DO IT NOW Magazine #25 - Adventure, Sport & Lifestyle

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DO IT NOW Team

REGULAR CONTRIBUTORS Alan Hobson Fly Fishing

Keegan Longueira Mountainbiking

Deon Breytenbach Paddling

Francois Steyn Vehicle Reviews

Matthew Holt Hiking

Jacques Marais Photography

Amy Shaw BASE Jumping

André Troost Various

Steven Yates Travel

Xen & Adri Ludick Travel

Hannele Steyn MTB | Nutrition

Kobus Bresler Mountaineering

Damien Laird Trail Running

Neil Ross Recipes

Peter Fairbanks Insurance

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FOUNDER’S LETTER

It’s getting colder by the day, which means that it is definitely time to haul our winter warmers out and get those fire places burning. But even though the weather might be cooling down, the action in the May issue is most certainly heating up.

In addition to an action-packed magazine, our app subscribers also get to see amazing video footage that accompanies many of the articles and takes you right into the heart of the action. Plus there are all our extra weekly, which you will find on our website. So any way you look at it, there’s loads of awesome stories to keep you entertained when it’s just to chilly to venture outdoors or when you’re enjoying some well-earned R&R. So sit back, relax and enjoy another great line up of stories because there’s something for everyone in this issue. For our divers, don’t miss my article on diving the Ribbon Reef in Sodwana and our search for the elusive blue ribbon eel.

Then we journey to the world’s most bio-diverse underwater environment, a diving Mecca known as Raj Ampat, in West Papua, Indonesia. We follow Dave Chamberlain, who ran from Walvis Bay to Port Elizabeth, a distance of 2,700 km with a pram filled with goodies, to raise awareness of the plight of the endangered African penguin. We introduce showing Arabian horses, and the first in a series of articles on climbing.

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If ever there was a good time to encourage your family, friends and colleagues to subscribe to the magazine, it’s now. This month’s New Subscriber prize is a Powermonkey-Extreme; a fantastic portable solar charger with an internal battery, valued at R1 799,99 And if you are looking for the perfect gift that keeps on giving, then treat that special person in your life to a magazine gift subscription, and choose from print, app and PDF reader formats. For more details on the various ways to subscribe, turn to page 9.

There are some great events happening this month, including Expedition Africa 2013 from 3 to 12 May; the SA Long Distance Trail Running Championships on 5 May; and the popular sani2c MTB stage race, which kicks off on 14 May. If you would like a more comprehensive list of events and activities, visit our website and go to the DIN Calendar page.

For those of you who are braving the cold and taking part in one of the many events around the country, good luck.

Until next month, take care and don’t hesitate, don’t procrastinate, DO IT NOW! Francois

CALENDAR

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There are also some riveting articles on ideas for racing and training snacks, along with great tips on how to train your brain for the best race ever, mountain climbing in Venezuela, how our SA surfers fared at the first event of this year's Quiksilver Pro Surfing World Championship Tour, paddling tips from Deon Breytenbach and so much more. For further information on any of these articles, as well as events or competitions, visit our website or follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

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Here are some fantastic activities and events to look out for this month: Climbing // Magaliesberg (GP) Diving // Sea Point (CT) 4x4 // Stellenbosch (CT)

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Travelling // Bazaruto Island (MOZ)

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Festival // AfrikaBurn – Tankwa (NC): 1-6 May

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Expo // African Golfing Indaba – CTICC (WC): 2-5 May Adventure Racing // Expedition Africa – Drakensberg (KZN): 3-12 May Trail Running // JMC - SA Long Distance Trail Running Champs (WC): 5 May Festival // Celtic Fest – Edenvale (GP): 10 May MTB // sani2c – Underberg (KZN): 14-18 May

SCAN US

Whisky Tasting // Bourbon Whisky 101 – Hyde Park Corner (GP): 16 May Surfing // Quiksilver Pro Jnr & King of the Groms – New Pier (KZN): 18-19 May For a more comprehensive list of events and activities taking place throughout the year, check out the dinLIST Calendar on www.doitnow.co.za/calendar.

www.doitnow.co.za • 7

inDEX

Vol. 5 • 5 • 2013 #25 | www.doitnow.co.za

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// Team & Contributors: p. 6 DO IT NOW Magazine’s team and regular contributors. // inTRO: p. 7 Letter from DO IT NOW Magazine's founder. // dinLIST Calendar: p. 7 Calendar featuring Adventure-Sport-Lifestyle activities. // Subscriptions: p. 9 Subscription form and New Subscriber competition. // inFOCUS Quarterly Reader Competition: p. 92 Stand a chance to WIN R500 by entering the quarterly reader photo competition. // inCLOSING: p. 98 A sneak preview of upcoming articles.

Articles inACTION

12 People are Awesome 16 Drinkers of the Wind

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inALTITUDE

20 Climbing in its Different Forms 24 Liberation Peak

inTRAIL

30 Walking in the Clouds 34 One Man, One Pram for the African Penguin

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38 Two Scotts on the Trot - The Final Chapter 44 Epic Boasts Another Year of Untamed Adventure 48 Put Foot Rally - Helping the Shoe to Fit

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Surfing Down Under Basics, Executing the Sculling Brace and Space Godzilla Ribbon Reef with Da Blue Juice Raja Ampat - Southern Mystique of Misool

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68 Road Trippin 72 Hidden Gems and Gorges

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78 Ideas for racing and training snacks 80 Train your brain to have the best race ever!

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84 Whisky Gifting Made Easy

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88 SHOOT! A Canoe Marathon

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People are

awesome Modern communication has turned people like Sungha Jung, who would otherwise be another unknown Asian guitar protégé, into an international sensation. It has turned BASE jumpers like Felix Baumgartner into astronauts. It has reformed the way we communicate, and sports are no exception.

People are awesome. It’s true because YouTube says so. And if the modern age has taught us anything, it’s that if it’s not on YouTube, it didn’t happen!

Back when Sony handycams were all the rage for aerial sports photography, I remember a skydiver looking at the rudimentary first generation GoPro gimmicks and speculating that they would never really take off. This was because he believed that these tiny things could never achieve the video quality we were achieving then with an awkward handycam teetering from our speciallydesigned camera helmets.

These days, it’s becoming more and more apparent that video logging, or 'vlogging', is more than a means of documenting one’s self to the public. This is the modern day arena. A playing field where funding for air tickets is no longer the prerequisite to compete on an international level. The new tickets are an internet connection and some savvy about iMovie.

12 • DO IT NOW Magazine | May 2013

Andy Lewis, a 26-year-old slacklining star reiterates, "Now you can post a video of a new trick on YouTube and two weeks later, it’s being done worldwide."

It makes the evolution of the sport go faster.

Slacklining, which resembles tight-rope walking, is done on a webbing line with more 'slack', hence the name. It has been around for generations, but only recently came into the public eye through numerous eye-catching clips on YouTube. It started in Yosemite National Park, in the USA, amongst climbing circles and has evolved into a multidisciplined sport that tests both the physical aspect of the athlete in tricklining, and the mental in the death-defying highlines. Well known slackliner Andy recently appeared on USA television, in a Super Bowl performance with Madonna, bouncing on a trickline in front of thousands of viewers. This is a true example of the modern blending of the sporting and entertainment industries.

As a BASE jumper, I have witnessed, first-hand, the effect vlogging has had on lesser-known sports. Viral clips, such as People are Awesome and Amazing People, have the world considering the merits in sports that were previously regarded as dangerous stunts. BASE jumpers have been transformed from criminalistic bandits to inspirational figures, all thanks to home-edited shorts posted online.

Various obscure sports like parkour, or freerunning, have arisen and they all have us asking the same question, "Where do these people come from?"

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Andrew Kirkpatrick, a 29-year-old film-maker from Bermuda, started like any other; making home videos of their crazy shenanigans at university. At the suggestion of a friend, Andrew attended film school in New York, but it was his Falling off the Rock videos on YouTube that opened doors into other aspects of the film-making industry.

These days Andrew makes his living as a freelance shooter/editor, owns his own branch-out company, Burnt House Productions, and makes music videos, commercials, ads and documentaries. "The cliff jumping projects started out as a couple of friends with a camera and a tub of sunblock," says Andrew. "As the videos became more popular, more people wanted to get involved and help us out."

In their latest video, Girls Jumping off Cliffs in Bermuda, which at the time of writing had just passed 60,229 hits on YouTube, Andrew and Evan Faulkenberry, his partner in the Falling off the Rock series, contacted a gymnastics coach in the USA to recruit their athletes.

“We had two companies sponsor the flight costs of female gymnasts, which was huge.

Every (additional) penny we receive goes into making the next video bigger and better.

www.doitnow.co.za | Adventure • 13

People are

awesome Two years ago, whilst searching for ways to make Falling off the Rock even better, the boys spotted Mike Wilson. “Evan saw a video of Mike doing his quadruple backflip rope swing on YouTube,” says Andrew, “and we had to give this guy a shout.” Two weeks later, Mike was Bermuda bound.

A quick YouTube search of 'Mike Wilson' will illustrate that this guy is a dynamo at anything aerial and is regularly featured in People are Awesome style clips. Mike originally got noticed by YouTube after one particularly spectacular skiing crash video went viral, and despite his association with the boys at Falling off the Rock, Mike has become a film-maker in his own right.

