DO IT NOW Magazine #12 - Adventure, Sport & Lifestyle

SSY SCUBA SCENE

A Royal Red Sea Experience

To u r i n g

ADVENTURE - SPORT - LIFESTYLE

Ta l e s through Botswana an

VOLUME 3 • ISSUE 4 • 2011

ADVENTURE

• Dakar Supporters Tour 2011 • One Wheel, One Jamaica • Pimp your Kayak

SPORT

• 12th Annual Roxy Wahine Cup • joBerg2c: The Great Pilgrimage • Take a Hike

LIFESTYLE

• Rory ‘Meltdown Magical’ McIlory • Fly Fishing & Coffee - Bale Mountains • The Rise and Fall of Property

www.doitnow.co.za

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Vol. 3 • Issue 4 • Aug/Sep 2011

SUBSCRIBE NOW - p.11

d Namibia

WIN!

Reader Competitions p 10, 12, 115, 126

MAX KNOX

We would like you to meet our

Ambassadors

Photograph: Courtesy of Ballistic Bike Trading

MAX KNOX Upcoming races to catch Max at:

2011 Illovo Eston MTB Race - 7 August Powerade Cansa Lost City Classic - 21 August MTN National XCM #6 Gravel Travel - 27 August

2 • DO IT NOW August | September 2011

Deon Breytenbach Upcoming events to watch Deon perform at:

Whitewater Training Mount Ash Festival, Ash River in Clarens - 29-31 July Gravity Adventure Festival, Kleinmond Western Cape -13-14 August (NFKC) National Freestyle Kayak Competition, Vaal River, Parys Free State - November

Photographer: Dewet Michau

Deon Breytenbach

Photographer: Dean Venish

JADE GUTZEIT

JADE GUTZEIT Upcoming races to catch Jade at:

Winterberg National Enduro - 13 August WFO National Enduro, Champagne Sports Resort - 10 September WFO - 29 October

www.doitnow.co.za • 3

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Adventure

Why not try out these adventure activities over the next three months?

 Gliding Aerobatics // Worcester Airfield (Western Cape)  Cable Ski // Winelands (Cape Town)  Riverboarding // Zambezi (Zambia)  Abseiling // Magaliesburg (Gauteng)  Quad Biking // Oudtshoorn (Western Cape)  Boat Whale Watching // Durban (KZN)  Big Swing // Graskop (Limpopo)  Sandboarding // Cape Town (Western Cape)

Sport 

Trail Running // Outeniqua Traverse – George (Western Cape): 6 August

 Surfing // Woman’s Day Surf Challenge – Inter Provincial: 9 August  MTB // Trans Baviaans 24hr MTB Marathon - Jeffreys Bay (Eastern Cape):

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 Surfing // SSA Lets Go Surfing – Inter Provincial: 28 August  Trail Run // HI-Tec Kwagga – Gauteng: 28 August  MTB – Trail Run // The Nguni Classic MTB and Trail Run –

Ladysmith (KZN): 10 September

 Surfing // Lizzard Tag Series 3 – PE (Eastern Cape): 11 September  AR // Kinetic Adventure – Gauteng: 18 September  MTB – Trail Run // Cederberg MTB and Trail Run Challenge –

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 Triathlon // 5150 Bela Bela Triathlon – Bela Bela (Limpopo): 13 August  Waterskiing // WP OPEN - Cape Town (Western Cape): 20 August  Trail Running // The Crazy Store Magaliesburg Challenge 2011 –

Cederberg (Western Cape): 24 September

 Trials // Sheepdog Trials – SA Champs/Nationals – Jubilee Nursery, Muldersdrift (Gauteng): 29 September - 2 October

 Racing // Pro Tour Series - Zwartkops (Gauteng): 8 October  MTB // Isuzu 3 Towers Stage Race - Mankele (Mpumalanga): 14 October

OCTOBER 2011

Lifestyle 

Concert // James Blunt – Johannesburg (Gauteng): 24 August

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 Exhibition // Pretoria Show – Pretoria (Gauteng): 26 August - 4 September  Eco Walk // 101 Namaqualand Eco Walk – Kamieskroon / Vredendal

(Western Cape): 27 August

 Show // Getaway Show – Coca-Cola Dome (Gauteng): 2-4 September  Eco Walk // 101 Namaqualand Eco Walk – Kamieskroon / Vredendal

(Western Cape): 5 September

 Festival // Magoebaskloof Spring Festival – Limpopo: 18-26 September  Show // Good Food and Wine Show – JHB (Gauteng): 22-25 September  Festival // Oktoberfest - Paulaner Bräuhaus – Cape Town: 8-31 October

NOW

inTRO

FOUNDER’S LETTER

When I entered the business world as a fresh-faced young lad, it was with much excitement that I started looking at purchasing my very first laptop, and set about researching the technical specs of what was available.

A colleague of mine, who had overheard that I was looking for the latest and greatest laptop around, had these wise words of advice for me, “If you want to buy the latest computer, wait until tomorrow.” That was more than 10 years ago, but for some reason his advice has always stuck with me. It seems like we can never catch up with technology as there is always a newer and faster version on the way and if you don’t immediately brag about your new toy to your friends today, it will be old news by tomorrow.

Flat screen technology has definitely taken over the way we look at entertainment. It is now standard for our PCs, laptops, home theatres and more recently it’s moved to fancy tablets, those flat screen things that look like oversized iPHONES . The internet is another area that has become way more accessible and an integral part of our daily lives. By combining flat screen technology with the internet, it has revolutionized media and entertainment forever and made a huge impact on the way in which we communicate with our emails, Facebook, twitter and the likes, as well as stay in touch by browsing the Internet and reading books and newspapers online. It is almost at the point where you don’t need DSTV anymore because of all the entertainment available on YouTube and the online television channels. You can pretty much watch what you want from any internet connected device, anytime and anywhere.

At DO IT NOW we have been keeping a close eye on these trends and are slowly tweaking the way we operate to keep abreast of the times. One initiative already well underway is our more interactive website, which features the magazine, videos, picture galleries and other online articles. Going forward we envision introducing a bimonthly television show and in terms of the magazine, I am now able to read it on my iPAD, using free applets that can be downloaded from the Appstore.

So how does this affect you, you might ask? We want to ensure that we are meeting your needs and delivering a quality reading experience. To do this, we would really appreciate your feedback on the following two questions:

How often do you use social media like twitter and Facebook? a) Monthly b) Weekly c) Daily Would you read the DO IT NOW magazine if you received it via email or could download it to your smart phone or tablet? a) Yes b) Maybe c) No Please send your answers to info@doitnow.co.za or complete the form online at www.doitnow.co.za. As a token of our appreciation for your time and effort, five participants will stand a chance to each win an awesome DO IT NOW hamper.

This valuable information will help us to better our service, reach our readers in a more effective manner and reduce the volume of magazines being returned to our office due to incorrect postal information. It will also assist us in assessing how soon DO IT NOW can move towards being a predominantly digital medium for those who are eager to embrace and enjoy digital entertainment at their fingertips, with the print copy available on demand only.

Other benefits of going digital include being able to add even more up to date content to each issue and reduce our turnaround time so that you won’t have to wait four weeks for the printing and mailing of the magazine to be completed before you get stuck into your next exciting issue. Most importantly, as we consider ourselves as ‘green warriors’ this move will also enable us to reduce our carbon footprint and do our bit in preserving the environment.

I would like to thank you all in advance for taking the time to send us this information. We will be sure to give you feedback on the results we receive and what options we will consider going forward.

DON’T HESITATE! DON’T PROCRASTINATE! DO IT NOW! DIN regards, Francois Flamengo Founder PS: Don’t miss my article on diving the Red Sea on page 40.

www.doitnow.co.za • 5

On the Cover - Photos by Trevor Graham Rider: Dirk Heyns Location: Omaruru River, Namibia

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 & MARKETING Morné Labuschagne | morne@doitnow.co.za BRAND AWARENESS Keane Ludick | keane@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

Please Recycle

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 contents of the DO IT NOW Adventures (Pty) Ltd are accurate at the time of going to press, DO IT NOW Adventures (Pty) Ltd cannot except responsibility for any errors that may appear, or for any consequence of using the information contained herein. Statements by contributors are not always representative of 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 August June | July | September 2011 2011

Advertising and Sponsorship Opportunities

For more information on advertising and sectional sponsorship opportunities in the magazine and website, you can request the DO IT NOW Company Profile, Rate Card, Specs & Schedule Sheet via email at 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 Maclear, Mystical and Magical 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.

2. Claire Barnes // inALTITUDE SKYDIVING: Formation - Artistry - Atmonauti 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.

3. Claire King // inALTITUDE Skydiving Contributor 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 Fly Fishing and Coffee in the Bale Mountains 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 Pimp your Kayak 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: Out the Box - Suzuki Swift 1.4 GLS, OPEL ASTRA 1.4T Enjoy Plus & BMW G650GS, An Interview with Carolyn Swan, Rally Co-driver 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! The Sport of The Gods, 2011 Expedition Africa 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

8. Michael Scholz // in THE HOLE 20 Questions with Stewart Walker, South African male model, Rory ‘Meltdown Magical’ McIlory 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.

9. Neil Ross // inDULGE Recipes: Hearty Russian Beef Stroganoff & Lemon Custards with Lavender Shortbread 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.

10. Peter Fairbanks // inSURE The Rise and Fall of Property 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 The Facts on Achilles Tendinoses 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 Ballooning the Magaliesburg – Not Just a Lot of Hot Air, Indonesia – Part 2 of 3, The Gili Islands – a Paradise in 3 Parts 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 The Namib Desert: Playground of the Mighty Cruiser!

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: David Maina inGEAR: Quickpic, Team Total and Evan Rothman; inTRANSIT: Dirk Heyns, Trevor Graham, Christo Coetzer and Ricardo Bailey; inH2O: www.kayak-sa.co.za; inALTITUDE: Hanneke Pienaar-Steenekamp, Cara Fleischer and Van Zyl Steenekamp SPORT SPORT header page photograph by: Alison Cole (www.storyboardphotos.com) inTERVIEW: Team Total and Evan Rothman; inTRODUCING: Mark and Lynette Trollip, Vincent Boonzaaier, Armand Fourie, Vincent Boonzaaier and Mohale Motsei; inACTION: Mandy Hartlett, Anton Pretorius (Leisure Boating), O’Brien Watersports, Damien Laird, Lerissa Kemp, Dane Patterson, Roxy, Kelly Cestari, Graham Bird, Tatum Prins, Max Knox, Ballistic Bike Trading, Jaco Lubbe, Andre Meintjies, Action Photo, Malcolm Behrens inPREPARATION: Chris Birch, www.redbullcontentpool.com and Morné and Aileen Swanepoel (CombatCoaching.com); inSHAPE: Danie Kriek LIFESTYLE LIFESTYLE header page photograph by: Alison Cole (www.storyboardphotos.com) in THE HOLE: Stewart Walker; inVOLVED: Lisa de Speville and Owen Govender/SANParks

www.doitnow.co.za • 7

NOW

inDEX

Vol 3 | Issue 4 | 2011 | www.doitnow.co.za

Base

// DINList and Calendar: p. 4 An exciting three-month calendar on AdventureSport-Lifestyle. // Subscription page: p. 10-11 DO IT NOW Subscription form and competition. // inFO: p. 12-13 Information page, check out our competitions, feedback and updates. // inSTORE: p. 14-15 Exciting products and subscriber discounts. // inFOCUS: Reader photo competition p. 126 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. 20-27

inGEAR: Adventure-Sport-Lifestyle activities

featuring vehicles with gears.

p. 28-35 inTRANSIT: Exciting and entertaining travel

stories from Africa and beyond.

p. 36-45 inH2O: Water sports and adventures. p. 46-51 inALTITUDE: Aerial / high altitude adventures. p. 54-55 inTERVIEW: Interviews with a variety of sports men and women. p. 56-59 inTRODUCING: Featuring informative articles on a number of sports and why athletes compete in them. p. 60-84 inACTION: Information and feedback on various sporting events. p. 86-95 inPREPARATION: Information, tips and or training programmes for various sporting activities and events. p. 96-99 inSHAPE: Important information on topics such as health, nutrition and exercise. p. 102-105 in THE HOLE: Golfing articles and celebrity interviews. p. 106-107 inNATURE: Outdoor experiences and activities such as fishing and hiking. p. 108-113 inCREDIBLE PLACES: Articles about incredible and magical places. p. 114-115 inDULGE: A wine and dine section with a twist. p. 116-117 inTERTAINMENT: Movie, music and game reviews. p. 118-119 inSURE: Valuable information about insurance and related topics. p. 120-126 inFOCUS: Photography section with a competition and event-specific photography tips.

Key: Adventure | Sport | Lifestyle

8 • DO IT NOW August | September 2011

68

Adventure

p. 16-51

// inGEAR

20-22 The Namib Desert: Playground of the Mighty Cruiser!

24-26 IN REVIEW: Out the Box - Suzuki Swift 1.4 GLS, OPEL ASTRA 1.4T Enjoy Plus & BMW G650GS 28-31 Touring Tales Through Botswana and Namibia

// inTRANSIT 32-35

// inH2O 36-38 40-44

One Wheel, One People, One Jamaica Pimp your Kayak A Royal Red Sea Experience

// inALTITUDE 46-48 50-51

Winter Climbing Blues Ballooning the Magaliesburg – Not Just a Lot of Hot Air

Sport

p. 52-99

// inTERVIEW

54-55

An Interview with Carolyn Swan, Rally Co-driver

// inTRODUCING

56-57 58-59 60-62

// inACTION

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Sheepdog Trials Orlando Towers’ Extreme Sports Day SKYDIVING: Formation - Artistry - Atmonauti

Champions of the Wake - SA Open Wakeboarding Championships Cable Wakeboard and Wakeskate Nationals from a Wakeboarder’s Perspective Rolloboard Local Baum Victorious at 12th Annual Roxy Wahine Cup The Power and Glory of 2011 Expedition Africa joBerg2c 2011: The Great Pilgrimage to the Sea Big Induna Attracts SA’s Best Dakar Supporters Tour 2011

// inPREPARATION

85-88 89-92 93-95

// inSHAPE

96-97 98-99

Extreme Enduro is the Latest Take a Hike Gas in the Tank for the High Performance MMA Athlete Nutrition in Sports Performance The Facts on Achilles Tendinoses

Lifestyle

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p. 100-129

// in THE HOLE

102-103 20 Questions with Stewart Walker, South African male model 104-105 Rory ‘Meltdown Magical’ McIlory

// inNATURE 106-107 Maclear, Mystical and Magical // inCREDIBLE PLACES 108-110 111-113

Fly Fishing and Coffee in the Bale Mountains Indonesia – Part 2 of 3, The Gili Islands – A Paradise in 3 Parts

// inDULGE

114-115 Recipes: Hearty Russian Beef Stroganoff &

Lemon Custards with Lavender Shortbread

// inSURE

116-117

The Rise and Fall of Property

// inTERTAINMENT 118-119

Music, Movie and Game Reviews

// inFOCUS

120-125 SHOOT! The Sport of The Gods, 2011 Expedition Africa

// inVOLVED

128-129

Hi-Tech Steps up to the Mark

DON’T HESITATE! DON’T PROCRASTINATE! DO IT NOW! www.doitnow.co.za • 9

WORTH R4000!

SUBSCRIBE AND WIN Subscribe to DO IT NOW Magazine and stand a chance to win a two-night stay at Gecko lodge with a safari game drive in the Kruger national park.

Bed and breakfast included. Safari game drive in the Kruger National park sponsored by Kurt safari.

SUP

- what the heck?

ADVENTURE - SPORT

SUBSCRIBE TO

- LIFESTYLE VOLUME 3 • ISSUE 3 • 2011

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ADVENTURE

• Mabuasehube, a Kalahari Gem • An African Experienc e, Malawi • Family Fun - Oar Rafting • 9 Provinces, 9 Peaks, 9 Days

11

Vol. 3 • Issue 3 • Jun/Jul

2011

SPORT

• Darryl vs Dakar • The Secret’s out on Sailing • The Great Debate - MMA • Induna X-fest 2011, fantastic

LIFESTYLE

• Paul’s River Pisces • Indulge in the Pleasure of Wine • Music, Movie and Game Reviews • SHOOT! An Off-road Expedition

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33.02’44.58”E

NOW

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27.58’32.71”S

COMPETITIONS

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WIN R250!

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 September 2011. The winner will be drawn from all the correct entries and announced in the DO IT NOW October/November 2011 magazine and on the website.

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Our Winners!

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Congratulations and enjoy!

WHAT WE’RE UP TO ...

What’s Happening in South Africa Over the Next Two Months?

National Boat Show –The Dome 12-14 Aug 2011 If you have fun on, in or under the water, the 2011 National Boat Show & Dive Exhibition has something exciting for professionals to families and weekend enthusiasts. Catch the DO IT NOW team in the Wake War’s section. www.nationalboatshow.co.za

Gravity Adventure Festival - Koglberg Biosphere Reserve 12 - 14 Aug 2011 The Gravity Adventure Festival in the Koglberg Biosphere Reserve, near Kleinmond, brings together a range of adventure disciplines from kayaking to rock climbing and river rafting. It’s a must for all adventure seekers. www.sa-venues.com/events/westerncape/gravity-adventure-festival

Good Food and Wine Show – Coca Cola Dome 22-25 September 2011 Get ready for a sensory sensation as a variety of celebrity chefs bring you mouth-watering and palate-tingling culinary delights, as they demonstrate their art from four state-of-the-art kitchen theatres. www.goodfoodandwineshow.co.za

12 • DO IT NOW August | September 2011

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Get

nVOLVED

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.

www.doitnow.co.za www.doitnow.co.za • 13

NOW

inSTORE

Big Bang The Big Bang is our revolutionary creekboat / expedition kayak capable of handling class 5 creeks, yet at the same time has ample speed for long hauls and enough packing space for extended periods in the wild.

The Big Bang is based on our highly successful Expedition Solo, which proved to be an exceptional boat for running the hard stuff while also having the luxury of a hatch compartment for easy packing on multiday trips. Did we take the E Solo concept and just stretch it out? Yes and no. We created a longer, faster version of it, but we also changed some crucial features of the design. The Big Bang is super forgiving despite the longer length. It is still highly manoeuvrable, punches big holes like no man’s business, boofs like a much shorter boat, and has the volume and peaked decks to keep it on top at all times.

The Big Bang features the tried and tested hatch system of the E Solo with a sealed off foam bulkhead.

14 • DO IT NOW August | September 2011

EXCITING GEAR AND GIFTS FROM DO IT NOW

The knee area is raised and also relatively wide to accommodate big paddlers. Copious volume and an extended water line means that heavy paddlers will find the Big Bang a cruise. It is naturally an easy boat to roll too.

The Big Bang is ideal for kayakers doing multiday expeditions, kayakers wanting some extra speed in a creekboat, and also for kayakers too big to fit comfortably in normal creekboats. It is a great choice too for kayakers needing easily accessible space for rescue or photography gear.

Specifications

Length: 270 cm / 8’10” Width: 65 cm / 25.5” Volume: 310 litres / 82 gal Hatch volume: 100 litres / 26.4 gal Weight: 22.5 kg / 49 lbs Cockpit size: 49x87 cm / 19.25”x34.25” Paddler weight range: 70-135 kg / 155-300 lbs Retail price R7 265

ALL DIN SUBSCRIBERS QUALIFY FOR GREAT DISCOUNTS - CONTACT sales@doitnow.co.za

PURE Blast PURE Blast gives you the ultimate training experience.

PURE Blast is formulated to provide athletes with advanced mental and physical endurance and strength during their workout. It combines super fast digesting hydrolyzed protein with excellent sources of high density energy, to intensify your training session – preventing your body from going into “break-down” mode, while providing enough energy to maximise your workout capacity.

PURE Blast contains a unique blend of antioxidants and vasodilators that prepares your body and mind for a workout. It is a fast acting energy supplement that gives you explosive power, increased velocity and endurance, enhanced calorie burning and provides you with ultimate mental focus. Vinpocitine, Guarana and Green Tea. RETAIL R298

AHEAD GOLF SHIRTS Arguably Ahead’s most popular selling shirt to date.

With its classy look coming across from drop needle striped fabric and stunning contrasting neck seam trim, you’ll be finding every opportunity to wear this shirt.

It doesn’t end there. They’ve even gone as far as making sure they give you the silkiest of polyester fabrics that provides unbelievably great moisture management, and ever lasting comfort.

Quoted off Ahead’s website (or as famously said

by Ahead), “Some things in life take years to perfect, others are available to see you get there”.

This garment certainly lives up to this statement!

RETAIL R310

NOW

Shutterstock Image

// inGEAR: The Namib Desert: Playground of the Mighty Cruiser! * IN REVIEW: Out the Box - Suzuki Swift 1.4 GLS, OPEL ASTRA 1.4T Enjoy Plus & BMW G650GS * Touring Tales Through Botswana and Namibia // inTRANSIT: One Wheel, One People, One Jamaica // inH2O: Pimp your Kayak * A Royal Red Sea Experience // inALTITUDE: Winter Climbing Blues * Ballooning the Magaliesburg – Not Just a Lot of Hot Air

PHOTOGRAPH BY: David Maina DESCRIPTION: Team BOT. SA Skydiving Nationals 2011 - Robertson Skydiving Club

Adventure

MANUFACTURERS OF

HEAVY DUTY 4X4

ACCESSORIES

18 • DO IT NOW August | September 2011

ONCA

❱❱ FITMENT CENTRE ❱❱ FOG LIGHTS - R1 650 ❱❱ BULL BAR - R10 175 ❱❱ TOW BAR - R6 588 ❱❱ TRIPPLE ROLL BAR - R5 786 ❱❱ SIDE TOOLBOX (SET) - R2 780 ❱❱ ROCK SLIDERS - R5 783 ❱❱ STONE GAURDS - R3 130 ❱❱ LED SPOTLIGHTS - R8 960 ❱❱ FRONT SKID PLATE - R1 480 ❱❱ TORQUE “17” x 8 RIMS - R2 445 - per rim

PRICES EXCLUDE FITMENT * LISTED PRICES APPLICABLE TO THIS MODEL AND CAN CHANGE FOR OTHER VEHICLE MODELS

CONTACT US

OFFICE: +27 (11) 979 2690 LEN NEL: 082 461 3997 LEE NEL: 072 796 5113 EMAIL: sales@onca4x4.co.za WEB: www.onca4x4.co.za

inGEAR:

Words and Photos by Wynand Smit

My wife and I love the outdoors, whether it’s camping in the bushveld or climbing in the Drakensberg. Being an avid 4x4 enthusiast, what better way to get there than to use the ‘kort stokkie’ and grinding the low range gears of your 4x4?

I wouldn’t rate myself as the MacGyver of 4x4, but given the fact that I have travelled through six African countries (engaged in low range) and done my fair share of off-road and recovery courses, a modest rating of 7/10 would suffice for my years of experience. That being said, my rating does not include doing low-level flying in the world’s largest cat litter box … Let me explain.

About two years ago a friend of mine asked if I would like to join him for a bit of R&R in Namibia. The following points were to some degree important: Location: Namib Naukluft Park Activity: Land Cruiser EFI tour Accommodation: Something about a camp somewhere in the desert, “But don’t worry, it’s cool!” (apparently the remark was not aimed at the weather, but rather the facilities) Dress: “Whatever, it’s February and it’s in the desert … you do the math!”

Vehicle: Land Cruiser 4.5l EFI

I adhered to the guy code and did not enquire further. We could sort the rest out with a bit of Visa plastic if need be.

At long last the day of our departure arrived! Everything was packed, checked and re-checked, yet somehow a small detail was not communicated to yours truly … Namibia is like a fairytale … far far away! We drove for ages and then we drove some more until we came upon some random tree next to the road and I was informed that we were officially halfway! Not ayoba for sure. Anyway, seeing as this was my first trip to Namibia everything was new and exciting, even the 2,5 zillion donkeys in Botswana.

Two days after our departure we finally arrived at the Yacht Club in Walvis Bay, stretched our legs, met the tour operator, had a ‘dop’, filled the Cruiser with 250-litres of petrol (it’s one big ass tank!) and set off in a south easterly direction. We were embarking on the annual EFI trip hosted

by Weskus 4x4 and Uri Adventures.

20 • DO IT NOW August | September 2011

One of the older guys in the group, Oom Harry, had a sticker on his cruiser that read, ‘Big dune driving’. As we made our way to the Namib Naukluft Park, we drove through a sand storm that could probably be seen from space and I couldn’t help but ponder the question: How big is a big dune and what does driving on a big dune entail?

Less than an hour later I had my answer. Not in my wildest dreams could I have foreseen that big dune driving entailed a 3-ton Pickup hurtling at roughly 80km/h towards a 300 metre high dune. Some useless information: I have been told that when frightened, I tend to scream like a little girl (let’s call her Suzie for now). Well let’s just say that Suzie’s thunderous objections to this newly-inflicted emotional stress were heard for miles!

At first the hurtling part of our new game was fun until my good buddy and driver of the wagon to hell had to start applying the brakes. Yet funnily enough he did not seem to care too much about reducing speed, but rather folded himself into the ‘brace’ position - very similar to the crash position passengers would assume on an aircraft in distress - whilst shouting above the noise of the revving 4.5l, “HOU VAS!” What followed was a combination of madness, adrenaline and sheer joy! Once you have committed to your line, the mighty Cruiser beast devours the side of the dune like a ravenous dog and in no time you are at the top and descending on the other side, gleefully hunting for the next challenge!

I found that with each oncoming dune, the terrifying prospect of a horrendous death was equally matched by incredible relief once the dune had been conquered, culminating in hour upon hour of emotional seesaws! After that first dune I knew that the only problem for the week would be that I hadn’t packed enough clean underwear!

After a relaxing and much-needed sundowner on some random dune boasting the most breathtaking view, we proceeded to camp and settled in. The camp was situated in the dry riverbed of the Kuiseb River, a mere 300 metres away from the northern-most dunes of the Namib Naukluft Park. Sitting next to the fire peering into the dark of night, the dunes actually looked like a small mountain range.

T NAHE DE M I S PL AYG B E ROUN R D OF T H T E MIG

HT Y C

RUISE

:

R!

L-R: Melvin Stander, Wynand Smit, Francois Flamengo & Wikus Pienaar

Over the course of the next five days we settled into a routine of breakfast, dunes, lunch, dunes, supper, kuier, sleep, dreaming about dunes, breakfast and so it continued. It was heavenly bliss to be cut off from modern civilization; no emails, phone calls or sms’s!

We tackled some of the highest and toughest dunes that the Namib had to offer. I learnt the correct way to drive on a camber and more importantly, how and when to apply the front and rear differential lockers. This may sound easy on paper, but believe me when you are sitting in a three-ton Pickup, driving at an angle of roughly 45 degrees, all whilst eyeing the bottom of the dune that you are driving on through the passenger side window, you really do want to get it right! Terminology like ‘throttle control’ and ‘power’ took on a whole new meaning for me as I happily explored further into this new world of 4x4ing.

