DO IT NOW Magazine #17 - Adventure, Sport & Lifestyle

ADVENTURE - SPORT - LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

Wild Walk 2012

see page 48

Far side of fear

Base Jumping

see page 140

see page 28

Switz e r l an d

S n ow i ng b oa r d

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2 • DO IT NOW June | July 2012

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4 • DO IT NOW June | July 2012

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CAPE TOWN: Echo 4x4 Cape Town, 60B Muscat Street, Saxonburg Park 1, 7580

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DINList

& CALENDAR Here are some fantastic activities and events to look out for over the next three months:

JUNE 2012 S 3

M 4

T 5

W 6

T 7

F

S

1

2

8

9

10 11 12 13 14 15 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

Motorbike // Liquorland Enduro – Roberts Racing (North West): 2 Jun

S

M

T

W

T

F

S

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10 11 12 13 14

15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

AUGUST 2012

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M 6

T 7

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2

3

4

8

10 11

12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 8 • DO IT NOW June | July 2012

Scuba Diving // Sodwana Bay (KZN)

 Abseiling // Table Mountain (CT)  Skydiving // Bloemfontein (Free State)  Elephant Back Safaris // Bela Bela (Limpopo)  Quad Biking // Maluti Mountains (Clarens)  Wakeboarding // Base 3 Leisure Lakes (Midrand)  Fly Fishing // Dullstroom (Mpumalanga)  Bungee Jumping // Soweto (JHB)  4x4 Trails // Sutherland (Northen Cape)  Clay Pigeon Shooting // Glenburn Lodge (JHB)  Canopy Tour // Ysterhout Kloof (Rustenburg)

Sport 

JULY 2012

S

Adventure 

 MTB // Nissan Trail Seeker #1 – Tyger Valley (PTA): 2 Jun  Road Running // Comrades Marathon – Town Hall Pietermaritzburg (KZN): 3 Jun  Surfing // Mr Price Pro – Ballito (KZN): 4 Jun  Motorbike // Enduro X – Port Shepstone (KZN): 10 Jun  Adventure Race // Kineticgear – Emmarentia (JHB): 24 Jun  MTB // Nissan Trail Seeker #2 – Cullinan (PTA): 14 July  Trail Running // Rhodes Run – Drakensberg (KZN): 14 July  Surfing // Billabong Pro – Jeffreys Bay (EC): 15-17 July  Road Cycling // BESTmed Jock Cycle Classic – Barberton (Mpumalanga): 21 July  Road Running // 702 Walk the Talk – Emmarentia (JHB): 22 July  Road Cycling // Clover Cycle Tour – Graskop (Mpumalanga): 8-12 Aug

Lifestyle 

Festival // Oyster, Wine & Food – Randburg (JHB): 2-3 Jun

 Festival // Dullstroom Winter Festival – Dullstroom (MP): 6-8 Jun  Expo // Outdoor Adventure & Travel – Kyalami (JHB): 8-10 Jun  Festival // Top Gear Festival – Moses Mabhida Stadium (KZN): 16-17 Jun  Festival // Grahamstown National Arts Festival – Grahamstown (EC): 28 Jun - 8 July  Market // Christmas in July – St. Helena Bay (WC): 2 July  Festival // Ellisras Bushveld Festival – Lephalale (Limpopo): 6-9 July  Music // Billabong Pro Music Festival – Jeffreys Bay (EC): 15-17 July  Expo // Wodac Pet Expo – Midrand (JHB): 20-22 July  Festival // Greytown Book Club Festival – Lephalale (WC): 2-4 Aug  Music // Oppikoppi Festival – Northam (Limpopo): 9-11 Aug

NOW

inTRO

FOUNDER’S LETTER

"Life was like a box of chocolates.

You never know what you're gonna get."

Famous quote from the movie Forrest Gump.

These were the words that came to mind on the morning of what was supposed to be our first DINFest. We were ready to showcase a one-of-a-kind festival that featured a combination of conventional and extreme sporting events and shows, which would be complimented by an expo area boasting only the best in adventure, sport and lifestyle products. Had it not been for a freak storm that obliterated almost everything in its path, it would have been a great day.

at each outing, so come and show us why you are a person with a DO IT NOW attitude – and stand a chance to win one of many awesome prizes!

For those of you who read my snowboarding articles in the previous two issues, turn to page 28 for the final chapter of my trilogy; my experience in Grindelwald, in Switzerland.

Finally, to all the athletes who are representing our country at the Olympics – we wish you every success and are incredibly proud of you – go South Africa, do it now!

Take care and remember DON'T HESITATE, DON'T PROCRASTINATE, DO IT NOW! •

Although the story reads as a tragic date for the record books, you can be sure that the DO IT NOW team will put together a festival that is BIGGER and BETTER later in the year. We will keep you updated with our weekly DINFo newsletter, but also visit our website and Facebook page for more details on the next DINFest.

Due to an increase in the volume of articles we are receiving and the limited space available in each bimonthly issue, we are busy with some new and exciting ideas. Our aim is to provide you with more news, views and reviews, more often. Our weekly DINFo newsletter will drive this new initiative and feature a number of current and informative articles - at absolutely no extra cost to you. So if you haven't signed up for the newsletter, then email us on media@doitnow.co.za, or register online at www.doitnow.co.za On the events side, our new GIG-RIG is on the move and will be entertaining you and other participants at the many events we are involved in. One of the most notable events to pencil into your diary now is the fivepart Nissan MTB Series that’s hosted by Advendurance.

Another series not to miss is the Kinetic AR Series. We’ll be there throughout these series’ and invite you to pop in for a chat and meet the team. There will also be a number of fun DIN challenges run from the GIG-RIG

Visit us on Facebook & Twitter Facebook: www.facebook.com/DOITNOWMagazine Twitter: twitter.com/#!/DOITNOWMag & @DOITNOWMag Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/company/do-it-now-magazine

www.doitnow.co.za • 9

REGULAR CONTRIBUTORS

On the Cover - Snowboarding.

Photo by www.shutterstock.com

NOW

meet the CREW

Alan Hobson

Claire King

Kobus Bresler

Deon Breytenbach

Francois Steyn

Jacques Marais

Michael Scholz

Neil Ross

Peter Fairbanks

Richard Flamengo

Ugene Nel

Morne Swanepoel

Hannele Steyn

Ben Melt Swanepoel

Steven Yates

DO IT NOW TEAM FOUNDER Francois Flamengo MANAGING DIRECTOR Elri Flamengo | elri@doitnow.co.za ART DIRECTOR Peet Nieuwenhuizen | peet@doitnow.co.za MARKETING & SALES DIRECTOR Morné Labuschagne | morne@doitnow.co.za | sales@doitnow.co.za TEXT EDITOR Tracy Knox | tracy@doitnow.co.za BRAND AWARENESS & DISTRIBUTION Cheryl Whelan | cheryl@doitnow.co.za | distribution@doitnow.co.za EVENTS & ACTIVATION Chris Jooste | chris@doitnow.co.za | events@doitnow.co.za WEB ADMINISTRATOR Marieke Viljoen | marieke@doitnow.co.za | media@doitnow.co.za ACCOUNTS, SUBSCRIPTIONS & BACK ISSUES subscribe@doitnow.co.za GENERAL ENQUIRIES info@doitnow.co.za PUBLISHER DO IT NOW CC SUBSCRIPTION MY SUBS - www.mysubs.co.za DISTRIBUTION (Subscription) The Tree House - 011 315 3559 DISTRIBUTION (Retail) On the Dot - 011 401 5872 PRINTING Paarl Media - 021 870 3627

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 content of the DO IT NOW Magazine is accurate at the time of going to press, DO IT NOW Adventures (Pty) Ltd cannot accept responsibility for any errors that may appear, or for any consequence of utilising the information contained herein. Statements by contributors are not always representative of DO IT NOW Adventures (Pty) Ltd opinion. Copyright 2009 DO IT NOW Adventures (Pty) Ltd. No part of this magazine may be reproduced in any form or stored on a retrieval system without the prior permission of DO IT NOW Adventures (Pty) Ltd. DO IT NOW Adventures (Pty) Ltd supports and encourages responsible practices with regards to all Adventure, Sport and Lifestyle activities. We also believe in the conservation and protection of all fauna and flora.

10 • DO IT NOW June | July 2012 2011

Advertising and Sponsorship Opportunities

For more information on advertising and sectional sponsorship opportunities in the magazine and on the website, please request the DO IT NOW Company Profile, Rate Card, Specs & Schedule Sheet by emailing morne@doitnow.co.za or telephonically from the DO IT NOW office on +27 (11) 462 1261.

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www.doitnow.co.za • 11

NOW

inDEX

Vol 4 | Issue 3 | 2012 | www.doitnow.co.za

Base

// DINList and CALENDAR: p. 8 An exciting three-month calendar on AdventureSport-Lifestyle activities. // inTRO: p. 9 Letter from the founder of DO IT NOW magazine. // Team & Contributors: p. 10 DO IT NOW magazine’s team, as well as regular and guest contributors. // Subscription Info: p. 11 DO IT NOW Subscription Form and competition. // inSTORE: p. 14 Exciting products and subscriber discounts. // inFOCUS Reader Competition p. 136 Stand a chance to WIN R500 by entering the reader photo competition. // inCLOSING: p. 146 A sneak preview of upcoming features and articles.

Regulars

p. 20-27 inTRANSIT: Exciting and entertaining travel

stories from Africa and beyond.

p. 28-43 inH2O: Water sports and adventures. p. 44-57 inALTITUDE: Aerial / high altitude adventures. p. 62-75 inTRODUCING: Featuring informative articles

on a number of sports and why athletes compete in them. p. 76-93 inACTION: Information and feedback on various sporting events. p. 94-101 inPREPARATION: Information, tips and or training programmes for various sporting activities and events. p. 102-105 inSHAPE: Important information covering topics such as health, nutrition and exercise. p. 108-109 in THE HOLE: Golfing articles and interviews. p. 110-113 inGEAR: Adventure-Sport-Lifestyle activities featuring vehicles with gears. p. 114-117 inNATURE: Outdoor experiences and activities such as fishing and hiking. p. 118-125 inCREDIBLE PLACES: Articles about incredible and magical places. p. 126-127 inSURE: Valuable information about insurance and related topics. p. 128-129 inTERTAINMENT: Movie, music and gaming reviews. p. 130-137 inFOCUS: Photography section with a competition and event-specific photography tips. p. 138-145 inVOLVED: Incredible stories of involvement in the community, environment, marine, wildlife and other areas of life.

p. 145 inDULGE: A wine and dine section with a twist.

Key: Adventure | Sport | Lifestyle

12 • DO IT NOW June | July 2012

52

76

Adventure

32

p. 16-57

// inTRANSIT

20-23 Cape to Cairo on Two Wheels: Part 2

Kenya, Ethiopia, Sudan and Egypt 24-27 Cycling the Alps

// inH2O

28-31 32-35 36-39 40-43

Snowboarding in Grindelwald, Switzerland Antarctica 760km - A Race Against Time Paddling the Chobe Costa Rica Kayaking

// inALTITUDE

44-47 Climbing Kili 48-51 Magnificence on the Far Side of Fear 52-57 Thailand Express 400, Part 1

Sport

p. 58-105

// inTRODUCING

62-65 The Long Road to London 66-69 South Africans Shine at Nunavik Adventure Challenge International 70-71 Bray ... waar’s dit?

72-75 Scooter 101 - Scoots Go Extreme

// inACTION 76-81 82-85 86-89 90-93

Sizzling Action at WOMZA Full Throttle MX Nationals Mountain Bike World Cup Kinetic Adventure Series Lesotho Wild Run - King of the Mountains

// inPREPARATION

94-97 Thin Air, Big Sky, Snow and Ice – A Breathtaking Trail Run 98-99 Grootvadersbosch: A Magical Run 100-101 River Rumble - Don’t Hibernate, Activate!

// inSHAPE

102-103 Preventing Paddling Shoulder Injuries 104-105 Power Training with Explosive Results

Lifestyle

p. 106-145

// in THE HOLE

108-109 A 2-Balled Fourball

// inGEAR

110-113 In Review: Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, Nissan NP200 1.5 dCi vs.

Chevrolet Corsa Ute 1.8i Sport & BMW G650GS Sertão

// inNATURE

114-117 Baviaan’s Battles

// inCREDIBLE PLACES

118-121 A Love Affair with India - Hampi 122-125 France - Lavender Fields, Pink Wine and White Horses

// inSURE

126-127 Is a Trust for You?

// inTERTAINMENT

128-129 Music, Movie and Game Reviews

// inFOCUS

130

130-135 SHOOT! A Canoe Marathon 136 inFOCUS Competition

// inVOLVED

138-139 Children in the Wilderness 140-143 A Walk on the Wild Side 144-145 Teachers and Children Fly High

// inDULGE

145

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DON’T HESITATE! DON’T PROCRASTINATE! DO IT NOW! www.doitnow.co.za • 13

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www.doitnow.co.za • 15

NOW 16 • DO IT NOW June | July 2012

Shutterstock Image

with raft hitting the bottom of a 10' drop on the Colorado River in Gore Canyon

// inTRANSIT: Cape to Cairo on Two Wheels: Part 2, Kenya, Ethiopia, Sudan and Egypt * Cycling the Alps // inH2O: Snowboarding in Grindelwald, Switzerland * Antarctica 760km - A Race Against Time * Paddling the Chobe * Costa Rica Kayaking // inALTITUDE: Climbing Kili * Magnificence on the Far Side of Fear * Thailand Express 400, Part 1

PHOTOGRAPH: www.shutterstock.com DESCRIPTION: Class V whitewater rapid

Adventure

inTRANSIT:

Words by Tania Steyn Photos by Tania & Francois Steyn

Travelling through the western desert in Egypt

20 • DO IT NOW June | July 2012

Capeto Cairo

PART 2

On Two 200cc Motomia Motorcycles:

Kenya, Ethiopia, Sudan and Egypt The last stretch of our journey into the northern parts of Africa was the section we had read most about during our preparations for our Cape to Cairo trip. It was also the part we had heard the most stories about. Amongst other challenges, we knew we had to tackle the difficult Marsabit to Moyale road to get to Ethiopia, cross the steep mountain passes of Ethiopia and hot desert of Sudan and then get our bikes onto the ferry in Wadi Halfa that was bound for Egypt. The final task was to ship the bikes from Alexandria back to South Africa at the end of our journey.

Up to now we have travelled on our two Chinese 200cc MotoMia bikes without any major incidents, but in the small village of Webuye, in Kenya, Francois got his first flat tyre. At the time we were pushing hard to make it to a campsite about 100 kilometres away before sunset. We tried some tyre weld, but it leaked uncontrollably through the valve. With the sun already sinking below the horizon, we realised that we were stuck here for the night. Luckily we had ended up stranded in front of George Machasio’s hotel, and the 76-year-old George offered us a room even though his hotel was under construction. There was no electricity or water, but George and his wife boiled some hot water for us to bathe in. After Francois fixed the tyre we enjoyed a long conversation with George about Kenya, his 15 kids, the hotel he had built in 1965 with his own two hands and South Africa. By the time we left the next morning, we felt like family.

We travelled eastwards towards Nairobi over the next two days, trying to make up some time as we needed to get to Nairobi before the weekend to arrange our Sudanese visas. We arrived at Jungle Junction, in Nairobi, late Wednesday afternoon and well ahead of the weekend. However, the next day was a public holiday and the embassy would be closed. I was devastated as we would be stuck in Nairobi for longer than planned. Nevertheless we tried our luck on Friday morning and were ecstatic to find the embassy open, and our Sudanese visas were issued the same day!

www.doitnow.co.za | Adventure • 21

The rocky road to Moyale from Marsabit

While in Nairobi, we had hoped to meet some fellow travellers that could ride with us to the border of Ethiopia. The Marsabit to Moyale road has a bad reputation and to make matters worse we'd heard reports of massive thunderstorms that had passed through this area over the past few days, turning the roads into a muddy and slippery affair. We couldn't wait any longer and decided to tackle the dreaded road on our own. I was quite nervous and wondered how the bikes would hold up in these serious off-road conditions.

The next day we set off on the worst gravel towards Marsabit and found ourselves in the most desolate area we've ever entered; the whole area gradually becoming more desert like and barren. We took it slowly over the corrugated gravel roads and sandy sections, relieved to finally reach Marsabit that afternoon with only a few minor falls, but nothing serious, and our bikes still intact.

The following day we headed out at 07h00 on a long stretch of road, which was rocky and the ride bumpy.

With the stretch to Moyale still to cover, we were happy with our progress. Then halfway I got a flat tyre too.

Francois immediately started working on the wheel as we still had a long way to go and there was only a few hours of sunlight left. Just then an old, red Land Rover pulled up next to us and the Wadie family came to our rescue. The family of three, who were on their way towards Uganda and had travelled all the way from England, helped us fix the tyre in no time. Despite the last section of road being a bit wet, which caused my MotoMia to slide all over as I grew more tired, we reached Moyale just after 18h00.

22 • DO IT NOW June | July 2012

The border to Ethiopia was closed, so we looked for a place to overnight. We ended up in a dilapidated motel sharing our beds with some bedbugs, fleas and mosquitoes, and it was a very long night to say the least. By the time the sun’s first rays were up, we were more than ready to hit the road again. We arrived at the border to find it still closed, but some kind Kenyan officials helped us to slip through before officially opening. While waiting for the Ethiopian side to open, we used the opportunity to enjoy our first Ethiopian cup of coffee. Delicious!

In Ethiopia, with its breathtaking highlands, green mountains and spectacular views, we travelled from Moyale, in the south, northwards past three of Ethiopia’s lakes – Lake Awassa, Lake Langano and Lake Ziway - towards Addis Ababa. Lake Langano was our home for a night and we camped on a tiny, pristine beach next to the water, which we shared with a pair of beautiful fish eagles. From Addis Ababa we travelled northwards past Debre Sina, over some beautiful mountain passes and through a few tunnels in the direction of Lalibela.

The last 60 kilometres is a gravel road and despite some heavy rain the MotoMias handled well. Very tired and wet, we reached Lalibela where the roads teemed with children and animals, making driving here even more challenging. The constant calls of, “You, you, you!” were still ringing in our ears as we retired for the night.

We were extremely excited to see the rock-hewn churches of Lalibela. The 11 churches were built in 1166 and it took King Lalibela 23 years to complete them. The King claimed he built them himself and that in the evenings the angels would help him to complete them. The other version of the story was that there were 8,000 Egyptian workers who built these churches.

After a very informative tour and participating in an official coffee ceremony we said goodbye to Lalibela and travelled to Gondar, in the west of Ethiopia, before crossing the border into Sudan.

Bikes arriving in Egypt with Egyptian number plates

Day 50 – Tania on the road to Marsabit and Moyale

Riding a camel at the Meroe Pyramids in Sudan

Camping next to Lake Langano in Ethiopia

The Sudanese border crossing was the one we had heard a lot about, but it turned out to be the one we loved the most in the end. Everything was slow, but in the process we were invited by the border officials to have lunch with them. Everywhere we went, we were welcomed with open arms and the Sudanese’s hospitality immediately made us feel at home.

Camping in the desert next to the Meroe Pyramids, just past Khartoum, was one of the highlights of our trip. This site has more than 200 different pyramids that date back to 800 B.C. to 280 A.D., and are Sudan’s main tourist attraction. During the night we woke up to find ourselves surrounded by a group of about 20 camels grazing in the moonlight - it was all quite surreal.

While in Sudan we often received tea, tomatoes, water and other food from the local people for free. We camped for a few nights in the desert, and luckily it was winter so there was always a cool breeze in the air. In Wadi Halfa we met up with some fellow South African travellers, the Voetspore Team and three cyclists from Cape Town, and set off together for Aswan, in Egypt, by ferry; the only way to get into Egypt from Sudan. Mazaar, our local fixer, proved invaluable by helping us with the necessary paperwork and getting the vehicles and motorbikes on the barge with minimal hassle.

The 18-hour ferry ride was spent on deck, curled up asleep in our sleeping bags under the glistening stars, and by 10h30 the next morning we had reached Aswan. It took a while to disembark and in the process a few unhappy Egyptians started swinging their fists around – about what no one knew! After some pushing we finally reached the 'arrival hole' and then took a taxi into town where we spent a few days, while waiting for the bikes to arrive on the barge. During our time here we visited the amazing temple

at Abu Simbel, shopped at the local souq and discovered McDonalds – the only place where you don't bargain about the price. Five days later the bikes finally arrived and after an intricate process and lesson in Egyptian bureaucracy we were ready for the final stretch to Alexandria.

We had three days to complete the long 1,500 kilometres to Alexandria so that we could get the bikes shipped before our flight departed to South Africa. It was the final push and the MotoMias were starting to suffer a bit as we were still riding with the same chains and sprockets we'd left with 13,000km ago. Taking the western route through the desert, we spent three nights wild camping in the most stunning and remote locations. We were also invited to spend the night with an Egyptian family and although we could not understand a word they said it was one of the best experiences of our trip. They plied us with so much amazing food that we nearly rolled out of there the next day.

Shipping the bikes back to South Africa was a challenging task, but luck was on our side and we joined up with the Voetspore Team, who kindly allowed us to ship the two MotoMias back home in one of their containers.

Overall, we were mightily impressed and are proud to say that the bikes made it all the way to Alexandria in one piece, bar two flat tyres.

In retrospect I can't think of a better bike for the job and we ended up saving a lot of money, having only spent about R12 000 on fuel, for both bikes, to drive 13,000km from South Africa to Cairo. MotoMia - it's the way to go! • www.doitnow.co.za | Adventure • 23

inTRANSIT:

Words & Photos by Will Ross

Chaschauna Pass

Cycling the Alps Following the completion of a high alpine mountain bike route skirting its southern border, Switzerland has launched itself to the forefront of the global adventure scene. In the last three years Switzerland Tourism has helped develop Alpine Bike, a continuous trail that runs along the country’s mountainous southern border from Scuol in the east, to Aigle in the west. Amazed by the thought of having 666km and 20,000 vertical metres of continuous terrain right in the heart of Europe, I headed to the continent to check out the route.

Advised to book towards the backend of the summer, to ensure that the snow had retreated from the high alpine passes, I set off at the beginning of September to explore the brutal passes, crystal lakes and cascading waterfalls that the guidebook promised.

With too many features to digest in one piece, here are some of my tour highlights, beginning in Scuol and the start of my trip.

Tour highlights My first day turned out to be one of the most spectacular of the trip, owing mainly to a series of epic vistas and varied terrain between Switzerland’s Graubünden region and Northern Italy. Following a steady climb until lunchtime, the Döss Radond pitched sharply up to a Canadian wilderness and wide valleys that crashed on either side of me. With no other humans in sight and only my grumbling wheels to keep me occupied, I wound up in the tax-free town of Livigno, at the foot of the Pass Chaschauna, in time for a bowl of spaghetti bolognaise.

The next day was similarly eventful and started with the Pass Chaschauna, which would be my toughest climb of the week. The pass reaches over to Switzerland at a peak altitude of 2,694m, the highest point on the entire route and the one point where I really felt the chill of the mountains. Fortunately just before the ascent the Refuge Cassana Restaurant sat idly waiting, tempting me with some excellent Italian phrases and a hot chocolate reward.

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Heading up Tomulpas

Leaving Scuol

My second day was also full of interesting sections of terrain. After negotiating a tricky single track descent on the Swiss side of Chaschauna, I hammered down the valley to S-chanf in anticipation of a flat stretch to St. Moritz. From a sunny St. Moritz, I headed to Friedrich Nietzsche’s summer retreat in Sils-Maria before winding down the Maloja Pass, a stunning descent with a dozen or so hairpins. The smooth tarmac descent contrasted sharply with the rugged Septimer Pass, an offering worthy of Zarathustra himself.

During stage 9 the Alpine Bike routes take you through Andermatt, a popular winter and military training site, and the focus of a major development by the Egyptian Orascom development group. The current project promises to redefine the character of the town by adding a golf course and doubling the number of beds. If you’re planning on riding the route soon, be sure to visit Andermatt while it still retains its small-town charm that many high-value resorts have lost.

In the context of my miscalculated timing, this part of the trip was certainly the most harrowing. Slightly unsure of where I was going, as I hauled my bike over large rocks and boulders, I took a moment to contemplate my options, taking the time to gorge on my remaining supplies in anticipation of something epic. As the sun set and the moon emerged, I rounded the top of the pass gasping at the sight of lights hanging over my rest point, the Hotel Solario in Bivio.

On the other side of Sustenpass, on my fifth day, I dropped into Meiringen, made famous for the fictional presumed death of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's character Sherlock Holmes and its claim to have invented meringue. Though the route runs over tarmac roads beyond Meiringen, the Reichenbach Falls on the ascent out of the town is spectacular. Certainly leave 15-minutes early when you’re taking on this section, to get off the bike and visit the waterfall that is just a few miles short of the famous Eiger, a mountain in the Bernese Alps in Switzerland that is the eastern most peak of a ridge crest extending across the Mönch to the Jungfrau at 4,158m.

The next highlight of my trip came once I arrived at Thalkirch, at the end of my third day on the bike. Following a steady tarmac ascent over the Glaspass and a steep descent into Safien Platz, I completed the final few kilometres of the day and arrived at Berghaus Turrahus, in the tiny settlement of Thalkirch. The cabin-like Berghaus Turrahus sits right at the base of the Tomulpass, a classic ascent laid out by Polish refugees during WW2, and a looming mountain that dwarfs the miniature settlement.

Towards the end of the route, Alpine Bike takes you through Gstaad and Chateau D’Oex in Switzerland’s Valais region. As two wellknown winter resorts these villages are worth checking out if you’ve got time before finding your way to the vineyards around Aigle.

Useful information As a route that hangs in nearly the same time zone as South Africa, Alpine Bike works well as a week-long trip, so keep an eye on flights into Geneva or Zurich. Don’t forget to attend to visa requirements for both Switzerland and Italy.

Alpine Bike has been neatly divided into 16 sections ranging from 31 to 63 kilometres in length. Each section is serviced by two tiers of accommodation types; luxury and standard.

service between each accommodation stop over. The extra cost for the service is marginal versus booking independently, and anyone who has been on an unsupported high alpine mountain route expedition before will know how much a reduced load matters when covering those final few kilometres of the day.

Browse through the route map on www.bikeland. myswitzerland.com/en/route1 and work out where you want to stop and what distances you want to do each day. It’s worth noting that starting in Aigle offers 100km of steady riding before the first high pass (Hahnenmoospass), whereas departing from Scuol includes some tougher efforts.

In terms of difficulty levels, the terrain mainly consisted of jeep tracks and tarmac roads that connected the mountain huts, which speckle the upper reaches of the landscape. Some of the higher +2km pitches include single track sections with varying accessibility.

On occasions the eastern-bound route had the trickier ascent, but descents from the western-bound side were more favourable. I went for the dual suspension Pitch Comp from Specialized, which matched the requirements of the route perfectly.

While you can organise accommodation yourself, I booked my accommodation through Swiss Trails (www.swisstrails.ch), which offered a luggage transport

My experience in the Swiss Alps was awesome and I would most definitely visit this mountain biking haven again and again. •

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inH2O:

Words by Francois Flamengo Photos by DO IT NOW

g n i d r a o b w o Sn d l a w l e d n i r G n i

switzerland

in Lech, oke about our time sp I es su is o tw st In the la I will and in this article , ce an Fr l, be ri ME Austria, and ence in the amazing ri pe ex r ou t ou ab tell you more art of the is located in the he h ic wh , on gi re au Jungfr the last itzerland. This was Sw in ps Al e es rn Swiss Be an skiing holiday. week of our Europe ,

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On the train ride from Méribel to Grindelwald, in Switzerland, on Christmas Eve, I got caught up in the many wonderful stories Wynand told me about Grindelwald; one of the most popular and cosmopolitan holiday destinations in Switzerland, and the largest ski resort in the Jungfrau region. Wynand had been there before and I was so looking forward to experiencing some of the attractions that this town is renowned for.