I first met Mike personally in the Tahoe area whilst on a BASE trip in 2012. Our meeting was funny because we were both on crutches at the time, and Mike had recently chopped off the tips of two fingers and had them surgically reattached after a ('successful' according to him) stunt from a microlight aircraft! The line between a People are Awesome video and an 'ultimate fail' video can be a fine one and since becoming involved in the international community of extreme sports, I have certainly started to notice the growing number of people I know in both!

"Last summer was our worst year for serious injuries, with six broken ribs, a back fracture and a ruptured sinus cavity. In years' past, we have had pinched nerves, bloody noses, a concussion, a few enemas and several good wedgies," recalled Andrew.

This goes to illustrate that although anyone can yield a GoPro, the stunts in these videos are as real as they come. What many people do not realise is that it takes years of training and high-level athletes to produce just one awesome video moment.

Aside from Red Bull cliff diving, which, with its comparatively safe overhanging, manmade platforms, bears little resemblance to the antics in these cliff jumping videos, there is no formal forum for cliff jumping. Yet, these guys are clearing underhung, solid, natural objects and throwing in complex aerials to boot. The talent on display is undeniable.

"Since these videos have come out, we have connected with several other 'underground' cliff jumping YouTubers," says Andrew. "So you never know what could take shape in these coming years."

The 2013 Winter X Games saw online videos become accepted as a formal forum for the Real Snow event. Participants were offered a shot at a coveted X Games medal by submitting video clips of their trick sequences. They were judged entirely online by a panel of experts, as well as the voting public. Modern forums like this now have sportsmen rethinking their support teams and skill repertoires, with an eye for the artistic and some editing know-how now becoming a factor.

Mike has been a professional athlete all his life. "I got sponsored for skiing when I was 11. My specialty in skiing is big air and I’ve always had really good air awareness. I enjoy cliff diving, BASE jumping and most other sports that put me into the air with the ability to flip and spin."

"I’ve always been into cliff diving," says Mike. "I really got into it when I was 10 or 12 and because I was so much better in the air (from skiing) I could do a lot of tricks. Later, I ended up building a few rope swings in the Tahoe area and Evan and Andrew saw some videos from that and flew me to their cliff diving shoot in Bermuda. So, that’s how I linked it in professionally. Now people email me their videos all the time asking for my opinion or advice, so I guess I’ve kinda set the bar, but by no means am I the only one doing it!" he said.

14 • DO IT NOW Magazine | May 2013

As sports have always maintained an origin in entertainment, it is perhaps fitting that it has now come full circle to a point where today’s gladiators fight not in the sands of the Colosseum, but on the interactive domain of the World Wide Web. •

èRelated articles:

• Jumping into Paradise (Issue 20, p. 14) • Hunting Trolls and Other Monsters in Europe (Issue 21, p. 16)

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inTRODUCING:

Drinkers

Words: André Troost | Photos: H2 Photography, Carina Troost & Gary Loney | Video: André & Pieter Troost

of the wind And God took a handful of South wind and from it formed a horse, saying:"I create thee, Oh Arabian. To thy forelock, I bind Victory in battle.

On thy back, I set a rich spoil and a Treasure in thy loins. I establish thee as one of the Glories of the Earth ... I give thee flight without wings."

- Bedouin Legend

Arabian horses, or Arabs as they are known in equestrian circles, are characterised by their refined, wide-shaped heads, dished faces and large eyes and nostrils. The Arab is the oldest breed of horse in the world and the purest, with no influence from other breeds. They are known for their spirit and inquisitiveness, and are fittingly referred to as the 'Drinkers of the wind' because of their large nostrils that create an image of them drinking the wind.

From around 2,500 BC, these horses were seen as valuable companions for their owners and this relationship continues to experience a dimension of existence that can’t always be put into words.

I grew up with Arabian horses on Kleinplaas, situated against the slopes of Paarl Mountai`n in the Cape Winelands. For years, my family has practised this equine sport of showing Arabian horses and today, it still plays an integral role in our lives. Various divisions of equestrian sport exist: dressage, show jumping, endurance, eventing and showing. Our sport falls into the latter category.

Each year, regional championships take place that culminate into the main event, the national championships. The shows are solely dedicated to pure-bred Arabian horses. There are three fundamentally different classes to compete in: the Halter classes, Riding classes and Driving classes. In the Halter classes, the handler brings the horse into the show ring on a lead and shows his or her horse to the judge, who rates the horse on various aspects, such as quality of movement and conformation. In the Riding classes, the competitor enters the show ring mounted on his or her horse. There are various Riding classes that have different specifications of the type of picture the horse and rider should create. In the Driving classes, the driver enters the arena, sitting on a cart that is driven by the horse and should also create a specific picture.

The Arabian horse is not only used for these shows but is the most widely used horse for endurance purposes. Endurance is another equestrian sport where riders race with their horses over long distances. The winner is the first one over the line, while the horse’s pulse must be below a certain level. In South Africa, Arabs also do well in general breed shows, where all breeds of horses take part.

16 • DO IT NOW Magazine | May 2013

To give you a complete overview of this interesting topic, I would like to tell you a story about how all the various aspects come together to make the practising of this sport possible.

It’s Friday night, a few hours before departure for the 2013 National Championships. Bags and riding tack are stowed away in the nose of the trailer. Hay bales are stacked on the roof of the Land Rover. Saddles, bridles, riding clothes, horse feed, tables, chairs and buckets are all ticked off on the list. A few hours sleep precedes our marathon trip to Parys, in the Free State; the venue for the championship. Morning breaks and we hitch the five-berth gooseneck horsebox on top of the bakkie. One at a time, we walk the horses into the trailer. Gates and doors are closed, lights and brakes are checked and we’re ready; the culmination of months of planning, training, preparing and putting together logistical plans. Our team consists of my dad, mom, sister, William Jongise our helping hand at the stables, and myself. The N1 lies stretched open before us - 1,300 km of it, and we will cover every kilometre of it at about 80 km per hour. It’s going to be a long trip.

It takes us two days to get to Parys. As per tradition, we overnight on a farm outside of Colesberg and have dinner at the Horse and Mill Pub, an old English pub in Colesberg that serves the best steaks in the country, straight out of the Karoo veld. After completing our second day of driving, the breathtaking Afri-Dome comes into view; a world-class facility with an indoor arena where competitors will be competing for championship titles in the respective classes. Our horses are put into their stables and the unpacking begins. All around the show grounds, competitors are getting ready for the week ahead. For the two days leading up to the official commencement of the show, riders ride their horses, preparing them for when they must enter the arena.

A striking display of trust and cooperation between Jack Maritz and his horse, Simeon Segev, in a driving class.

The show begins with the Halter classes. The horses are shown according to their age, mares and stallions separate from each other. The morning begins slowly with excitement building up to culminate in the Supreme Champion Mare and Stallion classes. Each day is topped off with an open barn party where a stud hosts a get together and displays their horses for spectators.

Spectators can then talk to owners and trainers if they are interested in buying a specific horse or using a stallion in their breeding programme.

It’s always great coming to shows and seeing familiar faces; years of forging friendships makes one part of an entire community, which is evidence that horses act as a binding element between people. 

www.doitnow.co.za | Adventure • 17

FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: 1. Carina Troost showing her horse, Shaheer Magato, in the Arabian Costume Class.

2. MH Ahsom, the current Supreme National Champion Stallion, showing at the Nationals and owned by the Aucamp Arabian Stud. 3. The author showing his horse, Sadam Achilles, in the Show Hack class.

In each category, there are qualifying classes in which the top five competitors qualify to take part in the Championship class the title that everyone sets their sights on. On the Thursday, one of our horses, Shaheer Magato, qualifies for the championship in the Show Hack division; a riding style derived from dressage in which the rider must have great concentration and control to show the horse in ten different gaits. Later that afternoon, my sister and Magato enter the arena. There is absolutely no margin for error competing in this championship with such strong competition and we can only hope that we have trained and prepared sufficiently to reach our goal. With the crowd looking expectantly on, the judge in the middle of the arena takes the competitors through a series of gaits in both directions. At the end of the class, the riders are allowed to relax their horses as everyone awaits the result. The results are announced in reverse order, to keep it a mystery for as long as possible as to who will emerge victorious. One can almost hear the riders and their support teams repeat their own numbers in their heads in the hope that they will be among the top five. When third place is announced, repeating our number must have worked because my sister’s name is called out. We beamed with pride as she and her horse exited the arena; the result of a series of plans that had come together.

The highlights of every show are usually the English Pleasure classes and Native Arabian Costume classes. In the English Pleasure, the horse must perform with high-knee action and the high set of the neck. It really is a spectacular sight to see the horses and riders strut their stuff. In the Native Costume class, the horse and rider are dressed in a native Arabian costume to recreate the image of a rider galloping along the Arabian Desert horizon with his or her horse. The excitement of this class stems from the exhilarating pace at which it is performed.

This describes the immense value that these amazing animals bring to our lives. For any family, they act as a binding element.