There has been a lot written about dune driving and the breed of pilot this type of 4x4ing lures. I have found that dune driving requires three things: • Superb equipment • Tremendous skill • A pair of iron … hmmm, you get the idea.

specific requirements of each driver. I’ll bet my last dime that there are more accessories available on a Land Cruiser Pickup than Dolce & Gabbana can ever dream of providing Paris Hilton. Bull bars, roll bars, tow bars, rock sliders, spotlights, water tanks, toolboxes and the list just goes on. For every need there is a variety of products available and if not, the guys from ONCA 4X4 will build whatever you can think up. Every Cruiser is unique and one can even go so far as to say that it is an extension of its driver’s personality.

Secondly, one does not merely slide behind the wheel of one of these beasts, aim it in the direction of the closest pile of sand and hope for the best. It takes a certain amount of experience to properly size up a dune.

Judging the line of travel, knowing when and where to make the fourth to third gear change and, more importantly, being able to properly execute such a gear change under pressure. This is not a skill you just pick up at your local Spar.

Thirdly, a word of caution: inexperience and ego will, as surely as Suzie’s screams are still ringing over the Namib, always result in injury, damage and even death.

So why do people drive 5,000 kilometres to attend a tour in the Namib desert year after year?

Big dune driving is, in my opinion, a form of art. To start with, on the EFI trip all the participants drove Land Cruiser Pickups. You can do the tour with any other brand of 4x4, at any time of the year, but the EFI trip is exclusively for Land Cruiser Pickups. The older 4.5L EFI and of course the new 4L V6 are the stallions of choice and believe me when I say these beasts were made for this! The Pickups are also tailored to the

22 • DO IT NOW August | September 2011

As we played for kilometre after kilometre with our big toys against the backdrop of one of the most amazing places on earth, I realised that the reason for this was simple: The concept of freedom! Freedom to test yourself and your custom-built machine. Freedom to explore the wilderness. Freedom to feel alive! Freedom to just enjoy your Cruiser! •

inGEAR: Words & Photos by Francois Steyn

IN REVIEW: OUT THE BOX

Suzuki Swift 1.4 GLS The second generation Suzuki Swift has finally arrived, three years after Suzuki SA launched the nimble little 1.5-litre Swift in 2008.

As with the previous model, it remains a city runabout with a fun-loving nature. The exterior’s styling is very similar to the outgoing model, but inside there have been numerous improvements, chief amongst which is the new, smaller power-plant. The 1,372cc engine employs intake and exhaust variable valve timing and multi-point injection to deliver 70 kW of power and 130 Nm of torque. The new mill promotes lower emissions and better fuel consumption without diluting the sporty character of the aptly named Swift.

The engine revs effortlessly to the red line and the five-speed gearbox has a short throw for quick changes. The direct steering, matched to the firm suspension and low profile tyres on 16-inch alloys grips when throwing it around. The Swift inspires passionate driving, so I was surprised when I still managed 14.5km/l. With a 42-litre fuel tank, a range of at least 600km is on the cards.

Inside the cabin of the GLS you’ll find a chunky, new, leatherclad steering wheel with audio controls on it. Keyless go means you only need press a start button next to the steering column while depressing the clutch. The previous model’s bland interior has been replaced by a more modern look that has a premium-feel centre console, with climate control and an integrated sound system. You also get an on-board computer, USB port and silver inlays along the door panels and around the air vents.

Both the GL and GLS models have ABS, EBD, Brake Assist and ISOFix child seat anchors. The former has dual front airbags, while the latter sports side and curtain airbags as well. Space in the rear is not exactly plentiful, but I made two airport pickups during my time with the Swift and managed to fit all the luggage in the boot once removing the fake floor.

What I like most about the Swift, and indeed all Suzukis, is that they are different. You don’t get bored with them as quickly as with some other cars. I had a mad week of zipping in and out of town for work, sometimes making two trips a day, and after more than a 1,000km in one week I was still enjoying the experience. These days it is so difficult to find something sensible yet desirable to own.

This is Japanese so it will last and being a Suzuki it still gets noticed.

At R169,900 for the GLS model it is well priced with a lot of standard equipment compared to the competition. A 4 year/60,000km service plan is also included in the price.

Expect to pay at least 10 grand more for a similar spec’d VW Polo or Mazda 2 that only have 62 kW of power, more than 10% less than the Swift, and 15-inch wheels compared to the Suzuki’s 16s.

OPEL ASTRA 1.4T Enjoy Plus

The Opel Astra has always been a much loved icon in South Africa, but somewhat overshadowed by the success of its closest rival, the VW Golf. With the Golf 6 getting on a bit in age, it gives the new range of Astra models some breathing space to carve a place in the motoring public’s hearts. And what better way to start than with the 1.4T Enjoy, nominated for SA Car of the Year 2011.

Producing a healthy 103 kW of power and 200 Nm of torque, it’s rather punchy for a 1.4. There is some noticeable turbo lag though, however once past 3,000 r/min it doesn’t take long to hit the rev limiter near the red line before you have to upshift through the smooth six-speed manual gearbox. But that’s part of the fun. The engine doesn’t produce a racy tone, mainly due to the well insulated interior.

Inside you’ll find an up market black interior with silver inlays on the centre console. The controls for the radio and air conditioning take some getting used to without taking your eyes off the road, but the multi-function steering wheel is easily operated. The new Astra Enjoy Plus package has some very sophisticated features as standard, including auto levelling Bi-Xenon head-lights, rain censors for the windshield wipers, Adaptive Forward Lighting and Control Intelligent High Beam. The latter actually works, switching the main beams on at night when there is no traffic and switching off again when detecting light or the rear red lights of the slower traffic as you catch up.

The car has two driving modes, Tour and Sport. If you press the Sport button, it changes the steering input, drive-train and suspension setup. It also changes all the displays on the instrument cluster to glow red. On the centre console there is a configuration menu button where you can customise a whole range of vehicle settings.

To programme the Sport mode for instance, you simply tick one or all four options mentioned. Then you can set up the delay for the head lights on exit and in the language you prefer. This is also where you set up a connection between the audio system and your mobile phone. The on-board display shows trip distance, average fuel consumption, range left and the exact tyre pressure for each wheel, which I thought was an important safety feature and unique to this price range.

Throwing it into a corner the steering feels a tad vague, however it goes exactly where you want it to and feels very light when heating up the pace on twisty roads. Overtaking on the highway is effortless, just drop a cog to get the turbo racing and you’re off! The sporty suspension and stiff chassis makes this a really fun car to drive. It has all the latest safety features expected from a modern car including traction control and features such as Hydraulic Brake Fade Assist and Brake Disc Cleaning.

At R267,970 it’s well priced considering the standard levels of equipment, all the fancy gadgetry and a 5 year/90 000km service plan. Golf 6, watch out!

www.doitnow.co.za | Adventure • 25

BMW G650GS A couple of years ago BMW discontinued the popular 650 single to make way for the new F650GS with its 800cc twin-cylinder engine. This left a gap in the market for an entry level BMW, and so the G650GS was born, or re-born …

I recently attended the media launch of the new BMW G650GS and expected to get dirty. Why then was it held in the city centre of Johannesburg? Before heading out on the bikes, BMW’s representative explained that the new G650GS is aimed at commuters and newcomers to motorcycling. It is not a dirt or adventure bike, but it does have the ability to tackle easy gravel if the need arises.

The route for the day was perfectly matched to the strengths of the bike. We started off in the busy Braamfontein traffic and the light, road-ready 192kg GS made easy work of weaving in and out of traffic. Next a dash on the highway towards Kyalami, with 35 kW and 60 Nm of torque from the trusty old 652cc single delivering enough go to easily keep up with the fast moving traffic. It does not feel fast, but glancing down you see you’re already doing 150km/h on the easily readable digital speedometer.

COMPARISON

The new G650GS uses most of the components from the popular old F650GS, including the gearbox and engine.

The biggest changes were to the styling, to make it fit in with the rest of the GS family. There are three different seat heights, the lowest being only 750mm, making it easy to ride and accessible to shorter riders.

What surprised me most were the short stints on washedout dirt roads. Even with the road-biased Bridgestone Battlewings, I immediately felt confident to open the taps around the corners, sliding the rear in second. I forgot about the ABS … scary feeling when you stomp on the brakes and nothing happens. Luckily you can switch it off for dirt riding, something that was not available on the old single. The suspension soaked up the terrain including some small jumps, with both wheels in the air. The preload of the rear shock can be adjusted via a knob on the left of the bike and there is enough under-body protection against rocks. The only drawback for serious adventure riding is the air valves that are integrated into the alloy spokes, which makes fitting a tube in an emergency impossible.

The standard version of the bike is competitively priced at R73,000 and expect to pay around R81,272 with the optional ABS and heated grips included. A centre stand is standard for both SA models. On the day, the bike surpassed any claims made by BMW. Now we wait in anticipation for the Dakar version! •

Suzuki Swift

Opel Astra 1.4T Enjoy Plus

BMW G650GS

1 372

1 364

652

Power (kW)

70 (6 000 rpm)

103

35 (6 500 rpm)

Torque (Nm)

130 (4 000 rpm)

200

60 (5 000 rpm)

5.5 l/100km (average)

5.9 l/100km (average)

6.4 l/100km

42

56

14

210 / 533

370

-

5-speed manual

6-speed manual

5-speed manual

4 yr / 60 000 km (s)

5 yr / 90 000 km (s)

-

R169 900

R267 970

R73 000 / R81 272

Capacity (cc)

Fuel consumption (claimed) Fuel tank capacity (l) Boot capacity (l) Gearbox Service / maintenance plan Price

26 • DO IT NOW August | September 2011

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

inGEAR:

Words by Dirk Heyns Photos by Trevor Graham

g n i r To u

s e l Ta

bia i m a N d n a a n a t h ro u g h B o ts w

“ Yo u c a t h e l i o n s l e e p at t h n wo n ’ t e at y i s v i l l a g e , ou her T h i s wa e.” s the

best ne te n - a n w s we ’ d-a-ha d hear lf hour d in TH thick m s o E last f s tr u g u d at n g ight. W ling th one mi h r y we re ght ask ough we s tr , and w Is this u g h g y ling, just an t h ro u g other h the n lookin t h i g r g for a ht? e e a d re n a d ve nalin j n tu re ? u n kies 

28 • DO IT NOW August | September 2011

www.doitnow.co.za | Adventure • 29

To answer these questions we need to go back a few months. I always said that one day when I’m big I’d buy a bike. This momentous occasion finally happened last year when I became the proud owner of a BMW R 1200GS Adventure. My friend Trevor thought I was crazy, but once I had shown him my new metal steed, he purchased one a week later and my other good friend Etienne followED suit soon after.

We started going on outings during weekends, signed up for an off-road course through BMW and soon started thinking of the open road and the adventures that lay beyond. Etienne came up with the brilliant idea that instead of having a party for his 50th birthday we should rather embark on a long bike trip from Ellisras to Windhoek, and so the planning started in earnest. I must admit that planning the trip was just as much fun as the trip itself, and packing for it a whole experience on its own. For any other trip you usually end up packing on the same day, but for a bike trip you start packing weeks before departure, with your ‘final audition’ a week before the time. Space limitation could be blamed for this packing disorder; that’s if you need an excuse.

Our first day saw us travelling from our homes in Ellisras, Limpopo, to Elephant Sands just north of Nata in Botswana; aptly named as we had the pleasure of seeing many elephants along the way. Unfortunately we also encountered lots of thick sand that made travelling almost impossible, and in some places we even had to push our bikes through it before finally making our weary way into camp. We had covered about 600km.

30 • DO IT NOW August | September 2011

We had planned to go to Vic Falls the next day, but decided to get into Namibia as soon as possible after being warned by campers at Nata that there were public service strikes in Botswana and getting through the border at Kasane took ages, and there was no petrol or diesel. As Namibia was the main objective of our trip, we headed west to the Dobe Border Post. The 625km route would take us to a village called Qangwa, about 18km from the border. The Track4Africa map describes the first 30km of this route as gravel road and the last 98km as 4x4 tracks. After the rainy season, my best description of this ‘road’ would be a track through a swamp area. In some places it might have been better suited for a hovercraft rather than the big BMW R 1200GS Adventures.

We learnt a lot during that night including how to keep a bike upright in the mud, how to pick it up in the mud, how quickly drinking water can ‘disappear’ when you’re fighting through the mud, but mostly how limitations are mainly thoughts in your head that can be overcome. A special mention must be made of our good Samaritan, a local named Aldo and a very experienced 4x4 driver, who assisted us by transporting our panniers for most of the night on the back of his Land Cruiser. This enabled us to decrease our weight and wingspan, which in turn allowed us to get through bushes when the pools in the road were too deep to keep the air intake above water.

We finally arrived in Qangwa at 04h30, and it will certainly be a night to remember for a very long time.

Qangwa, a small but unique village, is where some Basarwa tribesmen live with no power, no telephone lines, no radio signal let alone mobile phone reception and no recreational centres. This however does not deter them from waking up every morning and gathering something from the bush on which their families would survive on for that particular day. Their facial features and click-based language identify them as a distinct ethnic group from others elsewhere in Botswana and the rest of the world. Despite all the hardships, the people here are united, proud, dignified, humble and respectful. Passing

through this village of ‘hardship’ made us all realise just how lucky we are with all our modern conveniences and facilities that make our lives so much easier and enjoyable.

Leaving Qangwa later the same day we travelled 80km to Tsumkwe, a small settlement in the north eastern section of Namibia that consists of a shop or two, a disco, gas station, clinic, police headquarters and a lodge.

While the town itself is fairly poor, the primary reason for tourists visiting the area is because it’s inhabited by the SAN bushman people. We checked in at the lodge and gratefully washed away the mud and spent the remainder of the evening relaxing and regrouping for the rest of our trip.

Day four dawned bright with expectancy as we set off for our next destination, Otavi, a small agricultural town in northern Namibia. Lying in a pleasant wooded and fertile plain beneath the towering Otavi Mountains, its name is derived from the Herero word ‘ondavi’ meaning ‘branch of a tree’. By this stage, the tar roads had started to taper out and travelling mainly on the gravel roads slowed us down so that we only covered 370km on this day. Caution and concentration was the name of the game here if we didn’t want to end up eating dirt.

Day seven saw us travelling 361km to Windhoek before we sadly turned for home. We made the return trip in just two days, covering a distance of about 1,500km.

Our nine days out on the open road had been awesome and we’d all had a great time. Even the bad times ended up being good times, in retrospect of course. What had made this trip so memorable was visiting places off the beaten track, meeting some amazing people along the way, appreciating the natural, wild beauty of Botswana and Namibia and sharing all these experiences with my two good friends.

For anyone considering a similar type of trip, all you need to have a really good time is two things. First you must have a vehicle; in our case this requirement was fulfilled by our BMW R 1200GS Adventures. The preference is a dual sports bike as Namibia, with its long gravel roads, is a paradise for this type of bike. The second is time; more often than not the reason that prevents most people from experiencing such an incredible trip. If you can tick off these two boxes, you’re halfway there as the rest are optional extras.

After covering a distance of 376km on day five we ended up in Uis, a tiny town located in one of Namibia’s most beautiful desert regions, Damaraland. Established in 1958 as a mine workers residence, the village is located in the shadow of the beautiful Brandberg Mountain and home to the world famous White Lady rock painting, which is said to be over 20,000 years old by some. When approaching Uis, the first thing you see is a huge white mountain, but it is in actual fact the old mine dump for processed tin ore. Driving through the town, there was not much else to see other than a small supermarket, guesthouse, petrol station and a few other small shops that manage to eke out an existence based almost entirely on traffic passing through the area.

Here are some tips for any would-be tourers: • Once the decision to go is made, start planning immediately by searching for a riding buddy or two. If you don’t have someone to go with you, join the Wild Dog forum (www.wilddog.za.net) and invite someone to join you, or you can just ask for advice. My opinion is that the perfect wild dog pack size is three. Less than three and you might have a problem in case of an emergency or breakdown. More than three and it starts creating flexibility problems.

• Don’t drive at night in the northern parts of Botswana as the elephants are difficult to spot.

• The west coast of Namibia is very slippery when wet.

My advice is to rather have the right tyre for the bad roads and the wrong tyre for the good roads.

After a quiet night, we rose early the next day and were looking forward to reaching Swakopmund, 192km away.

That afternoon we went on a fantastic run to Walvis Bay, which had experienced abnormal rainfall that left the town’s main roads looking like swimming pools, before heading back and settling down for the night.

So in answer to the questions in the first paragraph; we are not adrenalin junkies, even though there were times when there was a lot of adrenalin pumping, we were just three guys enjoying the freedom of being on two wheels and experiencing nature and parts of Africa at its very best. •

www.doitnow.co.za | Adventure • 31

inTRANSIT:

Words by Christo Coetzer Photos by Ricardo Dailey

heel, OneOneWPeople, One Jamaica

After successfully becoming the first person in history to circumnavigate the Indian Ocean island of Mauritius on a unicycle, I was faced with the inevitable question: “What’s next?”

Next on my adventure list was Jamaica because of my long-standing love affair with reggae music and, in particular, the famous works of reggae legends Bob Marley and Peter Tosh.

My dream sparked to life when one of my friends, Muller Terblanche, generously offered to sponsor my airfare. And with the phenomenal support from my family, friends and girlfriend, the spark became a living, untamable flame. Any further doubts I had about going quickly fizzled out when I received a book consisting of letters of encouragement from my family and friends that my girlfriend, Miehe Eybers, had put together. My final inspiration came from an incredibly special poem written by my friend that goes like this:

32 • DO IT NOW August | September 2011

Some people leave Some people stay Some move, others keep quite still Some are always gathering up, others are always giving away Some are waiting to die, others awake to a new life every morning Some drive others walk Some dream others criticise Some believe others doubt Some go to sleep others watch the sunrise Some break into the new, others are happy with the way things are Some sleep under a roof others under the stars Some people collect things others go on walks You get water that is flowing and water that is contained Some cyclists use two wheels others use one Keep that wheel rolling my brada!

-Die Peerbaard

Christo C oetzer

The name of my adventure One Wheel, One People, One Jamaica came about when I discovered that the motto on the Jamaican coat of arms, which reads, ‘Out of Many, One People’, acted as an incredible strengthening tool between South Africa and Jamaica. It was perfect!

So with the decision to go made, my flight booked and all the finer details falling neatly into place, my last task was to find a second. My dad volunteered and it was indeed a great privilege to embark on this journey with him by my side. He manned the support vehicle and handled all the media relations, leaving me to concentrate on the task at hand. I couldn’t have asked for a better partner, our teamwork enhanced by the incredible strength that lies in a healthy father-son relationship.

Following the advice given by my dad and coach, Theo Coetzer, and Kris Holm, an established unicyclist, I decided on a riding schedule comprising one week of three days’ riding and one day’s rest, and then two days’ riding again followed by one day’s rest.

& Rohan Marley

Waved off by Jamaican sprinter and three-time World and Olympic gold medalist, Usain Bolt, my One Wheel, One People, One Jamaica adventure began on 28 March 2011, from the Bob Marley Museum in Kingston, the capital and cradle of Jamaican culture.

Travelling eastward on a 36”KH unicycle, my route took me in an anti-clockwise fashion around the island’s coastline, a distance of 1,022km to be completed in 13 riding days.

One of the many friends I made in Bluefields Bay, a town on the west coast, described Jamaica as such, “It’s like when Jah created Zion and a piece of it dropped off, landing right in the heart of the Caribbean and is now called Jamaica!”

This was indeed a very accurate description of the breathtaking scenery I experienced while riding around this beautiful tropical island. It was like riding through a very mountainous and tropical rainforest, perfected by the spectacular view of the tantalising Caribbean Ocean.

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The quaint coastal towns I passed through were mostly decorated with wooden houses painted in the vibrant Rastafarians colors of red, gold and green, the doors and windows displaying the black, gold and green colours of the Jamaican flag. I later discovered that the black triangle with the golden lining on our South African flag had been taken from the Jamaican flag upon request from former South African President Nelson Mandela, to thank Jamaica for the part they played in their fight against apartheid.

I also had the opportunity to visit many of the island’s schools and share my message of inspiration with the children: “Follow your dreams and make life happen, there are a million different reasons why you should not do something, but I want to encourage you to go out, rise above it and defy the odds. There is a massive difference between dreams and reality, wake up and live.” This was further reinforced by my message of hope, love, unity and reconciliation, as has been the way in South Africa after the abolition of apartheid.

Although I had started this journey alone, I was soon joined by mostly Rastafarians from around the island, for long stretches at a time, on the most extravagantly painted bicycles. The Jamaican people truly became part of my One Wheel, One People, One Jamaica adventure. Jamaicans define enthusiasm. Whether the topic is ackee or dominoes, politics or the carnival, the spirit of this island comes out in every interaction. Although the island is well known for its tropical beauty, reggae music and cuisine, it was my interactions with local residents that I will remember most.

Another high point came on 27 April when I was invited to attend the Freedom Day celebrations as the honorary guest. The occasion was made all the more memorable for me when I received the Goodwill Ambassadorship award from both the Jamaica Tourist Board and South African High Commission. I also received a special invitation for a courtesy call from the Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture, Mrs. Olivia Grange, giving further recognition to the impact of the One Wheel, One People, One Jamaica adventure. My heart was bursting with pride.

My route took me through all 14 of Jamaica’s parishes, with Portland and Westmoreland counting as my favorites.

The roads were often in a horrendous condition and resulted in a truly technical and physically challenging ride.

I also decided to climb the highest point on the island, ‘Blue Mountain Peak’, where the world-famous Blue Mountain coffee is produced and enjoyed throughout Jamaica and the rest of the world. It was delicious and I can understand why it is so highly rated.

One of the many highlights on the island was meeting three members of Bob Marley’s direct family, namely: Rohan and Julian Marley, both sons of Bob, and one of Bob and Rita Marley’s granddaughters, Donisha Prendergast. It was an amazing experience to discuss Bob’s legacy and the impact he still has on the world today, with people who really knew him.

I also learnt that Peter Tosh was not only a truly gifted musician, but Jamaica’s most famous unicyclist. Upon seeing me on my unicycle, jubilant remarks such as, “Look there’s Peter Tosh … but now he’s WHITE!” could be heard all the way around the island. Another interesting fact that came to light was that Jamaican singer Early B wrote a song entitled ‘One Wheel Wheely’ in which he passionately sings, in authentic Jamaican Patois, about a man riding around Jamaica on a unicycle! Early B wrote this song in 1985, a year before I was born.

In addition to my quest being a cultural and musical learning experience, it was an educational one too and I learnt a great many things along the way. At the Peter Tosh Museum, I attended a very informative and unusual lecture on the different ways of planting, growing, cultivating, harvesting, farming and consuming all the different types of marijuana. Only in Jamaica!

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There were also many lighter moments and strange encounters that I will always fondly recall. One of the more risqué moments was when I was staying at a resort that had a stunning private beach. What I didn’t know was that this was also a nude beach. It was after a gruelling day in the saddle that I decided to take a swim in the clear sea, in my swimming attire of course.

When I got out of the water and made my way to my towel, two ladies had put their towels down next to mine, stripped bare and remarked, “Boy you are so overdressed!” I didn’t hang around long. I must add here that being a single man, I generated considerable interest from the Jamaican single ladies as the marriage proposal count rose above the 100 mark. On another occasion a local man stopped me and innocently asked whether my unicycle was a ‘meter for the road’ and if I was measuring the actual distance of the road around the island. One of my wilder moments was when I took my first passenger aboard my unicycle, a monster Black River Crocodile, and thereafter the croc was fittingly christened ‘Coetzer’.

Our accommodation around the island was kindly sponsored by the locals and my Dad and I thoroughly enjoyed staying at the various types of establishments the island had to offer. We also experienced the Jamaican culture first hand and I have a lot of respect for the way the Jamaican people embrace their culture, along with their unwavering patriotism.

When it came to dining, we were treated to the real thing. Breakfast usually consisted of ackee and salt fish, complemented perfectly by a cup of Blue Mountain coffee with condensed milk. Lunch was another tasty affair of delicious jerk chicken and pork, all washed down with original Jamaican Malta. Along the route, my main sources of energy came in the form of fresh fruits purchased by the side of the road, coconuts sponsored by local vendors and original Jamaican Malta from friends I met along the way.

Bob Marley Museum with Usain Bolt

On 16 April 2011, I finally cycled back through the gates of the Marley Museum, where Rohan, Bob’s son, stood waiting in front of his father’s statue with a bottle of bubbly and a huge smile on his face that almost matched my own. The journey could not have had a more fitting end, and there was a large crowd of people who had also gathered there to join in the celebration led by Bob singing the mystical track ‘Ride Natty Ride’, which summed up the entire adventure almost perfectly.

Recording, blogging, photographing, filming and memorising the entire journey was a vital part of the trip, as all the material will be used in media interviews, magazine articles and to write a book, to be entitled ‘One Wheel, One People, One Jamaica’. The book will give readers the opportunity to relive my entire adventure through all the hills and valleys, to the realisation of my dream. A DVD by the same title will also be produced and Early B’s song ‘One Wheel Wheely’ will definitely make for a brilliant soundtrack.

This book will be my second. The first was written after I successfully completed a similar journey around the Indian Ocean island of Mauritius in 2010, and is entitled ‘Around Mauritius on One Wheel’, for which I was awarded Ambassadorship of Mauritius.

Following the success of both my world-first adventures, they will by no means be my last. So I am once again faced with the inevitable question: “What’s next?”

One Wheel, One People, One Jamaica One Love, One Heart, One Destiny! •

DINfo box i One Wheel, One People, One Jamaica statistics: • Coastline distance: 1,022km • Total riding distance: 700km • Riding days: 13 • Average distance per day: 54km • Average speed: 25.4km/h • Top speed: 40.1km/h • Total number of falls: 4

Jamaica - the facts:

• Jamaica is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about 145km south of Cuba and 191km west of Hispaniola.

• It is the largest English-speaking island in the Caribbean and third largest in the region.

With a total land area of 4,442 square miles (10,991 sq. km), the island is 146 miles long with widths varying between 22 and 51 miles (35km and 82km).

• It is divided into three counties; Cornwall, Middlesex and Surrey. These counties are further subdivided into 14 parishes, namely: Hanover, St Elizabeth, St James, Trelawny and Westmoreland in Cornwall County; Clarendon, Manchester, St Anne, St Catherine and St Mary in Middlesex; and Kingston, Portland, St Andrew and St Thomas in Surrey County.

• The highest point is Blue Mountain Peak (1,000m ascent).

• Jamaica is a derivative of the island’s original name Xaymaca, meaning the ‘Land of Wood and Water’, or ‘Land of Springs’.

• The national language is Jamaican Patois.

• The national food is Jamaican jerk spice.