A few of the highlights that I added to my bucket list included a visit to the Jungfrau Railway, Top of Europe, the 360° rotating 007 restaurant at the top of the Schilthorn and snowboarding on First.

But before I get to that, I would like to elaborate a little on Grindelwald (1,034m). It is among one of Europe's oldest mountain resorts and lies in a valley situated in the beautiful Bernese Oberland on the northern side of the Alps. Surrounded by the commanding mountainscape trio of the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau, this small town exudes country charm - fields planted with fruit trees or maples and dotted with pretty dwellings - with a grand rocky barrier stretching from the shoulder of the Wetterhorn to the pyramid of the Eiger. To get there we decided to take the Berner Oberland Bahnfrom Interlaken, a small train that gives you an immediate cultural experience of the old Swiss efficiency and their history. Once in Grindelwald you can explore the entire town on foot and a visit to the many small shops will keep you entertained. The cogwheel train that operates from the town centre offers you a great way to discover the massive Eiger north face (3,970m), which overlooks the town. The town of Wengen is on the other side of the valley and home to the famous 007 Piz Gloria Restaurant, which sits on top of the Schilthorn.

The day after we arrived we found some fantastic traditional food and drinks at one of the many restaurants in town and decided how we would tackle our four days in Grindelwald. Top of the list was a visit to the Jungfrau Railway. This pioneering masterpiece among mountain railways has its roots in the mid-1860s, when Swiss hotelier Friedrich Seiler planned to drill a pneumatic tube railway to the summit of the Jungfrau. His scheme never came to fruition, but the idea of a Jungfraubahn proved irresistible in a country where railroad track was already being laid between every city, town and village that hoped to attract tourists. The concept of building the 7.3km tunnel from the foot of the massive Eiger north face was originally planned by engineer Adolf GuyerZeller. Work began on 27 July 1896 and was hampered by a series of disasters, including the accidental explosion of 30 tons of dynamite in 1908. The blast reportedly was heard in Germany, more than 60 miles away. The railroad was completed in stages, with ticket revenues from train rides to the viewing platforms at the lower stations being used to finance the remaining work. The project's total cost was 14.9 million Swiss francs.

www.doitnow.co.za | Adventure • 29

007 Piz Gloria Restaurant, on top of the Schilthorn

Snowboards at the Wetterhorn (3,692 m)

Toboggans

The tunnel takes you into the heart of the Eiger and stops at two stations for a few minutes to enable passengers to look through the massive windows, which are built into the slip face, and marvel at the incredible aerial view of the valley. If you are intimidated by heights, then you'll definitely feel a little numbness in your knees when looking down ;-) It also gives you an idea of what the conditions must be like for climbers when attempting to summit the Eiger. The cogwheel train then continues to the top of the mountain range, the Top of Europe, and stops inside the glacier at the Sphinx, (3,571m), a peak with a small viewing station that is perched in the saddle between the Mönch (3,650m) and the Jungfrau (4,158m). It is said that the Jungfrau reminded someone of a young virgin and the Mönch (monk) protects the young 'vrou' (young lady) from the Eiger (ogre).

To try and describe the experience and clinical beauty at the Top of Europe is very hard, and I believe the only way to understand it completely is to go there yourself.

If you are lucky to experience the view from the top on a clear day, free of clouds or mist, you will be treated to the most magnificent view of the Aletsch Glacier on the one side and Interlaken Valley on the other. This is serious DINList material!

The next morning we were all smiles as we strapped on our snowboards, eager to get to the gondola that leads to the First. First is a piste area that's nestled high in the mountain range and overlooks the town from the opposite side of the Eiger. The trip up the mountain takes about 10 minutes and, not to sound like a broken record, unlocks yet another fantastic view of the Eiger.

For me this area was completely different to the ski slopes we had encountered in Lech and Méribel. The major frustration was that the gondola from the town created a bottleneck when trying to get to the other gondolas. During the Christmas week there were long queues that you had to wait in before you could get going on the slopes. However, the run from the top of First was excellent, with wide piste areas making it very easy to find your way down. Unfortunately we didn't get to do as many runs down the slope as I would have liked, due to the queues, so I will have to explore other options on a return visit. What was interesting though was the integration of toboggan runs down all the mountains, which enabled many family members who were not comfortable on skis or snowboards to also enjoy the white powder.

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Time was flying and before we knew it we only had two days left of our trip. We decided to make our way to the Schilthorn the next morning. Our mission was to enjoy lunch at the famous 007 restaurant that was used during the 1969 spy movie 'On Her Majesty's Secret Service'. On our way there we also explored the towns of Wengen and Murren. What we thought would be a quick two-hour trip turned into almost a whole day venture because of the huge numbers of tourists in the area. When we eventually stepped off the final gondola, at over 2900 metres above sea level, our patience paid dividends upon reaching the Schilthorn. At first you don't realise that the floor is moving and only when you notice your beanie and gloves moving away from you on the railing next to your table do you register the movement of the restaurant. I was amazed at how the waiters managed to track their 'moving' tables, which make a 360° round trip each hour.

Our final day was spent exploring the 8km snowboard run from Kleine Scheidegg (2061m), at the foot of the Eiger. On the piste map it looked really interesting, with winding pieces of piste running through the forest area and hooking up with a number of other runs, thus allowing one to find their own creative way down the maze of options available. What I did not plan for was the narrow sections that came up every now and again during the run, and found to be more suited to the skiers and toboggan runners. These sneaky little sections created a few spectacular 'snowfalling' opportunities for me and I remember 'taking a break' twice and finding myself looking up at the bright blue sky from the position of lying flat on my back ;-).

Grindelwald is truly a pictureperfect little town and it offers tourists a fantastic opportunity to explore all the Swiss traditions that we normally read about or see on TV. What makes it even better is the fact that it can easily accommodate the whole family's wish list for that perfect white holiday in the Swiss Alps. My only suggestion would be to choose a quieter time of the year if you really want to spend the maximum amount of hours on the slopes. •

www.doitnow.co.za | Adventure • 31

inH2O:

Words by Braam Malherbe Photos by Paul van Schalkwyk / Urban Brew

m k 0 6 7

tall old Oak Tree a der un air ch ing mp ca old an on g tin I'm sit I planted this tree at my cabin in the Cederberg Mountains. ides some much myself, around 30 years ago, and it prov ng 42°C heat. needed shade and relief from the swelteri and been the hardest challenge of my life, I recently retur ned from what must have ns. I ditio expe e ssibl impo and y craz d idere I am no stranger to difficult, often cons pleted eratures of below minus 50°C, and com temp at a, rctic Anta in ks wee six t spen first t’s Scot and n y celebration of Amundse a 760km race held for the centenar expedition to the South Pole.

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Being back in Africa is almost as unreal as it was to be there; the most hostile place on the planet that’s so cold and dry that not even bacteria can survive, and the surface of the up to 4000m thick ice sheet that covers the continent is literally sterile. It is not a place any sensible living being would elect to go to, let alone spend weeks travelling on foot, sleeping in a tent and pulling a 70kg sled. Yet this is exactly what my great friend Pete Van Kets and I did over our 2011/2012 Christmas and New Year holidays.

Besides that, I have always had a deep love and connection to our planet's last refuges of pristine wilderness, untouched and unaltered by our ugly human influence and exploitation. With Antarctica being the most remote and least populated continent on Earth, what better place to take a stand against our all-consuming greed and consequent environmental destruction?

We had been invited to be one of seven teams, from six nations, to represent our country at the Scott-Amundsen Centenary Race to the Pole; an unsupported race organised by Extreme World Races. The other three-man teams came from Norway, the United Kingdom (2), Ireland, Germany and Holland. Having teams of three was a safety requirement, but Peter and I just didn't have enough time to find a third person and were given special permission to enter as a two-man team. So despite the fact that neither of us had any cross-country skiing experience and had hardly spent a week in sub-zero temperatures in our entire lives, we couldn’t pass up this adventure.

Our preparations were haphazard and last minute.

Our 'training' consisted of a 10-day trip to Iceland with the race organisers and other teams, of which two days were spent indoors due to bad weather and then a few days of skiing across a prepared glacier piste in the French Alps.

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With both of us significantly older than the other contestants, and inarguably the least experienced in snow and ice, we christened our sleds after the Jamaican bobsleigh team's sled at the Olympics and hoped for the best. Besides the conviction and belief in our cause of highlighting the plight of the environment, our age and sense of humour were, it turned out, the two factors that worked in our favour in the weeks of stark, glaring, frozen whiteness that followed.

Landing at Novo Base in Antarctica, after emotional goodbyes at Cape Town International Airport and a sixhour flight in a windowless Russian cargo plane, was mind blowing. There truly still is a place on Earth that humans have not been able to conquer and subdue, where the elements are so forbidding that a few weeks in summer are the only times when planes are able to land and people can visit before it is once again plunged into months of otherworldly cold and perpetual darkness, and that has until now remained nationless.

We spent 10 days trying to acclimatize to the cold weather conditions and altitude on the Antarctic plateau before being flown to the start line of the race at 83 degrees.

Obviously this is some sort of a euphemism - who could ever expect two born and bred Africans to 'acclimatize' to a wind chill of minus 50°C? Shortly after the start, and only a few days into the race, we learnt that some of the other teams weren’t doing too well. Marc, a member of the British Team Green, had come down with a serious case of bilateral pneumonia and had to be emergency evacuated and airlifted back to Cape Town. Apparently it was so serious that he wouldn’t have lasted another hour if his teammate hadn’t called for help. This news didn’t exactly boost my confidence, as I was also suffering from cold- and altitude-induced bronchitis and subsequently lay awake for three consecutive nights coughing, vomiting and gasping for air. We heard that another team also had to give up due to acute health problems. At that point both of us hadn’t slept for two nights and it looked like the elements and exhaustion were getting the better of us. We were very worried and contemplated resting in our tents for a day.

Dying out here was a real threat in the back of our minds and doubts started eating away at our resolve. But then I remembered why I was actually here; it was not to visit and see this strange and unusual place, nor was it the adventure or to compete in this race to try and win and bolster my ego. I was here because of my passion for the Earth, which I have always considered to be a sort

34 • DO IT NOW June | July 2012

of living being, and the beauty and amazement I find in nature. Few people actually realise what we have done to our planet over the last few decades. One needs to step back and consider the whole; the impact we have made on a planetary scale. As a single species out of millions, maybe billions, which have shared the Earth with us over geological time, no life form since the first bacteria and plants has altered the chemistry and face of our common home quite as drastically and fast as we have. And not for the better either!

Great examples to illustrate this point are our ubiquitous plastic waste, vast expanses of which, visible from space, cover significant parts of all of the Earth’s oceans, and the ozone hole. I came across both of these even in Antarctica, the most remote place on the planet. It really does stare us in the face; yet we are still mostly blind to it. And that was the reason I went on this trip, as an ambassador not for our country, but for our planet and to publicise this race against time we, as a species, find ourselves in if we want to carry on inhabiting this world.

And so we carried on. We reached the South Pole after 24 days of icy, white hell, fighting sensory deprivation, thin air, frost bite and losing over 12kgs each. We went on to overstrike 1000 commemorative coins from the SA Mint at the South Pole, which will be auctioned off in Berlin later this year, depicting the Antarctic continent and serving as a warning and symbol for the fight against climate change and environmental destruction.

We ended up being the last of only three teams that completed the race, having aided the second British team in to reach the Pole after one of their members fainted from weakness, broke an arm and could not continue pulling his sled, a few days from the finish.

our ordeal reconfirmed one of my most deeply held beliefs; that the human spirit is capable of forcing the body to accomplish just about anything, despite pain, desperation and vanishingly small chances of success. But my guess is that this is exactly what we’ll need in the next few years and decades to win our global race against time; to survive, make good for our sins and leave behind a sustainable world for our successors. •

inH2O:

Words & Photos by Ricolette Von Wielligh

Paddling the Chobe

Opportunity strikes but once, they say. What is not said is that opportunity may come under disguise. We experienced this firsthand during our adventure cycling tour through central Africa.

My husband Hendrik and I were hungry for adventure and well geared up for our 15,000km cycling trip, which would take us through Namibia, east through the Caprivi region to Botswana, then north to Zambia, Malawi, Tanzania, Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya, Mozambique and Zimbabwe.

The first three weeks on the road were problem free and then we had a major setback: I was bitten on the leg by a venomous violin spider halfway through the Caprivi. It was painful, became badly swollen and went septic, and the doctor in Katima Mulilo advised me to keep my leg still for three weeks! We were downhearted and upset of course, but then opportunity knocked at our door.

After resting for two weeks in Katima Mulilo, we hiked to Livingstone. There we met two seasoned travellers, Simon and Phillip, Swiss brothers who, at that time, had cycled more than a whopping 18,000km through western and central Africa. Even though they had been through some hair-raising moments on their travels, including a tribal war, bomb explosion and Simon being run over by a car, they still hoped to experience the ultimate wildlife safari.

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Hendrik came up with the idea of paddling the Chobe River from Kasane to Ngoma in canoes, and Simon and Phillip became our co-adventurers on this unforgettable journey.

And so our Chobe paddling adventure began …

Day 1 We rented three canoes and set off on the Chobe River, which forms the boundary between Botswana and Namibia. Paddling without a permit is not allowed in the Botswanian waters of Chobe National Park, so we kept to the Namibian side, taking a detour around the main tourism waters. Due to a lack of communication on our side, our friends didn’t take their GPS with. We estimated the journey would take us about a day and a half to complete, but were never sure how far we had progressed, or how long it would still take us to reach Ngoma, at any one time during the journey. Not even the occasional fisherman could give us guidance.

Our first wildlife encounter was with a very large herd of Cape buffalo. The bird life in the reeds and on the banks was incredible and we witnessed a giant kingfisher slapping a freshly caught fish to pulp on a branch just two canoe lengths away from us. What a sighting! Hippos popped up every now and then, air exploding from their nostrils, and large numbers of tiny jellyfish drifted effortlessly in the water. We watched a herdsman crossing the river on a boat towards an island where his cattle were grazing amongst a herd of buffalo, and wondered how he intended to separate his cattle from the aggressive buffalos. He banked and patiently called out to his cattle. Although we were inquisitive to see how the situation would unfold, the river beckoned.

After almost half a day’s paddling we reached a dead end.

Somehow we had missed the turn off to the main stream, and with no GPS for guidance we had to paddle all the way back to look for the turn off, while fighting head-on winds.

We passed the island where the herdsman's cattle were feasting with their fellow bovines, but there was not a single cow to be seen amongst the buffalo now. Hunger pangs eventually led to us going onshore to enjoy lunch, not far from where a group of elephant bulls were grazing. At first it seemed like they hadn't notice us, but later they became inquisitive and walked towards us. With a burst of adrenalin and a dash of speed we packed up and got into our boats just as the bulls reached our lunch spot. They drank water only a few arm lengths away from us before moving off.

Just then a fisherman cruised by in his motorised boat and kindly pulled all three canoes towards the correct turn off to the main stream.

We paddled until the last sunrays coloured the air and water a rosy pink. All along the river small herds of elephant crossed over to Namibian ground to graze for the night (at that time Chobe National Park had received little rain and was very dry and over grazed). We camped on an elevated bank close to an elephant footpath and listened to the rumbles and vocalizations made by elephants somewhere in the dark. Later, a few village boys came to say hello and gave us fire wood, and early the next morning their friendly mother also came to introduce herself.

Day 2 The scenery was beautiful and fish eagles called around every second bend of the river. We watched fishermen on makoros pulling in their circular net, but the few fish in their net jumped out and escaped back into the river. They had caught nothing and we were disappointed for them. A little further along, we came across a herd of elephant so enormous it was almost beyond belief. A sea of elephant, as far as the eye could see, crossed the river ahead of us towards a large open plain to our right, so we beached the canoes on a sand bank to absorb every moment of this unique spectacle. They appeared totally relaxed, with some taking a dust bath, babies suckling and older sisters and cousins generously paying attention to younger ones. In their own leisurely time, they gradually disappeared over the horizon.

Back in the water we paddled through a section of very murky water infested with crocodiles. It was unnerving to see scaled backs gliding through the water just metres away from us. On the bank to our left, an elephant cow and her two calves walked down to a pool of water and indulged in a mud bath. A single black line on the side of the riverine proved to be hundreds of open-billed storks, and great herds of zebra and red lechwe foraged in the distance. A pod of nosy hippo followed us at a distance. Nothing in this area indicated that it had ever been defiled by human intervention; it was completely untouched, unspoilt, and it felt as if we were the first people ever to be there.

Reaching another dead end we paddled back through the croc infested waters to search for the main stream.

We followed a branch but hit another dead end, this one containing more than 50 hippos. We were well and truly lost, so Hendrik banked and walked towards higher ground to try and figure out which way to go. It turned out we were very close to the main stream, which meandered past the other side of the small hill. We decided to carry the boats over the hill instead of paddling all the way around and risk getting lost again. So the three valiant men carried the heavily loaded boats past a family of grazing elephants to the main stream. Amazingly we did not feel threatened by the elephants, in fact they minded their business and so did we.

Back in the main stream it was time to look for fresh fish and a good camping spot for the night. After finding an elevated spot with a good view, we bought some fish from a friendly fisherman and enjoyed a superb fish dinner before turning in. That night we heard lions roar across the river and hippos grunt in stereo.

Day 3 We were woken early by rumbles close by, which turned out to be an elephant family. A few of the youngsters were still lying down on their sides sleeping, but as the red sun rose over the African plains, the herd moved off while we enjoyed our breakfast. There was game everywhere, often in large numbers, and we were becoming almost blazĂŠ about all the animals we had seen so far. However, more than once that day we came across masses of vultures feasting on buffalo carcasses, the smell of decaying bodies hung

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thick in the air. By midday it was extremely hot and time for a good lunch, so we rested in an area of stretched out flood plains. Elephant, zebra and red lechwe were grazing in the distance and a hyena passed close by. Simon and Phillip cooked us the best fish ever before we settled down for an afternoon siesta, using the canoes, which were propped up by the paddles, for shade.

Refreshed, we continued on the river which was becoming shallower and narrower, and full of twists and turns. Along this section we saw such a big herd of impala that it looked like a red brick wall simmering on the plains. Later that afternoon we passed countless zebra grazing together. Some of the stallions were fighting, jumping up on hind quarters, pawing and biting each other. Then all of a sudden the herd would burst into motion, the drumming of hundreds of hooves resonating against the earth as they ran for short distances before settling once again. Shortly afterwards we saw an elephant cow, with very skew tusks, standing on an island in the river with her two calves. She was nervous about our presence and they quickly moved off.

We called it a day and camped on the opposite bank of the river. The night air brought sounds of animals crossing the river to our side. We thought it was hippo or maybe elephant, but the light from our JETBeam torches confirmed it was a herd of buffalo, which soon disappeared into the darkness like phantoms. In the early hours of the morning Simon was awakened to the sounds of a hippo grazing too close to his tent.

Day 4 It was another day filled with the most amazing game viewing, including a sighting of a martial eagle clamping an Egyptian goose to the ground with its huge talons. We also saw carmine bee-eaters, black-winged pratincoles, saddle-billed storks and ground hornbills. By now the river's water level was getting really low and the

wildlife less abundant. Sometimes we had to climb out of the canoes and drag them into deeper pools of water.

We reached Ngoma that evening and spent our last night camped on the banks of the Chobe River. Relieved that we had survived the journey without any major problems, but already longing to relive every moment of this incredible experience, we ate dinner in thoughtful silence. The next morning we caught a ride back to Kasane in a taxi, music pumping in our ears.

Paddling the Chobe was an unparalleled wildlife experience. For four days we witnessed what the Garden of Eden must have been like. On top of that, the people made the journey, which was tough and primitive by any standards.

Was it not for our new buddies, Simon and Phillip, who were so easy going, adaptable, tolerant and brave, it simply wouldn’t have been the same. These two Swiss brothers taught us how to enjoy Africa at its best. Thank you guys, you were just great! Our grateful thanks also go to our sponsors for helping to make this trip possible.•

DINfo box

i

To read more about Hendrik and Ricolette’s marathon cycling tour through central Africa visit www.cycleafrica.co.za. For more on Simon and Phillip’s cycling journey visit www.brotherscycling.com.

www.doitnow.co.za | Adventure • 39

inH2O:

Words by Adam Gray Photos by various photographers

C o sta

a c i R K ayak in g I boar ded a plan e in Mun ich that was destined for Costa Rica, only to arrive thre e days late r. To be hon est I didn’t care whe re I was, I was just happy to be don e with flyin g.

, has a lot to Apart from paddling, Costa Rica, which means 'Rich Coast' and peaceproud a are offer. Rich in Latin American culture, the people er I went I Wherev 1949. in back army loving nation, having abolished its elmed overwh ntly consta was and people smiling was greeted by happy, is a small it h Althoug you. help to were they willing and friendly by how from east to country in size, just 464km from north to south and 274km the world's of t percen four hosts that y west, it has an ecological diversit number of a and ranges in mounta ing stretch total biodiversity, long ean Sea, Caribb nt iridesce the find you'll east the To es. volcano active sts, rainfore l tropica find to west the Pacific Ocean and in-between you'll and Coffee lls. waterfa se turquoi and lush green valleys, clear rivers , especially farming form the backbone of its economy, along with tourism among the first and world, the in fifth ranked is country The rism. ecotou Index. Its ance Perform Americas, in terms of the 2012 Environmental today an and 1950s the as back far as environmental protection laws go mass. land 's country the of 20% s protect system extensive national park around is Costa Rica has a great public transport system, so getting the cities around and in car or bus by not a problem. However, travel winding narrow very the ally especi , raising hair often and little villages is recommend don't I which roads, d pothole foggy on up high , passes 200km travelling at night because it's scary and reckless, and a simple for saying one have Ricans Costa (The road trip can take four hours! ul beautif g Passin life.) pure means which vida', every situation, 'pura kayaking the a, Turrialb to headed I'm ions plantat coffee and sts rainfore nobody has capital. My plan is to meet other kayakers at the hotel, but localtypical small, a in meal a had I stepped forward. That evening it all when that's and h Spanis speaks ne Everyo rant). style soda (restau about this ng dreami been have I in. kicks reality and real very es becom Guatemala, trip for such a long time and having spent two years living in ing to the Return h.

Spanis my on up g I am looking forward to touchin from about heard I'd who s, Kuiper van Kees an hotel I met Dutchm Marland, Kylee with up met we d followe that days the In rs. paddle other Infantes, a Canadian kayaker, and a Spanish couple, Javier and Isabella ROI. who both paddle for Team ROC

40 • DO IT NOW June | July 2012

The next eight days were spent paddling together on a river that ranged from extremely terrifying to wow! The scenery always picturesque. In this part of Costa Rica the most popular rivers to kayak are the Rio Pacuare and Rio Reventation, both world renowned for excellent highvolume commercial rafting trips. Some easy class 2-3 paddling can be done on the Rio Pejibaye, so even if your are running class 4-5 rivers it's always good to paddle something more gentle and relaxing, just to have a day to enjoy your surrounds and let your mind rest.

We tackled the Rio Vereh, a tributary to the Rio Pacuare, which is a fully committed run that entails a mandatory eight-metre waterfall and many continuous grade 4-5 boulder gardens, all enclosed in dense jungle gorges. Next up was the Rio Orosi, a dinosaur boulder garden with tight runs and small eddies to make - it was seriously technical and hectic. We ran this twice and with its many, many siphons and undercuts, I'm still trying to figure out why once was not enough for us.

Paddler Adam Gray Photo Javier Infantes

www.doitnow.co.za | Adventure • 41

Adam Grey pointing at an iguana Photo Jennifer Goetz

Rio Pacuare - Adam Gray & Isabella Infantes Photo Javier Infantes

Rio Bueno Vista - Adam Gray Photo Javier Infantes Rio Bueno Vista - Javier Infantes Photo Adam Gray

The days that followed were spent paddling various other sections of these rivers, and the part that really sticks out in my mind was Rio Reventation. It had been raining for the past two days and we were worried that too much rain would mean no paddling. After speaking to a few locals and being told that it was a no go, as the river was too high, Kees, Javie and I decided to have a go at a 58km run, in seven hours.

Having paddled this section three days prior with less water I was feeling comfortable about the challenge ahead.

But we soon realised that all the rapids were pushed up a class due to all the rain. Throughout the morning we stopped often to take a breather. Already in the first hours of paddling I'd taken two serious spankings, my lifejacket barely able to contain the furious beating of my heart. As the section was so long we didn’t have time to scout, but we also weren't keen to see what lay ahead because it was so intimidating. Four hours later we finally arrived at our take out. The day had been trying, but that's exactly what I love about kayaking, what draws me to this sport. I am totally in the moment and nothing has my attention except the river.

A few days later we said goodbye to Kees, who was on his way south to Columbia. Having pretty much paddled all that was possible, it was time for us to move on too. Javier and Isabella had a rental 4x4, which meant there was no put in or take out we couldn't make. We packed up and headed south west to San Isidro de El General, a bustling metropolis that is the gateway to southern Costa Rica. It is the region’s largest town and a major agricultural and transportation hub, and boasts some beautiful architecture.

Although it is not on any of the tourist routes, it is home to the Rio General, a river known for its large, rolling rapids.

Here we met Fillipe Lopez, who runs a little rafting operation and has a wealth of knowledge on the area.

On our first day Fillipe took us to the upper reaches of Rio Buenavista, a section he hadn’t paddled before, but he knew of the two portages, a tricky 14km section and that it's steep and doesn't have many big eddies. The river was beautiful, framed by green rolling hills and steep gorge cliffs, which also made scouting difficult. Kylee, Javier and I enthusiastically took to water, but unfortunately Kylee's boat cracked and she had to walk out. This allowed Javier and I to pick up the pace, but a little further down we were forced to do a one-kilometre hike through dense jungle to scout around a blind corner. Unfortunately the scouting wasn’t worth the hike, but the paddling was well worth the effort. We eventually got off the water just before sunset, happy after such a rewarding run.

42 • DO IT NOW June | July 2012

Cuppachino monkey Photo Jennifer Goetz

Our next adventure took place on the Rio Chirripo Pacifico, a river that holds much respect amongst the Costa Rican kayaking community for its must-make lines, tight slots and big boofs. The water was quite high on our first day, so we paddled the lower section, enjoying the ride until we got to a rapid that's graded by the guide books as a grade 6. Unaware of what we were getting into, we took a line that ended in tears, a bent boat and a lost paddle and elbow guard. We were lucky considering what could have happened. That night we sat under clear skies contemplating risk vs. reward.

By the next morning the water levels had dropped and the upper section was good to go. With the previous day still fresh in our minds we cautiously entered the canyon and scouted a lot more this time. By the time we left the river that night, you couldn't wipe the smiles off Javier's or my face. Rio Chirripo Pacifico is a river I've wanted to paddle for a long time and the experience was everything I had dreamed of and more.