My parents are forced to leave their work for a week, I’m forced to leave my studies and my sister is forced to leave her schoolwork.

For one entire week, we remove ourselves from the hustle and bustle and fix our attention on this project, in which each one of us is jointly and separately responsible to make a success of it.

18 • DO IT NOW Magazine | May 2013

Working with these magnificent creations ensures a touching relationship between the horses and us humans. First, we are taught patience. Training a show horse is like educating a child. The rider has to know that the horse will not get it right the first time, or the second or the third. For the horse to do what the rider wishes requires a great amount of factors coming together, such as the building of muscles to enable the horse to carry out the movements longed for and, most importantly, harmony and effective communication between horse and rider. Second, we are taught problem-solving skills. The act of training horses is all about identifying problems or so-called gaps in the horse’s performance. This activity is then followed by thinking of ways to solve these problems.

The horse and rider are dependent on each other, with the rider bringing the intellect and vision to guide the horse’s input in a certain direction, and the horse brings the ability to make this possible.

I encourage families and individuals alike to join the Arabian horse industry, as it will surely bring a positive and dynamic twist to your life. • èRelated articles:

• Homage to the Horse (Digital article Oct '12) • Fauresmith 200 National Horse Riding Endurance Championship (Issue 3, p. 70)

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For more information, email André at 16572211@sun.ac.za

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s n ot i r e b m i “A c l a n. H e i s m y z a r ac to g et g n i y r t n ot led. H e l i k f l e hims is h at li fe w s w o e kn s i n lov i e H . h t wo r i n g.” w i t h li v i on Wa lt er B

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Like most kids, I loved spending time on my mountain bike messing about and pulling stunts. In my late teens, I started enjoying the sport even more and by the age of 19, I was competing in every race I could get to. It went well for the next four years and I was getting better by the day. This was it for me and I was starting to get serious.

However, this all changed when I was introduced to the sport of rock climbing. From day one I was hooked and suddenly I couldn’t find the time to dust off my mountain bike, despite the fact that I had enjoyed it so much. Every opportunity was used to get onto the rocks or even just some training on the wall at the centre I was working at.

20 • DO IT NOW Magazine | May 2013

In my opinion that is climbing. You get hooked and can’t stop thinking about the next crag to visit or what grade you want to push. In addition, the time spent with your buddies at the crag can’t be exchanged for anything and, above all else, you learn so much about yourself.

You learn about your mental strength and your ability to endure. You also learn how to develop this and constantly push yourself harder to improve. Climbing will challenge you physically and help develop many of the muscles groups you forgot about. But more than anything, you have loads of non-stop, challenging fun.

www.shutterstock.com

So what is climbing? What does it mean to go climbing and what does the sport entail? Climbing is simply an activity where you use your hands, feet and any other body part needed to surmount a steep obstacle. This obstacle can come in the form of a boulder, rock face, artificial wall, tree, building or mountain.

Climbing is mostly about self-confidence and trust in your climbing partner. You do not want to end up taking one scary fall after another and risk potential injury because of poor technique, as this will put you off the sport completely. If you are just starting to explore climbing, be sure to choose a climbing buddy you can trust and visit a climbing gym first where they can teach you the correct belaying and safety techniques. These techniques are illustrated on the internet and in numerous publications, but this will never replace proper instruction. The folks at your local gym will be more than happy to assist you.

There are numerous different forms of climbing with subcategories and various styles, so it is important to define these first to avoid any confusion. www.doitnow.co.za | Adventure • 21

Climbing styles Rock climbing is simply ascending different rock formations with the aim of reaching the top or another defined point. This is done by using mainly your hands and feet, while securely tied to a safety rope.

Ascending rocks is one of the more popular forms in the climbing sport and can be done in many different ways, including top rope climbing, sport climbing and traditional climbing.

Free climbing is another well-known style in this category and simply means climbing without a rope.

Aid climbing and big wall climbing also fall into this category, but have a few unique techniques and its own specialised equipment.

Bouldering is the challenge of scaling boulders or small outcrops by reaching the top or a defined point. This may also include traversing along the side of a boulder. At first, bouldering was seen merely as training for steeper and longer rock climbs, but over the years it has grown into its own well-defined sport.

While bouldering, you usually won’t be tied to a safety rope, but rather have a crash pad in place in case of a fall or have your buddies spotting you to break any unbalanced fall. This is successfully achieved by not moving too far off the ground.

Indoor climbing has really taken off in South Africa and there is a growing interest in the sport. Mainly used by climbers for training between trips to the crag, the sport has developed its own identity, with competitive leagues evolving from it. Techniques and equipment are similar to what is used when rock climbing, but the main difference is the artificial climbing surface.

Ice climbing is another form of ascent by scaling ice or hard snow formations using special equipment designed for the purpose, such as ice axes and crampons. The techniques used to protect the climber are similar to those of rock climbing, although the protective devices or anchors may be different and include ice screws and snow wedges.

Mountain or alpine climbing simply means moving up a mountain generally with the aim of reaching the summit.

Techniques are once again similar to other forms of climbing and may include pure rock or ice climbing. However, there are numerous styles and methods specific to alpine climbing.

Buildering is not a well-known sport as it involves climbing urban structures, usually without any equipment, and avoids normal means of ascent like stairs and elevators. The reasons why the sport of buildering has not really taken off in South Africa are mainly due to the fact that it is frowned upon and mostly illegal. So, if you are looking for a huge number of YouTube hits then buildering is the way to go. The downside of the sport is that not many people survive long enough to become famous.

Other less popular forms of climbing include rope climbing, tree climbing and lumberjack.

Now that we have broadly defined some of the different climbing categories and styles, we can start looking at why this sport has become so popular and offers so much to its willing participants.

In upcoming issues, I will discuss the different climbing styles in more detail and try to explain what makes each style unique, with the emphasis on artificial walls, rock climbing and bouldering. As with most things, climbing is a progression and if challenged correctly and safely, it will boost your confidence and self-belief. I will also look at the various climbing techniques, training needed to keep you climbing fit and the various climbing equipment needed to practise the sport safely.

In the meantime, check out your local climbing scene and identify climbing gyms in your area that offer artificial walls.

At most gyms you can rent the gear first, which allows you to decide if you enjoy it before purchasing any specialised gear.

Until next time, have fun and be safe! •

èRelated articles:

• A Beginner's Take on Climbing the Spitzkoppe (Issue 7, p. 42) • Boven Boot Camp (Issue 6, p. 39) • A Nice Experience (Issue 4, p. 44)

inALTITUDE:

Words: Matthew Holt | Photos: Matthew Holt & Mandy Ramsden

Liberation Peak The taxi sashayed exuberantly around the bends to the radio music, trucks flashed past in the opposite direction and memorials lined both sides of the road. We were unmistakably in Venezuela, where every taxi ride

might be your last trip. Mandy Ramsden and I had come to climb Pico Bolivar, the country’s high point at 4,978 m. It was becoming an annual excursion. On our first foray, during the supposed dry season in 2011, we’d spent four days at the base of the peak watching rain and rock fall until we ran out of food and went home.

The following year, a family bereavement thwarted us just before we boarded the plane.

And now, on our third attempt, we’d made the cardinal error of preceding mountaineering with pleasure, by holidaying in Cuba and savouring seafood at every meal. It was only after touching down in Caracas and racing for the bathroom that we learned of the cholera epidemic gripping Havana. Exotic foreign culture is all well and good, till it settles in your intestines.

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In case you’re wondering what was so compelling about this obscure Venezuelan peak; well, mountains are like women, and the more they rebuff you, the more you must have them. Then again, Mandy might feel differently and even my ardour was being severely tested by these constant rebuffs. Indeed, this time I feared the worst, associating cholera with plague ships and mass graves. Fortunately, our Venezuelan host, Pablo, was less melodramatic and rustled up a doctor who prescribed antibiotics and lurid drinks. Thus resurrected, we proceeded on to Merida, situated at the foot of Venezuela’s highest peaks, the so-called ‘white eagles’.

LEFT TO RIGHT: 1. The road to Los Nevados 2. Hiking in to Pico Bolivar 3. Mandy in the Canaleta 4. Camp at Laguna La Sangri 5. Camp above Lomo Redonda

Despite its uplifting setting, the university town was in an edgy mood, as the country was in even worse shape than us. The president had been missing for two months (some said he was recuperating from an operation, while others said he was dead), the students were demonstrating and barricading the streets (though thankfully only when they got up after noon) and the economy was collapsing (with the black market offering four times the official exchange rate). So, after one day in Merida finalising provisions, we were pleased to head off to our mountain.

Originally called the Column, this jagged granite spire was renamed in honour of Venezuela’s greatest son, Simon Bolivar - a.k.a. ‘the Liberator’ - who in the early 19th century criss-crossed the Andes with a ragtag army, driving the Spanish off the continent. Until recently, climbing it was a relatively civilised affair, courtesy of the world’s longest and highest cable car, which whooshed punters up from Merida to the neighbouring Pico Espejo, from where it was a leisurely two-day return outing. The logistics became more complicated after 2008, however, when the cable car collapsed.