• It has the most churches per square mile in the world, along with the most bars per square mile.

www.doitnow.co.za | Adventure • 35

inH2O:

Words by Deon Breytenbach Photos by Deon Breytenbach & www.kayak-sa.co.za

p m i P your K ayak For your kayak to perform the way it is supposed to, it has to fit and kayakers are taking advantage of all that custom outfitting has to offer. Today’s kayaks come from the factory with more outfitting aids than ever before. Even so, nearly all kayaks can benefit from some adjustments to get the maximum amount of fun on the water.

The main goal of kayak outfitting is to get the boat to perform as an extension of your body. This is done by connecting with your watercraft at essential points, which will allow power and movement from your body to be transferred to the kayak. Key spots are feet, knees, thighs, hips and back.

Feet

Most Sit on Tops (SOTs) come with molded footrests, but there are some that you can slide up and down to get the most comfortable angle for your legs.

For other kayaks, having proper padding for your feet can make a huge difference. Your toes will come into contact with the foot blocks/pedals/bulkhead the most, and this is fine. Whereas with kayaks such as whitewater kayaks, you will want to use some mini-cell foam and contact adhesive to build up the area where your feet rest. This will provide support for the ball of your foot and heel to kick against so that you aren’t on your toes the whole time, as this can lead to cramps in your feet and calves. It will also help to avoid injuries to tendons and ligaments if you happen to connect a rock head on.

If you prefer paddling barefoot and enjoy a bit of comfort in your kayak, glue some thin mini-cell foam to the inside of the hull to stop chaffing. If you find that your toes are rubbing against the top of the kayak, add some foam and you’re sorted.

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Knees When paddling in a SOT, your main concern

for your knees will be sunburn, which is easy to sort out with sunscreen. But for those in sit in kayaks, padding your knees against knocking on the underside of the hard deck just makes the whole paddling experience that much better. A thin layer of mini-cell foam glued to the side of your kayak will do the trick here and keep your knees bruise free. If you feel that your inner thighs are taking strain and tire from having to hold your legs up against the shell, cut a small square block of foam and glue it under the shell where your knees make contact.

The blocks must be big enough to give your legs some support so that when you relax your legs they stay in place and in contact with the shell. But at the same time, they also need to be small enough so that you are able to wet exit your kayak without too much effort.

Thighs

Good thigh contact is essential to performance. For SOTs you can purchase a seat that straps onto the kayak and comes with built-in thigh straps. These straps should fit comfortably over your legs whilst pulling your legs slightly open. The idea behind the straps is that you can use your hips and thighs to tilt your kayak and stop the edges from catching currents.

It also makes turning much easier as you can edge your kayak so that it carves into the turn. For the sit inside

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kayak, the principle is the same. The better the contact, the more control you have. Most kayaks will have some form of moveable thigh brace that you can adjust until you find a comfortable position. Ideally, the brace should make contact with the inside of your thigh. If you find that when you rest your legs against the knee pads and there is some space between your thigh and the pad, simply glue a thin layer of mini-cell foam so that when you rest your leg it still makes contact with your thigh brace.

Hips

Hip contact is more in the realm of the sit in kayak, where you need to use a roll to right yourself after tipping over. Your core muscles and hips are where most of the oomph comes from for rolling a kayak back up, so if you don’t have good contact on your hips then your roll will be inefficient. Hip pads are often supplied with your kayak, but if not you can use some shaped mini-cell foam blocks and glue them on. Hip pads should provide a firm grip and stop your bum from moving side to side.

Often in sit in kayaks, people find that their legs go numb and get pins and needles. One of the most likely causes is that the hip pads are putting too much pressure on the lower part of the hip and pinching the sciatic nerve.

Hip pads should be slightly thinner at the bottom where it is closer to the seat and thicker towards the top. If you have fiddled with the thickness and still experience pins and needles, try moving your hip pads a little forward or higher up. They should be tight, but comfy. Remember that you should also pad your boat to suit the kit you wear when you go boating.

Back

Most modern day sit in kayaks have adjustable backbends with ratchets so you can change the amount of pressure applied by the band to your lower back. The purpose of back support is to hold the pelvis in proper alignment, which in turn allows the back to hold itself in a good position. It also provides a solid surface for the feet to push against, an essential component of powerful and efficient paddling. If your kayak has a solid, molded-in seat with back support, you can make it more comfortable when stepping down hard on your foot blocks by adding a thin layer of minicell foam. For SOTs, the strap-on seats that are available to add on have straps you can tighten to change the angle of the back part of the seat. The ideal position is nice and upright or with a bit of a lean forward to keep you in a neutral (upright) or slightly aggressive posture (bit of a forward lean). If you are merely floating around on a lake or doing some fishing, then rather keep it upright. The reason for this is that people often tend to loosen the straps so that they can lean backwards, however this position makes it more difficult to transfer power from your torso to your strokes. It will also hamper the movement of your hips, which you want to be able use to edge your kayak with the help of the thigh straps.

Key to a good outfitting is getting your seat in the correct position as a sore rear end can make you more miserable than almost anything else. The purpose of the seat is to provide solid contact between the hips and the kayak.

Your seat should therefore be in a position so that when you sit upright, with good posture, the kayak floats nice

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and flat. The easiest way to check this is to get a friend to have a look from the side, while you sit in the water.

If the kayak is angled nose down or nose up, move the seat around and try again.

It is also worthwhile to have a look at the height of your seat. The higher you sit in your seat, the more leverage you have. But it will also make you more top heavy. Quite often a bit more leverage will make rolling easier and you’ll get more power to your strokes because you can get more torso rotation going.

There are various other accessories to pimp your ride, especially for SOTs and fishing kayaks, and these include a variety of rod holders, extra nets and fish finders. A good quality SOT will normally come with most accessories already fitted. If this is not the case, then ask the dealer for a list of all the awesome optional extras you can add. Alternatively if you just want to add some hatches or rod holders, any of the Fluid Kayak dealers will be able to hook you up with the extras.

Outfitting a kayak is easy and most people will have fun doing it. But if you are not a DIY kind of person, Fluid Kayak will be happy to fit your new toys at the factory or in shop for you. Either way, always check the fittings to ensure that the screws are where they need to be and the silicone seals have not cracked, especially after long transporting sessions.

Remember that your kayak should be comfy and responsive to your body movements. The only way to achieve this is to make sure that the outfitting is done correctly and specific to your needs. If you need any help or advice, I will be happy to put you in contact with someone in your area who can assist you to get the most fun out of your kayak. •

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www.doitnow.co.za | Adventure • 39

inH2O:

Words by Francois Flamengo Photos by various photographers

a e S d e R l a A R oy

e c n e i r e Exp

t We boarded Egyptian Air on Saturday 17 June for our fligh to Hurghada, a small town south of Cairo. Our mission was simple; to dive the Red Sea from a brand new yacht called Scuba Scene (SSY). What makes this yacht special is that it cruises under a South African flag and its maiden voyage took place on 23 April 2011. If you see her in the harbour for the first time, you can’t help but notice that the SSY is the biggest and best looking yacht built for ocean crossings and offers guests a Royal Experience!

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As we boarded the SSY the friendly crew warmly welcomed us and we received a chilled ‘slush puppy’ drink, which was available on tap for the duration of the cruise. Next up was a quick boat rules briefing, minus our shoes so that we didn’t damage the gleaming wooden floors, before we headed to our luxurious rooms, each with its own en-suite bathroom. Once settled in, the SSY started her engines and set course for some of the world’s finest reefs and legendary wreck sites available to divers.

When booking a cruise on the SSY there are two options, either north or south. Our particular cruise was headed north and a few of the watery treats that lay in wait for us included diving the Ras Muhammad National Park and the world-renowned wreck from World War 11, the SS Thistlegorm, which sank on 6 October 1941.

I have never dived in the Red Sea and my 200+ dives have all been logged in and around the South African coast, from the tropical waters of Guinjata in Mozambique all the way down to the more adventurous waters of Port Shepstone on the South Coast. I’ve enjoyed magnificent dives on a number of vibrant reefs like Manta, Pinnacles, Doodles, 9 Mile, Produce, Protea Banks and many others. Having been so spoilt I was unsure of what to expect and to be completely honest, I was afraid that like all good marketing material only a few spots would be ‘the real thing’ and the other sites average or left wanting.

The bell rang on the bottom deck signalling one of two things, we were either being called for a dive briefing or there was something delicious to eat in the dining area. I recall from the boat briefing that the latter would only be available after a dive, so I was really excited about the prospect of trying out the new kit I had bought for the trip and submerging myself into the deep blue.

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Clockwise: SSY upper deck, Air conditioned saloon with coffee bar, Luxurious dining room & Cozy Sleeping quarters

In a previous article I spoke about cool toys you can invest in before a diving trip, and like a kid in a candy store this is what I eventually chose: I upgraded my well-seasoned Mares limited edition regulator set to the Cressi Back Jack BC and Scuba Pro C300 regulator set, with an integrated Suunto Cobra 3 dive computer. The combo worked fantastically. I was particularly impressed by the excellent breathing performance of the C300 and the Cobra kept me well informed about everything I needed to know during each dive. To ensure there would be some great pictures for everyone back home, I opted for the new Olympus Tough 810 camera. It came with a 10-metre water rating and the underwater housing worked perfectly. I especially enjoyed the panorama feature. The final two items on my shopping list were an Intova Compact Underwater flashlight for the wreck and night dives, and a North Face Thunder bag to pack all my kit in. But enough with the toys, let’s get back to the diving ...

Osama, the lead dive guide, gave us a thorough dive briefing in the SSY’s fantastic saloon (lounge) area. The air conditioned saloon is furnished with some very comfortable couches, two large flat panel TVs and a coffee bar where you can grab something to drink before each briefing. There were also 3D maps of the different dive sites on show so that you could familiarize yourself with the highlights of each dive, as well as what to look out for. After each briefing you had the opportunity to ask questions if you were unclear about anything.

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The first dive was on a reef called Sha’ab El Erg. The SSY anchored down and we were told that we would enjoy three dives on this particular reef; a late afternoon, night and early morning dive. Sha’b El Erg is a very shallow reef, with a maximum depth of +-15 metres and is formed like a horse shoe. The large coral reef offers great opportunities to spot Giant Moray Eels, Lionfish and Dolphins. All in all, a perfect start to ensure you were weighted correctly and test all your gear. Tip: As the Red Sea is very salty and thus very buoyant, extra weights will probably be required unlike southern Africa’s coastal conditions.

One of the highlights of diving from the SSY was getting ready for each dive in the spacious kit-up area on the bottom deck. I have to confess that it did not take me long to get used to this ‘new’ luxury way of diving.

Once you were ready, you made your way down the steps to the diving platform where your fins were waiting and you could also rinse any anti fog you were using from your mask. Then it was one giant stride from the platform and as you looked down, the reef was right there and you could start your dive. No sand, no pushing boats, no mess, no fuss and not to labour the point, but it really is the way forward. 

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Getting back onto the SSY was also very simple. The dive guide made sure that you always ended your dive back beneath the boat so that while you were doing your three-minute safety stop at five metres, you could see the propellers of the 3000HP diesel engines. Once your safety stop was complete, there were two dive ladders hanging in the water behind the boat. These ladders have a great design that enables you to climb it with your fins on. Tip: Although I found taking my fins off in the water much easier, check what option suits you better. But even before you start climbing you can hand your weights to the willing boat crew ever ready to assist.

To get rid of the very salty water the Red Sea is renowned for, there are two showers on the dive platform to make use of before heading to the kit area. Here, the staff is waiting to help you get out of your kit and hand you a towel to dry off with. Warming up after the dive is achieved with some hot chocolate and if that is not enough, the bell rings and dinner is served. I mean what more could a diver ask for  I could carry on and on about the luxuries of the SSY’s diving and dining experiences so I will try to summarise. My first experience of diving in the Red Sea with Scuba Scene was truly a Royal Experience. Everything was well organized and communicated, and from now it will definitely feature on my DINList as an annual event.

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In the next few issues of DO IT NOW we will feature articles on Ras Muhammad National Park, which I rate as the best dives I have ever done and the SS Thistlegorm wreck, a site that I can’t wait to do again on a return visit. Unfortunately conditions were not ideal to dive the very deep and mysterious SS Rosalie Moller, but I look forward to exploring it on a future visit. TIP: These are only a few of the amazing sites you can dive and with four dives per day for the duration of the trip, and each site equally fantastic, you might not want to leave!

The Red Sea truly surpassed all my greatest expectations. The diving was the best I have ever done and the dining after each dive was world class. I can’t wait to go back and continue exploring more of this magical and magnificent underwater haven!

Obviously there will only be one way to do it and that is on the superb Scuba Scene Yacht, and I highly recommend that you do the same! •

inALTITUDE:

Words by Hanneke Pienaar-Steenekamp Photos by Cara Fleischer, Van Zyl Steenekamp and Hanneke Pienaar-Steenekamp

Winter

Climbing

Blues

Many a late night my friend had to listen to us talk of our most inspired climbing trip ever! Using her birthday as an excuse, she got us all to return to Fight the Feeling, the playground of our ‘youth’. To add to the appeal we had to go in winter, it was tradition after all ...

But first, let’s go back six years to the winter of 2005 and the start of our love affair with climbing.

We were a vivacious group of friends, sharing one great passion, the outdoors. If it was a sport and it could be done outdoors, we did it. And then we discovered rock climbing. Always looking for ways to make our climbing trips extraordinary, we decided on the renowned Fight the Feeling; a five-star route that climbers travel across the country to tackle! It’s a multi-pitch sport route consisting of six pitches that vary in grades from 14 all the way up to 21; one of the classics!

But of course we weren’t satisfied with just climbing it like normal climbers, so we decided to modify it and make it a sleepover party, in the middle of winter.

Now for those of you not acquainted with Harrismith’s weather, it’s COLD and in winter it is EXTREMELY COLD! But we always liked a challenge, so this just added to the appeal. After the fourth pitch there is a large overhang optimistically called Rave Cave and this is where we spent the night chatting under the stars, with a bit of OBS to keep us warm. It was a truly magnificent weekend, with great company! And so began the tradition of making all our trips to Harrismith in the heart of winter for years to come. Now back to the present.

Our group of friends, having grown in numbers and a preference for more comfortable accommodation, hired a chalet at Arendskop as our weekend base.

This cosy cottage comes with a fireplace, piping hot water that thankfully never seems to run out and enough beds to sleep nine people. The plan was to climb this epic route again, without the sleepover, but as the weather had dropped below zero with howling winds of more than 25km/h and gusting over 45km/h, we almost changed our minds. Now, although we like to believe otherwise, all of us aren’t as adventurous as we used to be! The end result was that only three of the group set out to brave the frigid climb up Fight the Feeling that morning. And little did we know what an eventful climb it would be!

Arriving at the start of the route, still full of spunk, we didn’t realise that the wind here, which was pumping quite hectically between the brushes, was nothing compared to what it was a few pitches up.

“Belay on, climb when ready!” “What?”

“I said, BELAY ON, CLIMB WHEN READY!” “WHAT?”

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And this is how it went for the rest of our short climb, the wind whipping the words away the moment they left our lips. If we had thought that the going was tough so far, it was at the third pitch (graded 21) when events really turned pear-shaped. Our designated difficult-pitch leader took a magnificent fall after the wind swept him off the rock, millimetres before clipping the bolt at the crux move. And then a second and third fall. Accepting that we were not going to get the better of Mother Nature, we called a close to the climbing proceedings for the day. But this was only the beginning of the fun she had in store for us!

For those of you who have climbed this route, you will have seen the chicken heads littered all over the face, except where the line of the route goes. Now add these chicken heads to a howling 45km/h wind and a rope that ripples out in the wind like a thread to the mix and what you are left with is a rope that inadvertently tangles itself around every chicken head in sight, as well as those you can’t see. Not a pleasant sight or experience!

Then as you dropped the rope below you it instantly became tangled horizontally downwind from you, the moment you started abseiling.

Struggling on, we crabbed this way and that to unhook the rope as we slowly inched our way down.

The last pitch is over an overhang where you have to abseil far away from the rock and into a tiny clearing in the bushes created by climbers before you. It’s a truly amazing experience on a relatively windless day, but on this day it was a nightmare. Me being the stunt dummy, probably because I’m too air-headed to worry about technicalities, went down first. But once again the demonic wind played havoc with the rope, which got stuck on an obstacle that was out of

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sight. Left with no choice, I boldly abseiled over the edge of the overhang. BIG mistake! The rope was not only solidly jammed, but it left me hanging impossibly out of reach of the rock! Luckily my survival instincts kicked in and I quickly attached myself to the rope with two prussicks. My two climbing partners, quite resourceful individuals, eventually managed to release the rope! Unbeknownst to us, another group of climbers had observed our predicament and were halfway up the first pitch to try and ‘rescue’ us! Now if you are a climber, you will understand that image is everything and you can do whatever, as long as you look good doing it – which we were definitely not! So although we were grateful to the other group for coming to our aid, we were left a bit red faced.

The next day, after we had soothed our bruised egos, we climbed Men Behaving Badly (17) and then set off for home at peace with the mountain again. My friend maybe didn’t get the Fight the Feeling experience she had looked for, but she had gotten a Fight the Feeling EXPERIENCE! •

DINfo box i Climbing Mount Eagle is Top Notch Eagle Mountain, previously known as Mt. Everest, is a game ranch that’s a stone’s throw away from Harrismith. For those more versed in the climbing scene, it is one of the most appealing sport climbing locations in South Africa. It has about 140 fully-bolted sport routes ranging from grades 7 to 28, which include more than a dozen multi-pitch routes. There are also about 20 trad routes. If you are thinking of climbing there, I would strongly recommend Gavin Peckham’s book, ‘Rock Climbing at Eagle Mountain’. It can be purchased online at www.climb.co.za

inNATURE:

Words & Photos by Steven Yates

Ballooning the Magaliesburg –

Not Just a Lot

of Hot Air We arrived on a cold, dark morning in June for our much-anticipated and first-ever adventure over the Cradle of Humankind with Bill Harrop’s Original Balloon Safaris.

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As the only balloon operator in South Africa with its own clubhouse, we were welcomed into its cosy cocoon and with a mug of steaming hot tea and muffins in hand, Laura and I were treated to pure luxury as we watched the zephyrs preparing for flight.

Fire-strikes on slate, the cresting sun touches iced fields in the early dawn.

point and we shed our coats to bask in the sun before heading back to the clubhouse for a delightful champagne breakfast. The breakfast was so much more than the morning smells had promised, with personal indulgences the likes of whisky and cream porridge, salmon rolls with cream cheese and syrupy flapjacks. Crispy bacon and the most amazing hash browns were also on offer and I tasted everything with reckless abandon, washing it down with numerous cups of Earl Grey.

Patchwork colours rose in opulent contrast as plumes of fire filled the cavernous bellies and ghostly tendrils of mist crept back from the field to the nearby river, as the beautiful coloured balloons started to rise from their sleepy homes to their majestic perfection. A fire pit warms the courageous with fortitude for the flight ahead, while the smell of frying bacon floated from the kitchen with promises of future indulgence.

What a wonderful morning … what a wonderful world! •

Three balloons were being filled, two jumbo 18-passenger balloons with a beautiful patchwork of colours and a smaller eight-passenger balloon in striking red and yellow, under the expert eye of Bill’s team, while the man himself spent time with each of his guests. Three generations of balloonists were on hand as Bill, his daughter, Sarah, and granddaughter, Jennifer, prepared for a special day that would celebrate an engagement and a ninetyyear-old birthday.

Laura and I climbed into the basket of our balloon, with 14 other excited passengers for a once-ina-lifetime experience in the aether. We were lucky enough to have Bill as our pilot and his Sherlock Holmes’s hat and fluffy white beard was surely what Jules Verne had in mind when describing the great adventurer Phileas Fogg. The great jets of propane gas lifted the mighty balloon into the clear winter sky and we were away – and away with much more manoeuvrability than I expected a bag of hot air to have. The flight started with some low-level playfulness, where we chased our shadow and looked for our reflection on the winding river nearby before climbing to over 6,000 feet where the silence and majesty of our balloon provided a gentleman with the perfect setting to ask his beautiful lady to marry him. We drifted along the wind lines, with nimble touches from of our pilot’s experienced hand and even more deft commentary from his exuberant personality. A radio call from one of the other balloons brought us from our peaceful musings and Bill raced our balloon to see a herd of giraffe grazing.

The height and silence of the balloon provided us with the most incredible game viewing opportunity and before long we had added Wildebeest, Impala, Zebra, Dassies and Eland to our list of sightings.

The game viewing was a real highlight to top off a wonderful experience, and Bill expertly landed the balloon directly onto the trailer, from which we had disembarked earlier, to enjoy a glass of champagne.

The morning had warmed up significantly by this

DINfo box i Ballooning facts • Hot air balloons where discovered in France in 1783 by Jacques and Joseph Montgolfier. This was man’s first-ever successful attempt to fly.

• The altitude record for a hot air balloon is 65,000 feet.

• In 1999 a pair of hot air balloon pilots circumnavigated the globe in just less than 20 days.

Balloon Safaris • Bill Harrop’s ‘Original’ Balloon Safaris was the first balloon airline to start operation in South Africa and is celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2011.

• They fly over 5,000 passengers a year and offer majestic flights from their base in the Magalies River Valley, The Entabenti Conservatory in the Waterberg and Mabula Private Game Reserve.

• Their six balloons range in size from a ‘private’ two-man balloon to the two massive 18-passenger balloons, the largest balloons in southern Africa.

• Expect to pay around R2,300 per person for local flights and between R3,050 and R4,040 for private game viewing flights over Entabeni or Mabula. Flights also include a champagne breakfast.

• Winter is the best time to fly, as the thermals are more stable.

• For the winter period, Bill Harrop’s is offering the first afternoon flights over the Magaliesburg in the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage site.

• For more information contact Bill Harrop’s on din@balloon.co.za or www.balloon.co.za

www.doitnow.co.za | Adventure • 51

NOW

www.doitnow.co.za | Sport • 53

// inTERVIEW: An Interview with Carolyn Swan, Rally Co-driver // inTRODUCING: Sheepdog Trials * Orlando Towers’ Extreme Sports Day * SKYDIVING: Formation - Artistry - Atmonauti // inACTION: Champions of the Wake SA Open Wakeboarding Championships * Cable Wakeboard and Wakeskate Nationals From a Wakeboarder’s Perspective * Rolloboard * Local Baum Victorious at 12th Annual Roxy Wahine Cup * The Power and Glory of 2011 Expedition Africa * joBerg2c 2011: The Great Pilgrimage to the Sea * Big Induna Attracts SA’s Best * Dakar Supporters Tour 2011 // inPREPARATION: Extreme Enduro is the Latest * Take a Hike * Gas in the Tank for the High Performance MMA Athlete // inSHAPE: Nutrition in Sports Performance * The Facts on Achilles Tendinoses

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Alison Dunn www.storyboardphotos.com DESCRIPTION: The Toyota 1000 Desert Race, Botswana. ‘Castrol Team Toyota Hilux, Double Cab

Sport

inTERVIEW:

Words by Francois Steyn Photos supplied by Team Total and Evan Rothman

h t i w w e i v r e An Int

, n a w S n y Carol r e v i r d O Rally C

is orsport, rallying ns ot m of s rm fo t io except Like mos . There are a few dominated by men e Jutta Kleinschmidt who pl though, for exam ul in the gruelling Dakar sf es rica, was very succ 2001. In South Af an, in it ng ni in w lyn Sw Rally, rallying is Caro one such lady in ghly respected motorsport hi daughter of the r Swan. ge Ro photographer

ator, for almost two decades. She joined Carolyn has been competing as a co-driver, or navig eight members are female, in 1998, and has Team Total, a team of which currently three of the won every class in which she’s competed (N1, eight national class titles to her name. She has moment Carolyn is co-driver to Jean-Pierre N3, A5 and A6), with the exception of S2000. At the champion. I caught up with Carolyn to find out Damseaux, son of multiple, former national rally river’s perspective. more about the tough world of rallying, from a co-d

Q: How long have you been racing?

A: I started competing as a navigator in 1993, on special stage rallies.

Q: How did your rallying career start?

A: My father, Roger Swan, has been involved in motorsport photography all my life, so that exposed me to the sport from an early age. I began competing as a driver at 21 on sealed odometer rallies, then moved to the navigator seat two years later. This laid the groundwork for getting into a special stage rally car.

Q: Were you ever and are you still sometimes

intimidated by the boys?

A: I’m never intimidated ‘by the boys’, however I often feel under-qualified due to my limited mechanical ability. But I am not afraid to get my hands dirty!

Q: You’ve been very successful over the years,

how do the guys take it when you beat them? may be unhappy when being beaten by a lady driver, but I don’t think they pay much attention when it’s a female navigator in the winning car.

A: Guys

Q: How do you manage a day job and get time to race?

A: As a bookkeeper, I have been very lucky over the years

to work with people who are connected with the sport. I freelance because I would not take a job that would not allow me to follow my passion for rallying. My clients and employers alike have been supportive of my choices.

54 • DO IT NOW August | September 2011

Q: Are there unique challenges in the sport because of your gender?

A: The first challenge that springs to mind relates to the

delicate subject of what is easier for men to do just about anywhere; toilet facilities are only provided at service parks. In addition, my smaller stature can be unhelpful at times when the car needs to be put back on its wheels, but when the car is in motion it is a definite bonus to be on the lighter side.

Q: Do you do any other racing?

A: Nothing major, just the odd fun event, regularity rally or sprint.

Q: Any bad crashes?

A: I have been very lucky with the crashes. I have been

involved in quite a few, but all relatively minor in terms of personal injury. But crashing comes with the territory.

Q: Where do you practice your rallying skills?

A: The only way to practice is to actually do it. I do compete

in sprints and regional rallies, which help keep my brain and body attuned to what is needed.

Q: Speed or precision?

A: In my view, the navigator’s role is equally weighted in

terms of both speed and precision. The timing of the delivery of the pace notes directly relates to the speed of the car. Calling at the right time, with accurate instructions, is vital to the success of the team.

Q: Do you need to stay fit? If so, how do you manage with such a busy schedule?

A: Fitness obviously helps a great deal and I’m lucky to be strong enough to take the knocks of ordinary rallying.

Engines were invented for a reason though and when we have to push the car, like on the last rally, I realise that there’s always room for improvement!

Q: What road car do you drive and do you drive like

a maniac on the road as well? a 1991 Toyota Conquest RSi. It is a fantasic car and I love it. I don’t drive like a maniac, but enjoy pushing the limit safely sometimes. I believe that if you get your kicks in a rally car there is no need to drive recklessly on the open road.

A: I drive

Q: Do you have any racing heroes?

A: My favourite rally driver of all time is Markko Martin, and

growing up in the sport my favourite local driver was Serge Damseaux. But the hero status would have to belong to my counterparts, the navigators: locally, Cindi Harding and internationally there are so many to choose from, but if I had to pick one it would be Phil Mills.

Q: Do you have any tips for aspiring lady racers?