Many people have asked me why Costa Rica? For me as a paddler it's simple. Costa Rica has an incredibly exciting geography; south east of San Jose is a mountain range called Cordillera de Talamanca that splits the country from north to south, which means on the east and west sides there are run offs that produce an unbelievable network of rivers boasting endless whitewater runs. And being in the tropics, where rainfall is abundant, the rivers powerful and the scenery amazing, what more could a paddler want?

My time in Costa Rica was truly magnific ent, thanks largely to my fantastic sponsor s Fluid Kayaks, whitewatertrainin g.co.za and X-Kajaks Lofer. I was privilege d to have paddled some sections that have never been paddled before and seen some places that will only be seen by the few who paddle there. Pura vida Costa Rica! •

www.doitnow.co.za | Adventure • 43

Words by Kobus Bresler Photos by Kobus Bresler & Mark Jackson

www.shutterstock.com

inALTITUDE:

44 • DO IT NOW June | July 2012

Kili

Climbing “Great things are done when men and mountains meet.

This is not done by jostling in the street.” - William Blake

What makes a trip to Kilimanjaro so special and does the mountain still possess the same magic it did when Hans Meyer recorded the first summit in 1889?

I have summited Kili three times and while I cannot answer these questions as well as numerous other questions I hear like, “What is it really like?” or “My aunt said it was hard, but my cousin found it really easy. Which one is it?” and probably the most frequent question, “Should I be super fit?” to the hardest question, “Which operator should I choose?" - as every individual will have their own unique experience, I can share what I have learned. Keep in mind that this is my opinion and your chosen operator may agree or disagree, and your research may show otherwise.

One answer that remains uncontested is that Kilimanjaro is a magnificent mountain! As South African’s we are incredibly fortunate to have this majestic rock only a four-hour flight away from Johannesburg.

www.doitnow.co.za | Adventure • 45

The only way to really answer these questions is to DO IT yourself. But based on my experience what is important is that you prepare yourself through knowledge - and anyway, the research should be part of the fun. Preparation is more than just physical fitness. Mental preparation is an important aspect of getting ready for your experience too. But before I go any further, climbing Kili should be a trip you really want to do. Once you have made your decision, picture yourself standing on the Kibo crater rim looking down over Africa. Imagine the beauty of Africa at your feet as the sun rises to greet you. This being said, unfortunately not everyone makes it to the summit. But as any good mountaineer will tell you, it is more important to get back down safely than to summit. Get pumped as you are about to experience something that many people never will.

Here are a few things you shouldn’t do during your preparation: ❱❱ Change your whole diet and lifestyle, except if you want to. ❱❱ Wake up at 4am every morning for a run because you think you have to. ❱❱ Stress that you won’t be able to do it.

When you start your preparations it makes sense to consider what you will be attempting and how you will be doing it. You will be hiking every day, with some days being longer than others. You will carry a pack every day, and although it won’t be extremely heavy this may be a new experience to you. You will be on your feet going up and down, but mostly up. As you gain altitude your body will have to work just a little harder to achieve results. This means your heart will need to beat a little faster and harder.

If you take all of this into account it becomes easier to plan your preparation.

In terms of fitness, you don’t have to be super fit, but you will need to have a good level of fitness. The best way to train for a mountain bike race is to get on your bike and ride it. Similarly, the best way to prepare for long days on foot is to get out on the trails. Your feet will need to be prepared for the excursion as the terrain on Kilimanjaro is extremely diverse, the tougher parts mostly rocky and dusty. Get out on weekends leading up to your trip and go hiking. We have spectacular hiking routes all over so not only are you getting prepared, you are seeing the beauty of your own country too. Plan your hikes to become progressively longer and possibly even steeper.

In the process you will train the correct muscles, as well as get used to carrying a pack.

Many websites have training guides advising you to go for a daily run and do many other forms of training. If you have the time or the inclination then great, but who really has the time to suddenly change their whole routine these days? Schedule exercise that you enjoy and fits in with your current lifestyle. The important issue here is that you DO something to get fitter and be more prepared. Lying on the couch every day will not get you to the top.

46 • DO IT NOW June | July 2012

The real Kili challenge is altitude and unfortunately this is the only aspect you cannot truly prepare for. Our bodies handle the stress of depleted oxygen and low pressure differently and there is no way of knowing until you get there. However, a trip to the High Drakensberg will help as this takes you above an altitude of 3,000m on foot.

Medication is also available to help your body cope with altitude related problems, but most of these are only available on prescription. A visit to your doctor prior to departure is a must and you will feel much better after getting the nod from an educated professional. Always tell your mountain guide about any prescription and other medications you decide to use during your ascent.

Diarrhoea can be a problem and make your trip uncomfortable. Take the right medication with and keep your hands and face clean. Although there's enough drinking water en route, there are no real ablution facilities on the mountain. A small bottle of hand sanitizer will go a long way on a trip like this.

Having the correct equipment is an important aspect towards ensuring a pleasant trip. No one likes being cold and miserable, and I have yet to meet anyone who enjoys blisters on their feet. Kitting yourself out can be a costly exercise, but many operators have kit that you can rent.

Don't leave this to the last minute, shop around and get different opinions. Make sure you are comfortable with the kit you buy, as you will be wearing it. First on your shopping list should be the right boots and socks, so that you can wear the boots in during your preparation hikes.

There are a number of gear guides available, which means that there's no need for hasty decisions, rather make comparisons until you find what you like.

There are many other aspects that form part of your preparation, but I've touched on the most important ones.

What is more important than anything else is researching and booking your trip.

Pay a visit to Africa’s magic mountain and extend your list of war stories. You will be all the better for it. • Useful tips while preparing for Kilimanjaro: 1.

Use an operator with a good track record.

Ask for references.

2.

Pack enough batteries for your camera and head lamp.

3.

Pack sufficient energy bars and sweets for use between meals.

4.

Try out medication and water purification at home first to check for negative responses.

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Words by Amy Shaw, Professional Pilot, Skydiver & BASE Jumper | www.chickonthewing.wordpress.com Photos by various photographers

Photo by Alicia Hill

e c n e c i f Magni on the Faarr Side of Fe e would think that, at this On y. dr tle lit a is h ut mo My pounding beyond control, moment, my heart would be if, in the excitement of the as ls fee it ct, fa In t. no ’s it but ow of my body to watch the sh moment, it has taken leave barely perceptible internal a by ed ac pl re n bee s ha d an g from my toes, through my buzzing that I can feel movin s as if I can feel my atoms It' belly and to my finger tips. am that focused. bouncing off one another; I

Photo by Alicia Hill

I am a BASE jumper. Standing in my wingsuit on the edge of Mount Lake Brento, a 1500 metre overhanging precipice at the edge of Italy’s too (that g breathin still was I if king breathta be would view the Garda, aware hyper am I seems to be AWOL). Amidst an eerie internal calm, ng of other odd things - the gentle gust in a treetop, pebbles crumbli behind GoPro a of bleep the cliff, the down under my feet and skipping still me being switched to record ... I take a deep breath (ah yes, it’s s jumper' BASE the there), run through my mental checklist and say .” camera on up this mess prayer: “Please Lord ... don’t let me close BASE jumpers are a strange crowd. Playing a game excruciatingly glance first at ty, to the edge of the perceived envelope of human capabili h life this comically eccentric community of travellers seem to approac d profoun the belies which , humour ironic in line with a happy-go-lucky aydevil-m the by fooled be not do But s. demand sport the ction introspe care exterior, none of us needs reminding of the potential consequences is of jumping. Life in the tight-knit community of hyper-extreme sports lost not have who jumpers BASE few are there for a regular reminder, so friends along the way. You might ask, “To what end?” With the stakes n. questio this high, every jumper knows his personal answer to to the BASE jumping involves leaping from any object that is attached te parachu ned y-desig speciall a ng deployi and planet the of surface '70s the to back dates to save your life. It grew out of skydiving and was when a few bold jumpers decided that jumping from airplanes , Antenna , Building for acronym an is 'BASE' term not enough. The from jumped have you once that being idea The Earth. and Span of the all four of these objects, you can apply to become a member . number BASE tial sequen your exclusive international club and receive many are there but 1700, h approac now s number Worldwide BASE jumps more jumpers who have acquired hundreds or thousands of into evolved has sport but have never registered for their number. The jumpers ist Special box. e figurativ a so much more than merely ticking awe showcase human skill with beautiful aerials, exits from remote and other and ts wingsui of ment develop the with and, s location inspiring performance enhancing apparel, wonderfully technical lines of flight. in I started skydiving in 2002, at the age of 16, and learnt to BASE jump done and world the touring f d-a-hal year-an last the spent have I 2010. s, more than 200 BASE jumps from unique sites in over 15 countrie I 2011 er Novemb In Spain. and USA including Russia, Switzerland, display tower KL Menara the in ate particip to a was invited to Malaysi the jump where, over a period of five days, 80 jumpers from around tall tre 300-me the from world together performed around 900 jumps building!

Photo by Simon Shaw

To be involved in such a young sport is thrilling.

One gets to witness awe inspiring advancements in human capability firsthand and, in a small and humble way, feel a part of this exquisite process of exploration.

Where some might call a person crazy, we see a human being pushing the boundaries of what was once believed impossible.

BASE jumps vary in height from anything around 30 to many thousands of metres. We utilise a specialised parachute system designed to open faster and at a much lower height than standard skydiving parachutes. The parachute is rectangular in shape and designed to allow one to steer to the desired landing area and (provided one possesses the appropriate level of mad ninja skill) slow the parachute down for a graceful, soft landing. There is no reserve parachute in BASE as the low deployment height on most jumps simply means there is no time to open a second parachute. Needless to say we are ultra meticulous in our packing methods and gear preparation! BASE canopies also have many intricate design features to offer an 'escape route' from the more common parachute malfunctions. 

www.doitnow.co.za | Adventure • 49

Photo by Simon Shaw

While BASE might seem a dangerous stunt to those who have not been exposed to it, the process is far more calculated than the movies will have you believe. Rigorous training, meticulous parachute maintenance and packing methods, careful analysis of each obstacle and its associated hazards, and assessment of environmental and meteorological factors are all steps taken to mitigate the risks and ensure a safe jump.

Each jump site is unique and requires rigorous preparation and often epic hiking and climbing expeditions to reach the exit!

The challenge of the physical and mental preparation is as much a part of the experience as the jump itself.

BASE jumpers are not a mutant strain of fear-tolerant humans.

We feel fear like everyone else when we stand at the edge. So why do we jump?

Some do it for the adrenalin kick, others in rebellion against the organised safety of society. For me it is the satisfaction of self mastery. The challenge is entirely psychological. The wonderful thing about an unregulated sport is that the experience is totally personal. There is no one yelling at you to jump, and in that final moment it is just you. You push yourself beyond what your animal instincts believe is possible, and this adventure of self exploration is more addictive than any shallow adrenalin fix, for it extends beyond the jump - it is an ethic, an approach toward life. I believe that maintaining a curious and creative mind in the face of any obstacle is the key to survival. And I’m not just talking about BASE jumping!

So as I stare towards the far horizon of the Italian countryside, I know I am ready. The tools are at my disposal, all I need do is maintain the presence of mind to access them. I close my fingers around the grippers of the wingsuit, exhale slowly and step off the edge.

50 • DO IT NOW June | July 2012

The first three seconds are intimate. The air is silent.

There is no swooping sensation in my stomach. I can feel the wings of my suit inflating, the air speeding up around me. One-hundred-and-nine years of human ingenuity catches up and I am not falling into the unknown, but rather flying through the boundaries of humanity’s perceptions. The noise of the wind is like a roaring train now, my wings sensitive, acute. The speed makes my eyes water beneath my goggles.

In freefall, BASE jumpers reach vertical speeds of 180km/h. Wingsuits and specialised apparel allow us to slow this down to around 60km/h whilst accelerating forward speed to 120km/h or more. It is the purest form of human flight, where every contraction of a muscle is a control surface. There is no fly-by-wire here, it is all me and I am powerful.

I deploy my parachute and watch the canopy blossom safely over my head. Ah yes, my heart, not interested in standing by and watching from the edge, leapt right in from the word 'go' and is now pounding like a freight train in my chest! I can feel it in my toes, in my temples, and blood, energy and LIFE is flowing through every cell of this spectacularly adaptable phenomenon that is the human species. I am here, in this moment and I am so very alive. •

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part 1

inALTITUDE:

52 • DO IT NOW June | July 2012

Photo by Bruno Brokken

www.doitnow.co.za | Adventure • 53

It's early March, approximately 15h00, and I'm looking out a transit restaurant onto one of the loading aprons at Frankfurt AM. Tim and I have been sitting for some hours whiling away the time between flights en route from Podgorica to Johannesburg. We’ve spent the last couple

of weeks preparing for and competing in the World Para-Ski Championships in Serbia and Montenegro.

We did pretty well there, better than hoped and are feeling satisfied. There’s a short silence as we watch the world outside. It's the kind of silence that signals it's time for a change in topic.

Something that’s been running through my head for a few months pops into mind and I ask, “Hey, Tim, how does one get onto those world record big-ways?” With a grin he replies; “Well, you could talk to me mate.”

Over the next eight-odd months and under Tim’s guidance, I am dispatched to various corners of the globe to meet and train with the organisers and selectors of the World Team in an endeavour to gain the skills to be considered for an invite to the upcoming 400-person FAI world record attempt. Although I have many years of skydiving and competition experience, this is a whole new kettle of fish and I have little time to make up a lot of ground.

I put in the time (and money), do the work and am very fortunate to receive an invitation to apply given my low level of specific experience. I submit my application and hold my breath – for four weeks. Early November the news comes in: I have cracked the nod and am allocated to the Francophone-dominated ‘Sector 3’ of the World Team. I presume this has something to do with my French surname and nothing at all to do with my French fluency – which is nonexistent.

54 • DO IT NOW June | July 2012

Two-and-a-half months later on 24 January Pete Lawson (one of the other four South Africans selected) and I meet at Johannesburg Airport around 10h30 where the normal chaos ensues. We’re both over the baggage limit and it takes some negotiation to avoid penalty fees. That done, I run back out of the building to the ‘Drop Off’ to meet a bank agent to sign some documents before I leave. He’s waiting and I sit on his back seat in the rain doing paperwork. Full marks to my bank.

It's 22h00 in Bahrain Airport and we're being stung 4 USD per beer. Sitting not far from us is what we figure to be a large group of pilgrims returning home from Haj. Some bug has overwhelmed the entire party as they cough and splutter like WW1 troopers in a yellow fog. Pete and I ensure that we don’t get anywhere close for fear of picking up the plague before the games have even begun and look forward to their flight being called as soon as possible.

An hour later we’re in a Gulf Air, seated in row 23A and C for the next eight-hour leg of the journey. As it turns out, the cough-squad have also taken their seats in our cabin; the ringleader right behind us in 24A. Before he’s even connected his seat belt Pete has his complimentary sleep-mask strapped over his mouth and looks like a cast member of ER. Our flying TB clinic takes off for Bangkok. I pop a couple of sleeping pills, kit up with earplugs, air pillow and the ER mask trick and sleep for the next six hours in a complete upright position. There’s no way we’re taking the chance of leaning back our seats as it sounds like the Grim Reaper may be just behind.

The core base leaving the plane.

Photo by Willy Bouykens

Bangkok. Wow! A huge city that seemingly never ends and is hectic, with a capital ‘HEC’ and ‘TIC’. Yet for all its pace and perpetual motion, the drivers are amazingly calm and it's rare to hear a vehicle horn. We arrive at the classy Windsor Suite Hotel somewhere in the middle of the smoggy haze, check in, shower and hit the street bar just opposite the hotel, ‘The 19th Hole’.

In short the next two-and-a-half days are spent at The 19th or similar, meeting more and more of the ever-gathering team as they arrive from every corner of the world and at every hour of the day and night, and trying out the wares and sights of the city.

During this time we need to get officially registered. I join the queue and prior to any introductions I make some small talk with the guy behind me, an American. After a few minutes I ask him if he’s been to any previous World Team events and realise that I’ve made something of an error as I see him immediately start, but quickly recover. A little while later we swop names and I immediately recognise his; Rusty Vest, renowned skydiver, WT veteran and architect of the brilliant formation break-off plan. Oh well, I’ve become used to the taste of my own feet over the years and I'll earn a few beers with the story later in more familiar company. At registration we receive so many handouts I wonder why I bothered packing anything other than a parachute and jocks.

The socialising of the first few days has helped people to acclimatise, sleep off their jet lag, meet each other and appease the universal skydiver instinct to party a little, thereby releasing some energy before we begin the serious work. Smart organisation.

Early morning on day four sees all 552 registered participants, support staff and entourage flown by a Royal Thai Air Force Airbus to the northern town of Udon Thani, just a few kilometres south of the Laos border. The aviation facilities are impressive. Originally established by the USA as a base to support the Vietnam effort, it's now a joint AFB and international airport. Our 25-odd tonnes of baggage and gear travels by truck.

At Udon the team is split between two hotels that are about 500m apart on one of the main roads. In-between lies a number of restaurants, many shops and a few bars, including ‘Mr Tong’s’. Most of these businesses have been informed of our arrival and a few have strung up large banners to welcome the ‘Skydrivers’ to the province. Within days the price of beers at Mr Tong’s climbs from 35 to 80 Baht (R6 – R13), but that doesn’t slow down the ‘drivers’ for even a moment and Mr Tong surely has the best business year of his life during those two weeks. In Udon the entire squad is treated like royalty – transported in convoys of military busses accompanied by wailing police escorts, constantly being hosted by dignitaries of the town and province and entertained by fantastic cultural shows and festivals. At the Drop Zone thousands of wonderful school kids visited us, enthralled by all the action.

Tim and I check into our room on the fourth floor and decide to sleep with the windows open rather than with the air conditioner on. This proves to be a tactical error and one never to be repeated again as he (more than I) was nearly casevac’d right out of the room by several squadrons of mosquitoes.

Work begins. Hours of briefings on dive strategy, mechanics, high altitude procedures, oxygen breathing and more. For me, as one of about 150 rookies to the event, this is all soaked up word by word, the veterans mostly appear bored and more than a few Singha bottles are emptied.

www.doitnow.co.za | Adventure • 55

Photo by Willy Bouykens

Initially we were split into sets of just over 100, a few days later into approximately 220 and finally on day four the 400-ways begin. All in all, over the duration of the event my group, the base, makes a total of 22 training and attempt jumps before we set the record on the 23rd – totalling almost 50 minutes of freefall.

Our first training jump is from the ‘low’ altitude of 21 000’ AGL (above ground level, the system that skydivers use – as opposed to pilots that refer to ASL, above sea level), exiting the ramp of a C-130 at around 260km/h, on a mere 105-way (about three times my previous largest ever), with about four videographers to record every movement we make. I wasn’t juiced at all. We'd practised the dive many, many times, in full gear under the bright sun and, because we’re still learning the rhythm of the meet, were instructed to get ready to board and then stood down about three times. This cocktail of activity and minor confusion, a dash of adrenalin, possibly spiced by just a tiny little hangover, results in me finally walking to the plane without realising I’ve left my rig behind. We’re a quarter of the way there before someone tentatively asks me if I’m aware of my state of undress. The big thing at this meet, as Tim has told me many times, is to be unnoticed; to be ‘grey’. Note to self: walking to aircraft without a rig is not grey! My first and last mistake.

Although officially a member of Sector 3, the predominantly French, Swiss and Belgian contingent captained by Patrick Passe, given my specific slot in the formation we’re making I operationally fall within the ‘base’ team, under Craig Girard and Tony Domenico. Thus I find myself under the tutelage of the three of skydiving’s most famous names.

The base of a skydive is the foundation anchor upon which all other skydivers dock. Our job is to have 72 people falling flat and solid at a consistent rate so that the target for the other 328 is predictable and shock proof. It takes us about 12 practise jumps to get that right, with a number of substitutions along the way for health, injury and performance reasons. Our unit has by far the most practise jumps given the key necessity of the foundation we are to present, and we find ourselves under much more scrutiny by ‘management’ than I’d expected. As the days move by, I acquire a sense of life in the late 18th century Paris – heads rolling everywhere.

One morning we’re marched out to the practise slab in full gear (again) and made to lie on the baking concrete in our exact positions while photos are taken. I presume that this is for our benefit so that we can have some teamy-type photos to take home. Not quite. I learn a few hours later that it was a requirement for the video review teams to match theoretical perfection to actual performance when they are assessing our work. I begin to develop a small twitch.

56 • DO IT NOW June | July 2012

Over the next few days there are many moments of wonderful excitement and accomplishment, a few of high anxiety and one in particular of near panic. But steadily there’s a growth in confidence, determination and esprit de corps – and the formations.

8 February - We have two days left (weather dependant), which means six jumps at most. The stakes are high but we’re feeling good. The entire Alpha team is deployed into the formation now and the guillotine has been rolled away.

This is the team that must cross the line.

10h00 - We do the largest jump in world history – 376. A Guinness record, but not an official FAI one. We prep for the next dive scheduled for midday. Around 12h30 we take-off and there’s a real buzz in the team, I feel the potential for success is now the best ever. The dive is brilliant, by far the smoothest we’ve done and the base feels like a granite slab. In my field of vision I see no movement at all. Tony delays the first pull by about five seconds, using up all the discretionary safety margin – this must mean he and Craig are managing things so that we can clinch the record. I think we have it! And when we land, it appears so does most everyone else. But Patrick is concerned. On the ‘zap wagon’ that collects us from a distant landing, he’s not sure if Sector 3 had closed its last line – some trouble on the peripherals of French paradise … Judges and video analysts do their job and an hour later we’re told that we’ve achieved a 399 way. Unbelievable!

In fact, as it turns out, the last grip onto the formation was taken exactly as Tony’s hand moved off one of his two grips to begin the pull sequence, so in a manner of speaking we clocked a 399.5. Yet another Guinness record. But we didn’t come for Guinness; we came for Singha and a 400 way! Up we go again.

Follow the second part of my story in the next issue where we go all out to achieve our goal of a 400 way. •

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NOW 58 • DO IT NOW June | July 2012

www.doitnow.co.za | Sport • 59 Rust de Winter

// inTRODUCING: The Long Road to London * South Africans Shine at Nunavik Adventure Challenge International * Bray ... waar’s dit? * Scooter 101 - Scoots Go Extreme // inACTION: Sizzling Action at WOMZA Full Throttle MX Nationals * Mountain Bike World Cup * Kinetic Adventure Series * Lesotho Wildrun - King of the Mountain // inPREPARATION: Thin Air, Big Sky, Snow and Ice – A Breathtaking Trail Run * Grootvadersbosch: A Magical Run * River Rumble - Don’t Hibernate, Activate! // inSHAPE: Preventing Paddling Shoulder Injuries * Power Training with Explosive Results

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Sport

BurrY puSHeS oN WHIle THe reST oF THe TeamS geT SWalloWeD BY THe HeaT & TougH TerraIN oN STage 1.

AN EPIC RACE TO VICTORY BURRY’S WINNING SUPPlEMENT STACk

BURRY’S INSIDE STORY ON AN EPIC JOURNEY - STAGE BY STAGE.

What a week. I hardly know where to start. After a successful World Cup I flew down to Cape Town to start my prep for this year’s Cape Epic. We had a solid week of training and resting in Stellenbosch before heading to Meerendal for the start of the race that Sunday. prologue

27 km

The prologue has always been a stage we aim to win and this year was no different. Christoph and I were super motivated and went hard from the gun on the 27km course.

I didn’t have the best legs and had to let Suzie do most of the pacing. In the end we won, but only 14 seconds separated us from 2nd place.

We did, however, go into the rest of the week with confidence.

STage 1

115 km

Stage 1 is always super hard as the route is traditionally a big tester and the field is still fresh and looking to make a hard effort at the front. We rode near the front for the first half of the race and then the teams around us got swallowed by the heat and tough terrain. With 45km to go, we were alone and stretching a good gap and in the end we won by a few minutes.

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STage 2

119 km

This stage was an easier day after the first two days as it was quite fast and flat over the first half and had minor rough steepish climbs near the end. We made the pace hard there and got away from a small group to the finish. Then we had a hard sprint for the win and came home safely in 3rd. But importantly losing no time on the overall gc.

STage 3

147 km

This was the longest day ever in the Cape epic and had a massive amount of climbing spread over 4 peaks. on the 3rd climb around 70km to go, Team 360life attacked in the feed zone and Suzie had to work hard to come across the gap.

From there on we shared the work with them until the last climbs where Suzie put the hammer down and eventually rode away.

This was the longest day ever in the Cape Epic and had a massive amount of climbing spread over 4 peaks.

I was eager for the sprint and managed to stay ahead of the other team to take the win.

STage 4

124 km

This was a much underrated stage in the race booklet. after the big day before, the legs were

also rather tender. We climbed up to the famous Charlies Heaven peak and then faced a tough 30km stretch in a strong headwind home. at the front we were joined by multivan merida and 360life for the last 30km. everyone paced really hard and we had stretched a good gap to the riders behind us. With 5km to go we attacked hard leaving both 360life and merida behind.

The end of the stage saw us riding some sweet single track through the Caledon Botanical gardens which was a real treat.

STage 5

115 km

Wet, wet, wet. The only real way to describe this stage between Caledon and oak Valley.

The stage started pretty fast along winding jeep track and open gravel roads before we got to Botrivier and the road started pointing skywards regularly. The main element of the stage though was the weather. over the last few km’s it became very cold again and here Suzie attacked yet again. With 15km to go only the team of Bulls 2 remained at the front with us and we eventually out sprinted them for the stage. Now tied with our most stage wins in an epic and a time gap of around 27 minutes to the second team on gC. STage 6

85 km

It might only have been 85km, but it was hard and had the most amazing terrain. We decided to have an easier day and team 360life capitalized by taking the win. We followed a few minutes behind and it was a stage which I really enjoyed. The views and single tracks on this stage put a smile back on everyone’s faces.

BurrY & SuZIe ouTSprINTINg BullS 2, TakINg STage 5.

Epic prO ALL-in-OnE

uLtrA EnDurAncE EnErGy & rEcOVEry fOrMuLA Nothing comes close to Epic Pro. I virtually live on it during and after I ride and train for marathon or stage races. It is my all-in-one endurance fuel for optimal performance and complete body recovery.

BcAA VitArGO

VOOMA GEL

intrA-WOrKOut StAMinA & EnErGy cOMpLEX My muscle strength and stamina booster for higher impact, shorter races and the first halve of marathon or stage races (first bottle)

VO2 MAX

EnErGy & ELEctrOLytE tOp up GEL My energy top up fuel when I’m in full race mode or hard training sessions. It’s easy to use and works instantly when I feel my energy levels are running low.

pHOSpHAtE LOADinG AnD OXyGEn trAnSpOrt I always start loading with VO2 Max 3 days before a race to ensure optimal phosphate levels for maximum muscle output.

ormance while “It’s all about the right preparation, maintaining your perf ” racing and effective recovery to remain in top condition y Stander Burr

STage 7

64 km

The grand finale sees the riders head from oak Valley to lourensford via the Sir lowry’s pass and the famous "Wagon trail" that lies there. after an easier day on the previous stage we attacked the stage from the gun, setting a hard pace at the start. our goal was to defend our big lead by heading into the last 30km at the front of the bunch, however our pace was good enough to win the Telkom hot spot and head into the last 30km with a good lead. We didn’t want to just give it away and kept our heads down to try and secure the stage. This was quite a challenge as we wanted to stay cautious on the rough stuff. luckily we could keep opening the gap on the climbs and held on to take our 6th stage win on the fields at lourensford in front of an electrifying crowd!!!

www.usn.co.za

usn sa

my daily supplements used throughout the race were BCAA Vitargo and Epic Pro in the bottles 3-5 Harvest Bars, 1x Vooma Gel, 5 x Cyto Gels and 4 x tablets of VO2Max. It was an awesome week in which we had a great time. The team pulled together and we delivered. Thanks to all our sponsors and supporters who make racing possible for us. Thanks also to Suzie for a great 8 days!