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Our trip was arranged by Pablos Borjas von Bach, whose name evoked arch-dukedoms and castles, rather than squalid mountain bivvies. Nonetheless, he was a leading Venezuelan mountain guide, and his birdsong voice and jockey’s physique disguised an unflappable nature and Herculean strength. Completing our party was a Meridabased guide nicknamed ‘Rebaquito’, who had a wrestler’s build and huge sombrero.

It was a jolting four-hour jeep ride from Merida up to the hamlet of Los Nevados, some 10 km to the south of Pico Bolivar. On a continent that prides itself on deadly mountain roads, this was right up there, a rough dirt track scratched into the mountain, with a precipitous, unprotected drop into a river gorge, several hundred metres below. Barely wide enough for one vehicle, complications inevitably arose when we encountered oncoming traffic. And given the local culture, neither male driver could find it within himself to cede ground. So, after a bristling, inconclusive stand-off, they would edge round each other like lovers performing a slow, sultry dance, the outer wheels spinning dangerously over the void.

Perched in the mountains at 2,700 m, Los Nevados comprised an elegant church, tidy square and handful of simple houses and basic posadas (guest houses). We spent a peaceful afternoon playing petanque and watching zamuros, a slightly smaller version of the Andean condor. On the deck, they were ungainly creatures - like a cross between a vulture and turkey - but once airborne, they were pure grace, effortlessly sailing and soaring on thermals.

The next morning, we set off up the valley on foot.

Soon, the sun was blazing down, lighting up the paramo flora of giant heathers and espeletia flowers, which might have been a boon for botanists, but was a bane for unconditioned mountaineers. Fortunately, most of our gear was loaded on two mules that truculently ascended the steep trail, driven on by their arriero.

Reaching the top of the pass at 4,000 m, we turned right along the ridge on a petering trail until the mules finally rebelled and the arriero could drive them no further. After they’d deposited our gear and departed, we pitched our tents on a small terrace overlooking the disused cable car station at Loma Redonda.

The next day we continued up the ridge, now fully laden ourselves. Mountaineering is a very different sport when you subtract the mules, yaks and porters.

Any thoughts of complaint were stifled, however, by the sight of Pablo gamely shouldering a rucksack far bigger than mine and Rebaquito cheerily hoisting on a pack far bigger than Mandy. It took us over four hours to reach Laguna la Sangre (‘blood lake’), a rather dramatic name for a small green pond at 4,600 m.

Our plan was to camp here and strike for the summit the following day, which would make for a long return trip, but avoid us having to lug our camping gear any higher. As such, it seemed like a brilliant idea.

Rising at 5 a.m., after a sleepless night tossing, turning and tucking into a foetal position to no avail, my head still throbbed with the altitude. Pablo and Rebaquito already had the stove fired up and were preparing ham and cheese paninis, which they proudly presented as if hosting Come Dine With Me. I diplomatically waited till their backs were turned before tossing mine behind a boulder. It was still dark and cold when we left camp under headlamps, but by the time we broached the col, an orange sun was poking through the carpet of clouds.

Though I loathe alpine starts, I’ll admit there are compensations.

Traversing left beneath Pico Espejo, we picked our way through the rock bands to Timoncitos, a small mirror lake suspended in a hanging amphitheatre at 4,700 m. Two years earlier, when we’d spent four days here forlornly waiting for the weather to clear, it had been a bleak, hostile place. Now, in the warming sunshine, it was almost welcoming.

Towering above us, a curved wall of fractured granite rose 250 m up to Pico Bolivar’s summit.

As with most matters Venezuelan, there was disagreement on who had trodden there first. Some sources credited the local trio of Enrique Bourgoin, Heriberto Marquez and Domingo Pena (wearing sandals), who in January 1935 climbed the couloir to our right. Others implied they’d stopped just short, championing instead a German-born doctor, Franz Weiss, who one year later ascended the gully to our left. Without wishing to take sides, we chose Weiss’s line, which is now the standard route.

www.doitnow.co.za | Adventure • 27

It started well enough, up a series of solid rock steps leading into La Canaleta (‘the gutter’).

There are canaletas on several South American peaks that are invariably loose, steep and unpleasant, but this was far worse: a narrow chute choked with scree, primed to collapse and demanding gymnastic moves to surmount large, wobbly chock stones. By now, we were feeling sufficiently vulnerable to rope up and put helmets on. Next came a moderately angled boulder field named after the neighbouring province, Táchira. It must have been meant as an insult since this was the most treacherous section by far, a shattered jigsaw of broken rocks that gave way under every step. Clawing our way up, we gratefully reached La Ventana (‘the window’), which looked like a missing tooth, but was in fact the key to the route.

Though the summit was now only 50 m higher to our right, at first sight it appeared unattainable, protected by a blank, vertical wall.

At this juncture, however, Pablo slipped through the window, stepping out onto a narrow ledge on the other side. We edged after him, along a straightforward, if airy traverse, with Bolivar’s north-west face peeling away beneath our toes. A few graceless hoiks up a chimney and we were on the summit, marked by a bust of Simon Bolivar. This lofty, lonely spot seemed a fitting tribute to the Liberator. After his heroics driving out the Spanish, he then unsuccessfully tried to weld the region into one united country, under his rule. Having narrowly escaped an assassination attempt, he died of tuberculosis, aged 47, just before quitting South America.

Shortly before his death, he wrote, ‘The three greatest fools in history have been Jesus Christ, Don Quixote and me.’ Clinging to his bust on the small, exposed summit, we joined Rebaquito in the traditional Venezuelan victory cry of ‘Cumbre!’ It had taken us five hours from camp to the top.

The descent was sketchy. And the more caution we took, the sketchier it got. We tried down climbing, but that was fraught since the lead climber got constantly showered with rubble.

And we tried abseiling, but that was even worse.

As Pablo rappelled through Táchira, the rope dislodged a boulder the size of a television, which gathered momentum and went bouncing straight at him. While the rest of us watched horrified from above, Pablo coolly stood his ground like a matador facing a charging bull and then shimmied right at the last moment so it brushed past his right leg. We were most impressed; till he later admitted that he’d tried dodging left and right, but on failing to get any purchase had resigned his fate to the gods. Down climbing, abseiling, slithering on butts, we somehow made it back to camp unscathed, barring Pablo’s pants, which required some tailoring.

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TOP TO BOTTOM: 1. Pablo in the canaleta 2. On the summit of the Liberator It took two more days to hike out via Loma Redonda to Mucunutan, where a jeep picked us up. When we got back to Merida, little had changed. The president was still missing (recuperating or dead), the students were still demonstrating (in the afternoon) and a pizza plus beer was exorbitant (unless you risked the black market). We’d changed, however, and definitely for the better. Though we still had a couple of taxi rides to chance, we were finally free from the Liberator. •

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• Climbing Pico Bolivar currently involves a six to seven day return trip from Merida. The cable car is officially scheduled to reopen in 2013, potentially reducing this to a couple of days, provided you’re acclimatised.

• The standard Weiss route involves 250 m of scrambling and easy rock climbing (up to SA grade 9-10). However, the route is prone to rock fall.

• Huellas (www.huellasaventuras.com.ve) can arrange guided trips, costing approximately US$2 000 per person.

èRelated articles:

• Ambling with Dragons (Issue 22, p. 28) • All Along the Watchtowers (Issue 19, p. 22) • Playing with Fire (Issue 18, p. 44)

inACTION:

Words & Photos: Darol Howes

Flip flops on a 50 km hike and the oldest man on the walk at 75

Walking clouds in the

It’s late afternoon and I'm standing below the statue of Moshoeshoe, waiting for a bus to transport me to the village of Menkhoaneng. This is the start of the Moshoeshoe Walk 2013; a mammoth 105 km hike that I am about to embark on over three days. Menkhoaneng is a fitting place for the start because this walk commemorates Moshoeshoe and the journey he took with his people to Thaba-Bosiu.

For those of you who don’t know, Moshoeshoe was born in Menkhoaneng and at 34, he formed his own clan and became a chief. He was a cunning and powerful leader who also united the Basotho, in Lesotho. He established his village at Butha-Buthe, where his settlement and reign coincided with the growth in power of the wellknown Zulu King, Shaka. During the early 19th century, Shaka raided many smaller chiefdoms along the eastern coast of southern Africa, incorporating parts of them into his steadily growing Zulu chiefdom. Various small clans were forced to flee, including Moshoeshoe, who moved his settlement to Thaba-Bosiu, an impenetrable fortress that was never overcome, effectively saving the Basotho Nation from the threat of the invading Nguni clans.

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The chaos just to get on the bus was a strong indication that this trip was going to get interesting. I wasn’t wrong. Relieved to be on my way, I was introduced to what was to become a common trend in the days to come; the locals singing in harmony to countless songs that they all somehow seemed to know. Despite the bus being crowded and stuffy, and the singing that went on and on, at no stage did I get bored. But I was pretty keen to get off this bus and start walking.

About a kilometre outside of Menkhoaneng, the rain started bucketing down and the bus was unable to go any further as the road had become impassable. Lucky me, my walk started early, in the rain and at night. Shortly into the walk, it became painfully obvious why the bus couldn’t make it. It was one seriously slippery road, covered in clay mud that wouldn’t let go or let you get a grip.