A: To love the sport and to navigate well are two different

things. The decision to be a navigator should be taken seriously. General tips include being organised, calm, unflappable under pressure and once in the car, to be your driver’s biggest fan. Not getting car sick whilst reading is a given! The primary thing you need to succeed in this sport is the desire to do it and, of course, you have to love it. It becomes an addiction.

Q: What is your next big goal in the sport?

A: I would like to win a national event, which I hope is

something that will happen in the near future, and competing overseas would also be a challenge. But even without those I am very happy participating at my level and enjoyment is for me the most important thing. •

DINfo box i Rallying is a form of motorsport that takes place on public or private roads with modified production or specially built road-legal cars. This motorsport is distinguished by running in a point-to-point format, in which participants and their navigators (or codrivers) drive between set control points, leaving at regular intervals from one or more start points.

The driver keeps the car on the road and the co-driver’s job is to navigate. This she/he does by reading off a set of pace notes to the driver. It’s her/his job to tell the driver where and how hard to turn, as well as what obstacles to look out for.

Navigators might also be required to help with road-side maintenance and changing tyres, or rolling the car back on its wheels after a tumble.

www.doitnow.co.za | Adventure • 55

inTRODUCING:

Words by Mark Trollip Photos by Lynette Trollip

Sheepdog T rials Now here’s something different for all urban trendoids and dog lovers to learn about; Sheepdog trials. But before you turn the page thinking that this is not your thing, read on to discover what an interesting and skillful sport it really is.

Sheepdog trials, also known as a herding event, stock dog trial or simply a dog trial, is a competitive dog sport in which herding dog breeds move sheep around a field, fences, gates or enclosures as directed by their handlers. The first trials were held in Wânaka, New Zealand in 1867 and quickly spread to England and Scotland. The success of those early trials led to the sport being taken up in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Chile, Canada, the USA, Australia, New Zealand,

56 • DO IT NOW August | September 2011

South Africa and other farming nations. Depending on the venue, some only allow dogs of known herding breeds to compete, while others allow any dog that has been trained to work stock. In South Africa, any dog may enter a trial, but only South African Sheepdog Association (SASDA) registered dogs may compete in the nationals. To date, only Border Collies and the occasional Australian Kelpie have competed in this country.

Today, the sport remains popular throughout the world and South Africa is no different. The first South African National Championships was held 50 years ago in 1961, on a rugby field in Graaff-Reniet and has been taking place annually ever since. Over the years, the course has changed to upgrade the standard and difficulty to improve the dog’s working ability, to that of a full international style ‘double lift’. This move puts our dogs and handlers on the same foot as their overseas counterparts.

Amy

HOLDING PEN / KRAAL Cast Lift Bring Drive Shed Pen

Total

20 10 20 30 10 10

100

BRING 300M

CAST HAAL

Mark doing sheeptalking

As far as possible, the conditions and work to be encountered in everyday shepherding on the farms are followed in Sheepdog trials, and a typical test element would be as follows. The dog is directed to ‘gather’ the sheep up to 800m away and sets off in a wide ‘outrun’ to gather the flock, which has been grazing in the field. Having completed the outrun, the dog will move in quietly behind the sheep and take control. This is referred to as the ‘lift’. The dog then moves the sheep towards the handler in a straight line through a ‘bring obstacle’ in a steady and controlled manner, which is referred to as the ‘bring’. When the sheep finally arrive at the handler, the ‘gather’ is completed.

Next, the dog is directed to move the sheep round behind the handler and ‘drive’ them away through a set of ‘gates’ a 100m away. The dog turns them and drives across the field, in front of the handler, where there is a similar obstacle 150m away. Once through this they move into a 40m circle where two sheep are ‘shed’ (separated) from the main group of five. This is more difficult than it sounds because the two groups

A JA

N

AA

PEN

Trials normally consist of four classes, namely Beginners, Juniors, Seniors and Top Dogs. The Beginner’s class is aimed at beginner dogs and handlers, and is where everyone starts their trialing careers. To qualify out of Beginners, the handler must obtain a score of 85% and may never return to that class. The next rung on the ladder is the Junior’s class, which is for junior or young dogs and is where the more experienced handlers introduce their young dogs to the exciting world of competition. To progress to the next class, the handler must satisfy two conditions, namely winning and obtaining 80%, and once again may not return to the Junior class. Next is the Senior’s class and on winning this class and obtaining a score of 90%, the dog progresses to Top Dogs; the highest class that every handler and their dog aspires to. Progressing through the classes is not easy as the exercises become more challenging and the distances to be covered greater.

D

G/

SHREDDING RING

E

IV

R

of sheep invariably try to stick together. Because of the difficulty and skills required to do this exercise, it is not attempted in the Junior class. The shed is necessary in everyday work to separate a sick ewe or ewe with a newborn lamb for example. Once the dog has taken control of the sheep, they are reunited in the ‘shedding ring’ and the handler proceeds to the ‘pen’. The final obstacle is the pen, a 2.4m by 1.8m area with a hinged gate. The handler keeps the gate open by holding the end of a 1.8m rope and may not let go of the rope until the sheep are in and the gate is closed. The time limit is normally 15 minutes, and is a fantastic display of skill and team work between the dog and its handler from start to finish.

The sketch above depicts a typical course and gives an indication of points allocated for each exercise.

The ideal ‘run’ is where the sheep are kept moving in a straight line and at a steady pace, and all obstacles are successfully negotiated with the shed and pen completed on the first attempt. Any deviation from the above results in points being deducted.

DINfo box i Check out the SA Sheepdog Association’s (SASDA) website: www.sasda.za.net So for those of you who would like to go and see what this amazing canine sport is all about, here are the trial dates for the remainder of the year: CLUB North West SA Champs/ Nationals Jublilee Nursery

DATE

VENUE

13 -14 Aug

Coligny

29 Sept - 2 Oct

Muldersdrift

We look forward to seeing you there! •

www.doitnow.co.za | Sport • 57

inTRODUCING:

Words by Armand Fourie Photos by Vincent Boonzaaier

Extreme Sports Day

Orlando Towers

On Saturday 4 June, the Orlando Towers were the setting for an extreme sports day, the first event of its kind to be held in Soweto. As the only place where you are able to bungee jump, swing, rock climb, paintball, slack line and BASE jump on the same day, it wasn’t long before the place was teeming with curious spectators, both young and old, who came to check it all out.

58 • DO IT NOW August | September 2011

Orlando Towers are the unavoidable and imposing concrete structures that rise high above Soweto’s skyline. The Towers are situated in the very heart of a thriving and vibrant Soweto; a city that is a growing tourist attraction and features on just about every website’s listing of the top ten places to see in South Africa.

Contestants came from all over Gauteng to compete, and there were some really cool prizes up for grabs from the sponsors of the event; Black Diamond, Red Bull, Jose Quervo and Cebe Sunglasses. The scheduled events included Speed Climbing, Bungee Stunt and Slackline competitions, and this is how it all went down.

I got there early and already the people were piling in. The winter air was chilling and all around me the participants were gearing up for their respective events.

Some were donning harnesses and jumping up and down to get warm, with a look of ‘what the heck did I

get myself into’ on their faces as they gazed up nervously at the Towers and the 100-metre jump that lay ahead of them. “My friend only developed a fear of heights after she jumped here last time!” said Danielle Versteek, one of the jumpers, as the instructor pulled her harness tighter.

“She’s not jumping this time, but I had to come again although I think I might be even more afraid this time round as I now know what to expect.”

Her acrophobia friend, Carla, who had decided not to jump, says that she doesn’t even want to go up the elevator shaft, much less jump. Another friend, Jane, was anxiously tugging at her hair as she sat waiting for the lift to start moving. “They’ll have to push me,” she said.

Carla laughed and wondered out loud, “Who was going to chicken out first?”

One of the Bungee Stunt competitors had this to say after their jump. “You only really know what you’ve got yourself into when you see the spectacular 360˚ view from up there.

It’s awesome, but knowing you’re going to go all the way down again, with nothing but a bungee cord around your legs is what scares the wits out of you!” While another competitor commented, “After you go over the edge, it’s the best feeling you can have with your clothes on!”

The Slackline competition, held by Warran Gans from Black Diamond, was another highlight of the day and spot prizes were given out to those who had performed dazzling tricks on the slackline.

The sponsors were unanimous in their agreement that this extreme sports day had huge growth potential and were totally exhilarated with the amount of support the event had received. “If this can happen in the heart of Soweto, we can go anywhere. The culture of extreme sports is infectious and we’ll keep on spreading it,” said Warran Gans. •

The base of the eastern Tower was a hive of activity as the rock climbers prepared for the Speed Climbing competition. There were two climbing routes set up next to each other on the Tower’s wall and the contestants’ job was simple; climb a 20-metre vertical wall and do it in a record time. As one of the organisers started calling the competitors forward, the look in their eyes said it all.

They were a determined group of individuals who were not going to take any prisoners, and then the show down began. To the organisers’ surprise, the Speed Climbing competition proved to be more popular than the bungee jumping, with the audience cheering like rugby fanatics at Loftus Versfeld to prove it. The atmosphere was electric.

It was fantastic to see so many young climbers also taking part in this event and showing off their mettle. The final, like many of the races, was a nail biter. Tobias Verwey and Dylan Vogt were neck and neck, battling it out when Tobias, nicknamed ‘Rabobi’, just managed to pull away from Dylan and clinch victory. The ladies were just as compelling to watch and some of their times were even faster than the men’s. Samantha Stainton was the winner, with Tiffany Wells coming in close behind her.

Then, with no warning, the power went out. The only way up the Towers is in the lift and this was no longer an option, so all the activities came to a sudden halt. Everything went silent. The power failure could have easily disrupted the flow of the event, but the team from Livin’ Adventures and Orlando Towers were not about to let that happen and ruin the remainder of the day. Generators were brought in and before long a couple of adrenaline junkies decided to make lemonade from the lemons they’d been given. They climbed up the elevator track to the top of the Towers and BASE jumped to keep the impressed, screaming fans below entertained.

www.doitnow.co.za | Adventure • 59

inACTION:

Words by Claire Barnes Photos by various photographers

: G N I V KYDI

n o i t a m r Fo rtistry A monauti At

S

››

For fierce competitors chasing gold, jumping out of a plane in minus 11 degrees to execute competition sequences and land their canopies on icy fynbos is not an idea to ponder – it’s a given. They will brave freezing temperatures and howling winds, driven by the hunger to win. And, of course, it is also a whole lot of fun.

Skydive Robertson recently hosted the South African National Skydiving Championships in Formation Skydiving, Artistic Events and Atmonauti.

The beautiful drop zone, tucked between the Langeberg Mountain Range and wine farms, was the gathering place for skydivers competing for titles, gold medals and bragging rights as the best in the country. The normally laid-back drop zone was a rather unlikely choice for a national competition due to the perceived lack of facilities and notorious Cape weather, which could turn any skydiver’s day south. However, that did not stop the drop zone’s tenacious organising team from putting on a great event. A new manifest office was added to the hangar, facilities were upgraded and the weather, well ... it is the Cape after all. Like they say, if you don’t like it, wait five minutes!

On a warm Sunday afternoon all the skydivers attended the competitors briefing to receive their draws from the judges who then declared the competition open. Some had been there for the weekend to train, while others had driven straight from Cape Town International.

On Monday the competition started off with a bang. The packing hangar was alive with preparation, packing, people, skydiving equipment everywhere and an expectant buzz of nerves and enthusiasm permeated the air. All eyes were on the big screens displaying the video feeds as the judges began scoring the competition. Despite the evident tension, there was never an opportunity missed to congratulate a fellow competitor on a well-executed round.

Photographer: Mohan Chudalayandy Competitors boarding the plane

By the afternoon, the wind was raging and only the senior competitors could continue jumping. The problem with a weather-dependant sport is that the entire competition relies on the co-operation of Mother Nature.

And she was really grumpy by Monday evening. By Tuesday, rain and more howling winds put the whole competition on hold, keeping all skydivers on the ground and amusing themselves in the town of Robertson. Come Wednesday morning, the temperatures had dropped to below freezing and snow covered the mountain tops. But as there was no sign of rain and just a light wind teased the fynbos, the competitors braved the freezing temperatures to do what they love, skydive. With only jumpsuits, gloves and neck warmers to protect them from the bitter cold, conditions weren’t easy. The game was well and truly on!

In Formation Skydiving, it was all about getting those extra one or two points in competition as we saw by the close total scores. In the Novice 4-way category, team Vertical Xcelleration impressed everyone with their crisp turns and discipline, and walked away with the winner’s trophy and gold. Ladies’ novice team PAC Attack nabbed the silver despite a lastminute replacement for an injured team member. The 4-way Intermediate category came down to the wire with Team Peregrine nipping at the heels of Ama Zoom Zoom. Neck and neck the whole way, Ama Zoom Zoom put some extra zoom into their performance and snuck two extra points on the last round to take gold.

››

The 4-way Open category was a hot topic this year as the long-time national champions, Voodoo, did not enter this year, thus leaving the competition wide open and the gold for the taking. Last year’s silver and bronze medallists G4B and Copasetic were definitely up for the challenge. With Team G4B’s precision and Copasetic’s speed the competition in this category was electrifying and spectacular to watch. In the end though, it was G4B who secured those three extra points to take the gold, with Copasetic taking silver. The bronze medal went to Team Nashua.

G4B proved a force to be reckoned with in the 8-way category and G4B Plus, taking the Open 8-way gold medal. Team Invictus won the Open 2-way category, one of the fastest categories of the competition with only two-man formations.

In the Artistic Events category, Freefly teams in both the Intermediate and Open entertained the judges and competitors with sit-fly, head-down and some exciting transition moves. Unlike Formation Skydiving, Freefly is performed in three dimensions and involves a great degree of difficulty. It is judged on artistic merit, presentation and level of difficulty. Safety First took gold in the Intermediate category, with Team 4 Sprung Duck Technique winning silver. In the Open category it was Team Scratch who proved to be the best of the best.

Atmonauti enthusiasts, Zach and Scott Show, were there to represent their discipline at national level.

Atmonauti, which originated in Italy, is not yet a recognized FAI event. However, Atmo addicts have a great enthusiasm to grow this discipline in South Africa.

Although not all rounds were completed due to weather, all events completed enough rounds to validate the championship and were celebrated with an awards presentation, sponsor giveaways, a live band and a noteworthy after-party. Thanks and well done to the Robertson community and Skydive Robertson for a really memorable event. To find out more about this great little drop zone check out www.skydive.co.za

How Formation Skydiving is judged

Teams of two, four or eight skydivers have 35 seconds (or 50 seconds for 8-way) from the time the first member separates from the aircraft to repeat - during freefall - a drawn sequence of formations and movements as many times and as accurately as possible. Formations are completed using hand grips on each other’s legs and arms. A videographer exits with the team, flying just above them throughout to film the skydiving performance, and this footage is then immediately submitted to the judges. The judges assess each skydive by watching the footage and award points for correct and complete in-sequence formations and moves, and penalties for errors. The team with the highest number of points scored in up to 10 rounds wins the competition.

Points and penalties are clearly defined and there is no artistic element to the judging. The current 4-way Formation Skydiving world record for a single jump is 56 points and is held by a Russian team.

How Freefly is judged

Top to bottom: Packing hangar hustle and bustle, by David Maina | Team BOT preparing for a competition jump, by David Maina | The PAC 750XL, jump ship for the competition, by Mohan Chudalayandy | Jump ers landing after a skydive at Robertson, by Linda Steyn

62 • DO IT NOW August | September 2011

Freefly is an Artistic Event. Rounds 2 and 5 are ‘compulsory’ and are where teams of two performers and one videographer perform a set sequence of moves, as precisely as possible and by linking the set moves creatively. In the remaining rounds of the seven total rounds, the team performs their own choreographed performance. Using the videographer’s submitted footage, judges score them out of 10 on creativity, presentation, videographer participation and the difficulty of moves performed. The judging involves a lot of personal opinion and can be likened to judging dance or other creative sports. •

inACTION:

Words by Mandy Hartlett Photos courtesy of Anton Pretorius (Leisure Boating) & O’Brien Watersports

Melissa Colborne

Champions of the Wake

SA Open Wakeboarding Championships Victoria Lake in Germiston was the setting for the much-anticipated SA Open Wakeboarding Championships, hosted by O’Brien WaterSports and Vaal Nautiques.

The SA Open is the most prestigious wakeboarding event of the year and it got off to a cold and rainy start. Despite the less than ideal conditions, supporters and riders alike came down to the lake to enjoy the spectacular wakeboarding skills on display.

With all of South Africa’s top riders in attendance, the SA Open was a festive and talent-filled event. O’Brien WaterSports SA provided the food, drinks and children’s activities, and local band Mystery Hotel pumped up the volume and heat with their fantastic live performance on Saturday, creating a jovial and fun vibe that no amount of rain could dampen.

Sunday was the finals of the competition and it was everything we had hoped for and more. The Boy’s division showcased our young talent, with newcomer Austin Stuart taking top honours, followed by Dylan Lodge in second and Keenan Pilley in third place. Up next was the Junior Men, which saw Team O’Brien rider Cameron Graham taking first place, with a show-stopping run that included a soil toeside on-axis 540, heelside 360 Tantrum, a couple of steezed out grabs, a mean looking toeside backside 180 and a solid rail riding to end it all in style. Jason Colborne came in second and Leighten Barnard clinched third place.

In the Wakeskate division, it was a hotly-contented affair with little between the scores. At the end of the showdown, the top ranking for the year went to Matti Buys, with Dylan Mitchell in second place and third going to Dale Nieustad.

This division was followed by the Pro Men, which had SA’s best of the best competing. As expected the competition was incredibly tough, but it was the second rail that raised the bar, making the run the men had to put together far more challenging. The title of SA Men’s Pro Champion for the year went to Morgan Krause. Morgan, who has been riding for 15 years, put together an impressive run starting his first pass with a dumb dumb, followed by a KGB, an off-axis 540 and a method moby dick. His second pass impressed everyone with a stalefish shifty, a method crow, a front mobe and nose grab toeside back roll, finishing with an off 720. Second place went to Clayton Krause, who also set a very high standard of riding and wowed the crowd with his trick selection and execution, and in third place was Dylan Mitchell.

www.doitnow.co.za | Sport • 63

Team O’Brien rider Jono Joseph, who finished fifth in this division, had this to say about the course, “The introduction of a second rail forced riders to think out of the box, as there was a rail at each end of the course and the guys had to keep changing their run ups. Some of the guys enjoyed it, as it suited their riding style more.

Now that we have some experience, we are looking forward to taking on more rails in the season to follow.

What was important to see was the mix the participants brought to the table, as wake riding alone won’t win a contest; you need to be versatile in all the aspects of wakeboarding, which means that competitions are wide open to everyone out there.”

The Open Men’s division was just as tight. Justin Mitri had the crowd on their feet with his run consisting of a solid heelside 360 and a 540, a mix of grabs that he finished off with some solid rail riding, backliping each rail and adding a spin to them. He also put together an S-bend and a great switch crow that saw him land the number one position, to become the SA Open Men title holder for 2011. Craig Eggenburger took second place, while Justin Selby claimed third place, just one point behind.

The Ladies division always has the crowd up on their feet and this event was no different. Gina Faccio and Deidre van Niekerk have been going head to head all season and put on a superb display of riding that would put some of the men in other divisions to shame.

For the eighth consecutive year it was Team O’Brien rider Gina Faccio whose run was timed precisely and executed with the highest degree of professionalism, earning her the Pro Ladies SA Champion title. Her first pass included a tantrum, followed by a scarecrow into a heelside backroll, a toeside frontroll and a stalefish shifty.

Gina’s second pass started with a frontside backroll, followed by a heelside 180, a frontside roll to revert, then

Gina Faccio riding the O’Brien Skyla

a straight air to finish off with a boardslide over the slider.

Gina’s teammate Diedre van Niekerk took second and newcomer Melissa Colborne, who flew in from Somerset West and is relatively new to the ladies division, showed determination and gumption throughout the competition to earn a well deserved third place.

All in all the competition was a great success. We were lucky to have a respite from the rain on Sunday and very happy with the overall turnout.

O’Brien WaterSports would like to thank all the spectators who came to watch the riders compete, and the riders for putting on such a great display. The wonderful camaraderie amongst the riders was a pleasure to see and showed that these South African sportsmen and woman not only share a love of the sport, but are also a family that supports and cheers each other on.

We would also like to thank our sponsors, with special thanks to Vaal Nautiques for providing the Super Air Nautique to tow the riders, Germiston Aquatic Club for providing us with a spectacular venue, SAB, Premier Auto Germiston, Club Marine and Skullcandy. Without the hard work and commitment of these awesome sponsors, this event would not have been the immense success that it was and we look forward to many more future events with you. We would also like to send a huge shout out to Mystery Hotel for the great gig they put on for us; the crowd really enjoyed your music. •

Jono Joseph riding the O’Brien Decade

Super Air Nautique

64 • DO IT NOW August | September 2011

Morgan Krause

www.doitnow.co.za | Adventure • 65

inACTION:

Words by Damien Laird Photos by Amped Distributors

Cable Wakeboard and Wakeskate Nationals

From a wakeboarder’s perspective For anyone who has ever watched or been involved in cable water sports, there is no better event than the Nationals, which only happens once a year. As all the riders and supporters involved in the sport are essentially one big happy family, this event is an eagerly anticipated annual gathering. Yes, there is a sense of tension between the competitors who want to do their best in the hopes of winning, but the Nationals is where we all get to share our experiences and catch up with our mutual, water-loving friends.

This long-awaited event took place on 7 and 8 May at Forever Resorts in Warmbaths. Coming from far and wide, riders started arriving early on Friday to squeeze in one last bit of practice before the competition. Having had the whole season to prepare for the biggest and last cable event before the onset of winter, the purpose of this assigned practice session is to allow riders to get used to the cable and make any last-minute adjustments to their runs.

By evening, all of us had officially contracted Nationals fever. The time to learn new tricks had passed and the next opportunity anyone would get on the water would be for their qualifying run. After grabbing a bite to eat, participants and supporters relaxed in the resort’s hot pools before the sun went down and then the good times began in earnest. Knowing that the really good times were to be had on the water the following day and we would need to conserve some energy, we all eventually retired to our campsites and chalets.

Rising early the next morning bright eyed and bushy tailed, we met at the cable for the rider’s briefing at 08:30. It was explained that the qualifying rounds were to be run on Saturday and the finals on Sunday. Now it was judgment time. Running through each division systematically, the riding order for the finals was the person who qualified best, would ride last on Sunday and so the order went. Each division is decided by age, gender and riding ability. The cool thing about having the qualifying rounds is that they can be used as a practice run for the ultimate ride off in the finals.

For the entertainment on Saturday evening, Forever Resorts organised a great DJ who pumped up the volume and vibe. It was an evening of socialising, dancing and loads of fun and laughter. Not forgetting that this was the National Championships, we remained focused and called it a night to get some rest before the main event.

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The day of the show down had arrived and no time was wasted. With a sense of camaraderie support, or should I say brotherly and sisterly love, everybody cheered for each other. The various wakeboard categories included Amateurs, Masters, Junior Men, Open Ladies and to top it off, the Pro Men who demonstrated just what is really possible. We were treated to some mind-boggling tricks such as back mobes, front flips to blind, double s-bends and more. The wakeskating section was divided into a Ladies and Men’s division. Not to be outdone, these guys showed us a few tricks of their own including front side flips, backside big spins, 360 degree ollies and other jaw-dropping moves. These demonstrations of skill and showmanship were nothing less than what we were expecting and looking forward to seeing at the Nationals. The tricks were solid and the athletes seriously motivated.

There was top-of-the-range commentary, which ensured that nobody missed any of the non-stop action, and an enthusiastic crowd who cheered on riders every second of the way.

Everyone really stepped up the level this year!

With a team of dedicated judges to deliberate the extremely tight competition, the culmination was the prize-giving, where we finally named our South African champions. Gregor Reichmuth came out on top in the Pro Men wakeboarding division and Melissa Colborne won the Open Ladies. In the wakeskating, Mattie Buys dominated with his flip variations and Hazel Knee clinched the Ladies title. Our congratulations go to all the riders and our best wishes to Justin Mitri, who unfortunately took a fall and broke his ankle.

The awesome music provided by the Redbull vehicle, which is fully equipped with amazing sound, created a super atmosphere throughout the whole event and there was never a dull moment. A big thumbs up to the sponsors; Liquid Force, Forever Resorts Warmbaths, Ice Watches, Skullcandy, Afriski, DVS shoes and snowboarder.co.za. Everything was perfectly organised and run by the Cable Association of South Africa (CASA) and the Cable Nationals 2011 was an overriding success.

But what makes this event stand out from all the others is that it’s not just about the riders, it is also very much about the many supporters who share in the celebration and feeling of being one big unified family. This is what it all comes down to for sure. Group hugs and goodbyes until next year. May you all continue to ride well! •

inTRODUCING:

Words by Damien Laird Photos by Lerissa Kemp

d r a o b o Roll new e by no stretch auced r a ds r a bo e nc la Ba as initially introd idea. The board w e balance of th e ov pr im to ay w rders as a fun oarders, wakeboa surfers, skatebbo ard riders. and any other The Rolloboard was designed and built right here in South Africa in 2009 by Matt Buenzli, who loves surfing and is an avid windsurfer in his spare time. He believed that good balance is essential to improve one’s ability to master any sport that requires stability and core strength.

As a balance board enthusiast, I’ve found that by spending just a few minutes each day fine tuning your skills on these boards can bring immeasurable results. From my experience of having tried out various shapes of boards, the Rolloboard has the perfect length and width for performing the many skateboard-inspired tricks that are possible. Trick Style Rolloboarding has become a new practice amongst the younger generation, who already do other board sports such as skateboarding or wakeboarding.

All it takes for a newcomer to the sport is five minutes of riding time to understand how the balance works, and then the fun begins. What’s so fantastic about a Rolloboard is its versatility, as it can be used anywhere and at anytime. A Rolloboard is also not just for those adept at sports. It can be used by anybody, of any age, as a form of stress release and for harnessing personal power. Let me elaborate on this by listing the numerous advantages of using a Rolloboard: ›› A heightened sense of balance is developed. ›› Improved core strength as a result of enhanced balance. ›› By learning to stay on the board, better concentration is developed. ›› A fluid style is acquired, which helps with other board sports. Remember, style is everything! ›› It’s fun, which enhances the mental and emotional state. ›› The body is worked equally on either side. ›› All of the above will create and maintain a calm meditative space within a person.

This easy to use and portable item is perfect for kids to build equal muscle coordination on both sides of their bodies from an early age. It is also ideal for adults to help with their balance and do something fun, which takes their mind of the constant stress of work. There is no special kit required to take part in this activity, so the only expense before riding your very own Rolloboard is the cost of the board.

So whether you want to pursue a current sporting activity with an empowered sense of balance or you just want to further your bodily awareness, core strength and emotional balance in daily situations, the Rolloboard will help you on your way. This product will last a life time and provide selfenhancing attributes that are priceless. •

DINfo box i For more information on where to get your Rolloboard, contact Damien at damienlaird@hotmail.com.

