnels’. These are large, natural erosion gullies that are almost enclosed by forest and bush. Get off the brakes on the hairy drop in and be ready for a rollercoaster ride to the bottom. After this you pop out onto a short flat section of pedalling that links the next thrill ride. At this point your heart is hammering and your legs are crying for mercy, even though you are on a flat piece of black top. From there it’s a short blast on single track before you enter the old downhill course. This is where the teeth clenching begins for those who underestimated the technicality of the event. After negotiating the rocks, boulders, bridges and steep slippery snake (either on the bike or hugging a tree en-route), it’s an all-out sprint over the last 100m to the finish. Rewind and repeat for the second run if you survive the first one.
stage two has the ‘DO IT NOW’ crew edging the competitors on with some rock on the PA system and Rockstar energy drink to get the riders juiced before their runs (after a few of those it was difficult to play the sweep role ...). Stage two starts on the old Sabie jeep track and is where riders can reach speeds of up to 65km/h. It’s rocky and loose, so it really tests the rider’s ability to stay off the brakes to the absolute last second. Then it’s a sharp left off the jeep track into a single track section and onto the XC course, where rider’s skills are tested to the max over rocky narrow descents and single track. With lungs burning, legs like jelly and arms cramping, you come out onto the final sprint section of the course and push for the line. Once again those fit enough and strong enough head up for the second run of the stage. Stage three starts with a mother-of-all-portages that involves pushing, carrying and cursing to the top just to get to the start; awesome view from up there though. Out of the starting gate you are riding along another undulating contour path and then drop down into some of the tightest switchbacks out there. From here on you round the start of the new downhill course and pedal like you stole it! This section has you railing wooden berms, sliding into tight corners and enjoying every minute of it. You then shoot into the old downhill section and again hang on to the finish. Mankele Avalanche is a wicked event hosted by great people at an amazing venue. For all the mountain bikers out there who enjoy the ‘down’ more than the ‘up’, enjoy being out on a bike but have a passion for taking on their mates on the rough stuff, then the 2012 event is not to be missed!
www.doitnow.co.za | Sport • 83
The GHOST Mankele Avalanche from a Rider’s Perspective By Bryce Munro
The long-awaited 2011 GHOST Mankele Avalanche saw many of the riders arrive midday Friday, unpack and head off for one or two pre rides on the race stages. Before we knew it, it was time for the race briefing and everybody settled down, with a drink or two, for an amusing yet thorough race briefing from local Mankele trail gurus, Geoff and Mark, who soon had everyone amped and rearing to race. Braving the chilly morning air, we made our way to the start of stage one, situated at the top of Mikon Chicken Farm. The vibe was relaxed as riders patiently waited their turn to gun it down the specially-made start ramp and along the edge of the fast, rocky hillside, which even included some long north-shore bridges and the famous Mankele ‘bush tunnels’. I was first off on my Cannondale Scalpel 26” and after some gap jumps, a quick tar all-out sprint section, a road gap and some low flying through the old rocky downhill course into what can only be called a mineshaft, I crossed the final flat stretch in a time of 00:10:24. This time was somewhat faster than the rest of the guys and definitely helped to ease my nerves. Joel Hieber, a seriously fast and talented youngster from Jozi, came in second, with Mark Meyer, the man behind the madness of Avalanche, in third place. Xander Botha, an U23 from Pretoria, was fourth and just three seconds behind Mark. The race had gotten off to an electric start and the bar for the remaining stages had been set. After a small lunch and recovery session for most of the riders, it was time to get back in the saddle for the second stage. Setting off along an old, but seriously fast and rocky ‘jeep track’ section, we hit our first section of flowing single track. By this time my legs were burning from the flat-out sprint! Onwards we rode, past natural springs and another road gap before reaching ‘Snakes & Ladders’, one of my favourite sections. It has fast dips that cross over a small stream and the corners are perfect to test tyre sidewall traction, while negotiating a few low branches and ramps. The National XC route had the field groaning as they made their way up the ‘small’ gradual climb, but the drop into another bush
tunnel that popped us out by the tar road soon had everyone smiling again. Into the home stretch, which felt a lot longer than expected at full sprint, I was still leading and finished in 00:11:30. Mark came in next, 10 seconds ahead of Joel Hieber, who was now in third. Saturday night’s prize-giving was a bountiful affair thanks to the guys from GHOST, who provided EVERYONE with at least one prize. Nice one guys! Afterwards we sat around having a few drinks whilst exchanging stories and experiences from the day’s racing. Stage three saw us heading up and over a hill and onto a little plateau with a few flat, slippery switchbacks. From there we tackled some really nasty 180˚ switchback turns, which proved really difficult to negotiate at speed. After passing the National Downhill’s starting point, a newly cut section led us into a huge, left-hand wooden berm; a real hit amongst the riders. For some it was just getting onto it and for others it was who could go the highest. More switchbacks and a really cool berm/bowl right before we came to the fast road gap. At this point, my cycling GPS computer recorded my fastest speed of 66km/h, which is rather scary. Heading into the end part of stage one, Joel Hieber powered through this last stage, as he likes racing on berms, jumps and tight corners. Mark was also really quick here, as expected, and the race to the finish was brutal. Despite experiencing problems with my chain coming off and an encounter with a rock that just wouldn’t get out of my way, I clocked a time quick enough for me to clinch the coveted top podium position. I was exhausted, but seriously elated! Joel had the most impressive final stage, pulling back some good time on the other riders to come in second, and certainly showed us what he’s got to give as a young XC rider. Mark Meyer claimed a well-deserved final spot on the podium. Although we had all taken at least one or two falls, everyone was really chuffed with how the weekend’s racing was run. Thanks to Geoff and Mark for putting in all the effort and well done!• .za on www.mankele.co esome videos clips Check out some aw
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www.doitnow.co.za | Sport • 85
inACTION:
Words by Sonja Terblanche-Otto, Organiser & Owner of TriSport Photos by Steven Buhr
e g n e l l a h C k c e r W e Th
is here to stay! On Saturday 25 June the inaugural Wreck Challenge duathlon event took and place in Glentana, close to the Great Brak River in the southern Cape, what a success it was. Athletes can now look forward to more of these dy events as it will be held annually, with the next Wreck Challenge alrea confirmed to take place on 23 December 2011.
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The weather on the day of the event was more suited to indulging in some delicious pancakes and sherry than running along the beach, hiking and cycling amongst the George farms. However, the views that the athletes experienced during the race were well worth the effort of getting into their race gear. It was fabulous to have such a strong field of competitors taking part in this first-time event, including well known athletes such as Jacques Mouton (Silver Comrades Runner with a time of 07:01), Landie Visser (second female Team in African X), Christiaan Greyling, Gerrie Beukes (third veteran team at the Cape Epic), Bianca Grotepass, Tina van Wyk (Ironman finisher), Lelanie van der Merwe (Ironman finisher), Jandre Blom (Griekwas scrum half), Frans Grotepass (Junior SA Mountain Bike Champ), Ben Giliomee (SA Junior mountain biker) and many others.
The athletes started off with a short run of 2km on the beach, followed by the 30km circular mountain bike route through the George farmlands, before returning to the Glentana Café. They ended with an epic 8,3km run that started at the Glentana Café, along the beach, across a fairly technical section of rocks, past the Glentana Wreck (a dock that was towed from England to Durban and became stranded in 1902) and then the long ascent to the top of the hill on a single track. The track was not that technical, which meant that competitors could still enjoy the magnificent view. That is of course for those athletes who were not going for a win. From the top of the hill, the single track changed to a jeep track all the way to the main road and finish at the Glentana Beach Cafe.
www.doitnow.co.za | Sport • 87
COMPETIT
ION
The race results were as follows: ›› 1st Female: Landie Visser ›› 2nd Female: Bianca Grotepass ›› 3rd Female: Lelanie van der Merwe ›› 1st Male: Christiaan Greyling ›› 2nd Male: Gerrie Beukes ›› 3rd Male: Jake Growther ›› 1st Junior: Ben Giliomee ›› 2nd Junior: Kevin Redman
WIN
BOOK
COMPETITION Stand a chance to win a copy of John Cameron-Dow’s Comrades Marathon, by answering this simple question: Name the two DO IT NOW trail running Ambassodors features in this issue. Send your answer to competitions@doitnow.co.za before 26 November 2011. All correct entries will be entered into a draw and the winner will be announced on the DO IT NOW website. Good luck!
›› Team Perde: Jacques Mouton and Pieter Breytenbach ›› 2nd Team Morbin: Christopher Morbin and partner The purpose of this event was to showcase the beautiful coastline and lush farmlands of the Eden District, and develop off-road triathlon and duathlon events in the southern Cape. This area has the makings to become the most popular district for these events in the future and will compliment the numerous mountain bike races that are already taking place here. There are so many promising athletes in this area and we were very excited about the quality of the local athletes that competed. Our aim is to host a few of these races annually, to ensure continued development amongst the local communities and show the world how beautiful the Garden Route is.