I now go home for a few days before heading to Belgium for the next World Cup.

Ciao Burry

@usnsa

Sport

www.doitnow.co.za | 6.25 on•SaBC 613 as seen on Weekdays

inTRODUCING:

Words by Pietie Coetzee, Professional Hockey Player Photos Asfar Beg

The Long Road to London The build-up to the South African Women’s team qualifying for the Olympic Games began 22 months ago, when our head coach Giles Bonnet was appointed. Since then it has been a long, anxious and exciting road to where we are now.

Over 100 Test matches have been played and there are another 18 to go before we come home for a few days in mid-July, ahead of departing for London with the rest of South Africa’s Olympic Games athletes on 19 July.

Then it’s setting up base in the Olympic village and training for about a week before the Olympic Games’ hockey matches start on 29 July. We will know by around 12 August where we end up, but a top-eight finish is definitely possible.

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It’s been a huge sacrifice for the players, who have had to give up, or put on hold, so much to achieve this goal of qualifying for London 2012. First there was the preparation that began what seems like ages ago and then there was the setback of the official Olympic Games qualification path for us; winning the Africa Qualifier Tournament and not being accepted by our Olympic governing body, the SA Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC), who felt that qualifying in Africa was too easy.

Apart from winning the Africa tournament, SASCOC had said that we also needed to reach the final of the Champions Challenge tournament in Dublin, Ireland last June. We were unbeaten, scored the most goals and beat the eventual winners, Japan, 5-1 in a Pool A match, but lost out on an experimental rule that forced us to play a quarter-final instead of going straight into

the semi-finals as the winners of Pool A. We lost to Spain on an extra-time golden goal. I broke the world goal scoring record in Dublin and while it was great to share this achievement with the team, the highlight of my hockey career, it was bitter-sweet in that we didn’t achieve the criteria SASCOC had given us.

It would have been very unfair for us to lose out on going to London 2012, having fulfilled the International Hockey Federation (FIH) and International Olympic Committee (IOC) criteria, but not SASCOC’s. Eventually we were given a lifeline when the FIH, the IOC and SASCOC gave us the opportunity to play in another Olympic Qualifier tournament in Delhi, India. Again we were unbeaten, and this time we made absolutely certain of qualifying for London when we beat India in the final. I cannot describe the excitement and sheer relief the girls felt. I had missed two preliminary round matches due to a viral infection, yet my teammates and strike partners stepped up and got the job done. Everyone in the team plays for each other, it’s like a family, and the team spirit is amazing.

I am currently playing at Pinoké, a Hoofdklasse club team in Amsterdam, Holland, and in really good shape.

I have increased my training and found a personal coach who helps with my explosive ability. I also make the most of Amsterdam’s incredible forests and parks by running almost every day. London 2012 will be my third Olympics and when it is over, I will complete my studies in emergency medical care at the University of Johannesburg – I’m in my fourth year – and take hockey coaching clinics at schools.

As far as our chances at this Olympics are concerned and looking at where we’re at, currently ranked 12th in the world, I think we have a good shot at eighth position. We’re not going to go for anything less than that. Around a dozen of us have already been to an Olympics before; for some of us it’s going to be our third Olympics, so we understand the distractions that are always present at an Olympic Games. Our collective experience will be valuable for the team as a whole.

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Although it is not what we would have chosen, the mentally and physically draining qualification process and then the massive pressure to win in Delhi has matured the group. Add to that the superb programme Giles has developed leading up to London over the next few months and attention to detail that can make the difference between success and failure, there is no reason why we should not feel confident in ourselves.

What I find really exciting is that each player, striving for a place in the Olympic team, is doing her absolute best to add extra value to the team through continual improvement in every aspect of their game. It’s really healthy for the group and I believe it will give us the capacity to perform when the pressure is on.

A massive amount of thought and effort from so many people has gone into our Olympic campaign; our Investec sponsorship has given us the means to make things happen, the SA Hockey Association has been behind us all the way, the amazing support we have had from the public back home, the dedication of the players, Giles’s fantastic support staff and specialist coaches and building up self-belief through spending so much time together in training, playing matches and on tour; these are the ingredients that make for a successful team that all South Africans can be proud of. •

CAMELBAK PRODUCTS ARE DISTRIBUTED IN SOUTHERN AFRICA BY Cape Cycle Systems (Pty) Ltd www.capecycles.co.za www.doitnow.co.za | Sport • 65

inTRODUCING:

Words by Hugo du Plessis & Juan Botes Photos by Pauline Decroix & Guillaume Pelletier

South Africans

at Nunavik Adventure Challe It all started with a call from my friend Hugo,, “Check your email – you will not believe it!” I did as ordered and at first did not understANd one word of it. Only after reading the email three times did I realise that Hugo and I had been invited to the first Nunavik Adventure Challenge International, to take place near the village of Kangiqsualujjuaq, in Canada, from 25 to 28 March. I couldn't contain myself and as for Hugo, whose normal state is close to exploding, it was closer to lift-off. Then reality sank in and we started scrambling for sponsors and kit, as nothing we had would be remotely sufficient for the -25 degrees conditions we were about to face. Luckily Cape Union Mart and SpecSavers came to our rescue and supplied us with some awesome kit. However, we soon realised that we would still have to buy most of what we needed in Canada, where the clothing was more suited to the extreme weather conditions.

I have some snow experience (snowboarding and a little bit of skiing), while Hugo has none. No problem, our fitness would just have to make up for the technical skills we were lacking. As our departure date drew closer we tried to fit in as much training as possible, including the Argus.

However, the day before the Argus disaster struck. Hugo's appendix had become infected and he was unable to race.

He had emergency key-hole surgery, thus preventing any cuts through his abdominal muscles, and according to the doctor he would be race ready within eight days!

We met up at OR Tambo Airport on 20 March, ready for our great trek north. Hugo told me about his first skiing lesson on a dry-slope and how knackered he was after 90 minutes - the race brief states there's around six to eight hours of skiing each day, for three days! Finally we boarded and our marathon flight began with eight hours to Heathrow, seven hours to Toronto and then four hours to Montreal. We would only depart for Nunavik, a six-hour flight, two days later. We stayed in a small hotel in downtown Montreal and used the time to purchase the remaining equipment needed. Top of the list was sleeping bags to keep us as cozy as one can be in the freezing temperatures.

66 • DO IT NOW June | July 2012

On the day of departure to the village of Kangiqsualujjuaq (try to pronounce it without swearing) we met up with our international competitors, and this was when the real shock kicked in. They were all sponsored by renowned arctic gear suppliers and talking about skins and racing ski lengths (all foreign to us at the time). The jackets they wore made them look like Michelin tyre men, whereas ours looked like we were on our way to a windy Port Elizabeth. Nevertheless, being South African and with our sunny personalities we soon made lots of friends, and hoped they would feel sorry for us and therefore underestimate our chances. After 'weighing in' and completing the medical questionnaire we were on our way and there was no turning back.

When we landed at Kangiqsualujjuaq, Hugo and I couldn’t wait to get out of the plane as we'd had enough of flying and the snow beckoned. Racing out, we were almost knocked backwards when the cold hit us like a physical blow in the face. We were way out of our comfort zone and needed to adapt fast! The locals welcomed us and some of them made their concern known that we were not adequately dressed for these conditions. I think this made an impression as Pablo and Luca from the Italian team, who became our best friends during the adventure race, lent each of us a brand new set of proper arctic gloves; you can't believe the difference they made! We were then transported to our hotel, some of us by car - lucky me - and some by open sled towed by a snowmobile - unlucky Hugo!

That evening, the community welcomed us with a wonderful show of traditional dancing and drums at their community centre. We also received our race numbers and the good news that an instructor would go through the finer points of cross-country skiing and show us what a skin is and how it is used, the following day.

On the morning of the Prologue we had our first skiing lesson from Jediet. Wobbly posture, sweating forehead and nervous smiles. Relax! After the lesson we were skiing and feeling comfortable (more or less). The Prologue was tremendous fun and with almost the entire village taking part, the mass start was quite a sight. We started off with skis, but after the first six kilometres we were burning so much energy that we decided to try out the snow shoes. It was 'love at first sight'! Suddenly we could move forward without feeling like we were exerting two hours of energy for every 15 minutes of gain. After the day's racing we were a lot more confident and would rather finish the race in last position than not at all.

icans Shine

enge International

www.doitnow.co.za | Sport • 67

Hugo du Plessis & Juan Botes

Main Race ❱❱Day 1

As we left the village the more experienced teams started moving away from us and we were totally on our own for long stretches. Finding ourselves alone made the great open spaces expand in our field of vision and concentration lapses happened often. Sometimes the sound of our walking sticks sounded like bear growls and we found ourselves looking around often. Moving along at a steady pace we crossed ice-blue lakes and steep, tough, snowcovered terrain and experienced a small blizzard that limited our view for parts of the route. The second last checkpoint of the day included a 150m abseil that proved all the more challenging in deep, soft, powder snow that obscured the rock face in certain places. We completed the first race day and were placed in a good position, as some teams had missed checkpoints and another team went astray – fortunately good communication and race control brought them back safely. The night we ate Batik (it's like flattened pizza with raisins) served with warm tea and slept in a traditional Inuit tent, with a warm stove and real caribou fur covering the cold floor.

❱❱Day 2

With our biltong sticks as race food, we were motivated to complete the race and started off well. The terrain was getting more challenging, but we felt strong throughout the day. We almost did an additional (cancelled) checkpoint, which the organisers had informed most of the racers about but not us. A marshal was sent out to rectify this, and it turns out that we were the only team to have read the instructions correctly. A polar bear was spotted, with the help of a village elder, and great video clips were made of this special moment.

The finish was an emotional experience for us as we carried the South African flag over the line. Completing the race has given us a real understanding of the immenseness of this race and conditions we had just overcome.

Says Hugo, "This is a race of dreams and taking it slow makes it ALL the more memorable, with time to stop for some photos and video clips."

Prize-giving was a huge celebration and we were treated to all things traditional; dances, food, clothing and speeches!

As South African representatives, we had the opportunity to present a gift, a beautiful carving with the Big 5, to the village elder, to thank the people of Kangiqsualujjuaq for their incredible support and friendship, which had surpassed our expectations and left us with a warm feeling of acceptance from the region.

68 • DO IT NOW June | July 2012

Says Juan, "The organisers, village folk, international racers and the experience as a whole made me feel so proud to be part of this race. It was hard to say good bye to all the great friends we made, and I hope to be part of this amazing race in the future."

This race would not have been possible without the involvement of a number of people, so thank you to the event organisers for inviting us; our South African sponsors Cape Union Mart, SpecSavers and Spidertech for helping us out with gear and equipment on such short notice; the people of Kangiqsualujjuaq for their warm hospitality; the racers for their friendship; and our families for their unwavering support. Well done to the race

organisers, Endurance Aventure for making this such an unforgettable experience! •

DINfo box

i

Overview: ❱❱ 3-day stage race with a Prologue on Day 1 ❱❱ Teams of 2 (Mixed, Men, Women) ❱❱ Pros and amateurs compete on the same race course ❱❱ 10 selected teams plus more than 50 young people racing in the Prologue Disciplines: • Backcountry cross-country skiing • Winter trail running • Snowshoeing • Ropes and mountaineering • Orienteering • Backcountry snowboarding The teams: 1 Spin Sports et Plein Air (Canada) 2 Out There (USA) 3 Endurance-Mag (France) 4 Pedini-Iret (Italy) 5 Salomon Bobkittens (Canada) 6 Team Pacalula (Italy) 7 Team Nunavik Kangiqsualujjuaq (Canada) 8 Team South Africa (South Africa) 9 Pedini-Nunavik (Italy/Canada) 10 Ukiuk (Canada) Source: www.nunavikinternationalchallenge.com

www.doitnow.co.za | Sport • 69

inTRODUCING:

Words by Sanet Smal Photos by Dana Coetzee (sunset and cameleon) & Martie Eloff

Most people’s reaction when you tell them that you live in Bray is, "Where’s that?" And when you try to google it, you also find nothing.

The little town of Bray is 220km west of Mafikeng in the North West Province, along the Molopo River, and its name comes from its beloved inhabitants, the donkeys.

Bray isn’t much at first glance: a general dealer, deli, lodge, guesthouse, two schools, petrol pump, a few donkeys wandering around on the sandy roads and a dry river. Ask any of the farmers from around here what this place is like and they’ll tell you: "Dis ’n man en ’n bees se droom ... en ’n vrou en ’n kar se hel.” For me, the magic of this place is its people, who are incredibly warm and friendly, and every

70 • DO IT NOW June | July 2012

year the town folk get together to organise the Bray July, to raise funds for the community. Everyone gets involved and it is a prefect example of how a community can work together to keep their town alive and thriving.

If you are one of the few people who do know where Bray is, you'll have probably heard about the Bray July. The event was founded by rugby star Frik du Preez in 1997 and what started out as an event in which the locals raced against each other has since turned into an international horse race, with a sizeable prize package of R80 000, sponsored by Phumelela Horseracing Association. Not only has it become the biggest horse race in the North West, it is the only bush race in the country. The red Kalahari sand track is unique and horse owners from all over the country bring their top jockies to compete in this race.

This year's event will be held on 30 June 2012 and is set to be bigger and better. It kicks off on the evening of Thursday 28 June with a wine and cheese tasting, featuring a wonderful range of locally-produced cheeses and dairy

products. On Friday morning there's an outdoor survival course for the kids, where they will learn how to make a fire without matches and look for dangers in the bush, to name just a few of the activities on offer. The racing - the main attraction - takes place on Saturday from 09h30 until 17h00. For visitors wanting to try their luck, they can either place small side bets or 'purchase' a horse at the auction.

How this works is that before each race, each mount is put up for auction and members of the public can 'buy' the horse for a particular race, with the proof (ownership of the horse) going to the temporary 'owner' (auction winner) of the winning horse. Prize-giving takes place on Saturday evening and thereafter DJ Ossewa takes over with their unique style of music and comedy show, which is hiliarious and a must see. On Sunday, disadvantaged kids from the community have the opportunity to take part in sponsored soccer and netball games.

Accomodation in Bray is limited, but there are camping facilities in abundance. So pull out your camping gear and come enjoy an awesome family-orientated weekend of

horse racing, camping, dancing and fun in the Kalahari. You can also extend the weekend and turn it into a family holiday and enjoy Bray's excellent game viewing, bird watching and hunting, and be mesmerised by the treasured sighting of a red, orange Molopo sunset against the silhouette of a Kameeldoring. The many game lodges in the area also host conferences and team building weekends. And when you plan your next trip to Namibia or Botswana, make Bray your pit stop and linger in a town that will make you come back for more. But be warned: it is said that if you drink the water, you won’t be able to leave again. •

DINfo box

i

For information on the town and event, contact Sanet Coetzee on sanetsmal@webmail.co.za. The next race takes place on 11 August in Van Zylsrus and from there it moves to Askham on 18 August.

www.doitnow.co.za | Sport • 71

inTRODUCING:

Words by Brannigan Achadinha Photos by Ocker Odendaal

72 • DO IT NOW June | July 2012

nt Page Scooter 101 started in 2007 when Gra to have and I saw a demand for scooter riders came some fun and get crazy on their scoots. We r runs, up with the idea of night-time scoote just which are kind of like a breakfast run but nd. The at night-time and a lot more undergrou we had concept was a hit and before we knew it r runs.

20 to 30 riders on our night-time scoote g up the streets and causing We were tar ripping, wheelie maniacs, tearin security couldn’t keep us from chaos wherever we went. Shopping centre us wheelie past their doors hed racing through their turf and residents watc watched in amazement cops the Even e. coffe as they sipped their morning past the intersection where as the swarming noise of 30 scoots came ed something more; more they were sitting. This was fun, but we need . This is when Grant and doing extremeness and an aim to what we were resulted in the crowds which g, racin park car I came up with Scooter 101 g us. flocking in and more racing enthusiasts joinin now moved 90% of the racing Grant has since left Scooter 101 and I have the experience, and being a love to nue conti to the track, where the riders ter 101 Championship Series lot safer it makes for better racing. The Scoo the addition of a new Stock has been introduced, and more recent is ne can race their scooter and anyo e Class. It is another level of racing wher underway. ntly curre is which be competitive in the series,

ship Series - ROUND 1s Scooter 101 ChampionScoo ter 101 Championship Serie

Round one of the JONWAY 2012 26 February. Getting to the started early on the morning of Sunday fully risen was new for us Zwartkops Kart Circuit before the sun had dark. Being nocturnal and the in 101er’s, as our races normally happen newly tarred and looked was track The ing. all, it felt a bit weird, but excit always best as it can rip your amazing, but we know that new tar isn’t the riders started to arrive and new, soft compound tyres to shreds. Once y came to life, 101 style, slowl pit settle into their selected pit areas, the  and we were ready to race.

www.doitnow.co.za | Sport • 73

The event was split into two classes; Stock Class and Open Class. Stock Class is any stock scooter (150cc 2-stroke and 300cc 4-stroke maximum) with a stock pipe, not gutted and a stock carburetor. The Open Class is open, as long as the engine belongs to the chassis.

Throughout the day the riders took part in the warm up session, qualifying and heat one, two and three, and for those that competed in both the Open and Stock Classes it was a really long day. Rockstar Energy Drink was there with some sexy pit girls and free drinks to keep the riders hydrated, and DO IT NOW Magazine’s awesome DJ pumped up the vibe. The atmosphere was really festive and the guys were rearing to get down to some serious business.

After the warm up and qualifying rounds, we could pretty much see who the top contenders were in both classes.

But this didn’t mean that the guys in the mid-pack and back weren’t having a race! Sometimes those guys had more of a duel than the front-runners.

In the Stock Class it was Louw du Toit who had it in the bag from the beginning and easily clinched first place overall. The real battle was for second place, with Clinton Achadinha and Shannon Anderson going head to head and giving the crowd a great show! Every corner saw them passing each other and then on the second last lap of heat three, Shannon fell and Clinton took second place, with Shannon in third.

But it was the Open Class that drew the crowds as the 34 riders took their places on the grid, on a beast of a scooter that they’d probably spent their entire year’s pocket money on, or sold a few kidneys, to get modded up. Among them was the first water-cooled PGO, ridden by Jeremy Pincus, and some crazy nitro mods manufactured

by MOC Racing. The heats and qualifying rounds went by in a flash. The top runners were definitely Dean Wheeler, Jeremy Pincus, Shannon Anderson, Clinton Achadinha and Erick Flowerday, the new rider from MiniMoto. The top five were neck and neck in all the heats, but despite his small stature it was Erick who proved to be one of the toughest competitors and smoked his competition in heats two and three. The scorching track temperature played havoc on the tyres, resulting in a number of falls. It was proving to be an epic battle, but when Erick took a fall and dropped into third position overall for the day, there was no holding Jeremy back as he flew across the finish line in first place overall, and Dean hot on his heels in second place overall.

Scooter 101 Championship series - Round 2

Round 2 of the series got off to another early start at the Rock Raceway, in Brakpan, in March. We arrived at the track around 6am only to see almost every single MiniMoto guy there already, revving the daylights out of those dinky toys! Damn they are loud that early in the morning! In no time the Rockstar Energy gazebo was up, Jonway's setup complete and DO IT NOW Magazine's DJ was pumping out the tunes - we were ready to rock and roll!

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In the Stock Class warm up session we noticed that some of the guys had really gotten inventive with their scoots, which was great because this is one of the most fun classes to race in. Riders can’t modify their scooter much on the performance side, so some of them had stripped their scoots down to the bare frame and added a floorboard and front mud guard! A few had even put fake grass on the floorboard, giving their scoots a great golfing theme! When the guys finally pulled off the track, they were smiling from ear to ear.

After the MiniMoto Seniors it was time for the Open Scooter Class. All 27 riders lined up at the entrance gate and the sound of pimped out, race-ready 2-stroke and nitro-filled 4-strokes revving was enough to give a goose goose bumps! The warm up session had helped everyone get over their pre-race jitters and now they were ready to get their qualifying on!

In the Stock Class warm up, the Jonway C5 and Vespa 300 were threatening, but a few of the 2-stroke riders, like Clinton and Dean, weren’t about to give up their positions and make it easy for the guys to pass them, and in the process created the best racing ever. But in the qualifying, it was Louw du Toit and Jaco Joubert on their 4-strokes out in the lead, with Dean and Clint right behind them.

The Open Class qualifying was just as insane, the top riders lapping the rest of the field. This time you could see that some of the guys had made extra mods from the last race, as the Jonways, BWSs and PGOs were all FLYING! The racing was close, but once again featherweight Erick cleaned up, with Louw, Dean, Clinton and Jim Pinder following in his tracks. The racing was proving to be as hot as the weather, and this championship is going to be one to remember and definitely one to learn from as it is the first-ever full track scooter racing in AFRICA! The riders were happy when the last race finished around 4pm and the results at prize-giving ready to be called! After a phenomenal day of racing, the winner of the Stock Class was Louw du Toit, with Jaco Joubert in second and Clinton Achadinha in third. In the Open Class standings it was Erick Flowerday in first, Louw du Toit in second and Dean Wheeler in third.

Thank you to all our fantastic sponsors for helping to make Scooter 101 as big, loud, well-known, safe and as fast as it is!

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Find the full 2012 calendar and more info at www.scooter101.com. Alternatively, follow or check out twitter@Brannigan101 or on Facebook – scooter 101

inACTION:

Words & photos by Zygmund Brodalka

Sizzling Action at WOMZA Full Throttle MX Nationals The second round of the MX Nationals in Bloemfontein promised non-stop action, as was the case in round one at Sun City. Terence Monk and myself, Cape Town Vets and Masters' Riders, had driven more than a 1,000km to be there and were really looking forward to the challenges this course is renowned for. But first, let me give you a rundown of what went down at the Sun City Nationals.

Sun City MX Nationals

After the warm ups, the MX1 racing got off to a cracker of a start with a full field. In fact, some of the riders were so eager to get going that they jumped the starting gates, snapping the mechanism in two. The race had to be restarted and in all my years of motocross racing, this is only the second restart I have ever seen. Now the problem with this restart was that some of the riders' bikes were full of mud and others were perfectly clean. So the muddied riders were allowed to clear their bikes by racing up and down the tar strip, but I’m sure there was a lot of huffing and puffing going on under their helmets. As the gates were no longer an option, the good old fashioned way of using a flag to start a race was used. The second attempt was thunderous, as the guys hit the first right hander, mud flying everywhere. Heat one saw a very close race between the top three riders, namely Richard van der Westhuizen, Ross Branch (Botswana Champion) and Wyatt Avis. The fastest lap was by Richard in 01.56.664 on the fourth lap, with Ross a very close second in 01.56.723. With the racing this tight a mistake at any point would be disastrous. Overall podium finishes went to Richard in first, Ross in second and Michael Kok in third.

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The MX2 first Moto race saw Kerim Fritz-Gerald and Richard van der Westhuizen tagging each other throughout the two heats. It was so exciting because you didn’t have a clue who was going to win until the checked flag had been waved. In hot contention were the likes of Collin Stoffels (who had made a comeback after spending a couple of years racing Enduros), Anthony Raynard (back on his old number 23 that had brought him good luck in the past) and Caleb Tennant (who had an unfortunate crash that put him out of the American circuit and was making a comeback on his Kawasaki). This was racing of the highest calibre and on par with the rest of the world. The day ended with Kerim in first overall, Richard in second overall and Wyatt Avis in third overall.

Sacha Naude 54, Chad Taylor 35

Next was the Support class, which is made up of the newcomers to the sport. They are just as exciting to see in action, but it was Ethan Seagal who proved his superiority and clinched an overall first place, followed

by Zach Newby in second and Nate McClellan in third.

Bloemfontein MX Nationals

With such experienced riders taking part, Bloemfontein was going to be electrifying and I was super amped by the time I arrived at the track, at Tempe Airfield and home of the SDF Parabats. I hadn't realised it until I arrived, but the last time I was here was 20 years ago, back in my army days. The Bloemfontein Off Road Club (BORC) had prepared a superb track and it was easy to see the care that had gone into setting up the course, which consisted of a number of serious jumps, like a steep spin jump that splits into a two line track, a couple of table tops and a drop out into another table top called 7th Heaven, so named as the riders spend most of their time in the air in that section.

Awesome!

After a rainy start to the day the skies opened up and it turned out to be a superb racing day. The wet conditions were a blessing in disguise, as it kept the track loamy and moist. First up was the Junior 50cc class. It's amazing to watch these little guys because they are so passionate about racing and race their hearts out, and are at an age where they can hardly ride a bicycle.

In the Pro 50cc class, Justin Sangster, showed his class with a win despite not having the best of starts. Hailing from Cape Town, he is a solid rider with an abundance of passion and style, and I have no doubt that he is a champion in the making and will do SA proud at the Junior World Championships in Europe later this year.

Christiaan Cilliers, Justin’s biggest threat, had to miss this round due to breaking his arm while training and now finds himself down the points log after leading round one in Sun City. This is the unfortunate side of motocross where an injury can put you out for at least six weeks and with that your chances of laying claim to the title.

But as they say, motocross is not for the faint hearted.

Jonothan Mlimi made a wonderful come back in the first Moto by sneaking through all the bunching up in the front ranks to finish second. Camden McClellan and Vincent van Rooy ended up in third and fourth place respectively.

The second Moto produced almost the same results, the only difference being Vincent and Camden trading places, which would also be their overall positions for the day.

www.doitnow.co.za | Sport • 77

The 65cc class saw Slade Smith leading the field from the start to clinch first place.

Second place was a battle royale with three riders finishing on the same points. Wikus van Sandwyk, came in second and secured himself a second place overall, ahead of a great performance from Dalton Venter in third and Grant Hutton in fourth.

The young guns in the Junior 85cc are fearless, pulling those throttles back and making those 85cc's sing like little bees. It is not one of the biggest fields, but some serious talent has emerged from this class throughout the years as all the pro riders have to come through here. Justin Thompson, a very talented rider, raced to two solid first place finishes and recorded the fastest time in the second heat. Keegan Hickson-Mahoney finished third in both races to claim his best result of the season and a second place overall. Marcus Phelps, who was chomping at the heels of leader Justin at Sun City, did not have a great first Moto. However, he managed a second in the second Moto to give him a third overall for the day. Bevin Potgieter, who was fifth on the point’s log coming out of Sun City, finished second in the first Moto and sixth in the second Moto to secure a fourth overall for the day. Marco de Vrye had a consistent day and ended up in fifth overall.

The Pro-mini 85cc class went from a two-way battle at the front at Sun City, between Tristan Purdon and his teammate Dirco van der Westhuizen, to a three-way battle in Bloemfontein that included Bradley Cox, son of the famous Alfie Cox. Tristan had two awesome starts, which he held onto all the way to collect a first place overall. Luck was not on the side of his teammate Dirco, who crashed in the first Moto and broke his foot, but still finished in second place. Undeterred, he continued racing in the second Moto, but his injury left him with little control over the bike, not to mention the jumps, and an 11th place. He hobbled away with a sixth overall, but at least he finished his second Moto and did not DNF. Bradley's race bike had been giving trouble while practising, so he rode his practise bike in the races. This contributed to some poor starts, as practise bikes are never as tricked up as the race bikes, and he managed a third and second to clinch second overall. Jason Visser finished in third overall, ahead of Marco Ras in fourth and Erhardt Beukes in fifth.