Boards consist of a wooden deck, which is placed over a cylindrical pipe and thereafter anybody may stand on the deck whilst maintaining their balance on top of the piping.

www.doitnow.co.za | Adventure • 67

inACTION:

Words by Dane Patterson Photos by Kelly Cestari / Roxy

Sarah Baum (((Amanzimtoti), emerged victorious at the Open Women’s division of South Africa’s biggest stand alone women’s surfing event, the Roxy Wahine Cup, held at New Pier, Durban on 18 and 19 June 2011. Seventeen-year-old Baum surfed fast and radically in the three to four feet solid waves, to score an impressive heat total of 16.50 out of a possible 20 points and earn herself the winner’s cheque of R10,000.

Bianca Buitendag (George), who had just beaten Baum in the U20 Pro Junior division, was convincingly beaten by an on-form Baum to finish second in the Open Women’s division. “I am very happy with winning the event. I would have been stoked to win both divisions, but couldn’t seem to find my rhythm in the previous final. This win definitely gives me a lot of confidence going into my next few competitions,” said an elated Baum who spends most of her time surfing at New Pier. Chantelle Rautenbach (Melkbosstrand) and Tasha Mentasti (Cape Town) finished third and fourth respectively.

In the U20 ASP Pro Junior division final it was Buitendag who got the better of fierce rival Baum by posting two high scores in the eight point region. Buitendag won herself R7,000 in prize money and an automatic slot into the ASP World Pro Junior Series, to be held later in the year. Baum placed second with Heidi Palmboom (Bluff) and Faye Zoetmulder (Cape St. Francis) placed third and fourth respectively.

Sarah Baum (Amanzimtoti) clinched the Women’s Open division title at the 2011 Roxy Wahine Cup.

In the Girl’s U16 division final Gina Smith (Jeffreys Bay) clinched the title ahead of Nicole Pallet (Cape Town), Inge McLaren (East London) and Courtney Ellish (Amanzimtoti).

The U14 Girl’s final was tightly contested and they did extremely well in the testing conditions. Chanelle Botha (Amanzimtoti) claimed first place ahead of Mahe Javengny (Reunion Island), Teal Hogg (Durban) and Kelly Simkiss (Durban).

A new addition to Roxy Wahine Cup was the Girl’s Iron Nippers division. Alice Edward from Pirates Surf Lifesaving Club won the U12 division, while Michaela Ferreira from Umhlanga Rocks Surf Lifesaving Club emerged the winner of the U14 division.

The Roxy Wahine Cup is presented by the City of Durban in association with Suncoast Casino and supporting sponsors include Skullcandy, Softlips, Liqui Fruit, SuperSport and Red Bull. The Pro Junior event is sanctioned by ASP Africa, while all other divisions are sanctioned by Surfing South Africa, the governing body for surfing in South Africa.

For more information, photos and results visit the event’s mini site: www.wahinecup.roxy.co.za •

68 • DO IT NOW August | September 2011

Amanzimtoti surfer Chanelle Botha

Local Victo Baum r 1 2 t h Ai o u s a t Roxy n n Wahin ual e Cup Bianca Buitendag

Gina Smith (Jeffreys Bay) claimed the Roxy Wahine Cup U16 title

www.doitnow.co.za | Sport • 69

inACTION:

Words by Graham Bird & Tatum Prins (Team Merrell, proud winners of the 2011 Expedition Africa) Photos by Jacques Marais

The Power and Glory of 2011 Expedition Africa

At first glance the race route appeared easy, but it turned out to be well worthy of an expedition adventure race. The quick pace made it

challenging for the top and experienced teams, while the navigation, terrain and length of the legs made it difficult for the novice and slower teams. All 22 teams that started crossed the

finish line, with some resorting to a shorter course, some missing a team member and some missing a few CPs. This was a wonderful achievement and congratulations must go to everyone who finished. Hopefully the seed for

true expedition-style AR has been planted and we will continue to see the numbers attempting and finishing these long races grow.

70 • DO IT NOW August | September 2011

I always learn something new about myself in these races. You hit rock bottom and see dark places within yourself. You feel so broken that you can’t continue.

Then you experience a huge sense of achievement on finishing and feel that you can do anything you set your mind to! I hope this race has allowed a new batch of adventure racers to discover this and the seasoned racers to rediscover their passion for the sport.

Team Unchartered wrote this in their race report, which highlighted their discovery: “Unchartered’s Expedition Africa was a journey. The journey to halfway had us in a lot of pain and wondering how another 250km was possible. The journey home showed us what we were capable of, how much the team aspect counts and how to hang in there. On the second 250km we stopped asking who invented this ridiculous sport. I think we realised something crazy – we were enjoying the experience.”

This was one of the best organised races I’ve been to and can’t wait for Expedition Africa 2012!

Why Adventure Racing?

Words by Tatum Prins

As an adventure racer I always get asked why we do it and what we get out of it.

Those are good questions considering that this is a sport that crosses kilometres of ridgelines no one has walked along, mountains no one has dreamt of climbing, kloofs no one has ever looked at but on a map and where you only get to sleep for 10 minutes at a time on a mountain side, next to a river or on your feet.

On the Sport of AR Words by Graham Bird

Since winning the 2011 Expedition Africa, it’s been a time of rest, recovery, refuelling and most importantly reflection. As with all sports people, once the goal or event has been achieved or completed most go into a period of withdrawal and even post-event blues!

In AR this is no different, it’s possibly even more pronounced. Not because adventure racers are sad or disappointed, but because they are happy and content in their achievement and need time to take in the enormity of their achievements. Generally when any adventure racer finishes an expedition race, they are sleep deprived and utterly exhausted, and it takes a few days to begin to function and think normally again. This is when they start to realise what they’ve accomplished and triumph sets in, regardless of position or how much of the course was completed. To all it’s the satisfaction of having pushed one’s self to the limit and beyond, while enjoying the great outdoors.

I believe each race is a spiritual journey for those that compete. You discover new things about yourself, you review and adjust your outlook on life in general and you definitely leave each race with a new philosophy on how to tackle what life throws at you.

I’ve also come to realise that AR is essentially an individual sport. Even though you race in a team of four or two for hours or days on end, it’s ultimately about getting yourself through the course, no matter the length or how tough it is. To do this, you need to convince yourself that you can do it and when you realise just how powerful the mind and body are you can overcome anything.

I do it because this sport is incredible. It has a way of humbling you and bringing you back down to earth.

You end up having this love-hate relationship with it.

One minute you’re crying and ready to call it quits because it’s freezing cold, the sleep monsters are making you see strange things and thick bush won’t let you go faster than one kilometre an hour. Then just as quickly you’re loving every second and there is nowhere else you’d rather be. And then it changes again. Quite simply, it’s a beautiful kind of crazy!

It teaches you the importance of living each day to its fullest, to never give up and keep looking forward.

It pushes your limits, emotionally, physically and spiritually. Each valuable lesson learnt makes you a richer person for it.

One of the most important things is the vital role your teammates play because without them you are nothing. They are your world for those days of racing.

It’s about the adventure you share from start to finish, and in that time life becomes simple again.

So when Graham passed me the microphone at the 2011 Expedition Africa prize-giving, I felt this overwhelming emotion and passion for a sport I love so much, a sport that makes me who I am and so proud to be a part of. And with that, a torrent of words came pouring out.

As wonderful as it was to win this race, for Graham and me it was really about all the inspirational novice racers who pushed themselves to the limits and beyond. It was about having a 500km race in our backyard that we are very proud of, and sharing this with you so that you understand why we do it.

To see Jacques Marais’ amazing photos of this event, refer to pages 120-125 in the inFOCUS section. •

www.doitnow.co.za | Sport • 71

inACTION:

Words by Max Knox Photos courtesy of Ballistic Bike Trading

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the of f to s a w nd it om race fr rived a r B a T y l M r for l y fina par tne 920km y g M n . i l The da h l r ue uti, Beac 2c, a g iyonsh t b u rg h t N o n c e S j o B e rg i to er Adr m. e s b u rg an rid d n a ike tea Johann b w R n i s a t a ree n ent w past th N mou T e h M t the ev r e ove r th have des fo Adrien t s n i ries, I who ri a e g s a n d o e the th race ould b l Mara w a n s i Having o i h t Na and t in in the r him ready l o f A t . c years e m p a tea ieved ost res as ach ride as h d l n the utm u e i o r w f, and eer Ad me we ream o ng car d i c y first ti l a n r B ros o or t MT for. rican p f A his sh ot ask h t n u d o l S u ost r I co what m par tne e l b m hu a more

Stage 1 - Heilelberg to Frankfort, Distance 115km, Ascent 917m, Descent 935m The atmosphere at the start was relaxed, with plenty of banter from the usual suspects to keep everyone amused. The first 120km was a neutral stage for riders on this great pilgrimage to the sea. The Chine’s boat trip in the middle of this stage was a welcome treat for us riders who never got the chance to stop for a break.

The food on offer was excellent and many a rider made idle promises of looking for an Afrikaans wife in their next life, as they really know how to cook up a storm.

Back on terra firma, the pace quickened as the Free State has limited hills and just five hours later most of the lead riders crossed the finish. I was thankful that my Chamois Butt’r bum cream was at hand as five hours in the saddle, at any speed, is no joke.

72 • DO IT NOW August | September 2011

Stage 2 - Frankfort to Reitz, Distance 93km, Ascent 1030m, Descent 959m

This was the first real day of racing and we were ready for the big battle to begin. Adrien and I were the only pro team that opted for 26 inch bikes. This choice had been a major topic of discussion leading up to the event and what time advantage the 29” would have over us on the flat, non technical first three stages. Although the race was really fast and flat, we need not have worried because the riders on the 29” hardly made any inroads on the relatively flat sections. We finished second in the sprint, just three seconds behind Team RECM.

Stage 4 - Sterkfontein Dam to Winterton,

Distance 124km, Ascent 1937m, Descent 2624m

Stage 3 - Reitz to Sterkfontein Dam, Distance 127km, Ascent 1064m This stage was a monster 125km flat race to the Sterkfontein Dam, with about 900 metres of climbing.

Not ideal for either Adrien or I and once again the race boiled down to a sprint to the finish. Here we were pipped to the post and came in second. We were very happy with this placing, as the day had not been without its mishaps. Adrien broke some spokes in his rear wheel and had to play it conservatively during the stage, but we were just glad not to have lost time.

A misty start saw the field of riders ease into this stage, which commenced with a seven-kilometre neutral zone.

Thereafter the race was on and began with the first big hill of the day at the 15km mark. Adrien and I picked up the pace and in doing so split the field up early with the intention of putting some of the other teams under pressure. However, fortune was not on our side as my saddle broke 30km into the stage and I was forced to play it safe on the fast down hills that took us down into the plains of KwaZulu-Natal and foothills of the Drakensberg. The next major obstacle was the climb up Spionkop Mountain. Again Adrien and I set a good pace, reaching the top of the climb first and putting ourselves in a prime position to create an even bigger gap on the downhill section. As fate would have it Adrien had a huge crash into the rocks, which flattened his wheel and broke his saddle. From here to the finish our sole purpose was damage control and we managed to cross the line some six minutes behind the stage winners, Team Berg and Bush.

www.doitnow.co.za | Adventure • 73

Stage 5: Winterton to Kamberg, Distance 102km, Ascent 1625m Starting in Winterton, the first 50km was really flat.

After the past four days of intense riding and bad luck no one seemed very interested in pushing the pace at the beginning of this stage. The RECM team of Waylon Woolcock and Neil Macdonald had experienced some mechanical problems early on in the stage, but rejoined the group at about the 20km mark. This meant that all five of the leading teams in the General Classification would start the last half of this hilly stage together. I can’t say enough about the true strength of Adrien after his crash on Spionkop Mountain, which would have left many a rider weak, hurt and turning tail for home. But not him!

We fought really hard all day and I couldn’t have been more proud of his courageous efforts to fight for a win.

However, around the 75km mark the pain set in and we had to limit our losses for the day and finished in fourth place, six minutes behind the stage winners RECM, who had won the sprint from Berg and Bush. With four more really hard days of racing to come we remained optimistic, as anything can happen in mountain bike racing.

Stage 6: Kamberg to Hazeldean Farm, Distance 94km, Ascent 1982m, Descent 1946m This stage was a 100km test of strength and endurance through the lower Drakensberg Mountains to the town of Underberg. Predominately on dirt roads, with some climbing thrown in for good measure, a small group of riders stuck together until the first major obstacle of the day, a big 10km pass. We slowed our pace for the climb, opting for a more steady rhythm as the two leading teams where throwing everything they had at each other to see who would crack first. We crested the climb in third place, but were struck another blow when my rim connected with a huge boulder hidden in the shade, which cracked the sidewall out and forced me to put a tube in the wheel. Back in chase mode, we proceeded with caution to limit any further damage to the front wheel tube. We worked our way through the field to finish in fourth place; not bad when you consider our never-ending bad luck. The last few days had turned out to be a true test of character and I could not have had a better partner.

Stage 8: MacKenzie Club to Jolivet, Stage 7: Hazeldean Farm to Mackenzie

Club, Distance 86km, Ascent 1110m

After six days of demanding racing, Stage 7 was along the sani2c route. The race got off in misty conditions again, with only a minute separating the two leading teams. They both went hard from early on, so we decided to ride more conservatively and save the legs.

Once again our day was not without misfortune, but it was great to see the new sections of track included in the sani2c. The rest of the course consisted of good, flowing single tracks that got the adrenaline firing. Adrien and I maintained our third position and I was just loving my new Ghost HTX Full Carbon bike.

Stage 9: Jolivet to Scottburgh, Distance 75km, Ascent 1235m The final trek to the sea was off to another pacey start.

As the route was so flat and quick, this section proved to be a more tactical affair, with the leading teams watching each other and only playing their winning cards close to the finish line. Leading the bunch onto the beach, Adrien and I were beaten in the sprint to finish in second place again.

74 • DO IT NOW August | September 2011

Distance 97km, Ascent 2230m

This was 100km of single track and mountain biking in the Umkomaas Valley that surely rivals the best in the world. The race split up early and we started the hard middle portion of the race with Team RECM. This would be the deciding day and final test for the leading contenders. At the 70km mark we settled into our own rhythm and soldiered on to the finish in second place.

What an awesome stage this had turned out to be with so much single track that really challenged the athletes.

All in all it had been an awesome nine days of riding and a test of strength and character. Adrien and I claimed a final overall podium position, and thoroughly enjoyed the race and all it had to offer. This race is a true South African experience where you have the opportunity to take in the many diverse sights that our wonderful country has to offer. A huge thank you to our sponsor, Purple Extreme Lube, all those who made this race possible and everyone who followed and supported us.

You all ROCK! Congratulations to Max and Adrien on their well-deserved win at the sani2c MTB race a few weeks after their great performance at the joBurg2c. Keep it up! •

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The RT Lector 7700 will be your perfect companion in any scenario: steep uphills, speedy downhills or longer tours alike.

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inACTION:

Words by Jaco Lubbe Photos by Andre Meintjies & Action Photo

Big Indunat Attracts SA’s Bes

The First Ascent Big Induna Mountain Bike Race blew all race expectations off the charts. How could we expect anything else when the biggest complaint was sunburn! Wow, what an amazing weekend of friends, laughter, breakthroughs, victories and MOUNTAIN BIKING. A celebration of everything that makes mountain biking the liberating sport that we all yearn for ...

76 • DO IT NOW August | September 2011

www.doitnow.co.za | Adventure • 77

Barry Spies leading the bunch

Dean Plath

Max Knox

With the Big Induna MTB race off last year’s calendar because of the Soccer World Cup, the Induna Adventure team came out with all guns blazing for the 2011 event, proving once again why this is the best event on the SA MTB calendar. Their strong belief that “Lives will be changed as cyclists unwind on the route,” and “We expect nothing but miracles to change peoples’ lives,” is what drives these organisers to go the extra mile.

Held in Hazyview on 11 June 2011, the route offered kilometre after kilometre of smooth, flowing single track and quad trails, with play-park style burms and bridges all over the show. In fact, riding a total of 38 bridges made you feel like you were on a stairway to heaven.

The scenery was spectacular, boasting lush indigenous forests, gurgling river crossings, cascading waterfalls and supreme countryside viewpoints to ensure that your cup of joy and excitement overflowed.

Testament to the race’s legendary status was the field of riders that included SA’s best, such as Max Knox, Ben Melt Swanepoel and Yolandi du Toit to name but a few.

The total number of riders that took part was just over 600, of which more than 100 littlies did the 10km ride.

This fantastic support clearly shows us that mountain biking is a growing sport and fun for the whole family.

Ghost Do It Now rider Max Knox, who shattered his competition and finished 18 minutes ahead of his next rival, said this about his race, “The riders from the 70km race started at the same time as the 120km race, which added an extra special element as it gave some of the young stars the chance to shine against the pro riders.

“The first loop of Induna has always been very fast and flowing, with some of the area’s finest trails all mixed together. The youngsters went out really hard at the start, which saw about eight riders forming the lead group, namely Ben Melt Swanepoel (specialised), Pieter Seyffert, Charles Keey, Jacques Janse van Rensburg,

78 • DO IT NOW August | September 2011

Erik Wessels

Paul Cordes (all MTN), HB Kruger, Lowveld rising star Lourens Luus and myself. We stayed together through the first technical zone to the 40km mark and then shortly after that I put in a surge to see who had good legs on the day. I was surprised to see the field split up real quick and I managed to ease out a gap. With 80km to go and 2,200 metres of climbing left I knew there would be no benefit to riding in a group, so I set about at my own steady pace and it seemed to work well as the time gaps increased.

Starting the last loop, I had a good time check and knew that barring any mechanicals or a stupid mistake I would be able to take home the big win. So from there on out I just tried to really savour the feeling of being out there in one of my favourite areas.

“I can’t say enough about the way the course kept riders on the edge and concentrating.

A really great mixture of everything that a mountain biker needs was on offer and it is a definite must do for anybody wanting to have a great experience on and off the bike.”

The Valencia Little Induna 10km race is also growing into a notable race on the calendar with 128 children, parents and grandparents joining in the fun. The youngest rider was Jovan Lubbe, only four years old, who completed the race in 01:19 before spending the rest of his energy running around on Induna Beach.

The finish felt like a get together of friends and family, as children ran and played on Induna Beach to the delight of their onlooking parents, sitting leisurely under the umbrellas and canopy tents. The festive atmosphere was inflamed as the MC welcomed every rider back like a prodigal son.

Although this race is over, the momentum will be seen as riders from all over will pitch up at rides and races countrywide with their favourite Induna cycle shirt to fly the flag of a day in history that made a difference. •

EaglE Canyon CyClEs H o n e y d e w

HELPING YOU REACH NEW FRONTIERS www.eaglecanyoncycles.co.za Eagle Canyon Cycles

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inACTION:

Words by Malcolm Behrens Photos by Various Photographers

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es, l rac a c at lo ppor t am u e t g to s am me acin a o r g te c r n i e d c s a a er in a r h d L e e e hro s. . Th e PS the tim n Sc hile 690 g th t e C n a g i M r d h an llow d Jü n on KT ed t tina of fo I decid x an n o e so s r C g e ea Ar hen fi nd y l p n a i r e A t e s kar Aft end end an S e Da f leg r and I e fri h o t m t d o a s ede iste team ons chro c S g the l n anie peti nd D com a , an Niss

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Our original plan was to hire one car to get around in, but by the time we were ready to leave our support team had grown quite considerably and included supporters from South Africa, USA and Germany. We now needed four bikes and three cars for our sizeable group. Patrick and I both opted for a KTM 990, Chris P chose a Honda and Simon was to ride Alfie Cox’s 690 Prototype, while Chris H, Henk, Mike, Thomas, Campbell, Dave and Max took the comfortable option in the hired cars. Alfie provided the bikes and kit, with the reassuring words, “All the gear, but no idea.”

A few training rides later (5,000km) and we were ready.

We touched down in Buenos Aires a few days before the event to do some shopping and finalise a last few remaining details. The scale of this race is amazing and even our small team had a massive eight-wheeler T5 (support truck), a T4 (fast support and race truck) and a massive 4x4 to carry the spares for Ian and Daniel’s bikes. Our evenings were spent meeting many of the incredibly friendly and approachable Dakar participants, including most of the work teams. As Alfie is such a Dakar legend, the various work teams continued to seek us out throughout the race to chat and hear about the day’s gauntlet runs and Alfie’s super star moments.

Day 1: We decided to miss the start to get ahead of the race and watch the first racing section. This turned out to be a good call, as it was still a mad rush to Rio Cuarto.

Day 2: Waking early we headed to a corn field, about 40km outside of town, to watch the first stage. In our excitement to get going, we forgot to pack something to eat and drink, but we did see the bikes and leading cars come whizzing past, and Alfie and Jürgen just miss a corner they were flying around. The SA flags we proudly waved worked like a charm, as both Daniel and Ian gave us a wave as they passed. As each race day is approximately 700km, we left for Recreo. Arriving late that night, we found a very cool hotel in Jesus Maria and checked in. Fortunately everything stays open late at night, so we found something to eat and drink at a local pub and met Tony, the one-legged Harley-Davidson rider with a bike and trailer, who was taking part in his seventh Dakar! What an amazing character!

www.doitnow.co.za | Sport • 81

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Day 3: It was another early start as our bike crew headed out to a road crossing to watch the team go through, and they were all doing great. After an exciting day of racing and with the sun setting, we decided it was time to find the rest of our team, who had gone to Cafaytte to stock up on suppliers. Unable to find them at night, we finally admitted failure at 03h30 and ended up sleeping in a friendly local’s sheep paddock (not very pleasant!).

››

Rebuild every evening

Simon, Alfie & Patrick

Patrick made it up San Francisco pass

Day 4: It was more spectacular racing on this action-packed race stage. Alfie and Jürgen were giving it their all and now in ninth position. When we decided to move on to catch more of the action, we discovered that we were trapped behind a road closure for the day. Unable to get out, we had to wait for the road to open later that afternoon and this meant riding into the night. Despite our misgivings, it proved to be a wonderful ride through winding mountain roads, with awe-inspiring views. Upon reaching the town of Salta we were treated like celebrities, as the huge crowds cheered us on and took loads of pictures of us. We were also waved through red traffic lights by the local police. Now that’s what I call local hospitality! We found a lovely hotel in the mountains and spent the evening indulging in fine food and whisky, whilst sharing the day’s events.

Day 5: We arrived at the Argentinean border post, situated at 4,200 metres, which was (mis)managed by the Argentinean and Chilean officials in the same hall. Scores of people milled around, not sure what documents were required or where to queue, and chaos reigned supreme. Some people actually fainted from the heat and altitude, and the medical staff stationed here had their hands full. Two-hours later we were finally ready to leave, only to have the officials call us back.

We queued for another hour, for yet another vehicle stamp, and were then told that our bikes’ papers weren’t in order!

Apparently, the custom’s officials in Buenos Aires had not processed the Carne papers properly. Another hour passed while Patrick and Dave sweet-talked the Chilean officials into letting the bikers through. We drove through the most incredible landscape imaginable, which rose up to 4,850 metres (16,000 feet) above sea level. The change in scenery upon entering the Atacama Desert and Salt Flats was startling in its contrast. We were now travelling through the driest region on earth, with some areas having never registered any rainfall in recorded history!

Day 6: We witnessed the most fantastic finish to a stage yet.

The competitors had to descend a 2,300-metre sand dune at an outrageous angle, which went directly into the bivouac.

It’s crazy when you consider that the leading cars do over 200 km/h! To give you some indication of how difficult the dune was, Max only managed to make it halfway up on my KTM 990.

Some 160km into this stage Alfie and Jürgen hit a rock, damaging the Nissan’s rear diff and prop shaft. Deciding it was too risky to continue in two-wheel drive, they waited for the T4 to fit a new back axle. This delay lost them eight hours on the leaders, putting them in 59th position. Daniel, who had also been having problems with his bike, was fast gaining a reputation for buying a new bike in spares each day!

Day 7: Simon, Campbell and I decided to miss the loop to Arica and spend the day relaxing in Iquique. My excuse was a small fall behind a support truck in heavy dust, but Simon and Campbell were the real slackers. The car crew, plus Patrick and Max, now on my bike, continued to Arica. They were not disappointed as Alfie and Jürgen had a great day to finish ninth, rocketing them back into the overall top 20.

Day 8: A much deserved rest day for all consisting of breakfast, shopping and hanging around the bivouac.

Unfortunately for Ben Gott, the T5 pilot, he was tasked with an 11 hour, 500km round trip into the desert to recover the PS Laser T4 racing truck. After offloading the container, Ben powered up the 8X8 ‘power monster’ and headed for the dunes with a wicked smile on his dial. His parting comment, “It is not often that I get to throw this monster around in the sand!”

Day 9: Back in Iquique, the team reunited for supper and fines on the promenade. There’s a rumor that some of the guys partied until 05h30, but this has been vehemently denied.

Day 10: Leaving the hotel late, with some of the guys nursing serious hangovers, we travelled in convoy to the end of this stage. It was pretty hair raising to watch the competitors race down a winding mountain road to the finish. Alfie was extremely unhappy that race control had cancelled the second stage, as he had hoped to make up a lot of time on the field in the tricky sand. It’s not uncommon to cancel or shorten stages during a Dakar to ensure there are sufficient finishers to qualify for the next day’s racing, or due to damage to the route. From here we continued along the coastal road to join the bivouac at Antofagasta. The scenery here, where the desert mountains drop down into the Pacific Ocean, was spectacular!

Leaving B.A.

Patrick

Day 11: Our destination was a resort outside Copiapo, approximately 700km away. This would be our home for two nights, as the racing stage consisted of a loop around Copiapo. The car crew visited the now-famous San Jose Mine, where the miners were stuck for nearly three months.

The sad news of the day was Ian’s withdrawal from the Dakar, due to a knee injury. He had performed superbly and achieved most of his goals for the Dakar, and earned the utmost respect from all of us!

Day 12: Alfie and Jürgen continued to drive like demons, whittling their position down to the top 10. The highlight of the day was watching the leading VW’s make a real race of it, passing each other repeatedly in the last kilometre (not sure if the team manager would approve though). Later we saw the capsule used to recover the miners.

Day 13: This was the marathon stage of the race, crossing the San Francisco Pass. We were told that we’d need fuel for 400km when in actual fact it was 500km, so this led to a few problems. Our route took us along a decent dirt road that ascended to 4,750 metres, and once again the views were stunning. Passing through the Chilean border post was a pleasure, whilst the Argentinean border post was a nightmare.

Five long hours later, we headed out across a plateau that included some very difficult soft sand, for me anyway, and we

Preparing the pits

Alfie with the media

›› Day 15: A mix up with one of the hired car’s and bikes’ booking saw some of the support crew having to go directly to Buenos Aires. The crew in the second hired car was able to follow the race and took in two more stages, including the finish, with some great photographs to show for it.