Triathlons, duathlons and trail running are currently the fastest growing sports in the world, and we are making sure that the Garden Route is seen to be a leading venue. With the Eden Municipality fully behind this initiative, I am confident that the Wreck Challenge, an off-road duathlon, can become a major event on the local and international sporting calendarS. We look forward to seeing you there! •
DINfo box i For more information about the December Wreck Challenge or how to enter, visit www.trisport.co.za
www.doitnow.co.za | Sport • 89
inPREPARATION:
Words by Christiaan Greyling Photos by Christiaan Greyling & Landie Visser
5 Tips
for a 5 Day in 5 Hours Trail Run Trail running has defined itself as one of South Africa’s fastest growing outdoor sports. It’s a sport that takes man back to our ancestral roots of running recklessly over mountains, stones and through dark forests after our prey … victory! Many runners often hear the question: “Why do you run if you’re not being chased?” There are many answers to this question such as to lose weight, become fit and healthy, run the Comrades Marathon in 2012 and so forth. But trail running is different! Have you ever felt as light-footed as a mountain reebok or rock rabbit whilst five days of hiking scenes flash by in a mere five hours? It can be compared to the trailer of your favourite movie or the summary of a long book. In our era we see a lot of sports evolve. Mountain bikes now come with full suspension, white water kayaks are getting smaller and more maneuverable, running shoes with five fingers, snow shoeing, kloofing, and then there’s the five-day hiking trails that are done in just five hours! My fiancé Landie Visser and I recently completed a 126km section of the Appalachian Trail from North Carolina to Georgia, in America, in three days. We met numerous hikers on the way, hikers who devote their lives to completing the longest trail in history - The Appalachian Trail; a 3,200km hiking trail that stretches from Georgia to Maine in the north of America, traversing untouched mountains and forests that cross 14 states. Our goal was to see as much as possible in as short a time as possible, with the minimum requirements. The solution was to run three marathons back-toback in three days, carrying three days of food, a gas stove, tent, bear bag, rope, sleeping bag, mattress and an extra set of clothes. We managed to fit everything into a 30+5L K-Way backpack and a 20L Camelback. The weight of our packs was so heavy on the first day that we found it difficult to get into a comfortable trot. We did 42km in nine hours, with plenty of photo moments, chats and water purifying stops. By the second day we were used to the pack weight and able to run all the downhills and level trails, but were reduced to walking the three 1,000ft climbs we had to conquer in the heat of the day. On day three, with our food supplies depleted, we covered the final 42km in just seven-and-a-half hours. We don’t call ourselves experts at running five-day hiking trails in five hours, but here are some useful tips from our Appalachian experience.
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Tip 1:
Stay hydrated
20% better Research shows that an athlete can perform of almost up made is body n huma The when hydrated. the brain r; two-thirds water, of which blood is 92% wate are 22% s bone and r is 75% water; muscles are 75% wate g of ionin funct the to tial essen is water. Therefore, water . body n huma the of nearly every part ates body Water moistens oxygen for breathing, regul all cells in to en oxyg and nts temperature, carries nutrie joints, and s organ vital ions cush and cts the body, prote e. wast ves helps to convert food into energy and remo to g statin deva be can Even a small shortage of water
ed intake is an athlete’s performance. The recommend hour and per mass body 10ml per one kilogramme of eratures. temp on nding depe ase this volume can incre li military Israe e. ydrat pre-h to is ice pract d Another teste desert a e befor forces drink large volumes of fluid s one weigh r wate of litre trek. But remember that one up at fill can you that so run your kilogramme, so plan our five-h a For . route the along e sourc r wate a reliable of bottle and e run, I start my day off with a large coffe tion hydra my in litres two water. I don’t carry more than stop to fill up pack and ensure that I can make one pit again.
Tip 2: The better the shoe THE faster the feet Do not attempt a long trail run race with shoes you have just bought. The shoes you wear must have been around before you attempt any long trails with them. Light weight, right fit and comfortable stability are key. The type of shoe you select is up to you, but some brands have earned their reputation through experience. I prefer Salomon Wings and my fiancé prefers Asics Trubecca. It all depends on your foot and what’s right for you.
Road shoes are not suitable for very technical trails as you will only harm your ankles, shoes or your image as a trail runner. Shoes can also be responsible for long-term injuries. My recent upgrade to Newton’s has helped me to adapt to a more natural running style and eliminated a long lagging ITB injury.
Tip 3: Trail fuel The energy you use needs to be replaced before, during and after exercise. If you don’t, your body will start breaking down hard-earned muscle and you’ll end up with that skinny, streamline look. Start your day off with a good breakfast containing carbs and proteins at least an hour and a half before the start of a race. Eating on the starting line can give you the most
uncomfortable runner’s tummy! If it’s a race then you will need three to four energy sachets and one energy bar. If you are just going for a training run, then two or three of your favourite energy bars will come in handy. The longer you are out there the more variety you will crave, even something salty. Do the maths! An average man can easily burn up to 1,000Kcal per hour, which equals 4,000 kilojoules of food intake.
Tip 4: Pack light The rule of thumb is one will always utilise all available space. If you have a 20L pack, you will probably fill it with unnecessary items. So rather take a pack that’s small, comfortable and as light weight as possible,
and can also carry your water bladder, sachets and energy bars. On a five-hour run I usually take a threelitre camelback. Remember, what doesn’t fit, does not need to go!
Tip 5: Core and balance The best form of training for running is running, but there are many additional benefits to be had from incorporating some core strength work into your running training programme. Runners tend to focus on activities that they think will yield immediate and noticeable results. This typically means piling on as many kilometres as possible in a given week. I purpose a broader and more balanced approach to all training factors, as this will result in more consistent performances in the long term, as well as reduce your chance of injury. I recommend that all runners do some basic core strength work on a fortnightly basis, at the minimum.
Some direct benefits of core strength include: ›› Improved balance – balance is an important factor for a runner in all situations, especially when running off-road and in rough terrain. ›› Better posture – the core muscles play a major role in improving posture, which in turn will improve your running technique and reduce the risk of injury. ›› Improved efficiency – you will be more comfortable in your stride and therefore more efficient. It will also increase your endurance potential as you won’t get tired so easily. ›› Increased stability – a more stable frame will result in less wear and tear on muscles, thereby further reducing possible injuries.
So to summarise, two litres of water, a few gels and an energy bar, seasoned takkies, camelback and a few hours of core training should get you on your way to your first five-day run. Go do it! • 92 • DO IT NOW October | November 2011
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inACTION:
Words by Morne Swanepoel, Pro Coach, Fighter and Writer (www.combatcoaching.com) Photos by Snap Dragon Photography
of M ix ed M arti al Arts at th be ly re su t us m e az Th e late st fi gh ti ng cr tr od uc ti on of th e in e th h it w 93 19 in d ge (M M A). M od er n M M A em er base d on th e co nc ept of as w It s. ip sh on pi am Ch ng co m pe ti ti on, in Ulti m at e Fi gh ti r he ot ch ea t ns ai ag es st yl pi tt in g di ff er en t fi gh ti ng ti al art was th e m ost ar m ch hi w e in rm te de to w it h m in im al ru le s, m bat si tu at io n. co d te la gu re un , al re a ef fe ct iv e in As there were so few rules, MMA was a brutal combat sport in which the health of the fighter was always at risk. Then in the late 1990s and early 2000s, MMA competitions started to include additional rules for the safety of the athletes and to promote acceptance of the sport, while maintaining as many of the original no-holds-barred concepts as possible. The new rules dictate that certain moves such as head butting, biting, eye gouging, attacks to the groin area and kidneys, and striking the back of the spine and trachea are prohibited. As there is no world-wide association presiding over MMA, rules tend to vary from country to country and tournament to tournament. Since these changes were introduced, MMA has grown in popularity so rapidly that it now lays claim to a number of pay-per-view records.
The early days
MMA has been around since man discovered the need to defend himself, using various methods of combat. It was however the late Bruce Lee who made the movement more structured by creating a unique fighting style that combined everything from western boxing to karate to fencing. That’s right, it was the renowned Lee that coined the phrase, “The best style is no style, the best form is no form.” He later stated that you must take what works from different martial arts and discard the rest. This is exactly what MMA is based on; two competitors attempting to defeat each other by potentially utilising a wide variety of fighting techniques that include manipulating areas of striking and grappling. Lee devoted his life to the study of martial arts and even went so far as to create his own ‘style’, which incorporated various styles into one in the late 1960s. The result was Jeet Kune Do, which literally means ‘way of the intercepting fist’.