What a start.

BREATHABLE FABRIC WITH LITTLE SILVER DOTS THAT REFLECT BODY HEAT. KEEP YOUR WARMTH, NOT YOUR SWEAT • COLUMBIA.COM/SILVERDOTS

Day 2: Outward Bound Malimong (50 km) Day 1: Menkhoaneng Malimong (24 km) I awoke to chaos in the camp and no one was sure what was going on. The last thing I wanted to do was crawl out of my warm cocoon, but my curiosity got the better of me and I certainly didn’t want to miss breakfast. I learnt a valuable lesson this morning if I was to survive the walk. When you see a queue forming, jump in it, quick! Even if you don’t know what it is for. In this case it was meal tickets! So with a glorious sunrise in the background, I waited in line for breakfast with 600 other hikers, mostly from Lesotho, as well as some folk from Zimbabwe and South Africa. It was a ‘healthy’ combination of delicious traditional steamed bread called leqebekoane, with butter and a steaming cup of coffee or tea. Luckily, I had some snacks in my bag, otherwise I'd be pretty hungry by lunchtime.

After an erratic distribution of water and other amenities, we set off on a very wet, muddy and slippery trail to the royal Kraal that Moshoeshoe was born in, in Menkhoaneng, and effectively the start of our great adventure across the mountains.

Here we were addressed by the Deputy Prime Minister of Lesotho and given a brief history of Moshoeshoe and the importance of the trek we were embarking on. Fuelled by the great history and pride of the Basotho nation, we began the 105 km trek to Thaba-Bosiu.

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I had been dreading this day as 50 km is a long way for anyone to hike in 24 hours. Based on stories from previous years, I was pretty sure that we would only get there by midnight. Anyway, after a great night at the Outward Bound Centre and more steamed bread, we hit the trail at around 5 a.m.

Having spent the better part of the morning trying to get some decent long-exposure shots of the 600 lights ascending the mountain, I found myself a good kilometre behind the backmarkers, in the dark … always fun. With a massive climb out of the valley still to come, I started jogging. Spotting some lights ahead, I stopped to take some shots of the spectacular sunrise. It was kind of fortuitous that I'd hung back, as one of the backmarkers was cramping: it was going to be a long day for him. I fixed him a rehydrate and hoped for the best. Now it was time to play catch up.

I eventually caught up to my friends at the top of a mother of a climb, which boasted absolutely amazing views over the valley below and a spot with some interesting history behind it. This was the place where Peete’s collarbones had been found. As strange as it sounds, on the voyage to Thaba-Bosiu, the elderly Basotho, one of which was Moshoeshoe’s grandfather Peete, were preyed upon by cannibals. Apparently, when they ate him, they left his head and shoulders so that he'd still be identifiable.

There rest of the day was long and the area very remote.

The usual option for the backmarkers to jump in a support vehicle no longer existed, but there was an alternative. For R5 you could get a ride on the Taxi e boya, also known as the ‘hairy taxi’, to the next water point. This was a donkey or horse ride and a few people opted for what turned out to be a very picturesque ride.

LEFT TO RIGHT: 1. There was cosmos everywhere en route.

2. Beatrice joining one of the local dances along the way. 3. Sorghum fields, one of Lesotho’s major crops, are found all along the route. 4. Having a break before walking down the valley and into the night.

5. Walking into the sunset.

Day 3: Malimong – Thaba-Bosiu (31 km) I realised that there’s a reason why anyone who does this walk finishes it. Simply, you move as a group, leaving no one behind. This system works well and thank goodness too because let’s be honest, a 105 km hike in three days is no ordinary walk in the park.

The last day! Although it was a much easier day, our legs were tired and feet sore. However, the prospect of a real shower at home that evening was enough to lift my spirits and spur me on to the end. I think everyone else had the same idea, as there was certainly a sense of excitement in the air.

At the water point, a bus took the stragglers to camp, while the rest of us continued on what was going to be the longest part of the journey. Despite our already aching feet, we set a steady pace that would see us walking well into the night. Then, as they do every year, the men and women split up, with the women taking the lead. No one could tell me why this happens, just that it is tradition. As we struggled on in the darkness, the thought of getting lost was not an appealing one and everyone stuck close together!

The highlight of the walk, for me, came right at the end and was very different to anything I’m used to. The hikers at the front slowed down and by the time we got to Thaba-Bosiu, all 600 walkers were together again. Then the singing and dancing started, growing in volume all the way to the finish in the village.

Had it not been for my sore feet, I would have been toy-toying and ululating along with them.

As we were ambling up the last and seemingly neverending hill, we heard a call in Sesotho coming from the valley behind us. I was alarmed when I heard the word ‘stretcher’ and a million thoughts went through my head, first and foremost was how do you get an injured person out of here? It was pitch black, remote and no vehicle would be able to make it down the footpath. The only option was a horse. Just then, out of nowhere, one of the organiser's from the walk shot past on a horse, followed by a group of hikers carrying a makeshift stretcher. Finally, after what seemed like hours, the stretcher-bearers appeared, carrying the man who had injured his back to the waiting ambulance. It had been a truly remarkable and brave rescue mission and I take my hat off to the hikers for getting him out of the valley safely in the most difficult of circumstances.

We finally reached the camp at midnight, having been on our feet since 5 a.m. I was pretty damn glad to see that my tent had already been erected

by Beatrice and Kananelo, two of my friends silly enough to come along, who had somehow slipped ahead in the night. It had been a very long day.

With the closing ceremony over and local music star Stofla on stage, it was time to say our goodbyes. I'd made many new friends, ascended 3,215 m, walked at an average of 3.8 km per hour and had what was most certainly an experience I’ll never forget; the Moshoeshoe Walk 2013, tick.

So if you’re keen for a 105 km hike with a difference, I recommend signing up in 2014. One thing’s for sure, there’s a very good chance that you won’t have been on anything like this before. • èRelated articles:

• New Records Set for 9 Peaks in 9 Provinces (Issue 23, p. 38) • A Pilgrim's Progress (Issue 23, p. 32) • The Enchantment of the Otter (Issue 1, p. 68)

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For more information on joining this annual walk in 2014, visit http://www.tconnexion.co.ls

www.doitnow.co.za | Adventure • 33

inTRAIL:

Words: Dave Chamberlain | Photos & Video: Rhys Morgan Images

Richtersveld National Park (Namibia) - en route to the Orange River and my first proper wash in a month.

One Man, One Pram

for the African Penguin Perhaps only superseded by constant reminders to always wear clean undies and warnings against picking my nose under the light of a full moon, my parents also tried to instil in me the importance of introducing oneself to strangers. To escape the wrathful glare that only a mother can wield, allow me to at least be able to tick one of these boxes.

I am 5’6” with a talent for growing body hair. I underperformed at school, while nurturing a schoolboy crush on my French teacher. I spent several years wandering around Asia and Europe doing a variety of odd jobs. I have had my heart broken countless times and in-between teaching scuba diving for the last seven years, I developed a nagging feeling that I should have been doing something more. In short, an underwhelming résumé about a reasonably normal person.

That nagging feeling, however, was the reason why I ended up alone in Walvis Bay on 18 October 2012, at the start of a 2,700 km run down to Port Elizabeth, armed with a pram filled with goodies and a whole lot of ignorant optimism.

How I ended up there, specifically, was as a result of a) three lunatic bird watchers - Vernon Head, Mark Anderson and my own dear dad; b) a conservation organisation called BirdLife South Africa; c) an endangered bird known as the African penguin; and d) a German with a beautiful smile.

The plan was to run through the desert to Port Elizabeth, following the natural range of the African penguin in an awareness and fund-raising campaign. That was pretty much the extent of my pre-planning for this run.

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NamibRand Nature Reserve (Namibia), near Wolwedans the only tree in over a week of travel.

How I ended up in this situation, generally, can be traced back to glorious Antarctic landscapes, the Ba aka (people from the jungles of the Central African Republic), Sol Kerzner’s Bahamian resort and the love of a young Mosselbay-ian. That, however, is a story for another time.

And so I set out on a misty morning in high spirits, accompanied by a group of enthusiastic runners, along a tarred road. The runners disappeared after 20 km and the tar followed suit about 100 m further on. It was to be the last bit of tarred road for almost 900 km.

The reasons for taking a pram were simple. Firstly, I couldn’t afford to buy a car. Secondly, having all my gear in a pram made it a safer option than having to rely on a back-up vehicle, which may or may not have broken down at an awkward moment. Thirdly, I was trying to simplify my life.

I’m not anti-technology and will freely admit that I enjoy the fact that humankind has evolved to a state where milkshakes come in a myriad of flavours. I do feel, though, that our lives are too cluttered. Cluttered with billboards, radio and television advertising, peer pressure and, by no means any less significantly, all those flyers that one is offered at robots.

Running with a pram reduced my life to 30 kg.