Day 16: The last day ended with Alfie and Jürgen finishing strongly in 18th position overall, and Daniel completing his first Dakar as the second-youngest finisher ever. We had a celebration dinner at the Waterfront, followed by the Red Bull party.

Day 17: Alfie organised us VIP access to the podium procedures and we enjoyed our moment in the sun, well actually in a thunderstorm as the heavens opened just as the Nissan drove onto the podium. From prize-giving, it was a mad dash back to the hotel to pack, before heading to the airport for our flights home.

Overall, our bikes performed perfectly throughout the trip. Although the 990 was the clear winner because of the huge distances involved, the 690 proved to be very capable and a lot easier to ride in the dirt. The addition of a gel seat is sure to position Alfie Cox’s 690 Prototype as a real adventure bike.

passed many ‘Geen Sand’ vehicles lying on the ground.

One rider was badly hurt and had to be transported out by the Dakar support vehicles. Thankfully the remainder of the ride was on a great tar road, but further fuel problems plagued us. We reached Fiambala late that evening and after dinner and a cold one, we settled in for the night at a campsite that was disgusting. Fortunately we never put up our tents before midnight, so we only saw its sorry state the next morning.

Day 14: As we had lost so much time at the border, there was little chance of catching up to the race so we headed directly to Cordoba. This turned out to be one of the hardest days of riding, a distance of about 750km in extreme heat of 40˚C plus. However, our luxurious hotel suites, boasting jacuzzi baths and multiple flat screen TVs, made it all worthwhile. Bliss!

It was a privilege having access to the race proceedings and many thanks to Alfie, Jürgen, Ian and Daniel for putting up with us. It’s very hard to describe just how tough this race is, and our hats off to all of the participants. Now for next year! •

is the Latest

Words by Chris Birch, 2008-2010 Roof of Africa Winner Photos by www.redbullcontentpool.com

Extreme Enduro

inPREPARATION:

Extreme enduros have no set format as yet. The races vary in style and length, from the short sprintstyle events like The Tough One and Erzberg, through to the five-day marathon of Red Bull Romaniacs.

The one constant is the terrain and difficulty of the courses, and this is what makes these races extreme.

Chris Birch at the Red Bull Romaniacs Photocredit: (c) Predrag Vuckovic/Red Bull Content Pool

Chris Birch Photocredit: (c) www.flohagena.com/ Red Bull Content Pool

Chris Birch at the Red Bull Romaniacs Photocredit: (c) Predrag Vuckovic/Red Bull Content Pool

In a conventional enduro race, the course is designed to be challenging, but achievable for the majority of riders. It is expected that most riders will cross the finish line, and speed is the deciding factor. In an extreme event, the course is much, much harder and features the biggest obstacles and nastiest terrain possible. Organisers are happy when there is a finishing rate of below ten percent, and disappointed when too many riders cross the finish line! To enter a race when you know you’re probably not going to finish it takes a special type of person, and this is what attracts the true maniacs and diehards of the dirt bike world.

The Red Bull Harescramble, better known as the Erzberg, is the toughest one-day race and also the biggest race of the year. Last year 1,700 riders entered and only about 20 riders made it to the finish line; it was that nasty.

The toughest multi-day race is Red Bull Romaniacs and this is also my favourite. It’s run in the style of a rally, with an urban prologue on a man-made course for the first day and then it’s four days of the ugliest terrain Romania has to offer. We do about 200km a day and it is a huge test of endurance, navigation and riding skills.

This massive variation in the events is part of what makes extreme enduros so interesting. Each event is different and has its own unique challenges; the only constant being that it’s always extreme.

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My first attempt at extreme enduros came about after I got really annoyed at an international enduro I was racing in, which was called short because of foul weather and the organisers deemed the track too difficult. I made it round without too much hassle and realised that the sport of normal enduro was no longer heading in a direction that suited me, and I wanted out of the sport. I was kicking around on YouTube and came across a clip from Red Bull Romaniacs and knew immediately that this was the event for me. At the time I was working full time as a fitter and turner and living in a horrible flat in Auckland. Suffice to say I did not have a lot of spare cash lying around, but I decided to enter the event anyway and made a plan to raise the entry fee. I loved every sweaty, muddy and dirty minute of it and have been hooked ever since.

So what does it take to get into extreme enduros and what skills will a rider need to succeed? I think the most important thing is to have a lot of time and experience on a bike. Extreme enduros will take you into some nasty places and really test your limits on a bike, so it pays to have several years of knowledge and experience to draw on to get you through. Before entering an extreme race, you need to be able to finish a national enduro or WFO race comfortably. By the time you reach this level, you should have enough riding experience, worked out any weaknesses your bike has and know what foods and supplements work for you, to step it up to extreme racing.

Knowing how a motorbike works and how to get it across the finish line are just as important as being able to ride.

Races like the Roof of Africa and Red Bull Romaniacs are as much a test of what a motorbike can do, as what a rider can do. The bikes get pushed to their limits and often past them and I’ve had to make all sorts of repairs out in the mountains to get to the finish. If it wasn’t for my mechanical background from engineering and working on bikes, I definitely wouldn’t be where I am today.

www.doitnow.co.za | Adventure • 87

Mountains around Sibiu, Romania Photocredit: (c) Mihai Stetcu/Red Bull Content Pool

Andreas Lettenbichler (10), Cyril Despres (6), Chris Birch (3) Photocredit: (c) Mihai Stetcu/Red Bull Content Pool

Mountains around Sibiu, Romania Photocredit: (c) Predrag Vuckovic/Red Bull Content Pool

To get a motorbike to the end of an extreme race there are two main areas that need to be sorted, namely cooling and protection. Because of the severity of the terrain, we spend a lot of time revving and working the engine without any air flow to keep the engine cool. A bike can only stand so much before they melt down, and even the best enduro bikes available aren’t designed to handle that amount of abuse. So we use electrical fans and special coolants, as well as other mods to keep the temperature down and the bikes purring.

Each bike has its own weak points that need looking after, but the absolute essentials are strong hand guards to protect your hands and levers, and a bash plate or sump guard to shield the bottom of the engine and frame from the rocks. Other things to look at, to name a few, are brake disc guards, radiator braces, swing arm guards and exhaust pipe guards. It’s worth remembering that every guard bolted on adds weight and that weight is going to need to be lifted and pushed up a hill at some point! South African manufacturers Hyde Developments make some really cool stuff that protect without being too heavy, so it’s worth checking out.

If you have never ridden a dirt bike before it’s impossible to explain just how much hard work it is to race one of these things through tough terrain. I have taken top athletes from other sports out on a ride and completely broken them! Riding a dirt bike uses every muscle in the body, but it is especially hard on the legs, forearms and lungs. Training for an extreme race depends greatly on the type of race. For example, at Erzberg you’ll need to train for peak cardio fitness and strength, as it’s a super intense, two-hour ride. For the Roof of Africa it’s more about endurance than peak cardio, as we are out there for up to 10 hours or more, but at a lower intensity. So

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like any sport it’s all about tailoring the training to suit the event and individual. For me, I focus on legs, core and cardio. The mental side of extreme racing is critical too, as there are no coaches and very little support out on the trail. It’s just you and your thoughts for hours on end. I talk to myself a lot when I’m riding, as it helps to keep me positive and focussed. I shout out loud to keep motivated and sing loudly when things are getting me down. For me the ability to keep going comes from a deep-down love of riding bikes. So it’s important to work out what motivates you and remember that when things get nasty!

For any South African wanting to compete in extreme enduros, the legendary Roof of Africa Rally, in Lesotho, is the perfect event even though it is tough. Three days of rocks and the Malooti Mountains, massive changes in weather and some special challenges from the organisers have put this race on the top-five list of extreme races worldwide. If you can finish the Roof, then you can do well at any of the international races. To get to the end of this marathon ride, you need to be able to ride the rocky trails very efficiently because if you waste too much energy on the passes the finish will never come. Like Red Bull Romaniacs you need to get used to navigating with a GPS, as the course’s markings are often pretty bad.

There’s nothing easy about an extreme enduro, but what a ride! •

inPREPARATION:

Words & Photos by Belford Hendricks

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t y, mos a a d the ings ! kme of und orld ce 0 3 or somsurrothe werien f n g s, i n ra l i n ex p s ! i k hi day natuhere the ate e m g i n h re e a n d a ny w h a re e s t a Im er t tiful nd to s ur b ov e a u fo u g e t f yo b be ou e o t o n d y t h re A ith w www.doitnow.co.za | Sport • 89

This is exactly what the Petzl Cape X-Treme Hiking Challenge, presented by Camp ‘n Climb, is all about.

The challenge will be held from 6-8 October 2011 in the Hottentots-Holland Nature Reserve, near the town of Grabouw in the Western Cape.

This area, important for the conservation of over 1,300 fynbos species, is world-renowned for its magnificent mountain ranges, spectacular natural beauty and unspoilt ruggedness.

The concept of a multi-day hiking challenge is not new. The Boland 90, famously titled ‘The Comrades of Hiking’ by one competitor, had been held in the same reserve since the ‘90s, and for more than a decade it had captured the imagination of the hiking fraternity, with competitors travelling from all over the country to test themselves against the elements and each other. And with the beauty of the Boland Mountains surrounding them, they couldn’t help but return every year to put themselves through another gruelling ordeal of long-distance hiking! So when the event came to an untimely halt in September 2007, it left a void in many a local hiker’s calendar. And I was one of them.

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the idea Having become accustomed to the exciting prospect of an annual hiking competition, it took my teammates and I a while to get used to the idea that it would no longer happen. The training on Table Mountain and its surrounds, and walking from dawn till dusk almost every weekend for months prior to the Boland 90 had become an integral part of our routine and we were certainly missing it! We had walked together as a team, shared tons of laughs (and tears!), but most of all forged valuable, lasting friendships during these training sessions and wished for it all to be real again.

Then, at a very innocent gathering of friends and after much reminiscing, I happened to joke: “Why don’t WE organise a hiking competition?” My friends looked at me as if to say, “Are you serious or stupid?” I eventually managed to convince them that it may not be such a silly idea after all. So in October 2010, having done some event organising before, I started looking for a sponsor to finance our new venture. After being shown the door by various outdoor companies, I eventually got a YES from Petzl and Camp ‘n Climb to sponsor the full event, and when Hi-Tec also came on board with financial assistance the event was on its way! With other outdoor disciplines like trail running and mountain biking enjoying numerous events on a regular basis across the country, hiking was the only one lacking in competition and so our sponsors were more than willing to help put that statistic right.

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www.doitnow.co.za | Sport • 91

the objectives The event promises to test the endurance, teamwork and outdoor skills of every hiker in the competition. But these are not the only reasons for putting the event together.

Our main objective is to raise much-needed funds to help improve the current living conditions of the residents of Nuweberg Village, situated in the Hottentots-Holland Nature Reserve, many of whom live below the breadline.

the challenge This three-day hiking competition is for teams of four walkers, up to a maximum of 40 teams, participating in the following sections: Men, Ladies, Mixed, Juniors (15-18yrs) and Veterans (40+).

Starting at the base camp near the Nuweberg Forest Station, teams walk a different route of approximately 30km into the Boland Mountains each day, consisting of two stages between 11km and 21km each. Each day team members have to carry the equivalent of all the equipment necessary for a regular three-day hike, such as a sleeping bag, first aid gear, emergency shelter, clothing, rations and water. The team structure also has to be retained at all times, with all four members walking within 30 seconds of each other for the duration of the day.

Teams earn points for the time taken to complete each stage and various tasks along the route. Criteria includes environmental awareness, medical and safety knowledge, river crossings and orienteering, with marshals doing regular checks on the team’s equipment throughout the day. At the end of the event, the team with the highest number of points in each class of competition is declared the winner for their category.

The safety of the hikers will be ensured by the experienced team of Delta Search & Rescue, with Medi-Clinic being the official medical supplier to the event.

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It also provides an opportunity to develop the youngsters in the sport, as well as teach all hikers, young and old, the safety procedures and orienteering skills necessary to make hiking an enjoyable and safe pastime. It will serve to foster an awareness and appreciation of our natural heritage and beautiful country, and develop the skills needed for its preservation for future generations.

the future We believe that the Cape X-Treme Hiking Challenge is an event that has the potential to grow from strength-tostrength, as it creates the ideal platform to raise funds for communities in need and, at the same time, provide sponsors with a unique opportunity to maximise their impact on a specific target market through experiential marketing. On that note, we would like to thank the following sponsors for their contributions: Petzl, Camp ‘n Climb, Hi-Tec SA, Cape Nature, Medi-Clinic, Delta Search & Rescue, Innovative Glass Designs, Future Life, PVM, 100Plus and Cipla Medpro.

So what are you waiting for? TAKE UP THE CHALLENGE, TAKE A HIKE and help make a difference! •

DINfo box i For more information, go to www.cape-xtreme.weebly.com or contact Belford Hendricks at belford@southernpoint.co.za

inPREPARATION:

Words by Morné Swanepoel, full time MMA conditioning and fighting coach Photos by Aileen Swanepoel (CombatCoaching.com)

Gas in the Tank for the High Performance MMA Athlete Many Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) ‘champions’ walk into the Octagon tough, but when they lose they blame conditioning for their poor performances. Sadly, this one factor has cost many good fighters their titles and status.

MMA conditioning is very different to any other sport.

The majority of competitive sports have many time-outs, rest periods or breaks when a foul or rule violation is committed and the action stops momentarily. In a MMA

“

fight, although it is very short with each round only lasting five minutes, there are no stops or breaks until the end of each round and the fighter gets just one minute to rest.

On the odd occasion there might be a break if a fighter is hit in the groin or receives an eye gouge, but mostly an entire round goes uninterrupted, and there are no substitutions. Most fights are scheduled for three rounds, with championship matches normally being five rounds.

The entire length of a fight, including breaks between rounds, may only last for 20-30 minutes. Due to the intensity of this sport, it’s essential for any MMA fighter to follow a scientifically-developed training programme that aids in developing explosive muscle tissue which endures under extreme stress situations and performs at high-intensity levels.

The will to win is worthless if you do not have the will to prepare.

— Thane Yost

“ www.doitnow.co.za | Adventure • 93

As the rules and time limits of MMA fighting have changed over time, the physical training, preparation and conditioning of MMA athletes has had to adapt to these changes. When the UFC and Pride first started, fights had no time limits and could last for 30 minutes with no rounds, or a mere 20 seconds. As a fighter you had to be prepared for a fight that could last any length of time. Furthermore, most fighting events were tournament based and athletes had to fight several times in one night. So with the changes in the current MMA format, conditioning for the MMA athlete is still evolving today. What’s important here is to plan your MMA conditioning routine around the event you are fighting in. If your fight is based on five-minute rounds, your conditioning should be geared to this. Similarly, if you only get one minute of rest between rounds, then your conditioning routine needs to reflect that too. In a brutal sport like MMA, even if you’re not training or competing professionally, conditioning is the most important aspect of your training so that you can out-last your opponent as the rounds lag on. Fatigue is a major factor in all sports, so you need an edge in cardio to push it to the limit whenever you need to.

Training programme

detriment of your conditioning. A hardcore power lifting routine is not the answer to achieve ultimate MMA conditioning. If you look at the best MMA fighters in the world, they have MMA specific training routines that ensure they perform as a complete athlete.

Have a solid MMA conditioning routine that you perform regularly. This routine doesn’t have to last a long time and you only need to perform it two to three times per week, but you will see a marked improvement in performance in the gym and cage.

Some of strongest and most physically gifted MMA athletes have struggled needlessly throughout their careers simply because they don’t understand that strength and power does not equal conditioning in a fight. The conditioning required for MMA, grappling or whatever combat sport you are involved in, will only be achieved through condition training.

Variation

Exposing your body to as much variation and environments as possible will give you an edge when performing under extreme conditions. Environments to expose yourself to include sea level, the Highveld, mountains, heat/humidity and cold.

When engaging in any workout programme, a good question to ask yourself is: “What is my goal?” Is it to finish all my opponents within 20 seconds so that I don’t need to worry about going the full length in fights, or is it knowing that I am able to fight the full three or five rounds at a high level and with enough gas in the tank? This is especially important in terms of sport-specific conditioning and will help you identify if your current training routine is the right one.

The most important adaptation for an MMA athlete is an increase in the number of red blood cells, which carry oxygen from your lungs to your muscles. The extra blood cells supercharge your muscles with oxygen and push you along with greater endurance. If you’re going to compete in a MMA event, you should live and train in oxygen-deprived environments for several weeks prior to it.

Here’s some helpful hints: The exercises and workouts you choose must reflect the kind of conditioning you need in a fight where you are constantly moving, changing positions, engaging in explosive movements, breaking your breathing pattern, performing many different movements and using your entire body at full intensity for a given time period. Although exercise selection is important, the first issue you need to address is how to organise your workouts. If you don’t combine them in a way that makes sense as a mixed martial artist, your conditioning will never get to that higher level.

In a recent discussion between experts on altitude training for athletics, the average best altitude and best duration at altitude was 2,200m for four weeks. It was also agreed that the effects of altitude training were optimal two to three weeks after returning from altitude.

The simplest thing to do is organise your workout in several circuits, where each circuit represents the round of a fight. During each circuit use a variety of exercises, but keep in mind that each circuit must last for at least five minutes without stopping. Then progress to doing three to five of these circuits without a break.

Exercises

Endurance

Strength is great and all mixed martial artists need strength. Having more strength than your opponent is always going to be an advantage. However, problems will arise if your focus on strength is to the

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Full body exercises are a must for MMA conditioning as they closely simulate the strength and conditioning you need as a fighter. The more variety the better and yes, it has to be intense! Perform lots of explosive drills such as plyometric push-ups, body weight squats and lunges, squat jumps, medicine ball squats and resistance bands. All of these exercises are necessary to build fitness, stamina, explosive strength and conditioning in your entire body. Even basic exercises like push-ups, pull-ups, sit-ups and squats are perfect, and you don’t need a gym or any expensive equipment to perform them.

Many fighters use a wide variety of running workouts to train for MMA to help build conditioning. To accommodate the short time limits and intense nature of MMA fights, it is better to run for a shorter period of time at a higher intensity level. Running up hills, in sand or up the stairs of a stadium will improve your cardio and endurance. You can also run medium distances of two to four kilometres at a moderate intensity. As most MMA fights only last 15-20 minutes, running for an hour at a slow pace is not necessary. Instead of running 10km every day, rather run 3km and include sprints on two of the training days. However, long distance runs are not a complete waste of time, as some trainers would have you believe, as there are still many benefits, especially mentally; you just don’t need to do them every day. As the intensity of your running workouts increases, the rest time between workouts needs to increase as well.

In the four weeks leading up to the fight do more specific workouts such as jumps, sprawls, quick feet drills, core stabilisation exercises, explosive pushups, reaction drills and MMA-specific performance games - all movements that are used in a fight and performed as quickly and explosively as possible.

Diet

Eating correctly has got as much to do with your health and performance as the type of fuel you put into your motor vehicle. You are what you eat! Make small changes to your diet every week until you have lost all the bad habits. The type of things you can do to improve your diet are as follows: ›› Week one - no more soft drinks, only drink water, non-sweetened teas and 100% fruit juices ›› Week two - triple your fresh vegetable intake ›› Week three - ensure an adequate daily protein intake ›› Week four - eat five small meals a day instead of two or three monster meals ›› Week five - eliminate all artificial sweeteners from your diet

In conclusion

Train the way you want to perform. You only have so much time to train and so many physical resources available, so make the most of them. Compare your body and mind to that of a F1 racing car. Your vehicle is not going to perform to its fullest potential if you don’t fill it with high-performance fuel. Likewise, you need to continually expose yourself to highperformance conditioning, a healthy nutritional diet and sufficient rest. •

DINfo box i For further information on MMA contact Morne at info@combatcoaching.com and visit his website www.Combatcoaching.com.

www.doitnow.co.za | Sport • 95

inSHAPE:

Words by Danie Kriek Photo by www.shutterstock.com

N U T R IT IO N

IN SP O RTS P ER FO R M AN CE 96 • DO IT NOW August | September 2011

The importance of proper nutrition could not be overstresse d when it comes to athletes and their desire to perform at an optimal level. Each athlete is different and therefore should be treated different ly, and dieticians should prepare individua lised diets for each athlete.

An athlete’s dietary requirements differ vastly from that of sedentary individuals, and the key factors to be taken into account when an athlete’s diet is compiled are: • Intensity of training • Duration and frequency of training • Training conditions • Age • Genetics • Body size • Gender I’m sure that most people reading this have heard of ‘The Food Guide Pyramid’ and the significant role it plays in determining the nutrient adequacy of a diet.

For an athlete to perform at their peak, their diet must contain the appropriate levels of vitamins, minerals, fats, water, protein and carbohydrates for the body to function optimally and be healthy.

So let’s take a look at the Food Guide Pyramid and the food group classifications, starting at the bottom of the pyramid and working our way up: • Bread, cereal, rice and pasta • Fruit • Vegetables • Milk, yogurt and cheese • Meat, poultry, fish, dry beans, eggs and nuts

The Food Guide Pyramid is a good way to determine if an athlete’s diet is adequate and contains all the food groups listed above, to ensure that nutrients aren’t excluded. Here are some guidelines, but they may need to be adapted to suit the specific needs of each athlete.

Protein

Intense training increases an athlete’s protein requirements. It is generally accepted that 1.5g/kg – 2.0g/kg of body weight should be adequate. The protein requirements of different types of athletes are as follows:

• Vegetarian or restricted caloric intake athletes: more than 2.0g/kg of body weight • Aerobic and endurance athletes: 0.8g/kg – 1.4g/kg of body weight • Strength training athletes: 1.7g/kg – 2.0g/kg of body weight It is with great caution that an athlete’s protein intake exceeds 4g/kg of their body weight. It is also not recommended that an athlete who restricts their water intake or suffers from renal function impairment consume more than the amount of protein stated above.

Carbohyd rates

The primary function of carbohydrates is to provide energy. It is recommended that most athletes consume a high-carbohydrate diet and that at least 55% of their total calorie intake is from carbohydrates. To prevent Ketosis, a condition that results from being on a high protein diet with restricted carbohydrates, it is recommended that 50–100g of carbohydrates is consumed each day. Not all athletes respond positively to a high carbohydrate diet and therefore, it is necessary to prepare individualised diets. Caloric intake can be determined by looking at the specific sport and training programme an athlete follows.

For example, athletes on a strength training programme should ingest approximately 5-6g/kg of body weight per day. Training for longer durations such as 90 minutes or more per day, as in the case of most endurance athletes, increases caloric requirements substantially and so carbohydrate intake should be increased to approximately 8-10g/kg of body weight per day.

Fat

The maximum level of fat intake for athletes should be approximately 35% of the total calories ingested. It is not recommended that athletes follow a diet with a very low fat content, less than 15% of total calories, as this may hinder muscle development, testosterone production and slow down metabolic functions.

Proper nutrition plays a pivotal role in maximum athletic performance, general health and injury reduction and therefore it’s crucial that athletes consume adequate amounts of carbohydrates, protein, fat, vitamins, minerals and water to excel at their chosen sport or activity. •

www.doitnow.co.za | Sport • 97

inSHAPE:

Words by Rikus Scheepers

r s named afte a w n o d n te The Achilles arrior ient Greek w c n a n a , s le Achil as an r. Achilles w a w n ja ro T s in the out weaknes h it w r io rr a unbeatable w ny eel. After ma h is h n o t n p exce his heel by a n o it h s a w victories he nd led bilised him a o m im t a th arrow Achilles result of the a s A . ll fa to his chilles heel’ ‘A n io s s re p x e legend, the erability’. ‘a fatal vuln n a e m to e cam e who athletes agre t s o m ld u o .

So w chilles injury A n a d e c n e have experi

The Chiropractic Approach

The Facts on Achilles Tendinoses The Achilles tendon is a thick fibrous band that connects the calf muscles to the heel bone. The tendon carries the full weight of the body on push off during every step and is the strongest tendon in the body. On vigorous jumping and acceleration it can transmit a force 10 times the

98 • DO IT NOW August | September 2011

weight of the individual. In a person weighing 80kg this is 800kg! All the force needed to lift the heel off the floor is transmitted via the tendon to the heel. Therefore, any injury to the tendon would result in difficulty when lifting the heel off the ground.

Symptoms

Achilles tendinoses is a general soreness at the back of the heel that gets progressively worse until treated. The tendon is painful when lightly pinched between index finger and thumb and it is usually worse on the first step in the morning when it is accompanied by a creep on flexing the foot. The pain also increases when climbing stairs and running uphill, while wearing high heel shoes and boots seems to relieve the pain.

Causes

Injuries to the Achilles vary from damage to the collagen in the tendon along with inflammation in the tendon sheet (tendinoses), to partial and complete tears (rupture) of the tendon. Tendinoses are most common in middle and long distance runners who have suddenly increased the frequency or distance of training. The increased stress on the Achilles, due to a biomechanical dysfunction in the lower limb, results in increased and repeated pronation (inward rolling) of the foot and a shearing force that causes micro trauma to the tendon. The body is unable to keep up with the recovery and restrengthening of the tendon, so it will result in progressive weakening and more micro trauma. I have often found that increased overpronation occurs as a result of functional leg length inequality or when footwear has lost its support.

An Achilles tendon rupture is usually accompanied by a ‘pop’ and is most likely to occur in activities that require sudden stretching such as sprinting and racquet sports.

Treatment

The cause of pain in the Achilles needs to be determined before treatment is started. Full thickness tears require immobilisation and possible surgery before rehabilitation can be started.

Most Achilles injuries can be treated conservatively. The Achilles is a fairly avascular (limited blood supply) structure, which makes recovery slower than other injuries. Relative rest is encouraged in the initial phase. The first aim when treating it is to improve the circulation and reduce inflammation in the area by using soft tissue modalities, including cross friction

+

massage, electrotherapy and ice. The use of heel lifts also help to reduce pulling on the tendon in this phase. Once the acute symptoms have been resolved, the range of movement of the ankle and functional strength needs to be improved to normal.

In addition to corrective ankle adjustments, the gastrocnemuis / soleus complex’s flexibility is vital to regain full range of movement. Linear stretching of the muscle, such as the ‘runner’s stretch’ against a wall with the knees straight and flexed, helps to stimulate connective tissue repair. When doing these stretches care should be taken to keep the foot straight and maintain the medial arch. Outward flaring and dropping of the arch can result in the twisting of the tendon and aggravating the injury.

Strengthening the tendon is extremely important before resuming normal activities. Strengthening exercises that focus on the eccentric (negative) component have been shown to improve tendon recovery, thus enabling the athlete to return sooner to normal activity levels.

One example of these exercises requires that you sit on the edge of a stair, perform a toe raise up, then rapidly drop the involved heel as far as possible and return it to the initial position by lifting the heel with the uninvolved foot. This should be followed by closed, chain-loaded exercises. For example, calf raises against increasing resistance until full pain-free motion and pre-injury strength is attained.