“The best fighter is not a Boxer, Karate or Judo man.
The best fighter is someone who can adapt to any style. He kicks too good for a Boxer, throws too good for a Karate man, and punches too good for a Judo man.” BRUCE LEE Today fighters are attempting to follow in his footsteps by taking the best of what they have studied into the ring. The best MMA fighters are the ones who continually cross-train in several realms of striking and grappling to become the ultimate warrior.
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The MMA warr ior
One definition of a MMA warrior is someone who engages in or desires combat. History’s greatest warriors have however shown us that being a warrior is more about gaining control over oneself in all aspects of life. There have been many famous cultures from the past that glorified the warrior; the Spartans, Romans, Persians, Knights Templar, Mongols, Vikings and Samurai were all societies renowned for the development of their warriors. The legends surrounding those warriors have been passed down through the generations because of the impact they made on the consciousness of the world. The warrior tradition is still very much alive today. Although every generation has its own warriors, we have sadly lost sight of how to recognise one. A new breed of warriors has in fact exploded onto the landscape of the world through the vehicle of MMA. These men and woman will be the role models that future generations use as a gauge of their own warrior status. There is nothing more primal and intriguing than watching two fighters battle it out in a ring or cage for glory. Even though they may not be battling in a life or death scenario, the main attributes of these modern-day warriors are the same as those of the warriors of the past.
MMA style s
MMA is the most complex form of combat known to man. When Royce Gracie shocked the world at the UFC1 in the 1990s, everybody thought that Brazilian JiuJitsu (BJJ) was the ultimate art of fighting. It was a style that could beat every other discipline of fighting. This led to many people thinking that learning BJJ was enough to compete in the UFC. However, with the growing popularity of the UFC and more and more talented fighters from different horizons coming to compete in the octagon, it was rapidly proved that BJJ was not enough. Fighters started to borrow skills from other styles and slowly invented the cross-training art of fighting. Today, only a well-rounded fighter using a highly elaborated cross-training style can succeed in MMA.
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o t e m o c l W e Wo r l d o f i o r t h e M M A Wa r r th e
now.co.za | Sport • 95
www.doitnow.co.za | Sport • 95
MMA is a hybrid martial art, which combines all types of unarmed combat, as well as the best and most effective techniques and training methods of those styles into one.
Stand Up fighti ng
A MMA athlete needs to be able to throw punches like a boxer and kick like a Thai boxer or kickboxer.
Clinch fighti ng
Here the MMA athlete draws on various systems and styles such as punches, knees, elbows and takedowns. Greco Roman wrestling, Freestyle Wrestling and Muay Thai form a strong foundation in the clinch.
Groun d fighti ng
This is arguably the most technical range in MMA. Here the MMA athlete needs to be able to dominate superior positions on the ground to set up devastating submissions and ground-n-pounding. Brazilian JiuJitsu, Submission Wrestling and Sambo/Shoot Wrestling form the foundation here. Everyone in the MMA world trains to be a winner, but not everyone is willing to do the preparation that it takes to win. Expose yourself to Stand Up, Clinch and Ground fighting to ensure you become a complete fighter. How well you train, plan your training and how hard you work is all up to you. If you train athletically, with fewer restrictions, you will have more options that you can actually apply. These are the aspects you have control over: ›› Fighting knowledge ›› Developing a combat athletic mindset ›› Becoming fighting fit through combat athletics
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the mind of and mma fight er train
like one, Whether one is a fighter or just wants to er charact of strength and anyone can develop the fitness warrior. a required to become The mind of a warrior is just as important to exercise as any other muscle in the body. Without the cooperation of the warrior’s mind, success is not possible. Although you can train certain muscles once in a while, the mind of the warrior must be trained consistently everyday. The mindset of the warrior will eventually determine his destiny as a fighter, MMA athlete and eventual destiny in life. To control the mind is to control one’s thoughts. When this is done correctly, the warrior is able to control his actions. This goes for anyone wanting to start MMA training as well. Most people are put off from training for reasons such as fear and negative thoughts like ‘I can’t do that stuff’, ‘I am too old’ or ‘I don’t need this, I can look after myself’ and so on. Acquiring the ability to quiet the mind and stop it from running wild with these types of emotions and thoughts is often one of the toughest tasks for a new warrior. The results are so rewarding when one leaves one’s ego at the door and takes that first step to a better lifestyle by obtaining the warrior mindset.
The deman ding traini ng regime of MMA is very rewar ding, as it develo ps the mindse t so that no matter how hard life throws you to the groun d, you will always get back on your feet and hold your head high! •
inSHAPE:
Words by Dr Endre Kenard Photos by www.shutterstock.com
Injuries are never fun for any athlete. And for jumping athletes, like those involved in high and long jumping, volleyball and basketball, the most common injury is Jumper’s Knee, also known as patellar or quadriceps tendonitis.
The Chiropractic Approach
Don’t Mess with
Jumper’s Knee
However, it is not limited to athletes that participate in these sports and can occur in any athletic activity that involves repetitive knee extension. It can also be associated with sports that involve repetitive kicking, climbing and running. As expected, certain professions are also prone to developing this condition. These are police and fire officials and, in fact, anyone that has to walk a lot or regularly climb stairs. Jumper’s Knee is an overuse syndrome of the extensor mechanism of the knee (assists in straightening the knee), which causes the patellar tendon (located just below your knee cap) to swell up due to inflammation. The patellar tendon plays an important in sports because it connects your quads to your knees and helps you propel yourself off the ground when you jump. It also acts as a stabiliser muscle in the leg, thus ensuring that you remain balanced as you jump or move around. Therefore, the
98 • DO IT NOW October | November 2011
patellar tendon comes under a lot of stress, especially by athletes in sports that involve lots of jumping. An increase in exercise frequency or repetitions, training on a hard surface and insufficient rest are also very important risk factors for this condition. The tell-tale signs of Jumper’s Knee include: ›› Pain right below the knee cap. ›› The tendons may be swollen and appear larger and more prominent than the unaffected side. ›› When active extensions, such as running and jumping, are painful and palpation of the anterior knee area may reveal painful swelling. ›› Aching and stiffness may be experienced after activity, which usually fades away after some rest, but tends to recur. ›› Pain on contraction of the quadriceps muscle.
Grading of Injury Grade
Pain
Disability
Degree of injury
1
Pain only occurs after training
No interference in activities
Tendon is swollen but homogeous
2
Pain pre and post training
Pain dissipates during activity
Oedema and fibrous scar tissue
3
Pain during training
Impairs athletic performance
Irregularities of the tendon
4
Pain during every day activities
Interferes with daily activities
Complete rupture of the tendon
The long-term effect of the inflammation process is the weakening of the tendinous structures. Athletes are also compelled to immobilise the joint and thus initiate greater weakening. As Wolf’s Law states, if you don’t use it, you lose it. To prevent patellar tendonitis from developing, the following is recommended: ›› Always warm up before workouts. This is one of the best ways to prevent injuries of any kind. ›› Always stretch your muscles. Perform dynamic stretches before workouts and static stretches after workouts. And make sure you stretch your quads, hamstrings and calves very well. ›› Strengthen the muscles surrounding your patellar tendon. Focus on strengthening your quads, hamstrings, calves and shins to minimise muscle imbalances in the leg. ›› Train on appropriate surfaces. Always try to train on soft surfaces like grass or training surfaces made out of thick carpet or rubber. This will help to minimise the impact and shock on your knees while you train.
›› Massage therapy in the form of transverse friction. ›› Therapeutic ultra sound and electrotherapeutic modalities. ›› A knee support or Jumper’s Knee strap must be worn during activity. ›› Strapping can also be used around the infrapatellar area in the place of a knee strap. ›› Chiropractic treatment in the form of knee joint mobilisation and manipulation. ›› Chiropractic treatment and biomechanical correction of the foot and ankle, hip and spine is essential. ›› STOP playing your sport and wait for full recovery of the injury before returning to action.
If you are already a victim, then there are several ways to treat patellar tendonitis:
Surgical intervention: ›› This should only be considered if the condition is unresponsive to conservative therapy. ›› The aim would be to remove scar tissue build-up and reduce oedema. ›› Sometimes excision of the affected area needs to be done. ›› Lateral release methods can be applied where small cuts are made in the sides of the tendon to decrease the tension. ›› Surgery is followed by an intense rehabilitation programme including eccentric strengthening.
Conservative therapy: ›› Initially the RICE (rest, ice, compression and elevation) principle is applied to reduce pain and inflammation. ›› Quadriceps muscle strengthening and isometric exercises. ›› Strengthening of the calf muscle.