MX 85 cc rider Bevin Potgieter

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'Richie' van der Westhuizen

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The MX1 and MX2 races are where the big guns come firing out of the gates. When WOMZA took over they lifted the fuel restrictions, so now any mixture goes. This has greatly improved racing and helped the engines to run much cooler, thereby reducing the chance of overheating.

In the MX2 race, nine-times South African Champion, Richard van der Westhuizen bolted out the gates and slotted in right behind Kerim Fritz-Gerald, but was unable to pass or close the gap on Kerim no matter how hard he tried. A jubilant Kerim finished first place in the first Moto, with Richard just a couple of seconds behind him in second. Sascha Naude came in third, some 27 seconds later. Richard had another great start in the second Moto and was on Kerim's heels again. However, any gap he tried to take was quickly shut down by Kerim. With just a 0.3 second lead Kerim showed true grit and held onto his leading position to come in first and first overall, with Richard second and second overall. Not all the glory belonged to Kerim though, as Richard set the fastest lap of the race on the last lap. Kerim is representing SA in the AMA Outdoors session, to be held in the States, whilst completing his national circuit locally. This is his break and I’m sure he will give it his best as opportunities like this only come around once.

The MX1 race's first Moto was almost a rerun of the MX2 race Richard getting off to a great start and behind Kerim (again). But this time Kerim stalled his bike and Richard used the opportunity to streak ahead and finish first. Then in the second Moto, Richard chose a bad line at the gates that cost him time and by the first corner he was out of the top 10. With his work cut out for him, he inched his way back and on the second last lap he made a pass into third, giving him enough points to win the overall standing and extend his points lead. Michael ‘Kokstar’ Kok was having a fantastic race and won the second Moto with a six-second lead over Kerim, and with his fourth place in the first Moto he ended up second overall.

What an amazing and incredibly nail-biting day of racing it turned out to be. Well done to WOMZA for hosting another excellent event and for putting up the prize money. Having a purse has definitely seen the standard of racing rising to a new level. WOMZA is really bringing the sport back to life in many ways, including its yester year glory days when sponsored by Camel.

Congratulations to all the riders who won Skull Candy sponsored headphones for being the first rider to get the hole shot out of the first corner of their respective races.

The events to follow are sure to be epic as the battle is still very much on. Until then, keep the throttle pinned! • Dates for the Motocross National and Regional Series National: ❱❱ 28 April 2012 - Killarney (Cape Town) ❱❱ 30 June 2012 - Teza (KwaZulu-Natal) ❱❱ 11 August 2012 - Eastern Province ❱❱ 22 September 2012 - Zeemans (Northern Regions) Regional – Northern Regions: ❱❱ 25 August 2012 - Dirt Bronco ❱❱ 8 September 2012 - Smoking Pistons ❱❱ 13 October 2012 - Zeemans

Dillon Charalambous

Westley du Plooy

Justin Sangster

Dalton Venter

Kerim Fritzgerald

inACTION:

Words by Ben Melt Swanepoel Photos by Darren Goddard – cycho.co.za

e k i B e k i B ain t n M Moouuntain

p u C d Worl ere could only be In this issue’s column th t, yip you guessed it ou ab te ri w to c pi to e on e Rocky Roads 2012 – the opening round of th p, hosted in our very Cu ld or W ke Bi n ai nt ou M KwaZulu-Natal. own Pietermaritzburg,

the our past successes prompting event has graced our shores, 3 201 in hips ions mp Cha It is the third time a World Cup rld the Mountain Bike Wo for ue ven the as ca Afri th Sou UCI to nominate only to the Olympics. – an event second in stature

82 • DO IT NOW June | July 2012

www.doitnow.co.za | Sport • 83

With our new standing as 2013 World Championship hosts, provision had to be made for both cross country and downhill events. This might sound easy enough, but finding a locale that can cater for both the endurance (XC – Cross Country) and gravity (DH – Downhill) races, as well as host the expected massive crowds and all the required amenities is a considerable challenge. Pietermaritzburg has always been one of the few stops on the World Cup circuit with the capacity to host both events, and having once again witnessed what the organisers are capable of, I'm confident that next year’s World Champs will be a huge success.

In many ways the World Cup started a week earlier than advertised, as the Momentum Health Cross Country International XC Series Race was staged on the same course at Cascades Park one week before the main event was set to take place. This offered riders an opportunity to test their legs and skills on the very course they would be racing on for World Cup glory a week later. This dress rehearsal was too good an opportunity to miss and many international riders arrived in Pietermaritzburg early, to make use of it. No doubt the perfect South African weather also influenced their decision as it made training a lot easier than it would be back in an early Northern Hemisphere spring.

For Marc Bassingthwaighte the World Cup represented ‘THE’ early season goal and a chance to compare his progress to an elite international field. His training had been specifically geared around these two weeks and he was determined to make the most of it. Despite a head cold and some sinus issues in the weeks leading up to the event, he was raring to go when the crucial period finally arrived.

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The Momentum race, held on the same course the previous weekend, had proved to Marc that he was back to full strength and his technical skills were more than adequate to handle the challenges presented by the Cascades course. That was saying a lot as the course is rated as one of the most technical tracks on the World Cup circuit. Several riders crashed badly in the week leading up to the race resulting in some broken bones, a few trips to hospital and some much divided opinion about the technical nature of the course. None of this seemed to bother Marc and all he needed now was a good start!

Personally, the 2012 World Cup would be the final chapter for me in experiencing this event from all angles. In 2009 I broke my elbow, which meant I could only be a spectator at the first-ever running of a World Cup event on African soil. And spectate I did! I had a great time watching the world’s best duel it out on a home-grown course I knew well and had raced on several times.

Last year I was fit and ready to race and even though I started at the back and got lapped (despite giving it 200%), I had an absolute ball racing at world-class level in front of a fiercely partisan local crowd. I think I rode with a smile for the whole hour and 15 minutes that my race lasted.

This year I was to be back up crew for Marc, handing him bottles in the feed zone and having some spares ready should he require technical assistance during the race. In all honesty it was probably the least amount of fun you could have at a race, as you have the same (or probably more!) nerves as the athletes you are supporting, but none of the action to get rid of your nervous energy. What made it worthwhile though was supporting a good friend in his quest for a stellar result. Knowing how much it meant to Marc and that I had a role to play in his success was extremely gratifying and intimidating at the same time.

Anyway, back to the race Nino Schurter of the Scott Swisspower Team won the Men's race a few seconds ahead of local lad Burry Stander (Specialized), who had the home crowd in a frenzy with his hard-fought second place. Marc had a pretty decent start and moved up a few positions by the time he flew past the feed zone for the first time. Unfortunately his body didn’t play along and in his own words his glutes (gluteus maximus muscles) locked up and left him at half power – not something you can afford when racing the cream of the crop. He didn’t give up though and kept on racing for a valiant 91st place. To put it into perspective, there were 117 starters on the line, which included 21 national champions and the current World Cup and World Champions. He was obviously disappointed because he wanted to do better and knew he didn’t race to his full potential, but that’s racing. Unfortunately if you have a bad day on race day, there is nowhere to hide. True to character and with typical Namibian practicality, Marc soon put it behind him and started to focus on his next goal – what else can you do?

Straight after the Men’s race a torrential rainstorm blew in and made for some miserable conditions in which the Junior and Under 23 Ladies had to race. Local lass Hayley Smith was undeterred and took a brilliant win in the Junior Ladies race. With James Reid’s (Nedbank 360 Life) fourth place in the Under 23 Men’s race earlier in the day, the South African athletes top and tailed the day’s cross country racing with some spectacular results.

On Sunday the downhillers had their turn to race and after qualifying in first place ahead of 133 other competitors, South African Greg Minnaar had a stunning run to take victory in front of the enthusiastic crowd. Greg is actually from Pietermaritzburg so you can imagine the finish line celebrations, as his run was a mere hundredth of a second faster than that of American Aaron Gwin. Put it this way – the crowd barriers didn’t last!

The other side of the coin is the pressure Greg handled to achieve the victory. Having qualified in first position, he was the last man off the mountain and knew what he had to do in front of a home crowd that expected nothing less than a victory. Greg was more than up to it and once again showed his (world) class. Straight after the podium presentation Greg rushed to hospital to visit his ailing father - I’m sure the smell of champagne and sweat was just what the doctor ordered to lift Mr Minnaar’s spirits.

Ending the weekend on such an extreme high bodes well for next year’s World Championships. Not only does it prove that South Africa can host an event of this magnitude, but we also have athletes who can compete at the required level to attain success.

Once again, South Africa awaits the world ... • www.doitnow.co.za | Sport • 85

inACTION:

Words by Heidi Muller Photos by DO IT NOW & Heidi Muller

Kinetic

Adventure Series more Need some adventure in your life? Then read on to find out ing, about some amazing adventure race events, including trekk t trail runs trail running, mountain biking, orienteering, obstacles, nigh Series. and more, which are all part of the Kinetic Adventure 2012 The Kinetic Adventure 25km is an event for everyone; from the beginner to the more serious racer.

There are five events held at venues around Gauteng, which are great fun and take place on a Sunday morning starting at 8am. Each event consists of a 5km trail run, 18km mountain bike ride, 2km paddle (boats and paddles are supplied) and finishes with an inflatable obstacle course. Basic navigation is a requirement, as you will need to find certain points on a Google map.

The various categories are Male, Mixed, Female and Junior Pairs. Dates for the remaining races are 24 June, 30 September and 2 December.

The Kinetic Full Moon Adventure 120km is a step up from the Kinetic Adventure 25km. There are two of these events per annum. No leave or seconds

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are required for these races, which consist of a trail run, mountain biking, paddling (boats are provided so you only need to bring a life jacket) and a rope section, such as abseiling. Registration and the race briefing are held on Saturday morning, with the event starting at 1pm.

It's no walk in the park as the top teams finish from midnight onwards, while the remaining field only comes in around Sunday morning; hence the name Full Moon.

Oh, and the races are also held when it's a full moon.

The events conclude with a hearty and delicious brunch and prize-giving. The official category is a four-man team with one female per team, but pairs are allowed to enter. The course is not marked so you'll need basic navigation skills to locate the checkpoints. The dates and venues for these events are 1-2 September in Bethlehem and 27-28 October in Parys.

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www.doitnow.co.za | Sport • 87

If your ultimate goal is to enter the Expedition Africa 500km Adventure, then the Kinetic Double Moon Adventure 250km is the perfect training event for your team. This two-day event is specially designed for teams to get in a good session and race together.

Only one Double Moon event is hosted per year, in March, and is usually held at the same central venue.

Registration and the race briefing are on a Thursday evening, with the event starting early Friday morning to give all the teams enough time to finish. Race cutoff is on Sunday morning, followed by brunch and prize-giving. And if you are wondering where the name Double Moon comes from, it was derived from racing through two nights.

Expedition Africa 500km Adventure - add this amazing event to your bucket list because it promises to be one of the best experiences of your life! It's more than just a race; it guarantees the ultimate test of endurance and self-reflection in many aspects! And that's why it is called an Adventure! The organisers have gone all out to combine the best of the selected disciplines to make this event a truly unforgettable experience. This adventure cocktail consists of a mix of mountain biking, trail running, coasteering, river and sea kayaking and rope work sections to name a few. This event is not only for the top teams competiting for a first place to receive a free entry into the World Championships - Expedition Africa is part of the World Adventure Racing Series -

88 • DO IT NOW June | July 2012

it's also a do-able test for a team that enjoys working together and supporting each other to the bitter end.

You will need to manage sleep deprivation and your nutrition will be of utmost importance. There's a fivehour compulsory stop at a midway camp and this is where you will be treated to a good meal and place to rest and recharge your batteries before continuing on the last section of this mighty adventure.

Now the Swazi Adventure is something different and one that can only be done in pairs. It's different to Kineticgear's other events because it’s on a marked route and no navigation is required. Always at the same venue and course in Swaziland, this family-friendly venue is ideal for racers to extend their stay and make a lovely weekend of it. Registration and the race briefing are held on the Friday night, with the event starting early Saturday morning. Teams finish before Saturday evening, and thereafter will enjoy a wonderful dinner and prize-giving. The event kicks off with a mountain bike leg that is followed by a magical hike into a valley, with a kloofing section, a canopy tour and then a cycle to the paddling section. After the paddling leg, it’s another short cycle to the finish at Hawan e Lodge, just 10km from the border post. Family membe rs and friends not racing can enjoy the warm local hospita lilty, relax next to the pool, go horse riding or meet you at transitio ns to cheer you on! The date for this event is Saturda y, 24 Novem ber 2012.

One of the most popular events in the series is the Night TraiL Run, which is held at a number of golf courses around Johannesburg. One Night Run is hosted per month, at a different golf course, on a Wednesday night. There are two routes to choose from, a 4km or 8km, and both are in a safe environment making it perfect for the solo runner or the whole family to take part in. You'll need to bring a headtorch so that you can follow the ground markers.

And that's not all ... there are two new events scheduled for later in the year; The Petzl Night Adventure and Salomon Mission Night Trail Relay.

So with all these great events lined up for the remainder of the year, there's never been a better time for you to go out there and do it. •

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For more information or entry details on any of the above events visit www.kineticgear.co.za or email heidi@kineticgear.co.za. You can also follow them on our Facebook page: Kineticgear to see all the current events, photos and news!

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inACTION:

Words & Photos by Stephen Cunliffe

King of the Mountains The Lesotho Wildrun is an incredible 112km stage race through the pristine, undulating landscapes of a remote mountain kingdom that lies right in our very own backyard. The three-day wilderness journey takes runners through the magnificent and truly wild Ketane Ha Mothibi and Thaba Putsoa mountain ranges in the very heart of Lesotho. Having recently conquered this epic mountain challenge, Stephen Cunliffe shares a tale of a ‘never to be forgotten’ trail running experience.

The first stage of the 2012 edition of the Lesotho Wildrun saw participants tackle a completely revamped route. The dramatic alteration in the course was explained at the pre-race briefing by Wildrunner Events Director, Owen Middleton, “You might find this hard to believe but stage one is now considerably easier – I mean more manageable – than last year’s route.” Rumour had it that in 2011 even the winners of stage one were broken by the time they reached the finish line at Semonkong.

But, with my race map clearly showing over 2 000m of vertical gain and an oxygen-deprived high point of 2 625m on day one, the Lesotho Wildrun looked anything but easy from the comfort of my dining chair.

I had an ominous feeling that a real challenge lurked in wait for us on the morrow.

Setting off bright and early from the mountain gateway village of Malealea at 1 820m, we transferred by minibus to the race start at Ha Searle.

With compulsory kit inspections taken care of and dawn breaking, we embarked on the journey of a lifetime. There was no easing our way into the event, as the track immediately began ascending steeply towards the Semonkong Plateau (meaning ‘place of smoke’). Running above 2 000m proved tough on the lungs and shuffling would probably be a better word to describe our laboured forward motion under these gruelling conditions.

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www.doitnow.co.za | Sport • 91

With the trail zigzagging between a gaggle of tiny rural villages that appeared practically unchanged for a thousand years, it wasn’t long before the field spread and I was thankful to find myself moving at roughly the same pace as Stephen Kriel and Guy Jennings. The three of us teamed up and ran together. As we ate up the trail and ticked off the kilometres, I marvelled at the fact that trail running could bring an advertising executive, sixthgeneration butcher and journalist together as friends.

It would seem unlikely that the three of us would have ever met, much less developed a genuine friendship, without the shared trials and tribulations of attempting to run across Lesotho.

As tough as the running was proving to be, navigation was an even greater challenge at times. Owen had warned, “Remember the GPS is only a navigational tool and should not be followed blindly. There are trails everywhere in the mountains so be sure to take the path of least resistance that’s heading in your general direction.” With 44km of tough terrain to get through on day one, we really didn’t need to get lost and add on a bunch of ‘bonus miles’ just for fun! We soon settled into our respective navigational roles. I manned the GPS, Guy kept an eye on the map and Stephen dispatched a well-placed stone to ward off aggressive dogs whenever one of these shaggy mountain mutts looked to be sizing us up for lunch. It was teamwork at its best.

Seven exhilarating and exhausting hours later, we finally rolled into Semonkong Lodge. We might have finished a full hour behind the day one winners, but the backmarkers would only stagger over the line after dark. And I’m not sure they were in any mood to debate Owen’s assessment of ‘a relatively easy stage one’ when they finally hobbled home in just over 12 hours!

I have to say that, for me, day two rates on a par with the best trail runs and races I’ve done anywhere in the world. It is a breathtaking (in every sense of the word) 28km circular route that takes runners along both the eastern and western edges of the magnificent Maletsunyane Gorge before ultimately visiting one of the most unbelievable waterfalls in southern Africa – the 192m Maletsunyane Falls.

As the start got underway, I heard Owen yell, “Enjoy the spectacular views and friendly gradient of the single track that dominates the early stages, because the steep crossing of the Maletsunyane Gorge will have you bleeding from your eyeballs!”

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We set off jogging along a beautiful frost-covered trail, crunching across the frozen ground alongside a picturesque river. It didn’t last long; soon we were ascending out of the gorge. With an uncanny resemblance to a procession of ragged old steam locomotives, we huffed and puffed clouds of vapour into the crisp morning air. Not only did we look like steam engines with clouds of condensation spurting from our mouths, but I also felt as if my billowing engine was outdated as I struggled to find some sort of rhythm on the first steep climb of the day.

After a few kilometres we found our stride. By now our running trio had been dubbed ‘Team SSG’ and we revelled in one of the most spectacular trail runs on the planet. The scenery was quite simply out of this world, but nothing could have prepared me for one of the continent’s most sensational waterfalls at the 23km mark. However, before we got there, we had the notorious Maletsunyane Gorge to get through and it was brutally steep. First we slipped and slid our way down to the river. Plunging into the ice-cold water felt heavenly on the weary quads and aching knees, but all too soon we were relentlessly slogging up the other side. The views up and down the valley were sensational, but even those gobsmacking vistas couldn’t distract too long from the brutality of the never-ending climb out.

Back on top we passed through a checkpoint, stopped briefly at the daily munchie point sponsored by our new best friends from Hammer, and soaked up the scenery.

With our water bottles replenished and our bodies refuelled, we had one last waterfall-viewing stop to make on the gentle trail back to Semonkong Lodge.

No matter how serious you are about racing, it would be criminal not to steal a few minutes to marvel at this cascading natural wonder.

On the final day we bid farewell to Semonkong Lodge, which had been our humble home for the preceding two nights, and set off on a 40km journey via the Lekhalongla-Mokhelelise Pass (more commonly known as the Baboon’s Pass) towards Ramabanta. Our trail traversed along the spine of the Thaba Putsoa Ridge, before descending south towards the village of Ha Ramokhobo on the north slopes of the Letsunyane River Valley.

Stephen and I were both pretty tired at this stage so Guy took the lead, holding our ragged trio together as we trudged and shuffled our weary way towards the finish line. Voltaren kept the aching knees in check and the

vistas buoyed our spirits. The scenic trail followed a general north-westerly direction before finally dropping down to the Makhaleng River. We plunged into the freezing water, which revived me just long enough to tackle the final short, sharp ascent of the Lesotho Wildrun before we finished on the rolling lawns of the Ramabanta Trading Post Lodge.

Steven Black and Gerry Beukes crossed the final finish line together and shared first place in a winning time of 15 hours 23 minutes and 57 seconds. A very impressive achievement if you consider that the backmarkers were taking only marginally less time than this on a daily basis.

Team SSG officially crossed the line a couple of hours behind the winners in 17 hours 20 minutes and 27 seconds, but finishing times turned out to be almost inconsequential in the Lesotho Wildrun. It was the incredible mountainous scenery, intriguing Basotho culture and camaraderie of newfound friends that ensured an incredible experience for everyone privileged enough to participate in this unique event.

Whether you see yourself as a king of the mountains or a more social 33-hour finisher, this tough race has an appeal to trail runners of all ages, stages and abilities. Yes you need to be fit, but this is – above all – a rewarding wilderness journey with like-minded people: a life experience that you’ll find yourself savouring long after the race is won.

The Lesotho Wildrun would not have been possible without the generous support of chief sponsor Adidas, which also provided some top-quality kit for distribution as spot prizes every night. •

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The Lesotho Wildrun is organised by the experienced and professional Wildrunner trail running team (www.wildrunner.co.za) and takes place in April each year. It’s limited to a maximum of 50 entrants due to accommodation restrictions and the logistical challenges of coordinating a trail run in such a remote region. Anyone interested in signing up for the 2013 edition should check out the official race website (www.lesothowildrun.co.za) or get hold of the registrations manager, Tamaryn Jupp at lesotho@wildrun.co.za for further details.

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inPREPARATION:

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Words by Darrell Raubenheimer Photos by Karen de Jager & Carol Matthews

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Big sky and a slippery track on the Lesotho border Photo by Karen de Jager

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The khakibos was twisted into harsh pretzel shapes as a dust devil pirouetted its dirty cloud through the village. ‘De Wydeman’, the historic pub in the Rhodes Hotel, provided sanctity for a small group of farmers and ‘absentee landlords’ as they explored ways to keep the village alive.

Rhodes, a small Victorian-era village is nestled on the banks of the trout-rich Bell River, deep in the southern Drakensberg, and is a remote, tar-free part of South Africa. In the mid 1980s it was known only by a few dedicated fly fishermen and the remnants of the ‘hippie-era’ inhabitants. The challenge was to bring visitors to Rhodes on a regular basis. The only time the village had been on a regular ‘tourist route’ was during the South African War, when it was invaded 29 times between June 1901 and February 1902.

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Saving the village of Rhodes from the death so many platteland towns had suffered was the creation of an iconic South African sports event, a trail run when trail runs were not only beyond the fringe but seen as bizarre intrusions in a running world then dominated by corporate relays and Comrades. Pioneering a new ‘sport’ was ambitious to say the least. Bravado no doubt fuelled by hours of careful planning in ‘De Wydeman’.

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Who would have thought that 25 years later trail running would be mainstream and that there would be an eight-year waiting list to challenge the high altitude thin air, snow and frosty sub-zero temperatures of the Rhodes Trail Run. Race Director Evie Raubenheimer proudly points out that the trail run is Rhodes’ single biggest annual tourism contributor, with every bed in the area, and in some cases even floor space, booked months, even years, in advance.

The UTi Rhodes Trail Run, ‘the breathtaking trail run’, has a limited, by invitation only field, with a very effective substitution system. Evie says that while many runners keep coming back, each year about a third of the field are novices looking to have their first run in that strangest of things, African snow. In the true spirit of trail running there are no lucky draw, spot, position or financial prizes and other than a few floating trophies all runners are treated equally.

www.doitnow.co.za | Sport • 95

At the foot of the legendary Mavis Bank, a lung ripping climb.

Photo by Karen de Jager

Traversing the slopes of Ben MacDhui Photo by Carol Matthews

No paths but a trail through the snow on Hooggenoeg Ridge - Photo by Karen de Jager

The village is woken on race morning by the pealing of church bells, and this pre-dawn tradition is one of the Race Director’s functions. It is common for the temperature at the start to be below zero, usually around -10°C. The route takes well-covered runners from Rhodes along the iced Bell River, over goat tracks through the rugged Kloppershoek kloof and ice-melt rivers, and up the legendary Mavis Bank, a lung searing climb of nearly a kilometre that in places has a 1:3 gradient. Runners touch the Lesotho Border fence at Lesotho View (at 2680m, the highest point on the run) as they run through the Ben MacDhui snowfields, before taking on the windswept and trackless Hooggenoeg Ridge. Here some will catch sight of a mountain reebuck family or flush a covey of greywing francolin. From Hooggenoeg, the runners have the jarring descent of Carlisleshoek en route to a very welcome return to the Farmer’s Hall in Rhodes.

The extreme conditions have brought on a few organisational challenges over the years. The first event in 1989 nearly did not happen as support vehicles battled through deep snow to reach the Lesotho Border check point. Heavy overnight snow in the village, with metres of snow on the trail, delayed the start in 2001. In 2002 exceptionally heavy snowfalls in the week leading up to the race forced a route change as vehicles were not able to reach the plateau and runners would not have been able to make their way through deep snow in the Kloppershoek kloof. The 21st birthday edition in 2009 again saw heavy snow force a route change. The Ben MacDhui snowfields were, well, snow filled. The snow was so deep that support vehicles could not reach the Mavis Bank checkpoint and runners were diverted off Hooggenoeg Ridge as it was too thick to run through.

The run also has some unique traditions. For example, the Rhodes Trail Run Polar Bear Club™ sees those who have completed the run taking a late night dip in the Bell River, wearing only a silly grin and their birthday suits. Tradition has it that one has to crack the ice with your toe at the water’s edge to qualify as a true Rhodes Polar Bear. The Rhodes Trail Run Polar Bear Club™ shirts provide proud bragging rights. Another is runners have four-and-a-half hours to reach the Mavis Bank/Lesotho Border check point, at approximately 21km. Anyone arriving after that time is forced to abandon the run. The first runner to ‘miss the cut’ receives a specially embroidered blanket; a unique award every runner would like, but no one wants to receive.

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An issue long and keenly debated by those camping over on the race weekend has been which is the most energy efficient method to generate internal body warmth the night prior to the run. The organisers caution the use of these methods, especially extreme versions. Over the years the debate has narrowed down to scotch and sherry, while Glühwein is a total no-no, having been developed for Après-ski and not trail runners. A specialty of ‘Walkerbouts’, a favoured post (and pre) race watering hole, is the ‘Rhodes Heater’, consisting of equal portions of sherry and rum.

Training for the event is also a challenge, but the Rhodes website offers a number of acclimatisation methods. One such technique is to fill a bath (about 6-8cm deep) with a combination of ice water and ice-blocks and, while wearing running kit with a few ice bricks strapped to your waist, run on the spot or stand in the water for 30 minutes.

In July all roads lead to Rhodes as an enthusiastic, and warmly clad group of rugged adventure racers converge from the USA, Swaziland, Botswana and every corner of South Africa for the 24th UTi Rhodes Trail Run. •

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For more information on the Rhodes Trail Run visit www.rhodesrun.za.net and www.rhodesvillage.co.za about the Rhodes village.

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inPREPARATION:

Words & Photos by Ugene Nel

Grootvadersbosch:

A Magical Run up of 250ha of Grootvadersbosch Nature Reserve is made s forest indigenous forest and is the largest indigenou Cape the west of Knysna. After being handed over to red a decla Nature Conservation in 1986, the reserve was watching bird r World Heritage Site in 2004. In addition to being a popula

trails that extend well hot spot, it also boasts numerous hiking and mountain biking farms. One of the 14 covers which area, into the Grootvadersbosch Conservancy dates back to the which ad, farmste osch adersb Grootv l oldest farms is the origina rers. Keith and Megan early 1700s, and is home to the Moodie family and their forbea the fauna and flora about dge Moodie are passionate about the area and their knowle on the go, activity some lly genera is there so is second to none. It's a working farm on. afterno late the in calves feeding or feed such as checking the cattle

EVENT INFORMATION VENUE: Grootvadersbosch Nature Reserve DISTANCE: Day 1 – 30km / Day 2 - 20km DATE: 21/22 July 2012 ENTRIES: Pre entries for 150 runners only

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ENTER AS: Solos

The final 10km is through lush, indigenous, southfacing slopes with a steep descent down to Duiwenhoks River for one final time. After crossing the river the route winds upward again, with a deep valley on the left. Just when the lungs start to retaliate for most runners, the path flattens a bit and the end of the first day’s run is near. The weather in this area can be unpredictable and runners may need to carry wet weather gear.