As previously described, abnormal foot and ankle biomechanics result in increased pronation and is the main cause of Achilles tendinoses. One of the most important long-term goals is to reduce the tendency of overpronation.

Custom-made orthotics that support the hind, mid and forefoot throughout the gait cycle and proper footwear are essential in long-term management.

Achilles tendinoses needs to be treated as soon as possible before it becomes your Achilles heel! •

SPINAL WELLNESS CLINIC

www.doitnow.co.za | Adventure • 99

NOW 100 • DO IT NOW June August | July | September 2011 2011

// in THE HOLE: 20 Questions with Steward Walker, SA male model * Rory ‘Meltdown Magical’ McIlory // inNATURE: Maclear, Mystical and Magical // inCREDIBLE PLACES: Fly Fishing and Coffee in the Bale Mountains * Indonesia – Part 2 of 3, The Gili Islands – A Paradise in 3 Parts // inDULGE: Recipes: Hearty Russian Beef Stroganoff & Lemon Custards with Lavender Shortbread // inSURE: The Rise and Fall of Property // inTERTAINMENT: Music, Movie and Game Reviews // inFOCUS: SHOOT! The Sport of The Gods, 2011 Expedition Africa // inVOLVED: Hi-Tech Steps up to the Mark

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Alison Dunn www.storyboardphotos.com DESCRIPTION: Lake Kariba, Zimbabwe. A local fisherman is proudly displaying his excellent fishing technique, despite his leaky boat

Lifestyle

in THE HOLE:

Words by Michael Scholz Photo courtesy of Stewart Walker

Q&A 20 Questions with Steward Walker, SOUTH AFRICAN MALE MODEL DO IT NOW had a chance to mix with the good looks of one of South Africa’s foremost male models whose chiseled looks have graced the covers of magazines and television ads for the past two decades. I met up with Stewart as he strutted his way around the fairways of Champagne Sport Resort whilst on holiday with his family: 1) Having spent the last two decades around beautiful people, it must be a breath of fresh air to be out on the fairways with your common garden variety folk rather than posing in front of the lens?

Life is always about challenges. I have decided that after challenging the camera lens for many a year to try capture a decent picture, the next obvious challenge would be for a man with no ball skills to try hit the smallest stationary ball – sounds easy …

2) You are a passionate golfer who plays every week.

Where and on what day can the lady golfers of Cape Town make their tee-time booking to get some fairway perving done?

11.32 on a Monday at Rondebosch and 11.47 on a Friday at either Steenberg or Westlake. See you there!

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3) What is your handicap and the lowest you’ve ever been (handicap that is)?

Currently playing off a 12 although I have been as low as a 10. This new 72 hour rule can be a treacherous path to navigate! Damn the new handicap system!

4) In your personal capacity, you are a model father and model husband. Are you also a model model?

My wife saw this question and it took me 10 minutes to stop her laughing! Apparently I am not as model a husband and father as you and I would like to believe.

Being a father and husband is a much more difficult task, dare I say, than being a model model, which is like most jobs. The more you put in the more you get out and we are talking effort here!

5) You own a prominent modelling agency called Icons and have many well-known models on your books. What is the key to success with regards to running a modelling agency?

Keeping it simple and offering the best you have to offer to those models you represent. After all, we are working for them. It’s kinda like a caddie on the bag of a good golfer, if he does well then you as the caddie will reap the benefits!

6) Most South Africans will know you as the farmer who picks his veggies and walks them straight into the snow in the McCains ad. Did the scriptwriter toil with the thought of you putting a fresh carrot on a snowman as a nose?

If you have seen the commercial (nauseatingly ad infinitum) you will know that the storyboard was devised to get the moms into the stores to buy the veggies that a rugged adventuring type of man would bring home to his family after fresh-picking and travel-freezing them! What farmer are you talking about?

7)

What is the worst golf shot you have ever hit?

As a beginner, I teed up on the first tee at Wanderers and having arrived late and out of breath I swung the driver as hard a possible expecting it to go miles down the fairway only to have it launch off the top of the club. It nearly penetrated my left nostril! It landed softly on the 18th green, due right, about 40 metres away. Needless to say, Friday at the Wanderers Golf Club was not a quiet affair and this exhibition was witnessed by too many people. I still can’t pluck up the courage to go back there!

8) Many years ago you featured in a very funny commercial for Molson’s beer (Canada) as an astronaut. Is the commercial featured on YouTube anywhere for our readers to enjoy? Hilarious!

Hold on … Google Search … Okay! Here it is: www. youtube.com/watch?v=IIEqAhYvAq8 9) Away from the glossies, we suppose that you have done some ‘ramp’ at some stage? When strutting down the catwalk, do shake your little touché on the catwalk? The catwalk, the catwalk yeah! Shake your little touché on the catwalk’? (Sorry … had to throw that in there!)

Like everything in life, it must be subtle but significant. I do have a very subtle but significant touché shake!

10) Are you conscious of your appearance and posture, and do you hold a ‘blue steel’ pose on your follow through when playing golf?

I was once told by a very talented SA golfer that you MUST finish high at the end of your swing. Being a model, this pose comes naturally and models all model themselves on the Zoolander ‘blue steel’ pose. By the way, that movie was released in 2001 when we had finished our international travels as models and we know where they got all the good stuff from for the movie!

11) Rumour has it that you have aspirations of breaking the world record for the most number of hole-inones by a golfer, with the current record being owned by Norman Manley of California with a tally of 59 aces. How many have you had and how long do you figure this will take you?

I have had nought, but come close twice. So although 59 seems quite far away right now, I do believe it could be possible ... maybe?

12) For the boys … Which of the female South African models partake in swinging the clubs on the links for pleasure and who is the best golfer of these beauties?

There are many young SA female models that would make any male four ball drool in their wake. They are of varying ability, but Sam Laz (nee Powell) probably has the best swing and posture of them all.

13) What is your most embarrassing moment in your modelling career?

Being booked on a job that required underwear to be modelled. A couple of these turned out to be male g-strings and I was asked if I would mind being the ‘lucky’ guy to be photographed in these scanty apparel.

After the embarrassment of trying them on, the ‘stylist’ let me off the hook by saying I was too big for them!

That’s my story and I am sticking to it!

14) What is the most ridiculously profound thing you have ever done in your career?

We’re talking modelling here! Deep, thoughtful, reflective, philosophical, weighty and insightful stuff doesn’t exist in this realm!

15) What is your favourite golf course?

Presently, Steenberg!

16) Your dream four ball (including yourself)?

Louis Oosthuisen, Ernie Els and the 40 Year-Old Rookie!

17) Of the prominent professional male golfers on the world tours, are there any worth putting on your books as models if their golfing careers failed?

Adam Scott would do okay!

18) Natalie Gulbis is regarded as a HOTTIE on the LPGA Tour. As an ‘agent’, would she have made it in the modelling industry if she couldn’t find the bottom of the hole?

She is a very good looking professional golfer and would definitely find an agent who could find her work. But they are both hotly contested career paths and many, many ambitious young wannabes are knocking at the door, so Natalie probably would do better to start finding the bottom of the cup!

19) Have you ever broken a club? If yes, elaborate.

No! Well okay, yes, but only once! It didn’t behave!

20) Ben Crane recently released a golf fitness video. As a gym buff, what single exercise would you suggest for an improved waggle?

When assuming the position before striking the ball, we are told to pretend we are sitting on the edge of a barstool. So naturally, go to the bar, find a stool and get the feeling that you will need on the course. It helps me to stick my Harris out a little bit more!

Thanks Stewart. We look forward to tracking your progress with your hole-in-one efforts and in the glossies. •

www.doitnow.co.za | Lifestyle • 103

in THE HOLE:

Words by Michael Scholz Photos courtesy of Michael Scholz

Rory ‘Meltdown Magical’ McIlory nderful Isn’t youth such a naïve and wo p thing! From folding like a chea , deckchair in the last two majors th an Rory McIlroy has bounced back wi the overwhelming 8-shot victory at e US Open Championship, held at th thesda.

Congressional Country Club in Be

Not only that,but he also broke every conceivable scoring record posted in the 111 times that the event has been hosted since 1895.

This all just in time! With Tiger Woods falling apart like a mud pie in a rainstorm and looking like he might need two full knee replacements, one achilles tendon on the go and a bevy of blonde nurses to aid him through this disintegration, golf has been in dire need of a new hero to fill the Footjoys of one, common garden variety Eldrick Tont Woods.

Now we have to ready ourselves for a few trends that are due to arrive with the birth of our latest ‘Major Winner’, first being the fashion time-bomb now upon us.

Headwear:

If you don’t have hair, no problem. As a youngster, times have changed and you never remove your cap, even in the clubhouse.

With that, headwear provides a perfect ‘hold-medown’ for a wig. Not a small inconspicuous one, but rather a big frizzy mop capable of housing a nest of Indian Hairy-Footed Gerbils (gerbillus gleadowi) without any suspicion from your fellow golfers. Be sure that you never, ever brush it!

Shirt: Any shirt will do, but hanging out

at the back is a must. This shows a relaxed and carefree style and attitude.

Belt: Any colour, as long as it is white.

White is the latest black after all. Oh … and you need a BIG bling buckle. Something that makes John Wayne’s look like a puberty starter pack!

105 • DO IT NOW June | July 2011

Trousers:

Something has happened to trousers that are worn by those golfers hailing from the British Isles. They all seem to have little splits on the hems? Psychedelic and patterned from the days when it was still hip to light up and draw to the lungs something grown in the dark corner of the linen closet. Big shoes I guess.

Shoes: Brogues are back! You gotta

have shoes with coloured saddles, a logo and sometimes some of those old metal cleats to peeve the other pros off by pirouetting up a few spikes marks to blemish the perfect greens. Soft spikes are dangerous in wet weather, as you could slip and break your neck you know! Well that’s what the ‘style mongers’ wearing steel spikes say anyway, and they’re sticking to that story!

But Rory is not the only new golfing superhero. Our very own Charl Schwartzel and Louis Oosthuizen are quietly guarding the flanks with impressive performances and swashbuckling swings, making South Africa the proud owner of two of the last three major championship trophies.

Also Matteo Mannessero, Ryo Ishikawa and a few other pimply-faced young guns are quick on the draw these days, with regular wins and leader-board finishes despite the fact that mom still has to perform a diaper change at the 9-hole turn.

In all, golf is in pretty good shape and those who hold up the pillars of this great game, other than the fact that they dress like our golfers from the ‘70s and listen to music that will never make it into a shopping mall elevator, are doing a sterling job! Although it’ll be grand to have that Tiger stare and infallible fighting spirit back in the game soon. Tiger has spawned a legion of disciples capable of bringing excitement back into the sport. With beer and bar snacks in hand, we toast the next generation!

BRING ON THE NEXT CHAMPIONSHIP!•

www.doitnow.co.za | Lifestyle • 105

inNATURE:

Words by Alan Hobson Photos courtesy of Angler & Antelope

Maclear, Mystical and Magical Standing on the same stretch of river that one of South Africa’s fly fishing legends stood on almost a century ago awakened many emotions within me.

Sydney Hey has contributed enormously to the conservation of our rivers and the introduction of trout throughout South Africa. Having read his book ‘Rapture of the River’ about his experiences of fishing the Wildebeeste River in Maclear, I felt privileged to be participating in the Maclear Fly Fishing Festival, as one of my two days fishing was on the famed Wildebeeste. When considering that these beautiful Rainbow Trout were stocked there in 1902 and have remained wild for more than a century, feeling excited was an understatement.

106 • DO IT NOW August | September 2011

Much like Hey, whose journey to Ugie took a few days by train, my good fishing friend Tim and I stopped over between Elliot and Barkley East at the Birkhall Farm. We offloaded supplies of fresh produce and headed for the dam, which comes with a reputation as big as its owner’s, Basie Vosloo.

Tim’s new gadget, a watch that monitors every nuance of the weather, indicated a steep drop in barometric pressure.

The crisp, ghostly cold that clutched at us as the sun set was not going to anaesthetise our enthusiasm, as later we both felt the warmth of success that comes with enjoying the pulse of a strong fish.

The crunch of ice from the overnight frost sharpened our wits as we wound our way down to the gently flowing Bokspriut River. We set up our light tackle, a #2 wt rod with about a nine-foot leader and 4X tippet, and a #16 beadhead mayfly imitation of a Zak nymph, with a strike indicator attached at the top of the leader. When casting into flowing water, you need to watch the speed and direction your indicator follows, and mend and retrieve your line at the same time so that your fly drifts at the same speed as the water and allows your fly to look as natural as possible. The sparkle of the clear water, as it gurgled in the morning sunlight, seemed to stimulate the fish as it was not long before the strike indicator darted under the surface and a feisty 8” trout came to hand.

Later that evening we attended the festival’s social gathering, where all the formalities of guides, groups, beats and regulations were washed down in the warm, liquid ambience of the Maclear Country Club.

Up bright and early the next morning, our first day of competition was on the Mooi River. To get there, we put Tim’s 4x4 driving skills to the test as we manoeuvred up and down clay tracks seldom travelled. One thing about driving into a valley surrounded by overhanging cliffs is that every stretch of the river just looks so inviting and promising. Our guide Jackie had to reign in our team of Johan, Tim and I, as we were like three young colts let loose in a new paddock and ready to bolt at the first opportunity. Jackie’s allocated beat for the day was a stretch of the Mooi River that held long, slow, deep pools with a silty bottom that snaked inbetween cultivated vegetable lands. At every turn in the river there seemed to be an undercut with a playful, bouncy pebble riffle of faster running water. We soon discovered that the fish were on the edge of that faster water, cunningly laying in wait for insects to be washed into the back eddy.

The intrigue of fly fishing is that one has to change gear mentally. Being a scientifically-technical sport that allows you to match your equipment to the quarry you are targeting is very much part of the challenge. To succeed, you need to adjust your attitude, the size of flies, the way you present

your offering and how you react. By using a #2 wt rod that weighs only a few grams, the fight of a feisty 8” trout is felt as if it were pumping through your veins, which is a lot of fun. For the festival only fish in excess of 25cm counted, and the biggest for the day was all of 44cm and weighed in at just over two pounds of bragging rights.

Driving through to Ugie on the second day to meet our guides Francois and Petru, the chatter was about what sort of water the Wildebeeste River would present. When Hey first visited the Wildebeeste River his biggest trout, at that stage in his life, was not much bigger than 3lbs. With many stories and images of monster trout over 5lbs lingering in the back of my mind, I pondered if we would be fishing the river as described by Hey himself. The sound of the wind caressing the pine plantations, as we eagerly ogled the stretch of the Wildebeeste River in front of us, seemed to stir some sort of ancient connection to the history of fly fishing. The majesty of the Prentjiesberg in the background embracing us was also quite moving. It is something special to be fishing a river written about so fondly. The interesting thing is that Hey also caught many small fish in-between the odd two and four pounder and very occasionally talked about 8lbs fish, just as the locals do today. The whereabouts of those magnificent trophy fish is closely guarded by the father of time, however, the magic has not dwindled in any way and the sacred tradition continues. •

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 • 107

inCREDIBLE PLACES:

Words & Photos by Dawie du Plessis

Fly Fishing and Coffee in the Bale Mountains ia it became clear While travelling in Ethiop g the rear seat of our that our plan of removin uiser and turning it trusty 80 series Land Cr was backfiring on us. into a two-seater vehicle

108 • DO IT NOW August | September 2011

In the planning phases of our trip across the continent we theorised that having only two seats would avoid any arguments about the so-called ‘compulsory’ guards and lift seekers Kenya was rumored to have so many of. It turned out that you are simply not allowed to do anything in Ethiopia without being accompanied by a guide, a guard or both. Oops!

During one of our numerous discussions with officials about being allowed to visit the Sanetti Plateau, home to the Simien Wolves and the highest all-weather road in Africa, without a guide, my wife, Catt, and I met the Hernandez family in the Bale National Park’s HQ. Marie, the matriarch, was a photographer and married to the former 2IC of the UN in Ethiopia. Her son, Pablo, was a boisterous 21 year old, who grew up in the country and could speak the language fluently. He had two friends, Manuel and Iness, who were visiting and in an 80 series Land Cruiser. They also had a spare seat for a guide, so we teamed up.

Not only did we share the campsite at a freezing 6,500 feet above sea level, we also shared a guide, drove the highest all-weather road in Africa to Tullu Deemtu Peak at 14,379 feet above sea level and spotted two young Ethiopian Wolves feeding on a rabbit. We met Taha, an old man who lived there and knew everything about fishing for trout, and in the late afternoon he showed us his secret spots. Although I caught nothing that day, Taha did and shared it with us. He even showed us how to perfectly grill fresh trout on coals.

Delicious!

We arranged another fishing foray for two days later, and on that morning my alarm woke me before the sun had a chance to peek into the far-away skyline. The birds were still asleep, but the nearby Muslim priest was broadcasting his Call to Prayer at top volume.

The only thought that was strong enough to coax me out from underneath the mountain of warm and comfortable bedding was the promise of catching my very own Wild Mountain Trout. Having prepared everything the night before, I got up, dressed, poured some coffee and went about the process of getting Mani’s Land Cruiser started. It did not like the altitude and it definitely was not a fan of the cold!

I did manage on the third try and with the engine warming up Pablo appeared and we set off down the mountain. We picked up Taha and a young boy, our car guard, in the village and drove on past the last houses and through grassy fields with the horses on. We stopped at the edge of a deep and steep canyon at the exact moment that the sun broke free, but there was no heat in it. It was still bitterly cold! I was well prepared with layer upon layer of warm clothing and a pair of fleecy gloves to keep my hands from getting frostbite.

We walked down into the valley, assembled our gear and once again I was the first eager beaver to cast my line. While I was casting away into a big pool by the confluence, the old and wise Taha stood watching me with his hands in his pockets and a scarf pulled over his nose. Right then I envied the time and patience that he obviously possessed, but at the same time I was possessed by a desperate need to succeed in my quest. After every tenth cast I let the fly soak for long enough to warm my fingers inside my pants. It was, as can be imagined, slightly uncomfortable, but better than loosing digits to frost bite.

The gloves helped a lot, but were soon soaked through and the icy water did not contribute to healthy circulation. After one hand-warming session I tried to cast, but the line wouldn’t slide though the eyes in the rod. Upon closer inspection, I saw that it was frozen to the metal rings. A vigorous shaking maneuver sorted that out, but then ice started forming on my gloved finger from retrieving the line after every cast. I had a good look at the water and even noticed bits of ice floating past me. The sun had been up for at least an hour, yet it was nowhere near reaching the bottom of the narrow and deep canyon, where I stood shivering. Taha was still watching me, smiling at my idiotic determination I suspected. He suggested that we return to the waterfall and work our way back to the exit point, and as my hands were in desperate need of warming up I happily agreed.

www.doitnow.co.za | Lifestyle • 109

At the waterfall pool I took position on the rock I had found the previous day and started the task of casting once again. I had learnt the exact distance from where I was to the place where the water flowed out of the pool, and this is where I concentrated my efforts. I changed flies a few times and even gladly accepted an unfamiliar fly from my friendly guide. He had started casting by that time and between us we were covering the pool in every direction.

The sun was getting closer and thoughts of feeling those first warm rays on my face swept through my mind. It was while I was daydreaming that I felt a sudden jolt and instinctively yanked the tip of the rod into the air.

I had hooked my first trout and it was a solid and secure contact. The discomfort caused by the cold, my icy fingers and the absence of warm sunny rays was replaced with pure concentration. I left my perch and made my way to a shallow bank of rocks where I could easily land my quarry. The fish however had other ideas! It was jumping and fighting heroically, as it tried to swim away as hard as it could. I gave it lots of space and line, never allowing any slack from my side, and played and fought it for as long as the game was on. It was incredible! I could not believe the strength of that one fish and it took an insane 35 minutes to land it. Taha was audibly impressed and congratulated me on the expert way in which I handled the fish and the great patience I showed to land it. I was pretty sure he would have said the same to any client.

As I unhooked my catch and placed it in a natural keep, he mentioned something about calling Pablo to come and fish the same pond, and disappeared. I washed my hands in the freezing water and stood there with numb fingers down my shorts, waiting for feeling to return to them.

As soon as some feeling returned, I decided to cast away while waiting for the others and found my perch for the third time. I cast out to the same spot and looked down the valley to see where my companions were. On the third pull of my retrieve, I had hooked another fish. I could not believe my luck! This one was slightly smaller than the first, but had the same fighting spirit and offered the same challenging enjoyment to the fisherman. It took another 30 minutes of strategic play to land that one, but I thoroughly enjoyed every millisecond! By the time Taha returned I had a second fish in the keep, but said nothing. He suggested that we move downstream of the exit point to where Pablo had found a great spot. It was only when he picked up his rod that he saw the second fish. If the man did not have ears his smile would have reached right around his face! He seemed like a proud teacher, and I was more than happy to play the role of the student.

We found Pablo 10-minutes later and the pool he was fishing seemed absolutely perfect! It was in-between two fast flowing rapids, with a clear inlet and outlet. I could see a few trout swimming near the inlet and even saw one jump out the water by the time I had taken my preferred

110 • DO IT NOW August | September 2011

position. By this time the sun had actually managed to reach us and the process of thawing out began. The warm rays were fantastically welcoming and after as little as 10 minutes, I could even remove my wool hat and ski jacket. I cast a few more times and had a single, tentative bite, but the time to leave had snuck up on us once again. The walk out the valley was no less tiring than the day before, but at least the drive back to camp was in the light, and once we reached the hill it was comfortably warm in the sun.

Catt had spent the morning with Mari, while the other two had gone hiking. She was suitably impressed to have another meal of fresh grilled trout to look forward to, so I made a fire and began preparing the fish. It was even more delicious that the previous time! Perhaps the fact that it was my own catch had something to do with it. We feasted until the last scrap was off the last little fish bone before surrendering.

It was past midday when we decided to enquire about the hot showers. Taha’s wife, a fine and beautiful lady called Sophia, came to our camp to chat to Mari, so we asked her about the state of affairs and she in turn used the ancient art of shouting at someone at the bottom of the hill to find out the latest news. It was confirmed! There was electricity and the showers were hot! So Catt and I gathered our things and marched the hundred metres or so down the steep and slippery slope and entered the shower room. Seeing the little red light on the bottom of the boiler illuminated, I quickly stripped down and opened the hot tap and … nothing … not a single drop of water came out. I tried the other tap thinking that perhaps they had swopped them over, but that offered no moisture either. So I got dressed again and walked to the lodge and found the Manager. I told her that the showers had no water and asked if perhaps there was a tap or valve or something that I had missed. She walked back to the showers with me without a word, went inside and turned the electricity off. Oh well, we obviously had not asked the right questions. There was no water! We marched back up the hill to report our findings and then started to pack up to leave.

Sophia had other plans. She had painstakingly carried her coffee ceremony goodies up to the top of the hill to entertain us with her skill. So we sat down in a circle around her and watched an art unfold. It was so incredibly natural, unexpected and impressive that we simply had to stay until the end. First she used a small charcoal fire in a clay stand to roast the raw coffee beans. Once that was done, she poured them into a mortar and added fragrant incense to the coals. She waited for the beans to cool before crushing them into a fine powder while the water was heating up.

She offered me the mortar after every action to take in the awesome aroma, relishing in the fact that I was enjoying her demonstration so much. She took her time and expertly prepared the finest coffee I had ever tasted right there on the mountain. I had heard about these ceremonies and read about the etiquette of them before, but never actually expected to become part of one in such a spontaneous way.

I had seen the tools of the trade in lodges and hotels, but bluntly refused to pay the Farenji prices to join the parties.

Our private ceremony lasted for two-and-a-half hours, and I loved every second, smell and taste of it. •

inCREDIBLE PLACES: Words & Photos by Steven Yates

The Gili Islands – a Paradise in 3 Parts Indonesia – Part 2 of 3

The Gili Islands, or the Gilis, have recently enjoyed a massive increase in tourism thanks to their mention in Elizabeth Gilbert’s book, ‘Eat, Pay, Love’. But in essence, these three little gum drops of land are indicative of the paradise that the islands of Indonesia have to offer. The Gilis are made up of, in increasing size and distance from the ‘main land’ of Lombok, Gili Air, Gili Meno and Gili Trawangan. Having planned our trip many months before actually experiencing it, Laura and I were super excited to find out that we had chosen to go to the very same island that Elizabeth visited in her book, Gili Meno, which Laura read on our holiday.

Having roughed it for weeks in Pula Weh, we decided to spoil ourselves with a week of luxury on this little drop of utopia, so we booked into the stunning Villa Nautilus.

The villa was only metres from the lapping blue sea and the magnificent king-size bed was a treat we had missed in our time away from home. Wonderful lazy days where spent strolling around the island and taking indulgent afternoon naps. Our evenings where spent in awe as we watched glorious sunsets over the volcanic peaks of Bali and Lombok from the pagodas of our favourite eatery. With our feet in the sand and our books pushed to one side we feasted on rice, seafood, noodles and fresh vegetables, all washed down with the local beer – the infamous Bintang.

After dinner there was more relaxing over a game of cards and finally a moonlit stroll back to our soft feather bed. And so the days drifted by in a blissful haze.

Besides the luxury, as can only be expected, we were also there to explore the ocean’s underwater vistas. The increase in water temperature over recent years has caused significant bleaching to the coral above 10 metres, so our two dives off Gili Meno, to Shark Point and Simon’s Reef, where both at around 15–20 metres. The dive sites were pretty indistinguishable from each other; sloping bottoms and 40-metre visibility gave way to beautiful coral fans

and schooling fish. The currents were non-existent and the sparkling colours of the multitude of life held us totally captivated. Investigating the rocky overhangs provided some magical gems in the form of Mantis Shrimps, Durban Dancers, Painted Rock Lobster and even a resting Nurse Shark. We also spent time snorkelling around the BioRock reefs that have been established by the Gili Eco Trust in an attempt to restore the dwindling marine life. The growth is remarkable and it is wonderful to see the community starting to rectify the devastation caused by many years of heartless dynamite fishing.

DINfo box i BioRock reefs were first established in the Gilis in 2004. There are three types of BioRocks: BioRock reefs to grow coral and provide new fish habitats; BioRock anti-erosion reefs to grow coral, provide fish nurseries and break the waves’ energy and BioRock Wave Breakers to stop erosion and protect the beaches. www.giliislandstravel.com/ diving/bio-rock-projects

www.doitnow.co.za | Lifestyle • 111

Our week in paradise was over all too quickly, but we were not dismayed as we only had a 15-minute boat ride to Gili Air and another four days of island delights. Gili Air was much more established than Gili Meno and we arrived at a little village where every local had an extra room for rent.

This was good news as we had planned nothing and were spoilt for choice on where to stay. We decided on a local house where the veranda had been closed in and converted to an extra room, with hammocks hanging from the eves.