Running through deserts and back roads also gave me the chance to think or, as was more often the case, not think at all. Instead of the endless rushing to exercise, to work, to socialise, I was quite literally able to stop and smell the Namaqualand daisies. Clichéd as it may sound; this project was as much about the journey as the destination. The manner in which one’s senses come alive when away from cities is hard to explain. Sunsets aren’t simply ‘beautiful’ or ‘amazing’, or even ‘not as nice as the one yesterday’. Much like trying to explain just how sickening a broken heart feels, words only get one so far. The rest is experienced through our senses. The sunsets of the Kalahari were some of the most incredible that I’ve ever experienced, which begs the question: if you spontaneously start blubbing in the middle of a desert sunset and no one hears your sniffling, are you still ‘cool’? They weren’t necessarily the most beautiful because Gauteng smog can be very creative, but they were some of the most complete I've seen. Each sunset, and by implication, each experience was accompanied by two or three other senses, to the extent where sunsets could be described by their colours, as well as by the smells of flowers or the ocean hundreds of kilometres away. It is an incredible experience to ‘see a smell’ or ‘hear a taste’ and be able to connect with the world around you in such an intimate way.

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Travelling with a pram did require a bit of thought though. Due to the size of the pram and running in an environment where water is historically a bit of an issue, it wasn’t possible to carry both water and food. But there again, any food would have had a very short ‘use by’ window when subjected to blistering temperatures of 47°C by 11h00. Therefore, restocking in the desert, unless one has a certain arcane knowledge, can be tricky. To overcome this dilemma, I lived on a liquid diet for the first 1,600 km. Breakfasts and lunches were a hearty 400 ml ‘meal replacement’ shake, while dinners were a more elegant affair comprising a 400 ml ‘whey protein’ shake. The rest of the meals comprised water drawn from whatever windmill I happened to pass en route. The only downside to all of this was that I was limited to three flavours of supplement (my choice) and the water became hot very quickly and tasted of plastic after a couple of hours in the sun (sort of my choice, but only because I chose to do the run).

On a journey like this, it’s not just one’s relationship with the environment that develops. Travelling as freely (feel free to interpret that as meaning ‘slowly’) as I did meant that I had the time and opportunity to meet some of the locals in the towns that I passed through.

And in South Africa, if you can understand Afrikaans it certainly helps, we have some of the most wonderfully entertaining characters. The Northern Cape is littered with personalities of the most engaging kind, so much so that after a stopover in Garies, Oom Tobie and his band Unity ended up playing at my sister’s wedding three weeks later. And while I am not naïve about the conditions that living in South Africa presents to us, in 2,700 km, spread over three months of sleeping in the veld and under the road in storm-water culverts, I was never once threatened or felt uncomfortable. The fact that my first opportunity to take a bath only presented itself about 1,200 km into the run - there is only so much that wet wipes can do - may have helped shield me from potential villains. But I do believe that there is more goodness in this country, and world, than we allow ourselves to believe.

LEFT TO RIGHT: 1. O'Kiep (Northern Cape) - a bit of a leg stretch on a rest day. 2. The road to Port Nolloth (Northern Cape) en route to my first peanut butter milkshake. 3. Springbok (Northern Cape) 1,200km's powered by PURE ... and counting.

Over the past 18 months, I have run more than 8,000 km for conservation efforts, and if all goes to plan, I will begin a run across Canada this year in aid of polar bears. After that, who knows? The world is a pretty big place and my pram is getting itchy spokes. The distances may sound daunting, but when you take it one day at a time, it’s achievable. It’s very easy to do this because, from a running perspective, I wake up every day knowing that the route I take is unique. That each step is a one-way ticket to the next day’s undiscovered challenges. And from a traveller’s perspective, I get to visit new places, meet all kinds of people and experience the natural beauty in a way that is closed to the typical tourist rushing past in a car, bus or plane. And as an inhabitant of this planet, I get to enjoy my passion and use it to benefit a greater cause.

I am by no means a world-class athlete. I have received numerous sympathetic shakes of the head from those freakishly talented dwellers of the Rift Valley, and have had my running style compared to an epileptic octopus.

Yet this run from Walvis Bay to Port Elizabeth has helped to raise awareness of the plight of the African penguin, and maybe, just maybe, in 40 years time when my knees have surrendered and my hip joints have been replaced by titanium technology, I will be able to hobble down to the beach in Simon's Town in my cardigan, with the arm-support of my grandchildren, and still be able to admire these cocky little creatures.

BirdLife South Africa very quickly realised the extent of my accounting abilities and happily took control of any and all donations. How much we raised and will continue to raise, I can’t honestly say, but then again, money is only half the story. Money buys us time. Simply by making people aware – we’re depleting their natural food stock, we’re polluting their habitat and destroying their breeding grounds - and by making people care, we have taken the first step towards the survival of the species. To do this was simple. I took something that I get an incredible amount of pleasure from – running – and I used it to benefit the community.

So you don’t have to be a super-fit, muesli-munching bunny hugger to appreciate just how special this world is. We all have passions and skills that can benefit others, be it running, baking or teaching.

Giving a little bit of one's time and imagination means we all possess the ability to make our communities, countries and the world a better place. So get out there and decide to do something differently, but don’t waste time, DO IT NOW. • Grateful thanks go to my sponsors for helping to make this project a reality: Pure Nutrition Technology (nutrition); The Sweat Shop (running shoes), Columbia (clothing), Gaflax (Jeep running pram), Power Traveller (solar charger) and Sunumbra (sunblock).

èRelated articles: • Save Seven Lives (Digital article Feb '13) • Against the Odds, Namibia to Mozambique by Sea (Issue 20, p. 68) • Team SiyaShova Rides for Hear Us Foundation (Issue 13, p. 28)

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For more information about Dave’s amazing environmental adventures, visit www.vidamago.org or follow him on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ Runningwild.org.za?ref=hl

www.doitnow.co.za | Adventure • 37

inGEAR:

Words: Catherine Scott | Photos: Catherine & Andrew Scott

In my world of wild storms and vast skies, speeding dizzily down mountain passes, sleeping on the backs of trucks and talking to countless strangers, daily living was unpredictable and reactionary.

Sitting now on a chair, at a table in a house surrounded by millions of other houses, life on a bicycle seems far and removed.

Having travelled through Argentina, Paraguay and Chile, and covered a distance of roughly 7,000 km (a little less than half cycled) in two-and-a-half months with my brother, Andrew, the last month and a half of our journey had a different focus. Our time was not spent cycling long distances on endless stretches of road. Instead, the cycling became somewhat secondary and more time was spent rock climbing. However, the spirit of adventure was still rife.

The initial plan for our four months in South America was a rock-climbing holiday, so the prospect of spending some time on rock was hugely exciting. Our thirst for climbing had been wet whilst in Córdoba when some local climbers had invited us into their homes and taken us out climbing to some of the best crags in the province. Having done no climbing in Chile and then making an exhausting second Andean crossing, we were more than ready to park our bikes for a while.

Despite the lower altitude of the crossing from Osorno, in Chile, to Villa La Angostura, in Argentina, the ascent took place over significantly fewer kilometres than the first. The hills were steeper and wound in tight coils up through the rapidly changing landscape. It was like cycling through a year’s seasons in three days. The bright, boundless, green springtime fields gave way to bizarre summer forests with towering trees, bamboo and tropical shrubs. Then autumn came. Ash covered the ground like snow; the trees stood stark, burnt reminders of the lush landscape before the volcanic eruption. Grey. Suddenly, we were in winter. The rain started, icy, icy driving rain that burnt our faces and froze our tired muscles that begged for rest. Snow covered the ash that covered the ground. Slowly, we crept up and over. Then, once at the top, we whizzed through springtime forests and past turquoise mountain lakes towards Villa La Angostura.

38 • DO IT NOW Magazine | May 2013

Next stop: Bariloche. En route

we managed to break our speed record (new top speed was 68,9 km/h) and we were two exhilarated and exhausted individuals when we erected our tent on the outskirts of this picturesque town. Bariloche is home to some of Argentina’s best rock climbing and we were eager to use our hands and feet to climb mountains instead of only our legs. With a little investigation, we discovered some crags and local climbers. A few hours later, we were

La Buitera (the canyon) at Piedra Parada.

offered a home to stay in for as long as we needed. For just short of two weeks, we explored Bariloche and the surrounding area. We sampled the rock and chocolate. Both are incredible and complementary, and we could have happily stayed on. However, the clock was ticking and a festival of rock climbing was waiting for us, just three hundred kilometres south.

One of the things we had discovered after arriving in Argentina was that the Petzl RocTrip 2012 was going to happen in the middle of November in a place called Piedra Parada, near Esquel in Patagonia.

Our understanding of what the RocTrip entailed was minimal. We had watched films of RocTrips that had taken place a few years earlier and knew that the gathering happens every year in a different country. We

knew that the objective was to develop a new and incredible rock climbing location and ‘put it on the map’. We knew enough to make us plan our trip so that we would be in Piedra Parada by mid November.

So we packed up our bags and bikes and cycled out of Bariloche along lakes and through the surrounding hills. It felt good to be ‘in the saddle’ again. The Patagonian landscape was resplendent in its springtime glory. Our legs were strong and well rested, and we covered the distances easily.

www.doitnow.co.za | Adventure • 39

Between Bariloche and Piedra Parada, our days were happy and our nights were too.

We found magical, free camping spots, as well as some sterling families who invited us in for the night. The anticipation was building and erupted in a series of whoops when we finally cycled up to the mighty standing rock; the Piedra Parada.