Jumper’s Knee is a frustrating injury for jumping athletes. So always make sure you take the necessary steps to prevent it, and if you still happen to get injured, visit a doctor and treat it accordingly. •
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SPINAL WELLNESS CLINIC
www.doitnow.co.za | Adventure • 99
NOW 100 • DO IT NOW October | November 2011
// in THE HOLE: MIRROR, MIRROR ON THE WALL …Who is the funniest of them all? // inNATURE: Winter Tactics: Increasing Your Odds of Catching Trout // inCREDIBLE PLACES: Ubud – Arts, Culture and Rice, Indonesia – Part 3 of 3 // inDULGE: Recipes: Chilled Green Pea and Mint Soup with Grape Salsa and Rasberries with Citrus Vanilla Syrup // inSURE: Need a tax break? Then start saving for your old age! // inTERTAINMENT: Music, Movie and Game Reviews // inFOCUS: SHOOT! A Family Adventure // inVOLVED: Team SiyaShova Rides for Hear Us Foundation
PHOTOGRAPH BY: Ocker Odendaal DESCRIPTION: Squirrel in its home in the Kalahari
Lifestyle
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in THE HOLE:
Words by Michael Scholz
R O IRR M , R O MIRR … ALL W HE T ON iest n Who is the fun
? l l a m e h t of
ing desperately to recoil Staring numbly at my laptop screen, try ht corner of my mouth, the drool dollop that slid out of the rig eive a Facebook buddy my interest suddenly pricks up as I rec g. request from one times Jimmy McCakswin What kind of name is that? Why haven’t I heard of him before, yet his name sounds so familiar? Why would he be sending me a friendship request? Who is this guy? What does he want? Logging onto Facebook, I find out that he has tracked me down through the network of golfers that sit so proudly on my profile … all 829 of them. He is a caddie on a mission; bringing a little fun and laughter to the game from a caddie’s perspective that might culminate in a book someday. Just the name (even though I haven’t met him … or maybe … probably have, but can’t remember) alone spells for some refreshing insight. This request switched the lights on in this hollow void that rests so clumsily between my hearing organs. There are some funny golfers out there! So let’s visit some of these fairway idiots from past and present and share some of their defining moments that earned them a mention in this literary masterpiece:
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The Original Prankster Lee Trevino or SuperMex There are hundreds of side-splitting tales compliments of this legend of the game. From tossing a rubber snake at Jack Nicklaus in the 1971 U.S. Open, to masterminding some of the wackiest quotes conceivable by human grey matter such as: ›› “You can make a lot of money in this game. Just ask my ex-wives. Both of them are so rich that neither of their husbands work.” ›› “I'm going to win so much money this year, my caddie will make the top 20 money winner's list.”
The Village Idiot David Feherty
Hobbers Simon Hobday With a firm belief that even real men can play this game, Hobbers was never afraid to burp, fart, curse or tell it straight out on the golf course.
CBS snapped up this former Irish Ryder Cup player, not for his good looks by no means. Certainly the sharpest tongue with the quickest wit, watching PGA Tour events that are covered by any other network are about as stimulating as watching slow motion tiddlywinks being played by a bunch of drunken construction workers. His comedic highlight has to be some of his writing. With a number of softcover scriptures, which he will profess are soft so that they can be used to substitute twin-ply if the reader runs out, Feherty’s ‘Somewhere in Ireland a Village is Missing an Idiot’, ‘A Nasty Bit of Rough’, ‘The Power of Positive Idiocy’ and a handful of others will keep you well entertained when nature calls you to be seated.
Mr. Golf in South Africa Dale Hayes Although allergic to exercise and healthy food, Dale was no slouch around the course in his day, even though that was before the Dead Sea was even sick. Dale has modelled a lucrative ‘post-playing’ career in the game of golf through his quick wit and concise delivery of golfing tales and details from almost every notable golfer on the planet, on television’s SuperGolf and SuperSport. Former co-presenter and good friend, Dennis Hutchinson (also from yesteryear) has had to bear the brunt of some brutal sarcasm dished out by Hayes over the past five decades, but has dealt some of his own too. Dale’s commentary and presence at South Africa’s flagship golf event, The Nedbank Golf Challenge, adds plenty of comedic spice along with sidekick Dave Usendorf, who is also no slouch when it comes to looking at the game from a slightly twisted dimension.
Also believing that the big man upstairs prefers to look after others rather than him, Hobbers once sported a wide brimmed hat and tried to disguise himself to avoid his usual dose of bad luck. As a keen fisherman, he was often seen on a dam somewhere on a tournament course quaffing beer after his earlier round. Well known too for his sharp tongue, Hobbers has humourous quotations written in golf chronicles around the globe, many of which are censored to all ages! A few cleaner ones include: ›› “After hitting two balls into the water - by God, I’ve got a good mind to jump in and make it four.” ›› “The driving range on the Sunshine Tour is filled with the sweet swishing sounds of young swings. On the Seniors Tour it’s more like snap, crackle, pop!”
The Nutter Ben Crane Regarded as the slowest player on the PGA Tour and having endured some abusive banter from our very own Rory Sabbatini for his sloth-like demeanor on the fairways, Ben most certainly has some speed when it comes to having a manner that is appealing to any former Monty Python fan. Dressed in a short red wetsuit, it’s hard to take this guy’s golf seriously after watching a few video clips of skits such as ‘Ben Crane on Slow Play’, ‘Ben Crane on Dance’ and ‘Ben Crane on Exercise’. Check out www.bencranegolf.com to share in the madness! It’s about time someone broke the mould, and he can play! Go you good thing!
Till the next issue, be sure to have fun and keep laughing your way to better golf scores. •
Words by Alan Hobson Photos courtesy of Angler & Antelope
www.shutterstock.com
inNATURE:
106 • DO IT NOW October | November 2011
r e t n i W : s c i t Tac
s d d O r u o Y g n i s Increa t u o r T g n i h c t a C of
hout s in dams throug th on m r te in w e ring th s. One’s Targeting trout du lenging dynamic al ch of st ho a es id us down, South Africa prov e cold has slowed th d an r te in w s use it’ rnation, and perception is beca ve gone into hibe ha s ct se in d an h fis at one we assume both ill; never mind th st t bu ng hi yt an ms are the dam’s edge still waters or da ning for the ice on or m id m til un t first light, often needs to wai have to be up at t n’ do e w at th is news mo wrapped in to melt. The good ents like an Eski em el e th t ns ai ag s bracing ourselve hing we own. ot cl of every piece
www.doitnow.co.za | Lifestyle • 107
Whilst trout thrive in cold water, insects, like us, tend to become more mobile once the warmth of the sun brightens up the blue winter sky. The crisp cold of winter brings with it water clarity and clear bright days, which means that the fish can see us more easily. The trade off is that the fish go through the motions of spawning in winter, so their hormones are pumping and this makes them a lot more aggressive, which in turn increases our chances of success. Winter tends to freeze all thoughts of entomology, or perhaps it’s just that to stay warm and have one’s blood circulating, continuous casting with an enthusiastic stripping of the fly seems to be the order of the day. So how do we strategise? Remember the theory; find the food and you’ll find the fish. This time of the year is usually a lot more forgiving, so typical attractor patterns offer a higher hit rate, especially if they feature trigger colours such as orange, yellow, red or white, which are associated with spawning. Woolly Buggers, Mrs Simpsons, Hammill’s Killers and Minky’s with a pancora-
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styled tail featuring orange and yellow with red flash are good winter searching patterns. These flies are usually the ones that also catch the eye first when opening your box. They also don’t require much finesse in retrieving and are generally grabbed with gusto. Still water is deceptively dynamic. As the sun rises and penetrates the water, the warmer water rises to the surface. This together with the warming of Mother Earth generates a light breeze that in turn cools the surface water and results in layers developing as the water turns over. These layers are called thermoclines, layers of water of different temperatures where insects get trapped. These thermoclines reoccur throughout the day, resulting in a constantly changing environment. In a dam fish have to find their food, and when combined with a super charge of hormones, they are constantly on the lookout for foe and food. One should not underestimate the drive and aggression fish develop during the winter spawning season. Proof of this was experienced at the Kamberg Fly Fishing Festival held in May. Retrieval of the fly defied typical aquatic food behaviour as anglers were tucking the rod under their arm and using both hands to strip the fly quickly and erratically,
as one does when targeting salt water species. The colour orange is representative of fish roe or eggs, so fishing an egg pattern in winter is common place. One way to do this is to attach a control fly pattern, preferably with a bit of weight such as a bead head Minky, as this could represent a leech, to the end of your 9’ leader. Then add a floating egg pattern New Zealand style about 50cm behind the control fly. Using your #5wt rod with an intermediate line cast out and let it sink all the way to the bottom. It is a good idea to try and find a clay or gravel bottom either at the inlet or overflow against the dam wall, as fish are looking for places to drop their eggs. Whilst these areas are not ideal for spawning, nature’s urge draws the fish to them as the most favourable environment. More often than not hen fish remain egg bound because conditions are not suitable for spawning. Now lift the tip of your rod about a metre. You will feel the control fly dragging along the bottom and then lifting over the weed as the floating egg fly falls very realistically. Your line stops dead in its tracks or goes taught as the fish picks up the egg, and the games begin. There is another way of fishing an egg pattern, which I learnt about when reading an article written by Dean Riphagen many years ago in The Complete Fly Fishing magazine. Dean described this method as one of his favourites when targeting trophy trout in winter. Use a floating line with a 9’ to 12’ leader, with a Duckworth’s Dargle Delight (DDD) as your point fly and suspend an egg pattern about one metre below the DDD, attached New Zealand style. The length of your dropper, the distance between the DDD and egg pattern, varies according to your observation as to what depth the fish are cruising at. This method is most successfully fished to cruising brutes you can see. As the fish moves towards you present your menu about two or three metres in front of it. The secret is to guess the sink rate of your egg pattern, so that by casting ahead of the fish you don’t spook it, but allow enough distance between your fly and the fish so that the egg fly can sink down to the same depth as the cruising fish. To get your egg pattern to sink faster, simply squeeze the fly under water. Often there are two or three fish swimming together, so they compete to take the fly and that, is heart stopping!