With well-worked paths home to bicycles, donkey carts and a local fishing market, Gili Air could not have been more

different to the single beach path and lonely coconut farmer of Gili Meno. When visiting Gili Air you have to try the local moonshine rice wine, which makes for a very interesting evening. Another of the local treats is the massive selection of stunning jewellery made from combinations of white, black and the world-renowned golden ‘south-seas’ pearls grown across the bay of Lombok’s coast.

The diving off all the Gilis revolves around the same sites, and Blue Marlin Air suggested a twilight dive for something a little different. The beauty of a twilight dive is the opportunity

to spot the incredibly shy Mandarin fish, and if you are even luckier you may see them in their unique and renowned mating dance. The Mandarin fish is of the dragonet family and native to the Pacific. They are shy, mostly passive and normally found inhabiting broken coral rubble beds or under dead coral. They are so shy that any heavy breathing or movement will scare them back to their shelters.

The challenge in finding this fish is patience and a lot of staring at non-descript broken coral. So with an extra weight on our belts we settled down on the sand next to a pile of broken coral and waited. Fifteen minutes of staring at nothing can feel like an eternity, but luckily we had a little Mantis Shrimp entertaining us. Finally a pair of Mandarin fish showed themselves, darting red and blue between dull grey coral stags. It was a real delight and something not many divers get to experience.

All too soon our Gili escapade was over and we cruised the channel back to Bali where we would pack away our dive gear for the massages and rice paddies of Ubud, the temples of the Hindu Gods and energetic dancing of the Balinese people. •

DINfo box i Gili Islands • Gili Trawangan is the largest and most developed of the islands, with a population of about 800, and renowned to be the party island.

• Gili Meno is the most relaxed of the three islands, with a population of only 300, and the best beaches of the three islands.

• Gili Air is the closest island to the mainland and the atmosphere is focused on families and backpackers unable to afford the accommodation on Gili Trawangan. It is also the most populated of the Gilis, with about 1,800 people, and hence the island boasts the most rural developments and a thriving local community.

Travel and Dive • The easiest way to get to the Gilis, and most other parts of Indonesia, is with Perama Tours.

A trip from Kuta Bali takes about eight hours and costs around R350.00 (400 000 Indonesian Rupiah). www.peramatour.com • Blue Marlin Dive Centres are Padi five-star dive centres, with offices on all three of the Gili islands. The staff are friendly and hospitable, offering tea and coffee after a mesmerising dive and on Gili Air, there’s a stunning pool to while away the time between dives. www.bluemarlindive.com

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inDULGE:

Words by Chef Neil Ross Photos courtesy of the Inanda Club

Serves 4

Lemon Custards with Lavender Shortbread This is a gorgeous dessert to make using lemons that are now in season.

It’s sinfully delicious and easy to make.

Shortbread Hearty Russian Beef Stroganoff Prepare to indulge! This wholesome meal is perfect for a chilly winter’s evening.

Ingredients:

• 600g Beef fillet cut from the tail of the fillet • 2oz Butter • 1 Tablespoon paprika (Smokey if possible) • 1 Large onion sliced thinly • 300g Button mushrooms • 2 Tablespoons vegetable oil • 300g Sour cream • 120g Pouring cream • Salt and pepper • 1 Teaspoon crushed garlic • Splash of Sherry • Chopped chives

Method:

1.

Cut the fillet into small strips.

2.

In a hot pan, add the oil and butter, and then toss the steak through until medium rare.

3.

Remove the meat from the pan and add garlic, button mushrooms, paprika and onion.

4.

Fry until the onion is translucent, before adding the Sherry and pouring cream. Mix well.

5.

Add the sour cream and reduce a little before adding the beef. Warm through and season to taste.

6.

Serve with noodles of your choice or plain rice.

7.

Finish by sprinkling the chopped chives over the top.

An optional side dish is raw, grated beetroot and carrot, tossed through with plain vinaigrette and coriander.

Bon appétit!

Ingredients: • • • • •

Tablespoon of cornflour 1 25g Icing sugar 1 Cup plain four 125g Butter cut into small cubes Dried lavender (available at good gourmet food stores)

Method:

• P reheat the oven to 150˚C. • Sieve the dry ingredients together.

• Using your finger tips, rub in the butter and knead lightly to form a soft, smooth dough.

• Cut the dough into rounds and place on a greased or lined baking tray.

• Press the lavender on top.

• Bake for 30 minutes or until golden brown.

Carefully remove to a rack to cool.

Lemon Custards Ingredients: • • • • • •

Teaspoons gelatine 2 2 Egg yolks 1 Tablespoon of caster sugar ½ Cup of milk Finely grated lemon zest of one lemon ½ Cup of whipped cream

Method:

1. Dissolve the gelatine in two tablespoons of boiling water.

2. Beat the egg yolks and sugar until pale.

3. Bring the milk to the boil and then remove from the heat and whisk into the egg mixture.

4. Pour the mixture into a heavy-based pan and gently heat while stirring with a wooden spoon until the custard begins to thicken.

5. Remove from the heat.

6. Fold in the lemon zest, gelatine and cream.

7. Spoon into ramekins and set aside in the fridge for two hours.

8. Serve with the shortbread.

WIN

COMPETITION Stand a chance to win a fabulous set of cooking books from Justin Bonello, chef, author and TV personality who stars in the cooking travel show Cooked in Africa, by answering this simple question: In one of the previous issues of DO IT NOW we featured a Pork Fillet Potjie Recipe.

What was the last ingredient on the list?

Send your answer to competitions@doitnow.co.za before 26 August 2011.

All correct entries will be entered into a draw and the winner will be announced on the DIN website and in the October/November 2011 issue. Good luck!

* Available at leading book stores www.doitnow.co.za | Lifestyle • 115

inTERTAINMENT: Words by Richard Flamengo

MOVIE TITLE

TRANSFORMER DARK OF THE MOON (3D)

Director: Michael Bay Starring: Shia LaBeouf, Josh Duhamel, John Turturro and Tyrese Gibson

HIGHLIGHTS

3D action sequences Recommended for: All Transformers fans

VERDICT

As the story opens, the Autobots learn of a Cybertronian spacecraft hidden on the Moon and race against the Decepticons to reach it and learn its secrets as it threatens to bring a war to Earth so big that the Transformers alone will not be able to save us.

Shia LaBeof returns as the ever popular Sam Witwicky in this third and final instalment of the Transformers series, directed by Michael Bay and produced by Steven Spielberg.

Shia is joined by all the familiar actors from the Transformers series except for Megan Fox, which will have the guys a bit sad. The sadness does not last long as the replacement for Sam's girlfriend, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, also known for her modelling of Victoria's Secret, is just as hot and will have the guys smiling again.

With the success of the previous two instalments, the pressure was definitely on Michael Bay and the team to produce an epic conclusion to the series. Fans will not be disappointed as this movie stayed true to a winning formula of iconic characters and great actors, blended together with a great storyline and jaw-dropping action. An added bonus is the 3D aspect that was not available in the first two. The awesome 3D sequences will leave you stunned and raises the bar to a whole new standard for the 3D movies to follow.

In closing, the movie is awesome and a definite must see. It’s a great choice for a night out and definitely worth the extra bucks to see it in 3D. Hats off to Michael Bay and team on a trilogy well done.

MOVIE TITLE

HIGHLIGHTS

Director: Martin Campbell Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Blake Lively, Peter Sarsgaard, Mark Strong, Angela Bassett and Tim Robbins

VERDICT

GREEN LANTERN

Ryan Reynolds Recommended for: Superhero fans.

In a universe as vast as it is mysterious, a small but powerful force has existed for centuries. Protectors of peace and justice, they are called the Green Lantern Corps. A brotherhood of warriors sworn to keep intergalactic order, each Green Lantern warrior wears a ring that grants him superpowers. But when a new enemy called Parallax threatens to destroy the balance of power in the universe, their fate and the fate of Earth lies in the hands of their newest recruit, the first human ever selected: Hal Jordan.

This movie marks the return of Ryan Reynolds to the superhero genre. The first was the relatively small role of Deadpool in the X-Men origins Wolverine movie from Marvel Comics. This time however, he fills the role of an iconic character from the DC Comics universe. Ryan Reynolds is brilliant in this role, adding an extra dimension that blends razor-sharp humour with the vast Lantern universe.

Green Lantern received a lot of mixed reviews from the critics, with many labelling it a flop. So with my expectations low, I was pleasantly surprised and enjoyed the movie. It won't win any Oscars, but it’s definitely worth seeing.

116 • DO IT NOW August | September 2011

THE SCRIPT

REVIEW

by Tarryne Rautenbach

Local KZN band The Arrows and Irish trio The Script rocked South African fans with an awesome performance at the Dome in Johannesburg on 24 June 2011.

The Arrows, a two-piece girl band, was equally entertaining and really kicked ass.

Funky and cheeky, the duo have a great stage presence and are going places!

Danny O'Donoghue, the lead vocalist of The Script, became quite emotional at one stage of the performance when his eyes filled with tears and he shook his head in disbelief at the 18,300 fans who had come out to watch them. It was the biggest indoor audience The Script has ever played to in their career to date.

Fans cheered as O’Donoghue made his way down to the golden circle, making contact with his fans as he reached out to them. They performed their well know hit singles ‘If You Ever Come Back’, ‘ We Cry’ and ‘Breakeven’, which have hit the South African Radio charts in a big way. If you had never heard of The Script, you were definitely hooked on their music after the show.

Their CD/DVD combo ‘Science and Faith’ is a highly recommended must buy and gets my top rating!

DO IT NOW also attended the press conference held at the offices of PRIMEDIA prior to the concert, to get a sneak preview and hear what the trio are all about. Danny, Mark and Glenn are real and humble, and inspired by love as they continue to share it through their incredible music.

Concerts not to miss!

Cold Play

Coldplay will be performing live for the first time ever in South Africa. They will be supported by The Parlotones.

5 October - Cape Town Stadium 8 October - FNB Stadium Johannesburg.

Kings of Leon

Kings of Leon tour to South Africa was postponed from March 2011 to October 2011. They will be supported by South African rock band Taxi Violence.

26 October - Cape Town Stadium 29 October - FNB Stadium

MOVIES TO LOOK OUT FOR (Release dates as per Sterkinekor.com) Captain America : The First Avenger Genre: Action/Adventure Director: Joe Johnston Starring: Chris Evans,

Conan the Barbarian Genre: Action/Adventure Director: Marcus Nispel Starring: Jason Momoa,

Tommy Lee Jones and Hugo Weaving Release date: 5 August

Rachel Nichols, Stephen Lang and Rose McGowan Release date: 26 August

Final Destination 5 Genre: Horror Director: Steven Quale Starring: Nicholas

Cowboys & Aliens Genre: Action/Sci-Fi Director: Jon Favreau Starring: Daniel Craig,

D'Agosto, Emma Bell and Miles Fisher

Harrison Ford, Olivia Wilde and Sam Rockwell

Rise of the Planet of the Apes Genre: Sci-Fi, Action Director: Rupert Wyatt Starring: James Franco,

Release date:

Release date:

9 September

19 August

Abduction Director: John Singleton Starring: Taylor Lautner, Lily Collins, Alfred Molina and Jason Isaacs Release date: 23 September

Tom Felton, Brian Cox and Andy Serkis Release date: 12 August

www.doitnow.co.za | Lifestyle • 117

inSURE: Words by Peter Fairbanks

DO IT NOW FINANCIAL TIMES AUGUST - SEPTEMBER 2011

118 • DO IT NOW August | September 2011

The Rise and Fall of Property Investing in property or real estate, if made in the right place and at the right time, can prove to be a boon. However, when it ties up all your liquid cash and is to the detriment of all else, and in particular a savings scheme, it can have disastrous consequences.

A lot has been said about the property boom and subsequent recession in South Africa. For those that invested during the boom times, the long-term effect that is now facing the generation entering retirement age is that of cash flow, or rather a lack of it. Here are two examples to shed some light on the topic.

A client of mine informed me eight years ago that he was going to purchase properties to fulfil his retirement portfolio, and subsequently purchased three properties. Having the rental income to pay off the bonds, he also paid in any spare cash he had left over each month, roughly between R8,000-R10,000, to pay off the bonds quicker and cover the months where he had no rental income. As a result, there was nothing left to put into a traditional savings vehicle. We recently met to look at his retirement plan, as he was 18 months away from retirement, and his future looked bleak. The three properties he owns will only be paid off in the next three years and he still owes R300,000 on his primary property. He currently earns R85,000 per month and to retire in the manner to which he is accustomed and cover his living expenses, he needs a pensionable income of R65,000 per month. The three rentals, if paid, will give him a monthly income of R16,000, plus R20,00 from his company pension, which he accumulated over the last 13 years. This brings him to a grand total of R36,000 per month; R29 000 short. Bleak indeed! To solve this problem, my client agreed that he would either have to sell at least two of his properties, or sell his primary property and downgrade his living standards. The return on investment is not the question now, but what is a given is that with inflation on the rise and all of us bracing ourselves for a hike in interest rates, the chances of my client finding a buyer quickly and walking away with a profit are slim. This is a classic case of why you don’t put all of your eggs in one basket.

My second example is about another client of mine who speculated in properties between 2003 and 2007, making a nice profit every time. He used these profits to pay part of the deposit on an empty lot (the stand was a steal at R750 000!) in an upper class development in 2007, with the intention of building a house for his golden years. The total cost to build would be just over R2 million. His plan was to sell his primary residence, put the profit into the new bond

and settle the remaining debt of approximately R100,000 by using a portion of his pension lump sum when he retired at the end of 2009. Unfortunately the development fell flat and he has been embroiled in a legal battle with the developer for over two years. Adding insult to injury, he is also stuck with an empty stand that costs him R4,000 per month. On a monthly pension of R35,000, wasting almost 10% on an empty lot is no fun. My client’s biggest concern is that even though the legal issue with the developer should be resolved imminently, he’s been struggling to sell his primary property for the last six months at the required price to bring his plan to fruition. He is still going ahead with his plan, but it means that he will now have to dig deeper into his pension savings, thus drastically decreasing the life span of his retirement provision.

At first I didn’t think much of these two cases, but after doing some research it became obvious that these are not isolated incidents. Unfortunately, the reality is that the consequences of the property collapse are going to be felt for a very long time and will affect people for years to come.

I am not on a witch hunt, but the point I am trying to get across in this article is that retirement provisions need to have flexibility and liquidity, and not only after retirement date, but for at least five years or more before retiring.

As such, diversifications of your investments over all the asset classes is best, but please do so with this golden rule in mind: You need cash to provide for a stable, monthly, pensionable income. Most structured products in today’s market will provide you with an investment allocation in all the asset classes such as equities, properties, a bit of foreign exchange and bonds, as well as the all-important cash flow when you need it most, your retirement years.

Until the next time, remember to use your freed-up cash to secure your future by putting a minimum of 20% of your monthly income into your chosen saving’s vehicle, and only then enjoy living on the rest. When in doubt, contact your financial advisor to help you make the most of your finances by developing a financial plan that suits your circumstances and makes sure that you stay on track with your finances.

I urge you to do this sooner rather than later and save yourself from unnecessary heartache. •

www.doitnow.co.za | Lifestyle • 119

inFOCUS:

Words & Photos by Jacques Marais

Photographic Chronicles

SHOOT!

The Sport of The Gods 2011 Expedition Africa 120 DO IT NOW •

August | September 2011

Covering an adventure race equates to being a kid in a candy store ... There are more image opportunities than you could shake a telephoto lens at, but first you have to beat the Sleep Monster at its own game.

Expedition races are arguably the purest form of sport as we know it. There is no court or field, just the great outdoors unfolding as an expansive arena with no perceivable borders.

The gladiators are the racers, and nine times out of 10 they are amateurs who do it for the money rather than professionals looking for their next pay cheque.

Sponsors are very much in the background, and rather than a backdrop of banners and advertising billboards, you have soaring peaks, tranquil dales, vast and spreading savannah

plains and meandering dirt roads disappearing towards a distant and hazy horizon.

There may not be many spectators, maybe a few dozen at most, but they are there because they live and breathe adventure racing, an outdoor activity many people now call ‘The Sport of The Gods’. The athletes themselves may be ordinary people, but their superhuman endurance and physical feats raise them to the status of demi-gods, but only to those in the know.

And if you’re one of the few adventure journalists who have had the opportunity to cover such an event, you’ll understand what an amazing privilege it is to spend time with these athletes while they slug it out with the elements, their peers and the Sleep Monster, who dogs their footsteps as they race non-stop for up to 10 days, or over a course of up to a 1 000km.

Image 1: Gum Tree Bikers

The Action: Team Merrell cruising the Cape heartland on their way to finishing top of the podium during Expedition Africa 2011.

The Shot: I charged ahead of the team to find a spot which would capture the drama of the athletes within the landscape, and this was not it. But I knew I could make it work with the right composition and a bit of help from Lightroom, where I applied a filter to bathe the image in alien light.

The Technique: Cloudy and overcast, so I pushed the colour and contrast parameters in-camera to accentuate the disparity between shadow and light.

The Specifications: 1/200th sec @ f5.6; Nikon D700 with a 16-35mm lens; ISO 200; WB Setting - Auto.

More Information: www.jacquesmarais.co.za www.doitnow.co.za | Lifestyle • 121

122 • DO IT NOW August | September 2011

Image 2: Beach of a Day

Image 3: Fleeing the Sleep Monster

The Action: The Adventure Addicts take the fight to the endless strip of sand in the Walker Bay Nature Reserve near Gansbaai on a 35km off-road run.

The Action: Dark zone riding on a 14-hour mountain bike mission through the mountain passes of the southern Cape.

The Shot: I had to run behind the guys to shoot this, using a low angle and wide lens to accentuate the view of the athletes within the landscape.

The Shot: Hanno Smit, Merrell Adventure Addicts stalwart, cranks into the dark of night, nearly 200km into Expedition Africa and still hours off the half way mark.

The Technique: Slap on a polarising filter and stop down by one stop to accentuate colour saturation, then use your SB-900 to bang in some fill-in flash.

The Technique: Auto-focus systems generally do not work at speed in the dark of night, and the best way of ensuring sharp focus is to pre-focus on a spot and trigger the camera as soon as the subject hits the mark.

The Specifications: 1/250th sec @ f14; D700 with 15mm fish eye lens; SB-900 flash on full power; ISO 200; WB Setting – Sunlight; AE Setting: Under-exposure by 1 stop.

The Specifications: 1/20th sec @ f2.8; D700mm with 16-35mm lens; Speedlite SB-900 on full flash; ISO 800; WB Setting: Auto; AE Setting: 1 stop under-exposed.

More Information: www.nikon.co.za

More Information: www.kineticgear.co.za

www.doitnow.co.za | Lifestyle • 123

Image 4: Take Me to the Water The Action: Team Merrell Adventure Addicts’ Graham Bird and Tatum Prins power their kayak across the Theewaterskloof Dam. The Shot: Shot on the final day of the race, with less than 10 hours left in the field. You could see the resurgence of energy in the Adventure Addicts as they took to the water.

The Technique: If you take your water-housing to a shoot, you have to find a place to use it … I was expecting wet work in kloofs and rivers, but expedition Africa actually turned out to be a relatively dry race.

Except for the icy Theewaterskloof, of course ...

The Specifications: 1/250th sec @ f9; D700 with 16-35mm wide-angle zoom set wide; full flash from Speedlite unit; ISO 50; WB Setting: Sunlight; AE Setting: 1 stop under-exposed.

More Information: www.advaddicts.co.za

124 • DO IT NOW August | September 2011

www.doitnow.co.za | Lifestyle • 125

NOW

inFOCUS

Reader Photo Competition

Winner Photographer: Charl Pieterse

WIN R500!

Camera Settings: ISO 100 - F 3.5 - 1/30 sec - Flash Place: Bayan wild hotspring near Taipei, Taiwan Category: Adventure

Photograph: Hotspring Aliens Camera Type: Olympus SW1030

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126 • DO IT NOW August | September 2011

NOW

inVOLVED

Words by Lisa de Speville Photos by Owen Govender / SANParks

Steps up to the Mark From trail markers and event sponsorship, to record-breaking award incentives and the donation of hiking boots to National Park rangers, Hi-Tec South Africa’s recent initiatives are as inspired as their products.

In May, Hi-Tec handed over pairs of their Hi-Tec Altitude IV and Glide hiking boots to the 38 rangers in the Tsitsikamma National Park (TNP). It’s the third most frequently visited National Park in South Africa and its rangers patrol the trails and camps on foot to protect the fauna and flora, cultural heritage sites, visitors, rivers and deep gorges, evergreen forests and fynbos, as well as inter-tidal and marine life of the region.

The rangers walk, on average, six to eight kilometres daily; their patrols may cover double this distance too.

Added to this, the scenic trails throughout the park are rocky, with many stream crossings and rainfall is yearround, so it’s tough going for our green warriors.

“The rangers were extremely pleased to receive these Hi-Tec shoes,” says Owen Govender, TNP’s Senior Section Ranger. “They’re light and comfortable and the soles offer good grip on rocks and in wet and muddy conditions.”

Before Hi-Tec got involved with TNP, the rangers wore safety-style shoes that were heavy and unsuited to the terrain. It was not uncommon for rangers to suffer from blisters. “Appropriate and comfortable footwear makes all the difference to the rangers,” says Ian Little, Hi-Tec’s Marketing Manager. “A ranger with unsuitable shoes and sore feet just cannot1 do2011/06/14 their job properly.”

SANParks ad DO IT NOW.pdf 12:31 PM

TNP is well known for its five-day Otter Hiking Trail and, more recently, the trail running race that sees runners completing the entire 42-kilometre distance in one day.

The African Otter Run is now in its third year and Hi-Tec is proud to be a title sponsor. To increase the competitive stakes on the day, Hi-Tec is offering R5,000 to any man finishing in under 04:30 and any woman finishing in under 05:00.

Last year, Andre Gie, defending champion and record holder, beat Iain Don-Wauchope by 12 seconds to set the current men’s record of 04:48:53. Race Director, Mark Collins believes that the person able to win Hi-Tec’s award would need to be a 02:20 to 02:25 marathon runner.

“And, they will need a talent for technical running, as well as run a perfect race to do a sub 04:30,” he adds.

This year’s Otter is shaping up to have one of the most competitive fields ever assembled in South Africa. “Andre is running again this year and so is Bruce Arnett, who came fourth in 2009. There’s also Dion Middlekoop, Rohan Kennedy, Cas van Arden, Greg Goodall, John Collins and Victor Gugusha to name but a few,” says Collins.

In the women’s race, record-holder Jeannie Bomford, who beat Michelle Lombardi by only five minutes last year, will be competing again. A duel can be expected between Bomford and Lombardi, with the 2010 thirdplaced Jacqueline Haasbroek also in contention. Will any of them be able to break five hours? Race day will tell.

The trio of Hi-Tec ambassadors, Arnett, Middlekop and Bomford, will line up at the start with the three winners from Hi-Tec’s nationwide Infinity Challenge, which was

N I G R I P S ANGERS N I OUR R Altitude IV WP wide

128 • DO IT NOW August | September 2011

held in April. Will Robinson and Melany Porter, who won the men’s and women’s entries, and Barend Morkel, winner of the lucky-draw entry, claim a podium finish? There’s no doubt that the 2011 Otter will be a battle royal from start to finish, and not one to be taken lightly.

Another of Hi-Tec’s initiatives, also with TNP, is the replacement of trail markers in the reserve. They recently met with SANParks to redesign the markers and confirm placements and fixture methods. “We will also place information boards at three locations along the route; the start, Bloukrans and finish,” says Little. “The board at the Bloukrans crossing is specifically about littering, which is a problem at this point.” Little explains that many hikers use plastic bags around their feet to keep their shoes dry when crossing the river; they then toss the bags in the nearby bushes.

“Our association with both the African Otter Run and SANParks is an important part of our commitment to contributing to the outdoor lifestyle,” says Little. “The African Otter Run attracts recreational and committed trail runners, while the five-day Otter Trail attracts hikers. Our footwear and apparel is perfect for all of these people. And, behind all of this are Tsitsikamma National Park and its rangers, who protect this fragile environment for us all to enjoy. We’re proud to support all of these projects.” •

About the African Otter Run & Ramble

This year sees a change in the structure of the African Otter Run, to be held from 29 to 30 September 2011.

Previously the race had an 11-hour cut-off, which has now been reduced to eight hours and a far more challenging race.

The African Otter Ramble is set to take place from 1 to 2 October 2011 and retains the more generous 11-hour cut-off.

DESIGNOLOGY

For more details on either of these races, visit www.magneticsouth.net

The preferred and official footwear of SANParks Tell us what inspires you @ www.hi-tec.com www.doitnow.co.za | Lifestyle • 129

NOW

inCLOSING inside the next issue ...

Don't aim for success if you want it; just do what you love and believe in, and it will come naturally. David Frost

Don’t miss our October/November issue to find out more about ordinary people doing extraordinary things. Here’s a sneak preview of what you can look forward to.

Fly Like a Bird

Have you ever stood on top of a mountain and wished you could fly down, or watched a bird soaring effortlessly in the wind and wished you could do the same? Well, you can! In our next issue Walter Neser introduces us to Paragliding, the simplest form of flight known to man.

Ras Muhammad – Diving the Red Sea

Ras Muhammad is a national park in Egypt overlooking the Gulf of Suez on the west and the Gulf of Aqaba to the east and spans an area of 480 km². It boasts more than 220 species of coral, 125 of them soft coral, more than 1,000 species of fish, 25 species of sea urchins, 40 species of star fish, 150 species of crustaceans and over a 100 species of mollusc. Francois tells us more about diving the beautiful Shark and Yolanda Reefs, popular coral reefs in the park for divers.

Funnies

Epic Enduros

The Liquorland Kei National 2011 is back where it belongs - in the Kei region, and it’s an enduro that will test you to your limits and beyond. Dean Venish tells us more …

A golf pro dragged himself into the clubhouse looking as though he'd just escaped a tornado. "What's wrong?" a woman asked.

"I just lost a game to The 40 Year Old Rookie the pro said.

"What? But The 40 Year Old Rookie is the worst player I've ever seen. How could he have beaten you?" "He tricked me," the pro said. "On the first tee, he asked for a handicap. I told him he could have 30, 40, 50 strokes- any handicap he wanted. He said, 'Just give me two gotchas." "What's a gotcha?" asked the woman. "That's what I wanted to know," the pro said. "The 40 Year Old Rookie said, 'You'll see.' Then, as I was teeing off, just as I had my club poised, he screamed out 'Gotcha!'" "I can guess what happened," the woman said."Sure," the pro said.

"The scream threw me off, and I missed the ball completely."

"Understandable," the woman said. "But still, that's only one swing. How did he win the game?" The pro answered, "You try swinging at a golf ball all day while waiting for that second 'gotcha!'

While every effort is made by the DIN Team to ensure that the contents of the DO IT NOW Adventures (Pty) Ltd are accurate at the time of going to press, DO IT NOW Adventures (Pty) Ltd cannot except responsibility for any errors that may appear, or for any consequence of using the information contained herein. Statements by contributors are not always representative of 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 August | September 2011