RocTrip was an unrivalled highlight of the trip. It was a concoction of incredible like-minded people from around the world, a whole canyon of fantastic routes to climb, a river to swim and bath in, a variety of formal and informal live music to listen to, an asado (Argentine braai) bigger than we could ever have imagined and ten days of uninterrupted fun. There were, of course, the timeold elements to contend with: wind that bit through five layers of clothing and fine volcanic powder dust that made its way into everything and everywhere. But we were happy, dirty but happy.

At the end of November, we sadly shook out our belongings, packed up our sand-crusted tent and headed to Esquel to visit a family that had taken us in before the RocTrip. During our stay, they showed us the nature reserves and lakes that surrounded their pretty town.

On 5 December, with 10 days to go before Andrew was due to fly out of Argentina, we mounted our bikes once more and cycled out of town. We were 2,000 km from Buenos Aires and it was time for a hitch-hike marathon. This turned out to be a fascinating experience. We caught 11 lifts over five days. Thankfully, there was only one occasion where we thought we were going to die, and this was on the back of a tiny pickup that developed a terrifying speed wobble when the driver exceeded 80 km per hour. Needless to say, we hopped off that lift earlier than planned, valuing life over distance covered.

Another noteworthy incident on our return journey took place in Tandil, in the southwest of Buenos Aires Province. We stopped in this handsome little town to investigate its reputable cheese and salami and by chance found ourselves camped in the midst of a moto-encuentro (motorbike meeting) of some 2,000 bikers. The bikers took a shining to us and complimented our ‘equipment’, despite the fact that we did not have engines to rev. In spite of their festiveness and friendliness, we were not sad to leave this leatherclad campsite.

We had managed to hitch-hike 1,700 km and were not looking forward to trying to cycle through the expansive urban sprawl that surrounded Buenos Aires.

We made a decision that would ensure we arrived in the centre of the city safely. We hopped on a train.

And that was it, the final leg of our journey.

Reflecting on the trip now, from the confines of a tiled and tiny house, is odd. For four months, our ‘dirt bag’ life was total.

Normality was sleeping on a thin camping mattress. Washing clothes was an arduous task: we had to hand wash in buckets, public basins or rivers and then string up a temporary line and hope for no wind. Food was prepared in one or two small pots on a single gas stove. Coffee was simply grinds and water in a fold-up rubber cup. Being clean was always just a relative term, based on the amount of water we could carry and therefore afford to use for a bottle shower. Daily life was slowly experiencing the country oneon-one, breathing in our surroundings.

40 • DO IT NOW Magazine | May 2013

TOP TO BOTTOM: 1. Andrew climbing one of the hundreds of incredible routes at the RocTrip. 2. The beautiful lakes surrounding Bariloche.

3. It’s important to make the most of every situation and every lift.

TOP TO BOTTOM: 1. Nothing quite like an open road and a strong wind at your back.

2. Hitchhiking. 3. The end of our journey, in the Buenos Aires train station.

Our learnings along the way have been multitudinous. From basic tangibles, like how to change a tyre and prepare rice and lentils in a hundred different ways, to more immaterial realisations like self-control, anger management on windy days and how to simply accept our situation rather than feel dismal about uncomfortable circumstances. One of the key realisations was that anyone could ride a bicycle across a continent. Before this trip, I did not even own a bicycle. I did not know how to fix a puncture. I had no clue what a derailleur was or what type of brakes were best. Every bike shop or company I visited or phoned had different, conflicting advice.

At the end of the day, I opted for economy and bought a basic bicycle. It was a little heavy, perhaps, but besides the occasions when we were lifting our bikes over fences, it was perfect.

On top of that, we had not trained at all. One of the questions we were asked most frequently regarding the trip was how much we had physically prepared. There was the general expectation amongst those we met that we were experienced cyclists who had trained for months before venturing forth. We hadn’t. This response was always met with surprise. I went on a few short training rides before we departed, the last couple carrying a backpack with a few kilogrammes of sugar and beans. We went on one test cycle when our panniers arrived, to see how we handled the change in weight. When we began our trip, we were barely prepared and definitely not fit.

Furthermore, our research had been minimal. We had spoken to a few cyclist friends and sales people, and read a few blogs. From this, we were able to ascertain some vital information regarding what was necessary and what was not. What we discovered is that you do not need a fancy bike. However, we were thankful on a daily basis that we had invested in a good set of panniers. Loading and unloading our bikes every day was a pleasure.

For those inclined to try a similar journey, we would thoroughly recommend not planning a route too extensively. One of the best parts of our trips was the fact that we had no set plans and no real destinations. This opened us up to receiving uncountable experiences that we would never have been exposed to had we been following a strict plan. Likewise, and this was something we learnt along the way, by not planning and researching accommodation and our next day’s destination, we were pushed out of our comfort zones. We were forced to communicate with people to gain information that often led to many great conversations, offers and opportunities. We also gradually became comfortable with free camping and ultimately aimed to avoid campsites altogether. This really brought us into contact with the people of the land.

42 • DO IT NOW Magazine | May 2013

Cycling as a form of travel ultimately means that the going will be slow. When there were big distances between towns, we would have to camp somewhere along the way. Some mornings we would wake up on a gaucho path – a path used solely by the cowboys of the South American pampas - amongst thorn trees and cow dung; other days we would wake up surrounded by snow-capped mountains alongside a little stream that served as our water source, bath and hopefully source of food. Each day became a little challenge and therefore incredibly rewarding.

It became essential to become attuned to the wind and weather, and to read the landscape. Our senses sharpened.

As well as learning about the places we went to, we learnt about the people of Argentina, Paraguay and Chile. Not the tour guides or the people selling bus tickets, but the people who had never met a foreigner before, let alone invited one to camp on their farm or sleep in their spare room. We came into contact with people from all walks of life and we were able to share a laugh with every one of them. We gained a wealth of experiences that we will remember and reminisce about for the rest of our lives.

Yes, spending every hour of every day with one person was not always easy and required extreme patience, tolerance and compromise. Yes, there were days where we wanted to tear each other’s hair out, but all in all, it would be difficult to find a more perfect travel companion.

I asked Andrew to jot down a few thoughts on the trip and what he said was that, “The trip gave me the adventure I have been wanting all my life.”

I couldn’t agree with him more. •

èRelated articles: • Two Scotts on the Trot - The storm before the flight (Issue 19, p. 34) • Two Scotts on the Trot - If only you could see us now (Digital article, Dec ’12)

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Words: Keegan Longueira | Photos: Greg Beadle & Sam Clarke | Video: GoProteam@Epic

Epic boasts another year of

untamed adventure With the tenth edition of the Absa Cape Epic visiting the beautiful winelands once again, it was up to young stars, the usual contenders and even the newbies, to make their mark.

On 17 March 1,200 riders lined up to tackle the spectacular Prologue course and get their campaign underway. The setting was none other than the popular Meerendal Wine Estate, in Durbanville, and consisted of a well-crafted network of single tracks that stretched for some 22 km. The infamous ‘Stairway to Heaven’ climb in the first couple of kilometres of racing was a challenge for all, but once over, the rewarding fast decent into the quarry below was very welcome for screaming legs.

44 • DO IT NOW Magazine | May 2013

Small, sharp climbs showed their face regularly during the course, but nobody could deny the absolute pleasure of flying down the final hill with its well-bermed switchbacks. Defending champion Christoph Sauser and his partner Jaroslav Kulhavy, a gold medallist in mountain biking at London 2012, posted the quickest time of the day, making it quite clear that they were here to defend their title.

Stage 1: Citrusdal (96 km / 2,350 m climbing) Stage 1 saw a sea of smiling faces at the starting line for their respective shoots, unaware of what the day held for them. This 96 km route entailed riders circuiting a loop in the Citrusdal area, but it was the most horrible thick beach sand that overshadowed the tough climbs, challenging single track, fast roads and awesome descents!

Professionals and amateurs alike pushed and carried bikes for many kilometres on a day that would go down in history as the sandiest day in the Epic. Victors on the stage were the Multivan Merida team.

The mood back at camp rapidly changed, and once energetic and excited bodies were transformed into nervous, tired wrecks. The Epic had begun!

Stage 2: Citrusdal to Saronsberg in Tulbagh (146 km / 2,350 m climbing) Although stage 2 was tough, it was a welcomed day after such a terrible first stage. For the first 18 km, riders had the challenge of summiting the Middleburg Pass and then plummeting down a smooth fast descent before the trail levelled out, making for some fast riding to the first water point. There was more climbing at the halfway mark, followed by an easier 5 km single track to break the monotony. The dry, gripy single track was superb and passed through some iconic rock formations. But the best was yet to come.

After a long, hard day in the saddle, riders then had to tackle an extremely technical 5 km single track into Saronsberg Wine Estate. The route was rough and one wrong move could result in a rider going off the edge of the cliff. This stage went to the best technical riders on the day, Bulls Team 1, Karl Platt and Urs Huber.