Insects of the order Diptera are a large and diverse group that include flies, mosquitoes, midges and crane flies, and are probably the most prolific food source available to trout in dams. Their life cycle is best identified by bloodworm or olive larvae usually found in vegetation or silt on the bottom of the dam. The larvae pupate and move through the water column (referred to as buzzers) until they lie suspended in the meniscus (referred to as Chironomids), where they then hatch into adults. Conventionally, when fishing a bloodworm one would use a floating line and long leader, and twitch it erratically by retrieving in a fast figure of eight with long pauses in between. However, my favourite technique increases your odds of success. Use a floating dragonfly nymph or an Orange Muddler Minnow as your point fly and then attach the olive larvae or bloodworm about 50cm New Zealand style behind the point fly. Fish this outfit using an intermediate line with a 7’ to 9’ leader and let it sink right down to the bottom. The floating point fly lies just above the weed or on the weed and the bloodworm/larvae settles very realistically on the substrate. Every now and then do two short 4’ to 6’ strips. This is a very realistic imitative way of fishing, as your floating fly darts down into the weed and your larvae suddenly twitches. By pausing five to ten seconds between strips, your flies remain in the water for a much longer period, thus increasing your odds.
On these bright blue sky and clear water days, fishing this way means you can sit at the water’s edge, lowering your profile and increasing your odds even more! There is nothing nicer than the warm sun on your back on a crisp clear day and a visual of hyperactive trout about to take your fly; it just doesn’t get much better than that! •
www.wildflyfishinginthekaroo.co.za
Tel: 042 243 3440 Fax: 086 671 6146 Cell: 082 375 4720
WILD FLY FISHING IN THE KAROO SOMERSET EAST
www.doitnow.co.za | Lifestyle • 109
inCREDIBLE PLACES:
Words & Photos by Steven Yates
Ubud
– Arts, Culture and Rice Indonesia – Part 3 of 3
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To end one’s Indonesian adventure in Ubud can be compared to ending a sumptuous dinner with creamy vanilla pana cotta surrounded by delicate champagne truffles, while sipping rich Turkish coffee. Ubud is a fine mixture of relaxed natural beauty, rich Indonesian culture, down to earth rice farmers and of course a gastronomic adventure. www.doitnow.co.za | Lifestyle • 111
Laura and I decided to spend our last 10 days exploring Bali from the charming town of Ubud, thanks largely to Elizabeth Gilbert’s book, ‘Eat, Pay, Love’, which Laura has become a massive fan of. We managed to find well priced accommodation in the most wonderful cottage overlooking some of the many rice fields and situated right in the heart of Bali’s arts and cultural centre. We were treated each morning to a breakfast of eggs and fruit salad, which we enjoyed while watching our resident white rabbit – Arthur (not sure if that was his real name, but he looked like an Arthur) - as he munched away on the garden’s flora. Each morning Hindu rituals were held outside our cottage, where fresh flowers, incense and fruit decorated the otherwise shabby sidewalks. We started our time in Ubud at the casual pace of the islands we had just come from, wondering the streets and bargaining for incense at the local market. We booked to see one of the traditional dances held at a local temple and had a lovely lunch at a local street café, sitting on a wooden deck sipping green tea and sampling local delights. Little did we know that Ubud operated at an even more relaxed tempo and we found that afternoon naps where the order of most days after mornings spent wondering the beautiful forests and rice paddies surrounding the little town. The hordes of cute ducks where of constant amusement to us, as the local farmers flooded their rice paddies and then sent in their flocks to eat all the pests and play in the muddy water.
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Having slipped into a routine of early evenings playing cards and drinking rice wine, Laura and I nearly missed the dance show we had booked for on the first day, but luckily remembered in time to run through the streets to the temple where the Kacak and fire dance would take place. The dance was spectacular and performed to the chanting of over a hundred men, with no instruments used at all, while the actors were dressed in the most wonderful costumes depicting Monkey Kings, evil Gods, warrior birds and beautiful maidens, who might actually have been men. The evening was magnificent and a real highlight of our stay in central Bali.
DINfo box i The Kacak dance is also known as the Ramayana Monkey Chant, and is performed by a circle of 150 or more performers wearing checked cloth around their waists, percussively chanting ‘cak’ and throwing up their arms. The dance depicts a battle from the Ramayana where the monkey-like Vanara helped Prince Rama fight the evil King Ravana.
The next day was dedicated to pampering and Laura and I started out the day with a two hour Balinese massage. Unlike the Thai massage, a Balinese massage is gentler and focuses on a theme of tissue folding and kneading where different herbs, oils and skin masks are used to soothe and relax the body. After our massage Laura and I were a little removed from reality we were so relaxed, so we wondered the streets aimlessly just absorbing the culture until we happened upon Wayan, the very healer Elizabeth spent her time with in ‘Eat, Pray, Love’. Laura was ecstatic and we proceeded to have the most wonderful vegetarian meal prepared specifically to cleanse the body and rejuvenate our energy. We spent the rest of the afternoon sitting in Wayan’s little shop, chatting to her and her kids and just enjoying the tranquil atmosphere.
Laura decided she would like to have a treatment from Ubud’s most famous medicine woman, so the next day we returned to Wayan’s shop for an incredibly interesting time of traditional healing and herbal concoctions. The late morning had left us ravenous, so we wondered off into the rice paddies to the popular Sari Organic restaurant. This restaurant is probably the best restaurant in Ubud and serves only 100% organic food from the surrounding gardens. It is situated under a rustic thatched roof, right in the middle of a mass of rice fields and provides the most exquisite location to spend an afternoon sitting on cushions on the wooden deck and sipping cocktails like the Green Frog, the Honeymoon and the Green Cleanser. If cocktails are not for you, Nila, the owner, makes three types of organic rice wine and speciality fruit wines made from dragon fruit, coconut, ginger and rambutan to name a few. The food dishes are even more eclectic, with creations such as warm tofu feta salad and cashew chowder. Deciding to raise our energy levels and hire a scooter to explore more of the island was no small feat, considering the wonderfully relaxed routine we had gotten into. Nonethe-less we set off on a scooter for the many interesting sites that Bali has to offer. We were lucky enough be in Bali during one of the many festivals held at the Sacred Mother Temple of Besakih, on the slopes of the Volcano Ganung Agung, which thanks to the festival boasted a two-storey cake made of rice and ordained in the most spectacular colours and patterns. We also visited lots of smaller temples and sacred ruins. At one of these a tiny old Balinese woman (I think she must have been at least 233 years old and only four foot tall – this I can confirm as she was a lot shorter than Laura’s five foot stature) took it upon herself to lead us through the ruins and try and explain their meaning to us in her best Balinese. The experience was brilliant and we still laugh about our wonderful tour guide and the weird traditions of the Balinese people.