Day 2: 20km

Bushbucks are abundant in these majestic mountains, with grysbok inhabiting the forest fringes and adjacent fynbos.

Baboons and small mammals are also plentiful, while leopard has been tracked below the high mountain peaks and even within a few hundred metres from some of the farmsteads. Birds are plentiful with 196 recorded species, and a subspecies of the ghost frog and a unique forest emperor butterfly are endemic to this thriving forest.

The nearby, quaint village of Suurbraak is the home of the original inhabitants to this area - the Attaqua Tribe of the Quena people. The town started out a mission station in 1812, but later became the Algemene Sending Mission of the Dutch Reformed Church. Life today remains very relaxed, with horse-and-donkey-drawn ploughs still in use. Many of the families have their own cows for milk and collect wood from the forest next to the river. Some of the older, original cottages even have the same dung floors.

Adjacent to the reserve is where you will find Honeywood Farm, which offers a course in bee keeping or visitors can watch John Moodie and his crew working with the bees and learn how honey is processed. A choice of self catering cottages are available on the farm.

It's a totally different experience on day two as runners plunge into the forest to tackle a number of short steep climbs and descents. Passing the giant redwood trees the trail heads toward the foot of the mountain, with large stands of Cape sugarbush and endless vistas across the valleys to Suurbraak and beyond. The trail then descends into the conservancy area of the Grootvadersbosch Farm, this time on the west side of the reserve. An old cattle trail follows the river upstream for a while and then a short, steep climb will reward runners with yet more views of the lush forest valleys, where they’re bound to spot bushbuck and duiker.

The last 5km of the run goes deep into the bowels of the forest once more and after crossing two deep valleys, runners will feel sufficiently disorientated. Just when most runners start doubting whether they’re on the correct route, the forest releases them barely 300m from the finish onto the jeep track that leads down to great company, lekker vibes and hot food! •

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So it comes as no surprise that one of the country's most iconic runs, from the Quantum Country Classic Series, happens right here – the Grootvadersbosch Trail run!

For more information or to enter visit www.quantumadventures.co.za or Quantum Adventures Events Facebook page.

Day 1: 30km

There is plenty of accommodation close to the reserve and a campsite within the reserve (www.capenature.co.za). Permits for walks and cycling are available from the reserve office. A small campsite and self-catering cottages are available for overnight visitors. For accommodation on the farms, which range from self catering to fully catered, visit: www.lismoresa.co.za www.skeiding.co.za, www.valleysend.co.za, www.grootvadersbosch.co.za, or www.honeywoodfarm.co.za

Day one starts with the trail winding east through the indigenous forest and eventually spits the runners out onto the banks of the Duiwenhoks River. Runners then follow cattle tracks through the conservancy and cross the river a couple of times. They will gradually make their way up the ridge lines toward the 15km halfway mark higher up the mountain – also known as Boosmans Bos (angry man’s bush). A final steep climb leads to a contour path, which turns back toward the reserve and, after crossing numerous gulleys and valleys, the track winds down toward the reserve.

www.doitnow.co.za | Sport • 99

inPREPARATION:

Words by Ugene Nel Photos by Jacques Marais

e l b m u R r e v Ri - Do n’t Hib er nate, Ac tivate!

It’s that time of the year when many folk start stockin g up on fire wood, red wine and fleecy blankets. Yet, this is also the time when the 'no-mat ter-what-the-we ather' adventu rers dig out their therma l gear and prepare themse lves for the various adventu re weeken ds and festivals on offer throug hout the country.

One such gathering of like-minded outdoor types takes place barely an hour outside of Cape Town, in the quaint village of Kleinmond - and it’s not restricted to Capetonians. Hosted by the guys from WCAD, this kick-ass 80-100km adventure race will take place on 28 and 29 July, and the word 'average' will not feature here!

The race includes a rafting leg down the Palmiet River in grade 3 rapids, coasteering, mountain biking, hiking and the River Rumble. The River Rumble, organised by Quantum Adventures, happens in and around the Palmiet River mouth and estuary, and a makeshift bridge, tubing, water crossings with ropes, paddling and trail scrambling features in this fun event. Once our intrepid adventure racers have set off, the River Rumble course then opens to solos and teams of two and will remain open until mid afternoon. A new batch of racers will set off every 45 minutes to take on each other and this challenging course, which should take about 40 minutes to complete.

To ensure that no one is left out of the action and the needs of the more creative participants are fulfilled, the 'Anything-that-floats' contest will be a fantastic spectacle to watch from the shore. Teams will take to the water in their specially built, anything-goes craft and race against each other on the estuary, in full view of the spectators. Timing is everything as the estuary will only be sufficiently deep to launch these crafts at high tide – well, sort of …

For the more reserved outdoor type, the Kogelberg Nature Reserve and Kleinmond Conservancy hiking trails are open to explore. These trails are on par with some of the best in the Cape, offering distances and grades to suit all types. In addition, the Harold Porter Botanical Garden, outside Betty’s Bay, offers a different experience and should you go there, be sure to do the short hike to the waterfall - it's awesome!

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By late afternoon a roaring campsite fire will welcome the returning athletes into its warm embrace, the day’s war stories sure to gather momentum against the backdrop of the setting sun.

So before you start thinking and acting like a squirrel, dare to challenge yourself and enter this amazing event. Oh, and if you are taking part in the Quantum Leap AR at the end of August, this event is the perfect opportunity for teams to hone their skills one last time before taking that quantum leap. •

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For more information about the WCAD race, visit www.wcad.co.za. Information on the Quantum Leap, River Rumble and Anything-that-floats events can be found on www.quantumadventures.co.za or Quantum Adventures Event Facebook page.

www.doitnow.co.za | Sport • 101

Words by Deon Breytenbach

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inSHAPE:

Preventing Paddling

Shoulder Injuries In everyday life we generally use our back shoulder muscles for the majority of lifting and carrying tasks, but our rotator cuffs are often under developed. So putting in a bit of effort to get these guys strong and supple is one of the best investments you can make in yourself for a long paddling life.

Some basic exercises for your rotator cuff muscles are push ups, but if you are already a machine doing push ups then do them in your kayak. You should also change the distance between your hands. Let’s say you are doing sets of 20 push ups, the first five should be with your hands shoulder width apart, the next five with your hands just on the inside of your shoulders so that they are in line with your nipples, then for the next five try to put your hands together in the middle in line with your sternum and for the last five in your set take a nice wide stance so that your hands are slightly wider that your shoulders. If you have dumbbells at home or

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a gym contract you can do various lifts with your arms to the front and sides that better isolate the muscles you exercise. On the water, paddle backwards as often as possible. If you aren’t used to doing this then start with slow and deliberate strokes, about 40 should do. Once you get the hang of going backwards, then split your set of 40 strokes up by starting slowly and then pick up the pace to work your way up to full power in the middle, and then slow down again in the end. The stronger your shoulders, the more strokes you can do in a set.

Strong shoulders are really important, but without proper technique it’s not worth all that much. Remember the power for your strokes should come from using your whole torso and not just your shoulders. Solid technique is what will keep you smiling on the water for the longest time. The golden rules for safe shoulders are, never ever lock your elbows and always ensure that your hands stay in front of your shoulders. Locking the elbows is

Shoulder injuries and dislocations are the most common and biggest problems for paddlers, so in this article I will focus on how to look after them properly. The main causes of shoulder injuries are weak rotator cuff muscles (the small guys that come over the front and tops of your shoulders joint) and bad technique. generally easier for people to remember and keeping your hands in front of your shoulders is where it gets a little trickier for most. The only way you are going to keep them in a safe position is if you rotate your torso from your hips. So sit up straight in your kayak, with your paddle horizontally in front of you. Now imagine that there is a line running through your shoulders, and this line should always remain parallel to your paddle shaft. If you place your right blade in the water just behind your hips you need to rotate your torso from your hips so that your shoulders and paddle shaft are once again parallel. Now rotate your torso and put your left blade in for the next stroke, keeping the shaft and shoulders parallel all the way through the stroke. You should be able to feel that you are using your stomach muscles to generate the power of the stroke, and this feeling is what all your strokes should have to them. If you only feel your shoulders working then you are not paddling with your torso and this is bad.

There are a multitude of instructional books and videos regarding kayaking technique, but the two top boys to read or watch are Ken Whiting and Eric Jackson.

Any instructional by these guys is brilliant, but my top choices would be Eric Jacksons’s ‘Strokes’ and the truly ultimate kayaking instructional book by William Nealys, ‘Kayaking the New Frontier’. This fantastic book has pretty much everything you need to know in it and I don’t think anybody will be able to top it, not only for the information but the way in which it is delivered.

If you are a new kayaker I would highly recommend going for some kayaking clinics and these you can do in various places such as Cape Town, Parys or the Blyde Canyon. Check out Whitewater Training, Gravity Training or the Blyde Adventure Camp Sites for details, or contact me and I will point you in the direction of the closest, best option to where you stay. •

www.doitnow.co.za | Sport • 103

inSHAPE:

Words by Hannele Steyn Photos by Philip Kent

Power Training with Explosive Results

❱❱ Over the centuries, different ways of

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training and training methods have been discovered and everyone is always on the lookout for new and improved techniques to gain an edge.

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We scrutinise what the champions and their coaches are doing, and when a sportsperson performs well a book usually ends up being written and is enthusiastically followed by the masses. There are also various training programmes that can be downloaded from the internet and you will also find lots of informative articles in a range of magazines. But if you look at the top cyclists' schedules, you will discover that the way they have been training is not only with heart rate, but also with POWER! The difference is that you can measure your body’s response by your heart rate and with power you can measure your real work and intensity too. Together you will get more information and by using this data you will be able to effectively train and track your fitness, power and performance throughout the season and beyond.

However, power training and heart rate training can become a very expensive exercise and therefore not a lot of people can afford to get all the necessary equipment.

You do find cheaper heart rate monitors that will at least prevent you from over- or under training, but power metres are a little more expensive. So what it really comes down to is how serious you are about your performance!

Most gyms have resistance trainers, however they are not tailored to suit your ability and measure your real power. For this you need to test your power in a power training facility or laboratory. Fortunately more power training studios are opening up, and hopefully even more in the not too distant future. Currently there are some facilities such as the Sports Science Institute, Cycle Lab and Coaches Corner that do these tests, but only a few will actually provide a studio where you can exercise

according to your individual power. As a firm believer in the benefits of power performance, I was thrilled to discover Coaches Corner, a fully comprehensive power training facility, in Knysna. It also stocks selected cycling brands and has a nutrition corner that now stocks my Passion4Wholeness health muesli, and is where you can also consult me for all your nutritional needs. The onsite workshop, where they look after your bike with skill and passion, is run by Chris Nel, an acclaimed cyclist who has competed in 23 Argus cycle tours, national and African cross-country races and came eighth in the Masters MTB World Championships in Brazil in 2010.

Says Chris, “Power training balances how much work you do with your body’s response: Power (watts) = Torque (how hard you pedal) x cadence (how fast you pedal). If you can't track how much work you do, you can easily do too much or too little." He adds that by having a constant measure of power, it will help you to: ❱❱ Establish your baseline fitness ❱❱ Accurately measure even the smallest fitness gains ❱❱ Quantify intensity, duration and frequency instead of guessing ❱❱ Prevent under- and over training ❱❱ Accurately measure energy use for nutrition planning ❱❱ Pace yourself correctly for time trials Power training is definitely catching on, and fast, and most heart rate monitor manufacturers are now combining their product with a power indicator. So why not power your way to peak performance? •

www.doitnow.co.za | Sport • 105

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// in THE HOLE: A 2-Balled Fourball // inGEAR: In Review: Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, Nissan NP200 1.5 dCi vs. Chevrolet Corsa Ute 1.8i Sport & BMW G650GS Sertão // inNATURE: Baviaan’s Battles // inCREDIBLE PLACES: A Love Affair with India - Hampi * France - Lavender Fields, Pink Wine and White Horses // inSURE: Is a Trust for You? // inTERTAINMENT: Music, Movie and Game Reviews // inFOCUS: SHOOT! A Canoe Marathon * inFOCUS Competition // inVOLVED: Children in the Wilderness * A Walk on the Wild Side * Teachers and Children Fly High // inDULGE: Recipes: Lemon, Bacon and Corn Pasta & Best Ever Coffee Cake

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Lyn Gilbert DESCRIPTION: Spitzkoppe, Namib Desert. With exceptional rainfall during 2011, the landscape was beautifully green and lush.

Lifestyle

in THE HOLE:

Words by Michael Scholz, The 40 Year-Old Rookie

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m bidden. No way, this anagra Gentlemen Only, Ladies For growing fact, golf is the fastest holds no water for me! In tastic as ica and I think this is fan ladies sport in South Afr amid e of femininity and beauty the game needs a little dos one. club slinging and testoster an overdose of beer boeps, ting the as the melting pot of put Tread carefully though, ic. offers a whole new dynam girls and boys together

108 • DO IT NOW June | July 2012

f Let’s look at a typical round of gol ng: with four gents on a Saturday morni 07h00 – Arrive at that club nursing a mean barbie from the Friday night jol.

07h30 – After three cups of coffee, peg it up on the 10th tee; the gentler of the two starting holes to offer the comfort of easing into the game.

07h35 – After hitting two balls out of bounds and biting his tongue, the golfer (let’s call him Pete) retires for this hole and takes a 'ring' on the scorecard. No major harm done!

07h45 – Pete tees it up at the 11th. New found glory as his alcoholic yip swing sends the goon down the fairway (the wrong one though) and onto the short grass. Hallelujah!

09h15 – Thank goodness for the halfway house. A ‘worst 9 ever’ results in the consumption of two quick Zamaleks (Carling Black Labels which were last night’s poison) and Pete feels ready to take on the planet!

10h00 – Nearing a comatose state. Pete resorts to heading for the old Poplar Tree at the 2nd hole. He attacks the back of his throat with the pointing finger to rid his body of the poisons consumed last night and the two Zamaleks so bravely ingested at the halfway house.

10h30 – Feeling better.

10h45 – False alarm. The Silver Birch at the 4th tee gets it!

11h00 – Brand new RocketBallz driver smashed on the tee marker at the 5th! False advertising! Pete wasn’t hitting it any further than the old wooden one that graced the bag for so many years!

11h15 – “You useless piece of S#@*!”

11h30 – Caddie fired! He can’t read the greens as seen through the glazed eyes of Pete! Carry own bag!

11h45 – Broken putter! Pete finds putting form with the 3 wood.

11h47 – The 3 wood gets it! Putting with the hybrid club now!

12h00 – Nearing the last hole. Only five clubs left now!

12h30 – The pain ends with a credible par on the last!

12h45 – Zamalek time!

18h00 – Returns home to the wife in mint condition, 13 Zamaleks and six Jaeger bombs later! Pete’s poor missus is told that a round of golf takes eight hours and he only had a couple of pots with the boys after.

Now, that’s the boy with the boys! So : let’s look at a mixed fourball Sunday 07h00 – Arrive at that club stone cold sober, as Pete wasn’t allowed out the night before.

07h30 – After a red cappuccino Pete and Diana peg it up on the 10th tee. Best get the tough starting hole out of the way and the hole is a simple par 5 from the ladies tee.

Easier start for Diana!

07h35 – After hitting his drive down the middle, Pete is told

by Diana that he has to help her with her swing after she hits two balls out of bounds. Diana hit her third ball in the trees and proceeds to make a feisty nine on the hole. No major harm done!

07h45 – After a superb birdie on the 10th, Pete smashes one down the second fairway. Course record coming up!

Diana has two fresh airs, claims they were practise swings and then tops it down the cart path. Hallelujah!

09h15 – Thank goodness for the halfway house. Pete has his ‘best 9 ever’. Another red cappuccino to keep the recipe going! Diana has a Redds to induce some calm and feels ready to take on the planet!

10h00 – Pete makes a double bogey when Diana talks on his backswing. Something about a broken nail? Pete’s drive hits the old Poplar Tree at the 2nd hole, resulting in his ball landing where last week’s Zamaleks were exhumed from his body. Poor lie! Pete makes another double bogey!

10h30 – Feeling gutted! The course record seems safe!

10h45 – The Silver Birch at the 4th takes a tee shot right in the trunk! Another double bogey! Diana comments on Pete’s grip and suggests that he swings it slower.

11h00 – Brand new RocketBallz driver smashed on the tee marker at the 5th! Diana suggests that he still swung it too quickly!

11h15 – “S#@*! @$#@*!”

11h30 – Caddie fired! He agreed with Diana that Pete’s swing is still too quick! Carry own bag!

11h45 – Broken putter! Pete borrows and breaks Diana’s putter!

11h47 – The 3 wood gets it! Putting with the hybrid club now!

12h00 – Nearing the last hole. Only five clubs left now!

12h30 – The pain ends with Pete walking the last hole in fear that Diana will suggest that he is still swinging it too quickly! Diana drives the nail into the coffin. A perfect birdie 3 on the last!

12h45 – Zamalek time!

18h00 – Pete and Diana agree on divorce settlement arrangement! Pete lays claim to Diana’s clubs, as that was his old set and he never officially ‘gave’ them to her. They were merely lying under the Christmas tree and the card attached with sellotape had merely fallen onto them.

The card read: Dear Diana. With these I guarantee fun, laughter and good times together.

Fairways and greens my darling! Every Sunday morning will be an incredible experience!

Love Pete xxx •

www.doitnow.co.za | Lifestyle • 109

inGEAR:

Words by Francois Steyn Photos by Francois Steyn & BMW G650GS Sertão by www.quickpic.co.za

inREVIEW:

Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 'They don’t make them like they used to' is a phrase that couldn’t be more true of serious off-road vehicles, and here I’m thinking Willy’s Jeep, FJ45 Land Cruisers and Series I Land Rovers. They were simple, yet tough. They had solid front and rear axles and primitive suspension setups, much like an ox wagon. But due to safety and comfort concerns nowadays, almost all new 4x4s have independent front suspension low profile rubber on flashy rims.

Luckily these three hard core brands still sport models with solid front axles that are super capable. The Wrangler Rubicon probably edges ahead in off-road ability, thanks to front and rear diff-locks as standard, as well as a button on the dash that electronically releases the front sway bar for around 22% extra wheel articulation. This can only be done in low range four and below 29 km/h. Departure and approach angles are extreme thanks to a higher ground clearance and everything underneath is properly protected from protruding pieces of Earth.

The first two gear ratios are so low that you almost never have to switch to low range, done via an old-school second gear lever – no electronic wizardry here, but if you do you are able to literally crawl down any slope at 800 metres per hour as a result of a 4:1 low range ratio (the Sahara is 2.72:1).

That’s near standstill and even a snail will have to maintain a safe following distance so as to not run into the back of you.

We visited the Anysberg Reserve for the weekend and the 3.6-litre V6 engine I was testing proved to be a gem getting there, via the R62. Delivering 209 kW and 347 Nm torque you don’t need a big gap to overtake the slower traffic. The Pentastar engine has 40% more power and a claimed 10% reduction in thirst from the old 3.7 mill. The six-speed manual ‘box feels solid, mechanical and like it doesn’t mind being used, and the ride is surprisingly comfortable for a vehicle of these dimensions. Going over the rocks on the 4x4 route I noticed that the throttle is less sensitive initially, for slow off-

110 • DO IT NOW February | March 2012

road driving, but once you push it in deeper the surge of power is instantaneous and the Jeep jumps forward like a frisky frog.

There is enough space in the rear for real people (two easily, three at a push) and the seats fold completely flat for a useable weekend-for-two-getaway load bay. The spare wheel is stored on the rear door to free up more space. Like the old Wranglers, the roof, wind screen and doors can still be removed completely by loosening just a few bolts. The roll bars inside are visible and covered in padding, yet you still have ABS, airbags and traction control. This is an amazingly capable vehicle and being brand new was the only thing stopping me from testing its limits. Doing so would have probably meant driving up the side of Table Mountain (from the Misty Cliffs side). The only complaint, if I had to mention one, would be that it is a tad unstable at higher speeds.

This is due to the short wheelbase and solid axle suspension setup. But it's a small price to pay for a road-legal car that can go absolutely anywhere.

Nissan NP200 1.5 dCi vvss..

Chevrolet Corsa Ute 1.8i Sport The Corsa on the other hand is packed with goodies. A flashy centre console houses the sound system and fuel consumption can be monitored on the futuristic digital display. The ride is much firmer than the NP200 and it feels more like a little hot hatch in the corners. The seats are sporty and the steering more direct, while the Nissan’s steering was a bit vague and much lighter at low speeds.

The engines couldn’t be further apart either, whilst still fitting the cosmetics perfectly. The NP200 has a 1.5 turbo diesel that puts out 63 kW as compared to the Chev’s 1.8 petrol’s 77 kW. Even though the diesel delivers 25% more torque than the Chev, it does not like to be revved and inspired a more relaxed driving style. This resulted in better fuel consumption.

The sound of the Sport’s 1.8-litre petrol engine matched to the firmer suspension and slick five-speed gearbox had me accelerating harder than I needed to and you’d be forgiven for forgetting you’re carrying building material in the load bay (even though I didn’t, GM!). The NP’s load bay is deeper than the Chev’s and can carry about 5% more in weight. Both bakkies are very comfortable to drive around town and feel stable on the open road at 120, but the Chev has longer legs and is not nearly out of breath if you have to pass the car in front of you.

I love comparing two completely dissimilar vehicles and for this I chose two half-ton bakkies, each costing around R170 000. They might look fairly similar in appearance, except for Nissan’s square lines compared to the Chevy’s bulging curves.

Apart from the looks, the differences are more apparent when you step inside. The Nissan is all functional. Even though it also has power steering, ABS and airbags, there’s no on-board computer like in the Ute and the seats are fairly bland. There is not much to get excited about in the interior, but then again it won’t look kitsch in two months’ time. And it is this what I liked most about the little Nissan.

The 1.5 dCi NP200 base model, with air conditioning and safety pack, retails for R168 800 and the Corsa 1.8 Sport for R173 500. Both are at the upper end of the half-ton segment. The 10 grand higher price tag on the Chevy Sport seems justified if you consider the fancier interior and car-like driving qualities, so it looks like a perfect tie then. But as it always is with cars, in the end it comes down to personal choice.

My wife picked the bakkie with the bow-tie badge on the grill, whereas I liked the Nissan’s simplicity, no-frills interior and diesel engine. Take your pick.

www.doitnow.co.za | Lifestyle • 111

BMW G650GS Sertão Launch Mid last year BMW launched, or relaunched, the single cylinder 650. Now called the G650GS, but sharing most of the important parts of the old F650GS, whose name was passed on to the F650GS which is an 800 twin, it's not an entirely new bike.

Got all that? It still has the same bullet proof 652 cc Rotax engine and matching gearbox, but the biggest difference is the appearance, which has been updated so as to not shame the bigger GS family. The ABS system is also much lighter than the old one, but still needs to be switched off every time you leave the tar, as it resets to the on position each time you switch the bike off.

At the G650GS launch last year BMW was reluctant to let anything slip about a Dakar version, but earlier this year we received the invitation. Instead of Dakar it’s now called Sertão, meaning 'wilderness' in Portuguese and it also refers to the arid desert region of northern Brazil. We picked up the bikes in Johannesburg from where we dashed to a bushveld reserve north of Pretoria. On the highway it feels pretty much

COMPARISONS

the same as the standard bike, but once on the dirt the longer travel suspension (210 mm front and rear) could be felt. We did some hard riding on corrugated roads and even though the bikes were shod with road biased tyres, the chassis and suspension were very reassuring. Some of us even had both wheels in the air over the cattle gates.

Later that afternoon we went out for a game ride. Crawling over rocks and through sandy patches looking for zebras and giraffes, the bike’s perfect balance became evident. The next day we did some more exploring in the area after a bird of prey demonstration, and filling up at a garage on our way back revealed a decent 24 km/l of 240 km of mixed riding and hard accelerations. With a fuel tank of 14-litres a range of 350 is not off the cards.

Apart from the tougher suspension, you also get spoked rims, a 21-inch front wheel and a 60 mm taller seat height over the standard GS. At R80 950 for the non-ABS and R89 222 for the ABS version, this is a great buy for the beginner or a BM-fan not wanting to pay R100k plus for an 800. BMW openly admitted to targeting the entry level market, but I’d jump on one tomorrow and ride around the world if they’d let me. •

Jeep Wrangler Rubicon

Nissan NP200 1.5 dCi

Chevrolet Corsa 1.8 Sport

BMW G650GS Sertão

Capacity (cc)

3.6-litre V6

1 461

1 796

652

Power (kW)

209 (6 350 rpm)

63 (3 750 rpm)

77 (5 400 rpm)

35 (6 500 rpm)

Torque (Nm)

347 (4 300 rpm)

200 (1 900 rpm)

161 (3 000 rpm)

60 (5 000 rpm)

Fuel consumption (claimed)

11.4 l/100 km (claimed)

5.3 l/100 km (claimed)

8.1 l/100 km (claimed)

4.2 l/100 km (actual)

Fuel tank capacity (l)

N/a

50

56

14

Load carrying ability

N/a

800 kg

763 kg

N/a

Gearbox

6-speed manual

5-speed manual

5-speed manual

5-speed manual

Price

R389 990

R168 800

R173 500

R80 950 / R89 222

112 • DO IT NOW June | July 2012

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www.doitnow.co.za | Lifestyle • 113

inNATURE:

Words by Alan Hobson Photos courtesy of Angler & Antelope

114 • DO IT NOW June | July 2012

Baviaan’s Battles There is more than one Baviaans River in South Africa, but this particular Baviaans River flows into the Great Fish River, next to the Eastpoort railway siding where the N10 motorway meets the R63, between Cookhouse and Cradock in the Eastern Cape. Here the river bed remains dry for most of the year, with the catchment area beginning in the Winterberg mountain range that towers above Bedford. After each downpour the rain water

gushes down into the Great Fish River, covering the exposed sand within minutes. The anomaly is the sand filters the water beautifully, leaving crystal clear pools where deep holes have been scoured. And when this happens, nature instinctively chimes the aquatic clock of the abundant Yellowfish that inhabit the Great Fish River. As torrents of water rage down the Baviaans, the Yellowfish move upstream, getting trapped in the deeper pools as the water subsides, thus presenting some very exciting sight fishing opportunities; our Karoo equivalent of sight fishing Nirvana at Sterkfontein Dam, but hey, at least we can enjoy sight fishing for Yellowfish without having to drive a thousand kilometres.

Glenn, Andrew and I rearranged our diaries so that we could test our skills against these Karoo Yellowfish, schools of different sized fish moving up and down the pools waiting for the next downpour to continue their migration upstream. Timing, timing and timing are the key to success and ninja is the word. Firstly, one needs to be as inconspicuous as possible, which is rather challenging with clear blue skies and crystal clear water. So the trick is to choose a position, settle in and sit still. Patience is the name of this game, observe and do not rush to get the fly in front of the fish. This is really difficult when you can see 15 to 20 decent sized fish cruising straight at you, the adrenalin jolt to the brain somehow automating an over enthusiastic casting action that's accentuated by trembling hands and a pounding heart, usually resulting in a botched cast. One has to wait until the school has either passed you or is still some distance away so that your false casting does not spook them. Remember, the fish can see you long before you can see them, so any sudden movements result in them competing for pole position on a formula one track as they shoot past you, scattering in every direction. Once you have placed the fly in the cruising lane, leave it there until the fish are about one metre away. Now twitch the fly, once or twice. The movement of the fly usually provokes interest from the fish. The problem is that they all tend to descend on the general area where your fly is, at once, so it's critical to know exactly where your fly is. Even though the water is crystal clear one cannot see a #18 nymph one metre below the surface.