Back in Ubud. Another traditional dance. Another wonderful meal. Another stroll through the rice fields. And another relaxing massage. If we were not so relaxed we might have been bored, but then we knew it would soon be time to leave our oasis of peace and return to the real world, so we let the days roll into one another forever to remain in our hearts. What a wonderful world … •
DINfo box i Ubud is situated inland from the more popular tourist destinations of Bali and boasts beautiful forests, rivers, cooler temperatures and much less congestion than its coastal counterparts. Here tourists can enjoy Balinese spa treatments, mountain treks, traditional dancing, ancient temples and the stunning sacred Ubud Monkey Forest. Transport: Getting to Ubud is easiest by taxi from any of the typically Bali tourist destinations like Kuta. Accommodation: Accommodation is easy to find and the best advice is to just arrive and decide when you get there. The Lonely Planet is a great reference for the area, providing some accommodation, eating and excursion options, as well as recommendations on the local dance shows and spa treatments.
www.doitnow.co.za | Lifestyle • 113
inDULGE:
Words by Chef Neil Ross Photos courtesy of the Inanda Club
Serves 4
CHILLED GREEN PEA AND MINT SOUP WITH GRAPE SALSA This soup just screams Spring to me with its beautiful colour and freshness. It is elegant and can be served as a first course for a special dinner, or enjoyed with a loaf of crusty bread. Ingredients: • 2 Tablespoons of olive oil • ¾ Cup of chopped leaks • ¾ Cup of chopped onions • ¾ Cup of chopped fennel • ½ Tablespoon of fresh thyme • 1½ Teaspoons of ground pepper • 1 ½ Teaspoons of salt • 2 Cups of chicken stock • ½ Cup of dry white wine • 3 to 4 Cups of frozen petit pois • ¾ Cup of sliced red seedless grapes • ½ Teaspoon of lemon juice • ½ Cup of low fat yoghurt • 100ml Reduced fat cream • 1 Teaspoon lemon zest • 1 Sprig of mint
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Method: To make the soup: 1. Heat the olive oil in a large saucepan over a high heat. 2. Add onions, fennel and leeks and sauté for two minutes. 3. Add one teaspoon of salt and one teaspoon of ground pepper. 4. Lower the heat to medium and cook until the vegetables are cooked through. 5. Add the chicken stock, white wine and thyme and simmer for 10 minutes. 6. Add the peas and simmer for a further 5 minutes. 7. Puree the soup and add the cream. Add a little water if too thick. 8. Cover and chill. To make the grape salsa: 1. Combine the sliced grapes, lemon zest and the remainder of the salt and ground pepper in small bowl. To serve: 1. Whisk the yogurt and lemon juice into the chilled soup. 2. Pour the soup into bowls and spoon the grape salsa on the top, and garnish with a sprig of mint.
Serves 4
RASPBERRIES WITH CITRUS VANILLA SYRUP How can you say no to this? Ingredients: • 1 Lemon • 7 Tablespoons of water • 2 Tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon of sugar • 1 Teaspoon of vanilla extract • 1 Teaspoon of Cointreau • 2 – 3 Sprigs of mint • 4 Cups of assorted raspberries
Method: 1. Using a sharp knife or vegetable peeler, cut half inch strips of lemon zest. Remove the white (pith). 2. In a small saucepan, bring the lemon peel, water, sugar, vanilla and Cointreau to the boil. 3. Remove from the heat. 4. Strain and discard the solids. 5. Cool the juice. 6. Divide the berries among the four glass serving cups. 7. Poor the cooled juice over the raspberries and chill for two to three hours. 8. Garnish with a mint sprig and biscotti of your choice.
Bon appétit
COMPETITION
RESULTS The winner of the fabulous set of cooking books from Justin Bonello, chef, author and TV personality is
Bongiwe Ndlovu
Congratulations, your prize is on its way to you! www.doitnow.co.za | Lifestyle • 115
inTERTAINMENT: Words by Richard Flamengo
MOVIE TITLE
Captain America DARK OF THE MOON (3D)
Director: Joe Johnston Starring: Chris Evans, Tommy Lee Jones and Hugo Weaving
HIGHLIGHTS
Hugo Weaving as the Red Skull. Recommended for: All superhero fans.
VERDICT
Marvel Studios brings the iconic American patriot to the big screen with this World War II adventure. After being deemed unfit for military service, Steve Rogers volunteers for the top secret research project: Rebirth, where he takes an experimental super-serum that turns him into Captain America, a superhero dedicated to defending America's ideals, with his trusty side kick Bucky at his side facing off against the evil Red Skull. Chris Evans returns to the superhero movie genre as Captain America and is accompanied by an all-star cast including Tommy Lee Jones, as the Colonel in charge, and Hugo Weaving, as the Captain’s arch nemesis; the Red Skull. Hugo Weaving is renowned for being the perfect bad guy and this time is no different, as he makes the Red Skull his own. This movie will have you entertained for over two hours, as it takes you on an adventure through World War II, blending great action sequences and sharp humour to make it a winner. This is Marvel’s last instalment linked to the build-up of the massive Avengers, which is due to be released in 2012 and brings together a group of hero’s such as Captain America, Iron Man, Thor and Hulk to save the world from evil.
MOVIE TITLE
Cowboys and Aliens Director: Jon Favreau Starring: Daniel Craig, Harrison Ford, Olivia Wilde and Sam Rockwell
HIGHLIGHTS
Daniel Craig and Harrison Ford. Recommended for: Superhero fans.
VERDICT
1873, Arizona. A stranger (Daniel Craig) with no memory of his past stumbles into the hard desert town of Absolution. The only clue to his past is a mysterious shackle on his wrist. He discovers that the people of Absolution don't welcome strangers, and nobody makes a move on its streets unless ordered to do so by the iron-fisted Colonel Dolarhyde (Harrison Ford). It's a town that lives in fear. But Absolution is about to experience fear it can scarcely comprehend as the desolate city is attacked by marauders from the sky. Screaming down with breathtaking velocity and blinding lights to abduct the helpless one by one, these monsters challenge everything the residents have ever known. Now, the stranger they rejected is their only hope for salvation. With all of this going for it the movie somehow lost its way due to no fault of the actors, as Daniel Craig and Harrison Ford bring electric chemistry to the screen. However, even their commendable performances couldn’t bring the movie to the level it should have been. In closing, the concept behind the movie was great and it still delivered some good entertainment. But it also proved that we should rather not try to stretch the blending of movie genres to this extreme level.
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GAME TITLE
Rugby World Cup 2011 Platform: PS3/X-BOX 360 Genre: Sport – Rugby
HIGHLIGHTS
The crunching tackles. The Springboks can always win J
VERDICT Lace up your boots and take on the world! The Rugby World Cup in New Zealand will certainly have the country glued to their TV screens, as the Springboks set forth in their quest to make history. With this in mind, I decided to have a look at how fans can keep themselves entertained in their living rooms, as well as keep their team on the winning side. The game takes you into the heart of the action, as you take your team through the various pool stages all the way to the grand finale - the privilege of lifting the William Web Ellis trophy as the world champions. There are five game modes: the World Cup tournament itself, single international tests, a warm-up tour, a place-kick shootout and online multiplayer matches (for just two players, as opposed to the four-player limit of offline play). If you live and breathe the sport, then there's enough of a game here to keep you entertained for hours.
MOVIES & GAMES TO LOOK OUT FOR (Release dates as per Sterkinekor.com) The Art of Flight Genre: Snowboarding
Travis Rice's use of the word epic to describe his new snowboarding film ‘The Art of Flight’ barely does the powder-crushing tour de force credit. The Herculean adventure shows Rice and his handpicked crew as they snowboard some of the wildest terrain around the globe. The Art of Flight is Rice's follow up to the award-winning film ‘That's It, That's All’ and both are shot by Curt Morgan, a snowboarder who turned to filmmaking after a serious back injury. Primarily filmed in Alaska, Chile, Colorado, Argentina, Romania and Rice's hometown of Jackson Hole, it took two years to produce. The insanely crisp high-def shots, combined with dramatic birds-eye views, create an almost first-person effect— an astounding portrayal of what it's like to step into Rice's boots, as he and the team shred in often untouched territory. Brace yourself for a new breed of action-sports film!
The Three Musketeers
The Twilight Saga Breaking Dawn Part 1
Fright Night
Genre: Romance Director: Bill Condon Starring: Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson Date: 18 November
Genre: Comedy/Horror Director: Craig Gillespie Starring: Anton Yelchin and Colin Farrell Date: 21 October
Batman Arkham City
Spiderman Edge Of Time
Genre: Action/Adventure Publisher: Warner Bros Released: November
Genre: Action/Adventure Publisher: Activision Released: October
Uncharted 3 Drakes Deception
Genre: Action/Adventure Director: Paul Anderson Starring: Logan Lerman and Mathew Macfadyen Date: 14 October
Genre: Action/Adventure Publisher: SCEE Released: November
www.doitnow.co.za | Lifestyle • 117
inSURE: Words by Peter Fairbanks
DO IT NOW FINANCIAL TIMES OCTOBER - NOVEMBER 2011
Need a tax break? Then start saving for your old age!
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I have discussed the importance of planning and saving for your retirement a number of times in the past two years, probably to the point of boredom. In this issue I would like to take a look at one of the most amazing vehicles to achieve your retirement goals: Retirement Annuity (RA). RAs don’t only provide a tax incentive during the years of contribution, it is also an excellent estate planning vehicle. Most product suppliers will offer you great flexibility on the monthly premiums that can be contributed towards your RA. This is then allocated to a suite of investment portfolios across the board that offer you long term savings. However, with the implementation of Regulation 28 of the Pension Funds Act on 1 July 2011, investors might feel hard done by as they may not invest more than 75% of their contribution in equities. Being slightly more prudent regarding pension monies, this new ruling may not be the worst idea I’ve come across yet.
To whom does Regulation 28 apply?
It applies to all retirement fund savings, including retirement annuity funds, pension and provident funds, preservation funds and unclaimed benefits funds. It does not apply to Living Annuity Funds, endowments and other non-retirement investment savings.
What does Regulation 28 mean to me?
The purpose of this regulation is to protect investors in retirement funds from the effects of poorly diversified investment portfolios, over-exposure to higher-risk asset classes, as well as complex financial instruments and portfolios.
Firstly, the Receiver of Revenue will encourage the build up of private pensions through the following tax incentives on RA: The greater of R1,750 or R3,500 allowable pension fund contributions; or 15% of non-retirement funding taxable income, as a rebate. In this year’s budget speech some changes to the tax benefits on retirement vehicles have been proposed, but precisely how Mr. Pravin wants to make this effective for RAs will hopefully be clarified soon. In addition, the build up in all asset classes in a RA is absolutely tax free. Exposure to equities, property and any other asset classes in your personal name will draw capital gains and taxes during the years of contribution, whereas a RA investment won’t. Your financial advisor can assist you with effective estate planning throughout your life time, and in the event of death, the deceased’s RA will be excluded from estate duties, thus saving your estate 20% on the value of an annuity. Most SME owners and sole proprietors use RAs to provide for their old age. But you will always find that self-employed people do not feel comfortable committing to a decent contribution, using excuses such as they are not sure about the cash flow situation of their business or even its solvency. As most RAs are flexible, you can reduce or increase the
monthly contributions as need be. Furthermore, should the business close down, creditors cannot attach the value of a RA and so you are left with some protection for your senior years. At retirement age, annuities and pension funds can be placed into what is known as Living Annuities. This vehicle allows you to continue investing your money and receive a monthly pension. The investment fund options for Living Annuities are also vast. One word of caution though at this point, do not be mislead by product suppliers that offer low acceptance fees initially, as they will make up their losses by being more expensive during the remainder of the term and this will cost you more than you can imagine. At activation date and mostly on a yearly term thereafter, you may choose a percentage income from the capital amount, between 2.5% and 17.5%, which can be paid monthly or annually. Unfortunately it is at this stage that the uncomfortable truth hits 9.8 out of 10 citizens when they realise that they did not provide adequately for their old age. Here’s an example. Jane saved R2 million in her life time and her last pay cheque amounted to R35,000. She needs R20,000 per month to maintain her current living standards. To cover this Jane opted for 12% from the capital amount as a monthly income from her Living Annuity. As Jane is 60, she cannot invest in equities to ensure a return of 1517% and needs to take a more conservative approach like money markets or a lower risk avert instrument. She will, in today’s terms, only receive a 6-8% return from this type of instrument. This means that Jane will reduce the capital amount by 4% from day one, and the knock-on effect means she will have a smaller capital amount to draw from in year two and so on, thereby reducing the life span of her pension dramatically. Jane could decide to only draw 4% from the capital amount, to preserve the capital. But this would result in her only receiving a monthly income of R6,600 per month; a huge reduction on what she needs to survive in her golden days. Sadly Jane is, as the saying goes, up a river without a paddle! We all talk about how the years seem to fly by so quickly these days. Do yourself a favour and start seriously saving for your old age TODAY, so that your golden days are golden.
Experts recommend that you save, on average, 20% of your annual income every year to fund your retirement account. As always, your financial advisor will be more than happy to explain these important benefits in more detail with you. •
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inFOCUS:
Words & Photos by Jacques Marais
Photographic
Chronicles
SHOOT!
A Family Adventure 120 • DO IT NOW October | November 2011
Sometimes even adventure photographers need to take a break, but that definitely does not mean the camera has to stay at home. Here’s how to get some great holiday snaps of you and the family having fun in the great outdoors. Nothing quite rates up there with a good, clean family adventure. And I’m sure you all know that when I say ‘clean’, I do not mean devoid of mud, sweat and the odd tear. Kids of any age only need the gentlest of nudges to get them outside and, once they’re outdoors, the fun is sure to find them. The recent school holidays ended up being a combo of work and play (I suppose that is the reality for most photojournalists).
Myself, Karyn, Beth (9) and Robert (6) road-tripped via the Cederberg into the Eastern Cape heartland in search of MTB routes to crank and mountain hikes to explore. Although the itinerary needed to focus on these adventures, it wasn’t difficult to find family destinations along the way. Eight Bells Mountain Inn nestled in the Ruiterbos Valley region; Arminel Hotel in Hogsback; Tsitsikamma Village Inn in Storms River Village … it does not get better than this. And the best way to keep the rest of the family happy while you’re in search of those definitive shots? Make sure they each have a camera with which to capture the journey. But make sure the kids are using water-resistant and shockproof compacts, otherwise this may just turn into a rather expensive exercise!
Image 1: Horsing About
The Action: Beth, Robs and two mates waiting to go on a morning horse ride at the stunning Eight Bells Mountain Inn near Mossel Bay. The Shot: Easy enough to set up. The kids were completely fascinated by the horses in the paddock, and this gave me enough time to frame the shot before calling them. The Technique: The use of a polariser, combined with stopping down by one stop after metering on the sky, accentuates the colours. The Specifications: 1/250th sec @ f8; Nikon D700 with 16-35mm lens; ISO 200; WB Setting (Sun); diffused fill-in flash from SB900; AE Setting: Under-exposure by 1 stop. More Information: www.eightbells.co.za
www.doitnow.co.za | Lifestyle • 121
Image 2: In the Footsteps of Fairies
The Action: Robs and Beth hiking along one of the verdant forest trails within the fantasy world of Hogsback’s arboretum. I did make sure they dressed like pixies … The Shot: I wanted to compact the depth of field on this image to isolate the kids, and used a long lens and wide aperture to achieve this. The Technique: As I did not have a tripod with me, it was necessary to lean the super-zoom lens against a sturdy tree trunk. I also shot a number of images to ensure I got at least a few sharp photos.
Image 3: Arch Energies
The Action: The hike up to Wolfsberg Arch through the eponymous cracks makes for one of SA’s most dramatic day walks. Start about three hours before dawn so you can be there for sunrise. The Shot: This one would be pretty difficult to mess up. A combo of perfect light and dramatic rock formations mean all you have to do is compose and push the shutter. The Technique: Always remove your polarising filter in warm light, as you do not want to lose a couple of stops while hand-holding.
The Specifications: 1/250th sec @ f5.6; D700mm with 80-400mm lens; ISO 400; WB Setting: (Auto).
The Specifications: 1/80th sec @ f5.6; D700 with 15mm fish eye lens; ISO 250; WB Setting (Sunlight).
More Information: www.katleisure.co.za/arminel/
More Information: www.jacquesmarais.co.za
Image 4: The Two Robbies
The Action: Robbie Marais (on his JD Bug) and Robbie Henderson explore the farm roads around Darlington Dam, a remote part of the Addo Elephant National Park. The Shot: Low light meant this was a bit of a grab shot, with a relatively low success ratio. The narrow depth of field on the 400mm zoom meant I had to prefocus on a spot to try and minimise movement and blur. Lightroom added a bit of funk to the final product. The Technique: Lying in the road gave me both stability and a low shooting angle. Lightroom offers several downloadable Presets for free on the Adobe website. The Specifications: 1/400th sec @ f5.6; D700 with 80-400mm zoom cranked to full; ISO - 800; WB Setting: Cloudy. More Information: www.adobe.com
124 • DO IT NOW October | November 2011
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NOW
inFOCUS
Reader Photo Competition
Winner Photographer: Giovanni Radoccia
WIN R500!
Camera Settings: Nikkor Lens F-Stop: f/9 1/320 s Place: Krugersdorp Category: Lifestyle
Photograph: Flashback Camera Type: Nikon D90
Competition Information This is your opportunity to showcase your photographic skills and stand a chance to WIN R500 for the best image in DO IT NOW’s inFOCUS competition, which features in every issue of the magazine. So get clicking and send us your photographs – you never know, you could just be our next WINNER! When submitting your images, please also include the following information: • Name of photographer. • Name of photograph. • Camera type.