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 • 115

This is the moment of truth and your success lies in your ability to observe the body language of the fish, a skill developed by spending time on the water, observing and testing your character after having missed several fish. If you thought for a moment that trout could mouth, taste and expel a fly quickly, well, a Yellowfish is twice as quick!

Smallmouth Yellowfish, Labeobarbus Aeneus, have well developed lips so they tend to scrounge around the river bed, sucking insects off rocks and even moving rocks to dislodge insects. Anything that does not feel life like or resemble an aquatic titbit is spat out quicker than the blink of an eye. So as anglers we need to develop a super sense to Yellowfish behaviour; call it a sixth sense. When you observe the Yellowfish stopping suddenly, it might tilt its head, move its lips (usually one just sees them part) tilt its body or open its gill plates ... that is the moment to set the hook! Most of the time you will not even feel the fish pick up the fly and if you do feel a tug, it is too late as it would have dropped it already. It is advisable not to strike by lifting your rod, but rather execute a strip strike by pulling your line quickly. Once you feel a reaction at the end of your line, lift your rod to cushion the power of the fish taking off and let the fish run, keeping the line taught and your rod tip

116 • DO IT NOW June | July 2012

up. Your rod acts as a shock absorber pulsing to each tail movement or shaking of the fish’s head whilst it tears away from you. There must be tension in your line at all times; if the fish pulls let it pull, and when the fish is not pulling that is when you start pulling to keep the line taught. If the line becomes slack there is a chance the hook could come loose. It is advisable to use a slightly longer leader than the normal nine foot and reduce the diameter of your tippet to 4 or 6lb breaking strain, as your leader is your most deceptive weapon, it's the connection between the fly line and fly that the fish cannot see.

We all battled with our timing but by strip striking one keeps the fly in the water, providing another opportunity for one of the other fish in the school to pick it up. Eventually, we managed to land a few good-sized fish. The size of the grins on our faces after success reflected that the battle was not so much with the Baviaans, but rather with ourselves. •

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inCREDIBLE PLACES:

Words & Photos by Kim Harrisberg

a love affair with India

- Hampi

Little did I know what a deep love I have for rocks until I arrived at a place described to me by a friend as a mixture between Jurassic Park and the Flintstones. Hampi, in India, is littered with vast stretches of boulder-strewn hills and captivating ruins that make the backdrop of this ancient metropolis so distinctive. The ruins are a UNESCO World Heritage Site and even in its ruined state, Hampi is charismatic. Within this arid landscape lies a little oasis with lush palm, banana and mango trees nestled near the river. When cycling through the town, the women can be seen skillfully picking rice plants, and they are literally a moving postcard image of colours, expression and culture. My three friends, Zoe, Naomi and Jade, and I had to pinch ourselves to make sure that this picturesque and unique surrounding was real.

We had been in India for around five weeks and had another two left. We were here because we craved something strikingly dissimilar to anything we had ever experienced before, and this is what we found in copious and mindboggling situations. Our first few days were spent exploring either by scooter, bicycle or tuk-tuk and on foot. We climbed over 600 steps to reach the renowned 'Monkey Temple', which takes its name from the monkey god, Hanuman, and the scarily-confident monkeys that swarm the temple. You are guaranteed to be red in the face and sweating, yet smiling because of the magnificent 360-degree view of Hampi that makes every thigh-burning step worth it. We found a beautiful lake and enjoyed a surge of adrenaline jumping off an eightmetre rock into the cool embrace of the water below. We cycled through the nearby villages and ate at local restaurants, which allowed us to experience their fascinating culture firsthand.

We discovered the hand-blistering joys of 'bouldering', which requires chalk, toe-pinching shoes, mattresses and no rope whatsoever just to reach the top of a big rock. When grappling with a small but mischievously-shaped boulder, you experience a strange mixture of frustration, determination and a strong humbling effect that results in you never wanting to climb a rock so badly in your entire life. But before you know it, your eyes are scanning the horizon for the next challenge from amongst some of nature's most strange and sublime rock forms.

Hampi's incredible ruins, smiling locals, daily boat rides, yoga, street markets and sense of timelessness stole my heart, and I decided that for my last week this is where I would stay. I chose to do the last leg of the trip alone and

118 • DO IT NOW June | July 2012

went to volunteer at Hampi's Children's Trust, a charity aimed at keeping the children of Hampi off the streets.

After a few enquiries, I found a modest building that had handmade signs decorated with the colorful handprints of all 36 children who were helped by the Trust.

Here, the children are fed, clothed, given all school equipment and assisted with homework. It scared me a little at how quickly I connected with them, how open their hearts are to strangers and how much older they are than their actual age. I found six-year-olds asserting their autonomy over distributing the food, sweeping the floors, diligently doing their homework and keeping their appearances immaculate, their little ankles jingling from their customary silver anklets.

It was hard for me to see the apathy displayed by their teachers in their daily homework routine, which entailed a monotonous repetition of around three English words written out on five pages at a time. My inability to speak their language frustrated me especially in those moments when I tried to explain something, only to be met with a smiling yet empty response of, "Yes, Cream," because for some of them 'Kim' was too strange a name to pronounce.

When I realised the language barrier was maybe too big to cross in such a short space of time, I decided that wordless communication was needed. I wanted to run an activity for the children that was creative, resourceful and fun. The solution: coconuts, sandpaper and paint. After cutting 18 coconuts in half with a blunt saw and the help of a local friend, I gave the children half a coconut each and a slither of sandpaper. Before I could shout 'go' the air was filled with floating coconut particles, as the children rigorously rubbed away the hard outer shells and began to polish what would become their very own bowls; their attentiveness and excitement exceeding our expectations.

Something so simple had momentarily distracted them from the often harsh realities of their lives, where they are forced to detach from their childish instincts and focus on their more innate survival tendencies. For a few hours they were blissful happy, and even if my impact there was small, their impact on me was astounding. I can only hope they will remember me in a few years time.

In-between helping the children I took in a slightly haphazard but heart-warming Ayurvedic massage course, run by a very sweet lady named Swathi. Each class would begin with my receiving of the massage. Her hands, homemade oils and soothing energy always left me in a mellow daze, while I attempted to take notes as she explained how and why she had sent me to such a happy place. Some days were spent in her tiny kitchen where she showed me her secret remedies for joint pains, relaxation oils and even her best chai secrets. Swathi said something I found quite profound, and in broken English she explained that massage was much easier for Indians than for Westerners, as we have created a type of detachment from our dexterity. We use

tools, cutlery and machinery even when our hands are perfectly capable of fulfilling the same purpose. Indians on the other hand are, excuse the pun, very hands-on people.

Food is savoured with fingers full of rice and dahl, and proof of their resourcefulness of crafting, cutting and sewing is seen in the street markets.

As the end of our time in India drew nearer, I realised that our whirlwind-trip had resulted in a fast-paced glimpse into many windows of what India has to offer. We had trekked, tasted, been harassed, been embraced, gotten lost and been challenged, but never for long enough to step through the door of the living and breathing India. With this in the forefront of my mind I decided to take a step back and really see what Hampi had to give. I attempted this is in some big and some small ways, such as stopping to kneel down next to one of the many cows roaming the streets to give it a rub of gentle acknowledgment, or by remembering the friendly store owners by name and actually take up their offers of sharing a meal with them and their families. It meant letting go of my fears of street food and the frighteningly desperate children who followed you until you cracked with sympathy and bought them and their families a bag of oranges. It also meant seeing people for who they are in a more authentic and slow-paced light, and one which India often disallows.

It is almost too easy to get caught up in its frenetic pulse, which pumps through the country in heated excitement. My time in Hampi allowed me to stitch together all the eclectic pieces of my India trip, to create a mosaic rich in diversity and chaos.

Leaving Hampi snuck up on me all too soon. I did not say goodbye to all my friends or the places that had stolen my heart, instead I left with a deep desire to return soon. On my 13-hour bus ride to Mumbai, I met yet another lovely Indian lady, who was married and pregnant at the age of 21, the same age as me. In this short ride a friendship was formed and she took it upon herself to buy me chai at the stops and hold my bag when I went to visit the beloved long-drop.

She was shocked to discover that I was travelling alone, when she had to be accompanied by two male companions as she made her annual visit to a sacred temple. Culturally, a crater separated us, yet we managed to connect on an emotional level that transcended the barriers which only existed due to geographical chance. When she got off at her stop, she hugged me like she had known me forever and asked if I was on Facebook.

www.doitnow.co.za | Lifestyle • 119

From left to right 1.

My friend Natasha stands alongside our first and last accommodation in India.

2.

A perfect example of the eclectic and strangely beautiful disorder that decorates India.

3.

An ancient ruin earlier in our trip in Udaipur.

4.

Common and unfamiliar fruit taunt the daring traveller to be adventurous.

5.

The simultaneous heart-breaking and warming elephants that troll the streets.

6.

A young Indian boy clad in customary attire ... only to pose for a photo and ask for a donation.

7.

The lake in Udaipur that encircles the chaotic market in quiet and paradoxical serenity.

After reuniting with my friends at the Salvation Army Hostel, we reflected on how much had happened since our arrival in India. Our naivety had vanished and in its place was an assertiveness and buoyancy that was not there almost eight weeks before. As a last act in India, I called our beloved friend Sukha, who had hosted us in Pushkar almost five weeks earlier. We had vowed not to leave India without saying goodbye and the warmth in his voice brought tears to my eyes, along with his insistence that we come back soon. His incredible hospitality and unrelenting sanguinity had been our refuge after the madness of Mumbai. He, as expected, finished off the call with his token phrase, "THIS is the life, hoo hah!"

120 • DO IT NOW June | July 2012

For now, I am working on a way to get back to the place and people who stole my heart. But when the unavoidable travel monster begins to find its way into my mind, I am drawn back into the present and the inimitable country and people that surround me already. I smile as I remember that THIS is the life!

Until next time, Namaste• (a direct translation meaning, the God in me bows down to the God in you.)

www.doitnow.co.za | Lifestyle • 121

inCREDIBLE PLACES:

Words by Steven Yates Photos by Steven & Laura Yates

France

its beautiful coastline cities The south of France is known for lesser known villages of the and sunny summers, but it was the(or just Provence) that attracted eastern Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur I joined my parents for a us to the beautiful area. Laura andnarrow winding roads and magical two weeks of exploring the ted coastal cities in our ‘oh-somedieval villages. Leaving the popula plotting our way through the French’ Citroen, we found ourselves de by the premise; the more farming towns which seemed to abi t tourists have discovered it. remote the village, the less likely tha

122 • DO IT NOW June | July 2012

www.shutterstock.com

k in P , s ld ie F r Lavende s e s r o H e it h W d Wine an

Our drive heralded our arrival at the village of Montclus, which would be our home for two weeks and the first of many marvels we were about to experience. The approach to the perfectly maintained medieval hamlet was a single lane winding up through a field of lavender, perfectly framed with a babbling river of clean, clear water and soft round pebbles. Our first experience of the fragrant lavender fields was enough to send Laura into heaven, while the cold crisp rosé at the only café in the village had a similar effect for my Dad. The picture in my mind drummed up by many hours of reading Peter Mayle’s books on living in Provence could not have been more accurate, from the sun-worn old men playing boules in the shade of the parking lot trees, to the narrow cobbled streets which no car could possibly fit though. From beautiful stony arches and colourful flower boxes framing the many windows, to the friendly banter of the musical French vocabulary sounding between the locals; Montclus was a place to hold in one’s heart.

Leaving our little village each day to explore the surrounding area could only be described as a colour explosion, as we were treated to fields of bright yellow sunflowers in full bloom, the gentle purple of the lavender bushels and the vibrant greens of vines bulging with young grapes. Our kaleidoscope experience did not end there, as meals were accompanied with chilled wine of every hue of pink, olive oils of nutty green and cheese from chalky white to creamy yellow (and sometimes a little blue). From Montclus we visited the traditional centres of Provence such as Orange, Aix and Avignon, all boasting French markets that bustled with local produce and flavoursome delights – the best of which was in the streets of Gordes where we bought (according to the extensive research of Peter Mayle) the best cork screw in the world – a Laguiole. In one of the villages named Cornillon, on a hillside overlooking lavender fields, we enjoyed an evening (as the only non-French speaking people) of local song by the villagers, who spontaneously decided to have a concert in the town centre.

www.doitnow.co.za | Lifestyle • 123

Too much touring can be exhausting so we decided to slow down and add some red into our mix of colours with a long, slow day in Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Renowned to produce some of the best red wines in the world, the village of Châteauneuf-du-Pape is unlike the wine towns we are used to in South Africa. Unlike the South African wine estates, which make their wine on the farm, Châteauneuf-du-Pape has all of the surrounding wine farms’ cellars in the town, with only the actual vines streaming across the surrounding countryside.

Each building in the town houses a cool subterranean cellar lined with many vintages of magnificent wine. Our wine tasting experience was second to none as we moved from cellar to cellar, sampling the best the region had to offer. The day was topped off with two hours in the most magnificent boutique wine cellar, Baronnie d’Estouard. This cellar only produces 2,000 bottles of red and 1,600 bottles of white per year, and they can only be purchased from the cellar in person. We were lucky enough to have the charming and quirky owner to ourselves, although at one stage he did chase a potential customer out of the cellar because 'he was rude and would not appreciate the wine'. We sampled red vintages from six different years and a couple of whites too; we discussed the approach of winemaking in the region vs. the traditional South African approach and finally splashed out on a case of liquid gold, to which the owner gifted us three free bottles of his older vintages to complete our collection. It might have all been a sales ploy, but the wine is, to this day, the best I have ever had and the experience of buying was even better.

Refreshed from our day of wine tasting, our sightseeing resumed with a more historic approach. We visited some of the ancient Roman remains littering the surrounding countryside, the most impressive being the Pont du Gard, which rises 49 metres above the river and spans the 274 metres across it. Our tour wound its way down to the Camargue where we spent a night away from our beloved Montclus. Again, we were reminded that colour was the theme for the holiday, with the famous white horses and

124 • DO IT NOW June | July 2012

black bulls of the coastal delta providing stark contrast to the pink of the flamingos. The salt pans, brine lakes and sand dunes of the Camargue were beautifully wild, and Laura and I decided to explore it firstly by bicycle and then on horseback. Finally we enjoyed the explosion of flavour offered by the fresh seafood dishes served along the French coast, most notable was the Marseille’s famed bouillabaisse.

Returning to Montclus we decided we had done enough sightseeing and traversing the countryside and that some rest and relaxation was in order for our remaining summer days. We lounged on the banks of the River Cèze, which ambled its way only metres from our casa. We drank chilled rosé and indulged in cured meats and fresh bread drizzled with the finest of olive oils and accompanied with paté of wild boar and foie gras. We hired canoes and let the easy pace of the Cèze float us down past riverside cafés and families enjoying the sun. We joined some locals for evening boule and took long afternoon naps.

To the colours and flavours of a most amazing region … raise a glass to Provence … what a wonderful world.

Interesting facts: • The Pont du Gard was constructed in 1 AD. It is the highest and best preserved of all Roman aquaduct bridges.

• The Pont du Gard was constructed largely without the use of mortar or clamps. It contains an estimated 50,400 tons of stone with a volume of some 21,000 m³; some of the individual blocks weigh up to 6 tons.

• The Camargue is western Europe's largest river delta and home to more than 400 species of birds.

• The Camargue has its own eponymous horse breed, the famous white Camarguais, ridden by the gardians (similar to traditional cowboys), who rear the region's black fighting bulls for export to Spain.

• The Camargue horse is one of the oldest breeds in the world, closely related to the prehistoric horses whose remains have been found elsewhere in southern France.

• There are at least three kinds of fish in a traditional bouillabaisse, typically scorpionfish, sea robin and European conger. Vegetables such as leeks, onions, tomatoes, celery and potatoes are simmered together with the broth and served with the fish.

Best time to go:

• The most idyllic months for visiting the south of France are May and June. Though the sun is intense, it's not uncomfortable. Coastal waters have warmed up by then, so swimming is possible, and all the resorts have come alive after a winter slumber but aren't yet overrun. The flowers and herbs in the countryside are at their peak, and driving conditions are ideal. In June, it remains light until around 10:30pm.

• Lavender blooms from late June to September and is harvested from mid July to late August, the exact time being dependent on the region, plants and seasonal weather. So if you want to be sure to catch the lavender in bloom you should plan your visit from mid June to mid July.

• The most overcrowded times, also the hottest, in more ways than one, are July and August.

• Aside from May and June, our favorite time is September and even early October, when the sun is still hot and the great hordes have headed back north.

• Many of the smaller hotels and restaurants in the country areas close during the months of November to March. •

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Experience Antelope Park, the Zimbabwe Ruins, Elephant Rides and White River Rafting.

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contAct detAils: Stephanie Engelbrecht 074 190 2157 info@aviationjunction.net www.aviationjunction.net www.doitnow.co.za | Lifestyle • 125

inSURE: Words by Peter Fairbanks

DO IT NOW FINANCIAL TIMES JUNE - JULY 2012

Is a Trust for You?

126 • DO IT NOW June | July 2012

Trusts are not all doom and gloom and to make this point I refer to my example of the businessman I mentioned in the last issue. He placed all his properties in a Trust in the early '80s, and then in the '90s he had six additional Trusts drawn up for his children and the properties were 'donated' into these new Trusts.

He believed that they would be seen as donations until the Commissioner ruled against this. So he took his case all the way to the Court of Appeal and got the Commissioner’s verdict over turned. Although it saved him millions, it still cost him half his fortune in legal costs. The crux of this example is that not all of us have the necessary capital or time to battle with SARs, or any other legal entity, to rectify a mistake. In addition a hasty decision just to do something or save a buck can cause a lot of suffering, emotional distress and financial ruin for your spouse and dependants.

So let’s take a look at the practical implications of using a Trust. Simply put, you are tying up your assets and beneficiaries into a legal entity. This is a constant, but change and the parties to this contract are not, as people get divorced, siblings end up not talking to each other, assets devaluate in certain cases, laws and taxes change and 20-years earlier you signed a document without taking any of these situations into account. In all fairness though, who can foresee any of these circumstances happening – none of us get married to end up divorced and we don’t plan to estrange ourselves from our families, or make poor life and business decisions.

One of the most common reasons why many people choose to use a Trust is because of its estate tax benefits when one dies. This is not always the case for the following reasons: • SARS currently gives you a R3.5 million tax rebate on your estate and whatever you don’t use can be carried over to the remaining spouse’s estate. His or her estate will enjoy an exemption of R7 million on his or her death, but rolling over the exemption also has its pros and cons. Estate duty of 20% is charged on assets that exceed R3.5 million, with the exception of any assets you leave to your spouse.

• Primary properties are exempt from capital gains tax, but in a Trust capital gains are currently taxed at 26.7% as opposed to only 13.3%* in your individual capacity.

• The amount of revenue the receiver collects on estate duties has decreased over the past couple of years for two reasons. Firstly, SARS benefits more from taxing individuals at death and secondly, people are living longer, saving less and therefore don’t have big estate problems when they pass away.

• You should also never assume that whatever you’ve placed in a Trust is safe from SARS. Many an individual has received a nasty surprise when SARS did not find a correlation between the inception Deed of the Trust and the beneficiaries who gained from the Trust.

So if you are one of the 99% of South Africans who cannot afford to retire, no matter how you do the math, it makes no financial sense to place assets in a Trust just to save on estate taxes.

But as mentioned earlier there are many benefits to a Trust when used for the right reasons. To get some pointers on what to do and when you should consider a Trust, I went to a leading accounting firm, IQ Accounting Inc. for some advice, and this is what they said.

❱❱ The most important step when considering a Trust is to approach someone that is absolutely trustworthy and has the necessary expertise in the field of drawing up Trusts. ❱❱ A Trust Deed is crucial to the existence and functionality of the Trust, and the lack thereof is the main reason why most Trusts fall short 20 years down the line. ❱❱ M ake sure you have at least one or two independent trustees appointed to the Trust, as the duties of the trustees are onerous. ❱❱ Assets can be protected against creditors. ❱❱ A Trust, especially a Special Trust, is an awesome vehicle to assist disabled persons to maintain their needs. These Trusts are taxed as would be an individual person, but with the added bonus of having a professional trustee assist in the money matters of that individual. ❱❱ A Trust can protect the interests of its beneficiaries, such as a minor child’s income and inheritance, after a divorce. ❱❱ Lastly, a Trust is not expensive to draw up and is easy to maintain, as it can be audited or compiled annually.

For more advice on all your Trust matters, contact Deon Grove at IQ Accounting Inc. on info@iqaccounting.co.za.

Next month we will conclude with an in-depth look at the drafting of Wills and the consequences. • *Inclusive rate for person at a personal tax rate of 40%

www.doitnow.co.za | Lifestyle • 127

inTERTAINMENT:

Reviews by Richard Flamengo & www.fortressofsolitude.co.za

MOVIE TITLE

The Hunger Games Director: Gary Ross Starring: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson and Liam Hemsworth

HIGHLIGHTS

• Cast Recommended for: Action adventure fans

VERDICT

Every year in the ruins of what was once North America, the evil Capitol of the nation forces each of its 12 districts to send a teenage boy and girl to compete in the Hunger Games. A twisted punishment for a past uprising and an ongoing government intimidation tactic, The Hunger Games is a nationally televised event where 'Tributes' must fight one another until only one survivor remains. The cast includes two relatively unknowns in lead roles and with an accomplished array of stars in supporting roles which elevates this movie to the next level.

Based on the first novel of a best-selling trilogy by Suzanne Collins, the Hunger Games is a science fiction, fantasy, action adventure that combines all these elements into a compelling story that must be seen. The movie ends having built the perfect platform for the remaining chapters, 'Catching Fire' and 'Mockingjay', of the trilogy to unfold, and I am looking forward to seeing them.

In summary, the Hunger Games is a very enjoyable futurist adventure, presented with a compelling, beady-eyed intensity. It runs nearly two-and-a-half hours in length, but never drags and doesn't overstay its welcome. The movie ends having built the perfect platform for the remaining chapters, 'Catching Fire' and 'Mockingjay', in the trilogy to unfold.

MOVIE TITLE

HIGHLIGHTS

Director: Joss Whedon Starring: Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Jeremy Renner, Mark Ruffalo, Robert Downey Jr, Scarlett Johansson, Samuel L Jackson and Tom Hiddleston

VERDICT

The Avengers

• Great cast • Sharp humour Recommended for: Superhero fans

Marvel Studios presents the superhero team-up of a lifetime featuring the Iron Man, Incredible Hulk, Thor, Captain America, Hawkeye and Black Widow. When an unexpected enemy emerges and threatens global safety and security, Nick Fury, Director of the international peacekeeping agency known as S.H.I.E.L.D. finds himself in need of a team to pull the world back from the brink of disaster. Spanning the globe, a daring recruitment effort begins.

This movie has been building up for a number of years and I am pleased to say that the wait has been worth it. Marvel Studios delivers an astonishing first instalment of the Avengers. The brilliant cast and great story, which is accompanied by razor sharp humour, brilliant special effects and jaw dropping 3D, puts this movie in a league of its own.

A MUST SEE for everyone and definitely worth the extra money for 3D. So let's hold thumbs for a sequel that is even bigger and better.

128 • DO IT NOW June | July 2012

GAME TITLE

Silent Hill: Downpour

VERDICT

Developed by Vatra Games, Silent Hill returns with the eighth installment in its longrunning horror genre series. You play as Murphy Pendleton who, at first glance, you may mistake for Resident Evil’s very own protagonist Leon Kennedy. Unlike Leon though, Murphy is a bad boy who’s been incarcerated for several years and is being transferred to a different prison. On the bus ride over the bus crashes and Murphy finds himself summoned to the titular town Silent Hill. His sole objective is to escape from the town inhabited by monsters and psychotic townspeople that may or may not be a part of his delusions. Not knowing what is and isn’t real keeps players guessing until the very end.

Overall, there are still a few connections that the game makes to the previous games in the series, but unfortunately most of what has been added isn't great. There are a few fleeting moments in Downpour that offer legitimate thrills, but on the whole, the experience is very weak, the game play dull and uninspired, the combat loose and clunky, and the technical presentation poor.

CD TITLE

The Fray – Scars & Stories

VERDICT

The Fray has garnered significant respect within both the alternative and mainstream communities and so it comes as no surprise that their latest offering, Scars & Stories, chooses to defend the band’s empire instead of pushing towards newer and greener pastures.

The band tries to create a bit more edge and energy through big choruses and slightly loud guitars, as found on songs like ‘Heatbeat’ and ‘The Fighter’, to drive everything home. There is once again an emphasis on tune sense, which can be heard from Isaac Slade’s heartfelt vocals to the pianos, which serve as the music’s steadfast foundation.

inCOMING Movies to look out for Snow White and the Huntsmen Genre: Action/Adventure Director: Rupert Sanders Starring: Kristen Stewart and Charlize Theron Date: 1 June

Prometheus Genre: Horror Director: Ridley Scott Starring: Charlize Theron and Patrick Wilson Date: 8 June

Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted Genre: Animated Director: Eric Darnell Starring: Ben Stiller, Jada Pinkett Smith and Chris Rock Date: 15 June

Mad Buddies Genre: Comedy Director: Gray Hofmeyr Starring: Leon Schuster, Alfred Ntombela and Kennith Nkosi Date: 22 June

The Dictator Genre: Comedy Director: Larry Charles Starring: Sacha Baron Cohen, John C Reilly and Anna Faris Date: 13 July

The Dark Knight Rises Genre: Action Director: Christopher Nolan Starring: Christian Bale, Anne Hathaway, Gary Oldman and Morgan Freeman Date: 27 July

www.doitnow.co.za | Lifestyle • 129

inFOCUS:

Words & Photos by Jacques Marais

Photographic

Chronicles

SHOOT!

A Canoe Marathon 130 • DO IT NOW April June || May July 2012

Telling Photo Stories Does shooting a paddling race in the desert sound like a bit of a nightmare? It actually isn't if that event is the Green Kalahari Canoe Marathon; it makes for a dream commission.

‘Water’ and ‘desert’ are not words you really associate with each other, but if you head up into the wide-sky landscape of the Northern Cape Province, you’ll soon enough change your mind. Here, within a swathe of desert known as the ‘Green Kalahari’, the mighty Gariep River snakes in verdant coils through the arid semi-desert.

For many years, there has not been a worthy paddling event on South Africa’s largest river, but this year it changed when the inaugural Green Kalahari Canoe Marathon (GKCM) took place between Upington and Khamkirri. Athletes from around the country bladed onto the muddy, mighty Gariep, and made history as they navigated the rapids of the ‘Great River’.

Shooting the event was a cinch, with the exhilarating waterway juxtaposed within the dramatic surrounds of the rugged Kalahari. Contrast and light, serenity and excitement, agony and ecstasy … all the elements of a great drama played out perfectly during the GKCM, and all one needed to get the perfect shot was to be in the right place at the right time.

Image 1: Water of Love

The Action: Paddlers gunning hard for pole position just after the start on Day 2 of the GKCM, just outside Upington.