• Camera settings. • Place where the photograph was taken.
• Which category you are submitting your photo under – Adventure, Sport or Lifestyle.
Competition Rules (1) The closing date for the next competition is 5 November 2011 and the winning photo will be featured and credited in the next issue of DO IT NOW. (2) The image entered must include the information requested above and any entry received without the requested information, will not be considered. Digitally manipulated images will not be accepted. (3) Only amateur photographers may enter. (4) Email your 1-3mb compressed .jpg image to infocus@doitnow.co.za (5) There is a maximum of one entry per person, per issue. (6) The judges’ decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into. (7) Please note that your images may be published in the DO IT NOW magazine and on the DO IT NOW website. (8) By entering the competition, you agree to abide by these rules.
126 • DO IT NOW October | November 2011
NOW
inVOLVED
Words by Ria Moothilal Photos courtesy of SiyaShova, www.siyashova.com
›› Team SiyaShova Rides for Hear Us Foundation Unlike Beijing, we may not have nine-million bicycles in South Africa, however Cape Town does have a few that are destined for great adventures. On 21 March 2011, Team SiyaShova set off on a journey across the length of Africa, from the shores of Cape Town to the glaciers on Africa’s rooftop of Mt. Kilimanjaro and then onto Cairo. This unsupported journey covers 13,000km through 10 countries and along four of Africa’s surrounding oceans in nine months.
›› Why are we doing it?
An easy answer would certainly be to say, for charity. The team is after all using this epic journey to raise both funds and awareness for the Hear Us Foundation, a locally registered charity that assists deaf people in acquiring cochlear implants – genius but expensive little devices that are implanted into the ear canal that allows a deaf person to hear! But that would be the easy answer. The real reason for each individual in the team differs, although the overall theme is the same: we are ordinary South Africans who want to make a positive difference in our community, society, country and world. For us the
positive difference comes in various forms from helping Hear Us to build sufficient capital for a trust fund that will be sustainable in helping the deaf into the future; doing volunteer work at various animal welfare associations across Africa; fighting stereotypes and inspiring the youth and fellow South African citizens to stand together; and contribute towards making a positive difference to our rainbow nation.
›› Who are we?
Team SiyaShova is comprised of three South Africans: Jiten Magan, Imraan Sayed and myself. With two of the three members hailing from the Kingdom of the Zulu, it’s only
fitting that the team gets its name from the isiZulu language – translated ‘siyashova’ means ‘we’re pedalling’. The names Magan, Sayed or Moothilal aren’t names one would normally conjure up in one’s mind when thinking of adventurers in Africa. All three of us are South Africans of Indian descent. Challenging stereotypical thinking is one of our goals. All too often people stop themselves from pursuing challenges or dreams with the reasoning that ‘this is not something that our people do’. These self-imposed limitations are part of a mindset that needs to change. We hope to portray an alternative image of South African Indians on the so called Dark Continent.
Eating mielies in Swaziland
128 • DO IT NOW October | November 2011
Jiten and Imraan are both veterinarians, hence the animal welfare work along the way, and I’m a business analyst. We have put our careers on hold to live out this dream; a dream of seeing Africa and making a real difference.
›› Why a charity for the deaf?
Growing up with a deaf brother, Jiten’s life has been touched by the challenges experienced by deaf people. Due to financial reasons his brother Anesh only received a cochlear implant very late in life and as such, did not reap the full benefit of the cochlear implant. He can hear sounds now, but is unable to distinguish fully between them. Had he had an implant at a young age, it’s very likely that he would have some degree of hearing and being ‘deaf’ would be something that would’ve become non-existent in his world. A cochlear device implanted early in life provides children with the means to hear, develop vital language skills and allows them independence to integrate into the hearing world. This is truly a life changing procedure and its benefits are permanent. Cochlear implants are more successful in restoring hearing in deaf children and adults who have lost their hearing later in life. There are many children out there who are deaf and now that we have the technology and means to overcome this, it’s only right that these children be given the right to enjoy a normal life; a life in full sound.
›› Where are we going?
Starting off in the Mother City, we head north along South Africa’s east coast. After East London we route north west for a traverse of the Mountain Kingdom of Lesotho. After navigating the Sani Pass we descend into KZN and continue along the coastal route to Swaziland, the country with the least distance on this mammoth trip. From there we continue north along Mozambique’s coastal roads, not without enjoying many of the pristine beaches in this part of
the world, before entering Malawi and swopping the shores of the Indian Ocean for the shores of Africa’s third largest lake. Heading north along Lake Malawi we cross over into Tanzania and head east for the capital of Dar es Salaam and the islands of Zanzibar – famous for its spices and infamous for being the main slave-trading port on Africa’s east coast. The roof of Africa is next up and is where we briefly hang up our cleats and don hiking boots for a hike to the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro. Kili should prove an interesting challenge for us – will cycling fitness translate into a successful summit of the Uhuru Peak? East Africa’s hub is next on the list and is famous for its wildlife and Masai tribesman. Kenya is sure to challenge us, especially north of the capital Nairobi where road conditions deteriorate up to Ethiopia. The mountain roads of Ethiopia are expected to provide some of the more scenic rides en route to Sudan. On 9 July 2011, southern Sudan became the newest addition to Africa’s list of countries. The January elections resulted in an overwhelming majority vote calling for a split in what is currently Africa’s largest country. Thankfully, it is the northern part of Sudan that we cycle through as we follow the Nile up to Wadi Halfa, the port of exit on the Aswan Dam. From here we will wind our way across the Egyptian desert to the shores of the Red Sea and past ancient relics to our final destination, Cairo and the fulfilment of our dream.
Donate, read our blogs and follow our progress on our website www.siyashova.com and stay in touch via our Facebook and Twitter accounts (search for the word siyashova). Also watch out for our follow up story in DO IT NOW, where we’ll share the trials and tribulations of our dream journey. •
TV interview in Mozambique
Crossing the Limpopo River in Mozambique
Tropic of Capricorn
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NOW
inCLOSING inside the next issue ... Can you imagine what I would do if I could do all I can? Sun Tzu Don’t miss our December/January issue to read about ordinary people doing extraordinary things. Here’s a sneak preview of some of the fascinating stories you can look forward to.
Trekking Adventures in Laos –
The Gibbon Experience by Adéle de Lange
The Gibbon Experience is an eco-tourism initiative that can only be described as an elaborate childhood fantasy! Imagine carefree living in a life-sized treehouse, perched hundreds of metres above the rainforest carpet, which can only be accessed through a super-sized network of zip-lines and hiking trails. If this is your kind of lifestyle, then you are going to enjoy this out-of-the-ordinary article.
Funnies Mexican Cyclist
A Closer Look at Fynbos by Nature Discovery The Kogelberg’s fascinating fynbos continues to draw explorers as botanists, conservationists and adventurers employ new means of transport to access this remote floral kingdom. Brian Pickering, an organic farmer and conservationist, takes us on an incredible journey into the ‘heart of fynbos country’, and is a must read for fynbos lovers.
A man on a bike, carrying two saddlebags, was stopped by a guard while crossing the US-Mexican border. He had rigged up a primitive rope bridge to by-pass customs control. “What's in the bags?” demanded the guard. “Sand,” the cyclist answered. “Take them off. I need to take a look,” retorted the guard. The guard emptied the bags and found out they contained nothing but sand. The man reloaded his bags and continued across the border. A week later, the same man was crossing again with two more bags. The guard demanded to see them, and again they contained nothing but sand. This continued every week for six months, until one day the cyclist failed to appear. A few days later, that same guard ran into the cyclist in Tijuana. “Hey, where have you been?” the guard enquired. “You sure had us wondering. We knew you were smuggling something across the border. So tell me and I won't say a word. What was it?” The man smiled broadly and told him the truth, “Bicycles!”
While every effort is made by the DIN Team to ensure that the content of the DO IT NOW Magazine is accurate at the time of going to press, DO IT NOW Adventures (Pty) Ltd cannot accept responsibility for any errors that may appear, or for any consequence of utilising the information contained herein. Statements by contributors are not always representative of DO IT NOW Adventures (Pty) Ltd opinion. Copyright 2009 DO IT NOW Adventures (Pty) Ltd. No part of this magazine may be reproduced in any form or stored on a retrieval system without the prior permission of DO IT NOW Adventures (Pty) Ltd. DO IT NOW Adventures (Pty) Ltd 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.
130 • DO IT NOW October | November 2011
ARE YOU READY ? Please make no attempt to emulate the illustrated riding scenes, always wear protective clothing and observe road traffic regulations!
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