The Shot: This image is all about the expression on the paddlers’ faces as they paddle with intent, totally focussed on the challenge posed by the Gariep River.

The Technique: A low angle across the water, combined with a long zoom lens, creates the impression that you’re part of the action.

The Specifications: 1/1200th sec @ 5.6; Nikon D700 with 28-300mm lens; ISO 400; WB Setting (Auto); No flash; AE Setting – As metered; Filter applied in Adobe Lightroom.

More Information: www.northerncape.org.za

www.doitnow.co.za | Lifestyle • 131

Image 2: Take Me Down the River

Image 3: Impressionist Action

The Shot: I knew right away the money shot here would be from the cliffs, but the only way to get it was to paddle with your kit and climb to the top of the gorge ...

The Shot: Sometimes you get an ‘arty’ image because of fluke lighting and this was one such case. I selected Spot Metering and this specific shot under-exposed because it read off one of the highlights on the water.

The Action: A lone paddler negotiates the rugged channels of Neus Gorge on the second day of the GKCM.

The Technique: The shot was straightforward enough, with excellent contrast between the water and rocks.

I like this image as it leads your eye to the paddler in the distance.

The Action: A high-angle view of a K2 canoe darting under a bridge during the first day of the GKCM.

The Technique: I was shooting on Aperture Priority from atop a bridge and the reflections stopped down the lens, opening to create the feel of paddling on black oil.

The Specifications: 1/500th sec @ 8; Nikon D700 with 28300mm lens; ISO 200; WB Setting (Sun); No flash; AE Setting – As metered; Post-processing in Adobe Lightroom.

The Specifications: 1/2400th sec @ f8; D700mm with 24120mm zoom lens; ISO 250; WB Setting (Sun); AE Setting – As metered; Minor post-processing in Adobe Lightroom.

More Information: www.greenkalaharicanoemarathon.co.za

More Information: www.nikon.co.za

132 • DO IT NOW June | July 2012

134 • DO IT NOW June | July 2012

Image 4: The Light Fantastic

The Action: Paddlers face off against the Gawie se Gat Rapid on the final day of the GKCM. The Shot: Scout the lay of the land when you get to a spot and then make sure you get yourself into position. In this case, I managed to paddle in as close as possible to the rapid to shoot the action up close.

The Technique: In up to my chin in the river, I'm shooting on as high a shutter speed as possible to freeze the action.

The Specifications: 1400 sec @ f5.6; D700 with 28-300mm zoom; ISO - 500; WB Setting: Auto; AE Setting – As metered; Filter applied in Adobe Lightroom.

More Information: www.jacquuesmarais.co.za

www.doitnow.co.za | Lifestyle • 135

inFOCUS:

Reader Photo Competition

WIN R500!

Winner Photographer: Wynand Rohde Photograph: Feeding Time Camera Type: Canon EOS 30D and Canon 100-400mm

Camera Settings: 1/800s, f8, iso 320 Place: Rietvlei National Park, Pretoria Category: Lifestyle

Competition Information This is your opportunity to showcase your photographic skills and stand a chance to WIN R500 for the best image in DO IT NOW’s inFOCUS competition, which features in every issue of the magazine. So get clicking and send us your photographs – you never know, you could just be our next WINNER! When submitting your images, please also include the following information: • Name of photographer • Name of photograph • Camera type

• Camera settings • Place where the photograph was taken

• Which category you are submitting your photo under – Adventure, Sport or Lifestyle

Competition Rules (1) The closing date for the next competition is 25 June 2012 and the winning photo will be featured and credited in the next issue of DO IT NOW. (2) The image entered must include the information requested above and any entry received without the requested information will not be considered. Digitally manipulated images will not be accepted. (3) Only amateur photographers may enter.

(4) Email your 1-3mb compressed .jpg image to competitions@doitnow.co.za (5) There is a maximum of one entry per person, per issue. (6) The judges’ decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into. (7) Please note that your images may be published in the DO IT NOW magazine and on the DO IT NOW website. (8) By entering the competition, you agree to abide by these rules. Winners will not be eligible to enter again in the next issue.

136 • DO IT NOW June | July 2012

I AM NIKON

I AM ADVENTURE

inVOLVED:

Words by Rita Bachmann Photos by Children in the Wilderness photographers

Children in the

Wilderness Children in the Wilderness is a life skills and environmental leadership programme for rural children.

Through these programmes we teach children who live alongside wilderness reserves the importance of conservation and strive to instil within them a passion for the environment so that they become environmental leaders and custodians of these wilderness areas.

The programme has grown from humble beginnings in 2001 to the sustainable environmental educational programme that it is today. Over the years, Children in the Wilderness has been implemented in seven southern African countries - Botswana, Malawi, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe - in which Wilderness operates.

How it works Wilderness closes some of its camps for a number of weeks each year to host groups of selected rural children. Groups of 16 to 40 children, between the ages of 10 and 17 and preselected from schools and communities in the surrounding areas, are invited to spend five nights in camp and participate in the programme.

When the programme began in 2001, the selection process focused mainly on the vulnerable children in the communities.

However, the concept of leadership values became a growing priority, with the result that children with leadership qualities or community influence have been included as participants alongside the vulnerable youngsters. In this way, the programme facilitates sustainable conservation through leadership development, reaching further than one camp and growing in strength and influence.

138 • DO IT NOW June | July 2012

Curriculum The programmes are run by a Camp Director, who is assisted by mentors, generally consisting of Wilderness camp staff who volunteer their time and energy to this cause. Ultimately, since many mentors come from the same communities or villages as the camp participants, they are excellent role models who restore a sense of hope in the children.

The programme and curriculum: • Practises and teaches sustainable environmental education • Develops leadership qualities in Africa’s children • Exposes the children to new experiences and friends • Helps to build self-esteem and teach life skills • Inspires the children to continue with their education • Focuses on everyday issues pertaining to their particular situation, such as HIV/AIDS, nutrition, poaching and many more • Provides the children with a sense of hope and opportunity

Follow up programmes Children in the Wilderness operates Follow-up Programmes to provide to further support and encourage environmental awareness for both the children that have attended the camps and those who have not, but have joined the Environmental Clubs formed in the schools. This increases the reach and influence of the programme, and also encourages the children to continue with their education as well as keep their newfound love of wildlife alive.

Over the past year we have been busy developing an environmental curriculum that we feel has relevance to the world we live in today. We have also focused on developing

common materials and resources to ensure that the learning content of our programme is enhanced. Children in the Wilderness’ commitment has seen the reach of the programme extend far beyond just the initial camp programme and in many communities environmental clubs have been initiated, intended to provide opportunities for learners who are interested in the environment to meet, learn, discuss and expand their knowledge of environmental issues.

The most exciting aspect of it all has been seeing some of the original participants joining conservation organisations and in some instances joining Wilderness Safaris and Children in the Wilderness as full time staff members.

One of our fundraising initiatives is an annual mountain bike tour. We are proud to host our eighth annual mountain bike event in August, the Fedhealth Tour de Tuli 2012. Cyclists take on the challenging, yet majestic landscape of three different African countries: Botswana, Zimbabwe and South Africa, and three National Parks: Northern Tuli Game Reserve, Tuli Safari Area and Mapungubwe National Park.

The massive increase in interest is a testimony of the huge success of this event. This year we will be hosting approximately 300 cyclists from 2 to 7 August. Once again we are looking forward to generating more exposure for our partners and sponsors.

Children’s Memories

“I will never forget this camp, because I saw a lion. It was my first time to see a lion and to swim in a swimming pool.”

- Thabo (12 yrs) “I am writing this letter about my trip to CITW camp in Hwange national parks on the 23nd of November. I was impressed because of the way they welcomed us. I learnt something there.

We played many games I had never played, we saw many animals I have never seen for example giraffe and zebra. We eat a variety of food I had never eaten. I will never forget those days. I wish you to come and take us back again. I wish to go and work there and see Flora.”

- Sanele (12 yrs) “One thing I will always remember about camp is the boat because my first day it be happy and in my life don’t know the sea is blue.”

- Mkhululi (13 yrs) “We see the hamback (humpback whale).”

- Nhlakanipho (12 yrs) “One thing I will always remember about camp: it is the Deku tree and fish eagle that was a beautiful bird at the Pafuri Camp.”

- Nyiko (12 yrs)

How You Can Help

If you are interested in helping us with our programme, opportunities include: • Monetary donations to cover the day-today camp operational expenses • Sponsor a child on a Children in the Wilderness • Sponsor a Children in the Wilderness Camp • Become a Fundraising Ambassador • Donations in kind that could be utilised on the programme •

DINfo box i For more information email ritab@wilderness.co.za Children in the Wilderness website www.childreninthewilderness.com Fedhealth Tour de Tuli 2012 www.tourdewilderness.com Facebook www.facebook.com/ childreninthewilderness

www.doitnow.co.za | Lifestyle • 139

inVOLVED:

Words by Michael Denison, WESSA Photos by various contributors

A Walk

on the Wild Side As far into our history as one wishes to explore, walking wild on the Wild Coast has always held an intriguing seat on the mantle of wonder. Early wanderers, namely the australopithecines of around three-million years ago, were just beginning to straighten up as they tread their evolutionary steps along this coast towards Homo erectus and eventually Homo sapiens.

Then some forty-thousand years ago, give or take a few, the Khoi and San popularised the route with their annual winter migration from the Drakensberg to the Wild Coast for their hunter-gathering lifestyles. With its exceptional biodiversity; abundant in rocky shore life, estuaries teeming with fish, coastal forests with rich bird and mammalian life and plentiful sweet waters, coupled to a welcoming and temperate climate, the Wild Coast secured the frequent revisits of these wanderers and cemented the concept of an annual Wild Walk for the Wild Coast.

From 1928 to 1931 Huberta the Hippo, an iconic Wild Coast wanderer, set off on her own wild walk from KwaZuluNatal to East London. Now, several years later, the Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa (WESSA) has been setting off every March from the Umtanvuna River, to celebrate the wonder of wandering, traversing over 320km of coastal belt and ending in Chintsa East, 35km west of the Great Kei River, just over three weeks later. Hikers, schools, conservationists, communities and anyone in-between are invited to partake for a day, a few or the entire journey, by walking, sharing and learning alongside the Wild Walk team in this salutation of our rich coastal lands and in the WESSA tradition of people caring for the earth.

Mumsie Gumede, CEO of WESSA, sums up the Wild Walk in 2011, the year in which WESSA celebrated their 85th anniversary, “The walk is a neutral and unthreatening, fun filled and cost effective way of exposing a special region needing support.”

140 • DO IT NOW June | July 2012

The exceptional diversity of the Wild Coast is to be found in the people, the lie of the land, the meander of its rivers, the magnificence of its gorges, waterfalls cascading into the sea, colourful cultures, rich traditions, floral kingdoms, marine, avian and mammalian life forms, micro climates, geomorphology and geographical icons. Wild Walk incorporates all this into a quality trail that supersedes expectations, as it explores the interwoven facets of environment, history, politics, cultures, aspirations and the future well being of a fragile eco-system. Broken into three sections; Pondoland, Central and Southern, hikers are presented with three distinctly different trail experiences that are intermixed with regional focuses.

The Pondoland trail sets off along the sandy beaches from the Wild Coast Sun and ends in Port St Johns six days later.

Overnight camps include a community-run tented camp at the mouth of the Mtentu River, en-suit tents at Msikaba, Luphuthana and Manteku and the option of a dorm-style hiker’s rondavel or the Mbotyi River Lodge at Mbotyi. The trail is fully catered and hikers’ bags are transported between camps, thus ensuring guests get to maximise their trail time on enthusiastic feet.

Pondoland’s coastline is regarded by many as one of our country’s most precious environments. It not only nurtures the internationally recognised bio-diversity hotspot, namely the Pondoland centre of plant endemism, it's also home to Mlambomkulu, or Waterfall Bluff, a 60m cascade directly into the Indian Ocean; Cathedral Rock, which stands proud against the raised Pondo cliffs of the Egosa Fault; the ocean extravaganza of Luphuthana’s coastal shelf and the near pristine environment of Mkambathi Nature Reserve, home to the endemic Jubaeopsis Caffra, more commonly known as the Mkambathi Palm, found only on the eastern banks of the Mtentu and Msikaba Rivers.

The fascinating history of the amaMpondo people, shipwrecks and their survivors, Khotsa and the missing Kruger jewels and tales of freedom fighters through to national toll roads, mining threats, mineral rich deposits in the dunes and fragmented communities make for entertaining evening meal talk. Walkers over the past two years have been privileged to have Mzamo Dlamini as part of the guiding team. Mzamo has a wealth of knowledge on contemporary Pondoland and is an activist for both conservation and human rights.

Joseph Nkanyiso leading the group into Mpande village. Photo: M. Denison

Although the first and final days are long, 19- and 24km respectively, walking is generally relatively easy with adequate stops, swims and trail side talks. Days 2 and 4 are the shortest of the section and give walkers a chance to explore the immediate environment of Mkambathi or canoe up either the Msikaba or Manteku River systems.

Camps are comfortable, beer - albeit a little warm on occasion - is plentiful and the meals are excellent. Buffet breakfasts are followed by hikers making their own packed lunches from the kitchen and dinners are hot ‘n hearty.

From Port St Johns to Bulungula, over eight days and with a rest day in Coffee Bay, sees the format change to a strong cultural immersion experience with a mix of rural

village accommodation and coastal backpacking facilities being utilised. In the villages, the group stays in dorm-style accommodation in traditional rondavels. Clean bedding, hot bucket showers and clean toilets are available at all the stops.

Dinner and breakfast are provided by the host community.

Worth mentioning is the Mbolompo homestay. Set with magnificent views of the Mncwasa River mouth, coastal forest and ocean, the homestead boasts one of the most creative ablution facilities along the route. 'Rocket showers', a simple paraffin water heater, are set in a natural earth, clay and cob building that utilises re-used glass bottles for an effective skylight feel. A living roof covers one shower, while the second is partly open allowing you to enjoy views of the river and forest while showering. Bamboo guttering and other

www.doitnow.co.za | Lifestyle • 141

Images left to right: Hole in the Wall, a Wild Coast geographical icon. Photo: M. Denison. Meeting a Sangoma near Mgazana led to a wonderful learning experience on traditional medicines. Photo: M. Denison. Morgan Griffiths enjoys the first views of Mlambomkulu, or Waterfall Bluff, Photo: Nathan Noad. Morgan Griffiths, Pru and Richard Bolus getting an unusual view of Waterfall Bluff,Photo: Nathan Noad.

Walkers learn about traditional medicines from a Sangoma near Mgazana. Photo: M. Denison.

rainwater harvesting techniques feed the jojos, which you pump by hand to a header tank prior to use, therefore forcing you to appreciate your water 'on tap'. Odour-free compost toilets and three legged 'potjie' pot urinals complete the facility around which newly planted indigenous trees grow.

Two striking differences to Pondoland are immediately felt.

There is a dramatic increase in people as village after village populates the route. Small children singing and dancing, dogs barking, chickens clucking and fields being worked replace the immense solitude of the north coast. Here the coast is alive with people, colour and sounds. Cameras click as woman walk in song, wood and water on their heads and children in tow. A romantic visual of a life of toil, carried off with rural chic and a smile that forces us walkers to reevaluate and appreciate our lives.

Secondly, lots of steep hills beckon. Climbs along single track footpaths and cattle tracks wind around and through coastal forests and over grassy tops only to descend on reaching the summit, leaving you with a powerful image of a pure and beautiful Wild Coast. With burning calves you cross another unnamed beach, swim in another warm estuary, refresh, laugh and are humbled by your environs before you begin to climb again. Despite the hills, days are generally short in distance, swims frequent, sights dazzling and laughs abundant. Nkanyiso Joseph, sporting the most generous smile, has walked this route for more than 12 years. His local knowledge is shared in his own quiet way as he sits and chats over meals or beneath the thatch of the sleeping quarters.

The southern trail sets off from Bulungula, well known for its innovative use of alternative technologies and one of the Wild Coast community/private sector tourism successes, and goes into the slackpacking genre. Although some of the days are relatively long, the terrain is not difficult and hotel comforts await you each evening, with the exception of a night in cottages at Dwesa Nature Reserve, which are nestled in a magnificent forest.

142 • DO IT NOW June | July 2012

Wild Walk was 28 days in 2011 and 21 days in 2012, with 'tekkie talk' suggesting that we will have a 25 day trail in 2013. For WESSA, the event serves to highlight the Wild Coast and promote responsible interactions between people and our environment, by providing a platform of discovery for walkers through sharing successes, exploring challenges and placing the feet of all who participate firmly on the ground. Through Wild Walk, WESSA’s vision is to inspire, with enthusiasm and a spirit of unity, and achieve a South Africa that is wisely managed by all to ensure environmental sustainability. The walk is innovative, leads by example and encourages actions of integrity in an atmosphere of mutual respect.

Much of the hike’s success lies behind the scenes.

Management ensure effective use of the walkers’ time, provide platforms for topical interactions and place attention on comfort and safety. This is largely made possible by the support of the Mazda Wildlife Fund, which has expanded its 20-year partnership with WESSA to include a reliable backup to the Wild Walk’s logistical aspects. Implementation is handled by African Heartland Journeys (AHJ), a specialist tour company on the Wild Coast. Without cost effective and reliable backup, the Wild Coast can be an expensive and difficult environment to operate in successfully. “Mazda has allowed us to present much more than just a hike to enthusiasts, it has supported us in achieving the objective of reaching across age, race and gender in a truly South African experience,” said Sean Price, cofounder of AHJ. •

DINfo box i For further information visit www.wessa.org.za or contact Laura Conde, laura@wessabk.co.za or Michael Denison, mike@ahj.co.za. Bookings for 2013 open end April 2012.

www.doitnow.co.za | Lifestyle • 143

inVOLVED:

Words & Photos by Lindy Harris, Founder and Director

Teachers and Children

Fly High

ty. But the fact is that most Through good education, people are able to escape pover education. The education poor people in South Africa are not receiving a good quality dire outlook affects the future of system is failing them and their future looks bleak. This ions, and after all, a chain is only *two thirds of our children who live in ‘ultra poor’ situat stronger, we need to strengthen as strong as its weakest link. So to make our country to really see our country flourish. those who are weakest - these children - if we want Flying Children, a non profit organisation, was established to help such children fly the way they were meant to – as high as they can and to where they want to fly - and we do this in a number of ways.

First off, we work hand-in-hand with pre-school Early Childhood Development (ECD) practitioners to help them provide a good, appropriate pre-school education and experience for pre-schoolers. Through the many years of working in the ECD field, we have noticed that when ECD practitioners are trained in the training centres, they don't receive any kind of practical 'in the playroom' training. This is key and as a result, these new teachers are doomed to be ineffective because they are not equipped to teach in the classroom, or cope with the children. This in turn leads to the children either having nothing to do or they are subjected to a scaled down Grade 1 Bantu education, with plenty of rote learning.

Here's a typical example, "This is a wall. What is this children?""Wall," answers the children who are still managing to concentrate on what the teacher is saying and not poking another child, staring dreamily out of a too-high window or picking bits of loose paint off the wall in total boredom. We assist these practitioners, as well as teachers in training, by giving them training sessions two to three times a week, over a period of three years - the same time it would take a pre-school teacher to qualify in a training college. The training is done in small groups so that the teachers receive a lot of individual help from their trainer. An advantage of this method is that it helps the new teachers to bond as a group and support each, and soon they are helping each other in all sorts of ways.

The teachers are also given a Flying Children programme, or teaching aid, which they follow in the classroom and thereby alleviates the need for rote learning.

We also work hard with the teachers to provide an emotionally healthy and nurturing environment that is so badly needed at the centres, as many of the children have lost parents to HIV and AIDs, been abandoned or are victims of abuse and violence. Here, we arrange for the practitioners to meet with a psychologist once a week to discuss the troubled children in their centres.

144 • DO IT NOW June | July 2012

A major obstacle teachers are faced with in such poor and under-resourced areas is that they are simply too poor to provide the children with the educational materials, furniture, toys and climbing apparatus needed for a proper pre-school education. Parents only pay between R120 and R250 a month to the centre, and some cannot even manage this. What this means is that the practitioners are surviving on approximately R900 a month, once all the helpers and other costs have been paid out. So what we do is offer makeovers, which transform the centres into safe, clean, attractive and educationally-appropriate environments. Once a centre's makeover is complete, it can then apply to register with the Dept. of Social Development; a registration that sees the centre receiving R14 per day, per child, turning an economically shaky little enterprise into a going, and even a modest revenue generating, concern. And just as importantly, the teachers are able to take home a slightly better salary for their efforts.

Finally, parents also benefit from the Flying Children initiative, as we work with them to help them with parenting. Sadly many of the parents are school children themselves, who need help to become more effective parents. We also assist any parents who struggle emotionally and need support to become more nurturing or interactive parents.

What's next?

Last year we started working with Rishile Centre. What we found was 37 children, aged between two and four, who arrived at school at about 07h00 and were then packed into a room the size of a single garage. They then waited for breakfast at about 08h30, were made to lie on mats until about 12h00 to sleep, but they couldn’t sleep that long so they mostly just lay there, getting shouted at if they made a noise, wiggled too much or got up. Then they were allowed to get up for lunch and after that they sat about again waiting to get washed and then fetched.

There were some toys, but they were placed on a high shelf and never used. Thankfully this has all changed, and today the children are playing as all children need to do. The correct learning programme is being run and

inDULGE:

Words by Chef Neil Ross

Serves 4 This tasty meal is easy to prepare and light, but still very satisfying.

LEMON, BACON AND CORN PASTA Ingredients:

4 rashers of bacon, trimmed 400g spaghetti or pasta of your choice, I recommend a thin pasta 2 corn cobs, husks and silks removed

the kids are busy all day long, with a short rest after lunch. Space is still an issue so we would like to build on an extra playroom and create a playground where the children can run, climb and play in safety. Replacing the open toilet buckets are another priority, because the area is unsanitary, fly-ridden and smelly.

We are also doing some building work at the Entlanleni Centre. An organisation called Food for Thought has replaced the existing hut, which had a roof that was held down by rocks and the rain kept out with plastic, with a new metal hut. A veranda is being added to provide a shady area where the children can do their art, play and eat under – even when it rains. Now we just need to insulate the hut, to keep as much of the cold and heat out as possible, and complete the upgrading of the dreadful toilet area as soon as we receive funding.

How can you help? ❱❱ We are always in need of toys, furniture, building and cleaning materials, old mats and anything else that's of use to a pre-school. ❱❱ We have work days where we need volunteers to help get stuck in with our various projects. ❱❱ Paying the annual school fees for a child whose family is just too poor to pay the monthly fee charged by a centre. ❱❱ Donate towards or sponsor the costs of training staff and building work. ❱❱ Let us know of any business that would like to work with us to build and extend what we do. ❱❱ Become a Friend of the Flying Children by donating whatever you can afford on a monthly basis. These funds will be used to help more children, teachers and parents. •

DINfo box i If you would like to get involved please contact Lindy Harris on lindyharris@mweb.co.za

* Source: Swift and Mayer Growing Pains How Poverty and AIDS is Challenging Childhood (pg 11 2008)

tablespoon of olive oil 1 2 cloves of garlic, crushed 2 tablespoons of lemon juice ½ cup of crème fraîche Salt and pepper to taste

Method: 1. Preheat the oven to 220°C. 2. Place the bacon on a baking tray and bake for 12 minutes or until crispy. Chop and set aside.

3. Cook the pasta and corn in a large saucepan of salted boiling water for 10 minutes or until the pasta is al dente and corn tender.

4. Drain and reserve a third of a cup of water.

5. Remove the corn from the cobs and set aside.

6. Heat the oil in a saucepan over a medium heat.

7. Add the garlic and cook for one minute or until golden brown.

8. Then add the lemon juice, crème fraîche, salt and pepper, water, pasta, bacon and corn. Stir to combine.

COFFEE cake Ingredients: 250g butter, softened 1½ cups caster sugar 3 eggs 2 cups flour

2 teaspoons baking powder 2 tablespoons coffee and chicory essence ¾ cup of milk

Method: 1. Cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.

2. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.

3. Sift together flour and baking powder. Combine essence.

4. Fold dry ingredients and milk alternatively into creamed mixture.

5. Spoon into a deep 22 cm round cake tin that has had the base lined with baking paper.

6. Bake at 180°C for 50-55 minutes or until a skewer inserted in the centre of the cake comes out clean.

7. Leave the cake in the tin for 10 minutes before turning out onto a wire rack. When cold, spread with coffee icing.

COFFEE ICING Ingredients: 2 cups icing sugar ½ teaspoon vanilla essence ¼ teaspoon butter, softened 2 teaspoons of coffee 2 tablespoons water dissolved in hot water Method: 1. Mix together and spread liberally over the cake.

Bon appétit!

www.doitnow.co.za | Lifestyle • 145

inCLOSING: inside the next issue ...

Quote: “A lot of people like snow. I find it to be an unnecessary freezing of water.” - Carl Reiner Don't miss these and many other great articles in the Aug/Sept 2012 issue of DO IT NOW.

Pimp your Scooter You know that feeling you get when you see a scooter with cool mods done to it and you think, “Wow, I wish I could do that to my scooter!” Or, “I wonder where he got that done!” It might look simple enough: a little spray job here, a cut there and file down there ... pfft if only! What it really entails is a lot of time, tons of skill and a heap of moola, as ‘trick parts’ don’t come cheap.

Thailand Express Part 2

In the last issue, World Team managed to achieve a Guinness record for the largest-ever formation of skydivers in freefall, 399; just one pre-designated grip short of the task that had been set. Follow this incredible journey of attempting to master the elusive 400 way and a new FAI world record.

Moegatle 10 year birthday celebration

This year, Moegatle 4x4, known as one of South Africa's three 'terror trails', celebrated it’s 10th birthday. This notorious trail consists of all driving situations including sand, loose and solid rocks, mud and water - but every obsatcle has a bypass or chicken route. Find out more about this fun and memorable event for the whole family.

On Side Side Onthe theLighter Lighter

My My boss boss asked, asked, "Do "Do you you think think you you can can come come in in on on Saturday Saturday this this week? week? II know know you you enjoy enjoy your your weekends, weekends, but but need you you here." here." "Yeah, "Yeah, no no problem. problem. I'll I'll probably probably be be late late though though as as the the public public transport transport is is bad bad on on weekends." weekends."

II need "Okay, when when do do you you think think you'll you'll get get here here then?" then?" "Monday."

"Monday." -- www.jollygoodjokes.com www.jollygoodjokes.com "Okay,

Find us on Facebook & Twitter Facebook: www.facebook.com/DOITNOWMagazine Twitter: twitter.com/#!/DOITNOWMag Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/company/do-it-now-magazine

While every effort is made by the DIN Team to ensure that the content of the DO IT NOW Magazine is accurate at the time of going to press, DO IT NOW Adventures (Pty) Ltd cannot accept responsibility for any errors that may appear, or for any consequence of utilising the information contained herein. Statements by contributors are not always representative of DO IT NOW Adventures (Pty) Ltd opinion. Copyright 2009 DO IT NOW Adventures (Pty) Ltd. No part of this magazine may be reproduced in any form or stored on a retrieval system without the prior permission of DO IT NOW Adventures (Pty) Ltd. DO IT NOW Adventures (Pty) Ltd supports and encourages responsible practices with regards to all Adventure, Sport and Lifestyle activities. We also believe in the conservation and protection of all fauna and flora.

146 • DO IT NOW June | July 2012

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