46 • DO IT NOW Magazine | May 2013

Stage 3: Saronsberg (94 km / 1,950 m climbing) Stage 3, the ‘short’ stage, promised some serious climbing! The route was a tour of the basin, with riders having to complete a figure-eight loop before ending once again at the Saronsberg Wine Estate. The single tracks were flowing and very enjoyable for all riders. With only a few kilometres to the finish, the leaders, Sauser and Kulhavy, made a navigational error that lost them the stage win to Bulls Team 1.

Stage 4: Saronsberg to Wellington (120 km / 2,300 m climbing) Stage 4 was a day for the strong. It started with various bunches forming fast peloton-like groups on the first 15 km of flat, fast racing.

However, speeds were sharply reduced as riders headed into a 5 km, steady but rutted climb. The 8 km descent on the other end was fast and dropped to water point one for a quick stop before riders headed into another serious climb. The climb was frustrating for those looking to climb up the overall standings, as they were stuck behind many of the riders who walked the climbs, making it impossible to pass. The section of road for the ‘roadies’ up the Bainskloof Pass was steep and fast, but it was also the last of the smooth roads as riders headed into the last climb of the day. The ascent stretched some 10 km on rocky, washed-out roads, making it near impossible to get any kind of rhythm. Fresh legs now overtook those who had given too much on the previous pass. An early break in the day saw Sauser and Kulhavy easily clinch this stage win!

Stage 5: Wellington (75 km / 1,800 m climbing) Stage 5 was considered a ‘rest’ day, with 22 km of the 75 km route being on single track. It was fast, fun and a bonus for tired legs, and an awesome day for those riders who managed to avoid traffic on the tracks. The stage winners were none other than Sauser and Kulhavy, who were now comfortably in the lead.

Stage 6: Wellington to Stellenbosch (99 km / 2,950 m climbing) This stage would be the last 'real' challenge for riders, as they would soon be on the road to the finish line at Lourensford Wine Estate. A 10 km climb quickly split the field as they raced towards the second last major climb of the day, Helshoogte Pass. However, it was the last steep climb that had riders digging deep to make it up. Once over, a fast single track descent took the tired riders into Stellenbosch. The domination of team Songo.info, riding under the banner ‘#Ride4Burry’, continued as Sauser and Kulhavy took the stage once again. With just one day left of racing, Songo.info was now in a commanding position to win this year’s event.

The Scott Factory Racing team of Philip Buys and Matthys Beukes had clinched their first African jersey and were looking for a strong last day to secure a victory in the category. The African jersey is a very prestigious jersey that is given to the best performing are African team, and allows the local riders to get a taste of the glory, as most of the top teams either have one or both riders representing overseas-based teams. Buys and Beukes, who are arguably two of the best technical riders in the world, managed to steal the win from Charles Keey and Darren Lill on the technical days of racing. Lill and Keey had held onto the jersey for most of the event, but Buys and Beukes had paced themselves well and were peaking at the last possible moment. The two managed to overtake Keey and Lill on the stages where there was loads of single track. In the Ladies category, the team of Yolande Speedy and Catherine Williamson had no trouble in securing their spot as number one heading into the last day. In the mixed team, Ariane and Erik Kleinhans could not be beaten! The two continued their domination in the event, their skills and strengths complementing each other throughout the seven days so far. Nico Pfitzenmaier (Germany) and Abraao Azevedo (Brazil), riding under Bridge, proved superior in the Master’s category. With their years of experience, this pair was just unshakable. In the Grand Master’s category, it was none other than Heinz Zoerweg and Bärti Bucher who led the event.

LEFT TO RIGHT: 1. Celebrities Owen Hannie and legendary Joel Stransky 2. Cherise Stander, Matthys Beukes and Philip Buys 3. Celebrating 10 years of untamed adventure 4. Absa Cape Epic winners Christoph Sauser and Jaroslav Kulhavy

Stage 7: Stellenbosch Lourensford Wine Estate (54 km / 1,550 m climbing) The final stage featured a fast 54 km loop from the school in Stellenbosch to the Lourensford Wine Estate. The day’s festivities was over shadowed by an epic battle that was taking place at the front of the race, with team Multivan Merida and Scott Factory Racing going head to head.

The two South Africans wanted nothing less than a stage victory on the last day, but so too did Hermida and van Houts. The riders watched each other, looking for any signs of weakness, but nobody seemed to put a wheel wrong.

In the end, it was a nail-biting sprint to the finish with team Multivan Merida only managing to just pip Buys and Beukes.

Nonetheless, these two youngsters did South Africa proud!

“Our goal was to win the African jersey, but we just missed the top five by around 20 seconds, to place us in third place. And just losing a sprint for the win on the final stage was much more than what we’d hoped for. So we are really happy with our performance and appreciate all the support we’ve had,” said Beukes, who heads back to his team Giant Contego for the rest of the season.

With the 2014 early bird entries selling out within 34 seconds of going on sale, the eleventh edition of the Absa Cape Epic promises to be just a little more competitive, exciting and difficult. Well done to all those who competed and we’ll see you next year at this untamed mountain bike experience! •

èRelated articles:

• Argus 2013, What a Ride! (Digital article, March '13) • An Epic Journey (Issue 23, p. 50) • 94.7 Cycle Challenge - Ride for a Purpose (Issue 19, p. 132)

www.doitnow.co.za | Sport • 47

inGEAR:

Words: The Wachizungu Put Foot Crew | Photos: Daryn Hillhouse & Nandi Louw | Video: Courtesy of Put Foot Foundation

Put Foot Rally

Helping the shoe TO fit On 18 June 2013, 62 crews will depart from Cape Town on a ‘pilgrimage’ and travel in a circular 8,000 kM route for 18 days through southern Africa. This ‘pilgrimage’, known as the Put Foot Rally, will end on 5 July 2013 in Mozambique and sees competitors taking on the best that Namibia, Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique’s terrains have to offer. In the run-up to and during the rally, participating teams collect donations that will be used to gift brand new school shoes to needy children from South Africa, primarily, and Zambia.

Since its inaugural 2011 launch, the Put Foot Rally has become THE social adventure in Africa and testament to this is the fact that the tickets for the 2013 rally sold out faster than a group of dung beetles can clear a pile of elephant dung! Held annually, this non-competitive rally is the brainchild of three ordinary, big-dreaming and passionate young South Africans; Daryn Hillhouse, Mike Sharman and Dan Nash.

48 • DO IT NOW Magazine | May 2013

The Put Foot Rally is an adventure of epic proportions.

The crews are provided with checkpoints and required to arrive at the checkpoints on certain dates. They may choose any route to follow, provided they arrive at the checkpoint on the specified date. Checkpoints for the 2013 rally will be at Etosha National Park in Namibia, the Victoria Falls in Zambia, Lake Malawi in Malawi and will finish at Inhambane in Mozambique. The checkpoints will host the famous Put Foot parties, demonstrating that doing good doesn't always have to be accompanied with moaning and groaning - you can have fun doing it too!

The Put Foot Foundation was born out of the need to tackle the daily plight and indignity of children who go to school with no shoes. The foundation’s mission is: ‘Giving young, under-privileged children Hope, Pride, and Dignity’. It acts as an umbrella organisation for the Put Foot Rally when teaming up with other charities and assumes responsibility for the administration, planning and delivery of social development projects.

It is also responsible for the accounting, collection and distribution of donations.

Wachizungu, a social club of like-minded, positive South Africans involved in a number of social upliftment initiatives, has also entered a crew in this year’s rally. The word ‘wachizungu’ has a particular historical meaning in Africa and dates back to the 18th century. ‘Wachizungu’ literally means ‘things of the aimless wanderers’ and comes from a southern, central and eastern African term for a person of foreign descent.

The term was first used in east Africa to describe European explorers, apparently as a result of their propensity to get lost in their wanderings in Africa. It is preferred because central and east Africa people do not link people of European origin to the ‘white’ colour. This is because the concept of colour coding ethnicities is not a part of their culture.

Says Johann van Loggerenberg, a crew member, "As white Africans, we considered this name perfect for our crew. We happen to have ancestors that hail from Europe, but we consider ourselves African in totality because although our ancestors may have been wandering around ‘aimlessly’, we do not have to because Africa is our home. We also like the name because it is an African word, with an African connotation, and does not refer to the colour of our skins. What we hope to do here is not to be mere spectators or tourists in Africa, but behave African."

The Wachizungu Put Foot Rally 2013 crew supports the rally's official cause, the Put Foot Foundation, and as a secondary cause, the Vincent Tshabalala Education Trust, and members have been feverishly collecting donations from far and wide since gaining entrance to the rally. Since November 2012, after launching their website, it has had more than 51,000 views, and they have more than 2,000 friends on their Facebook page and Twitter account. With donations of over R800 000 collected by them (more than any previous rally has collected collectively to date), from as far as Kazakhstan, Luxembourg, Ireland, United Kingdom and Tasmania, they hope to collect much more before the rally kicks off. Wachizungu has the privilege of being associated with the generosity of proudly South African companies that are not only supporting their causes but are also assisting the crew with sponsorships.

Crews are required to be selfsupportive and have to arrange their own accommodation and sustenance at their own cost.

So you'll find some crews opting for the more luxurious options of B&Bs, lodges and the like, whereas others will rough it and camp along the way. Travelling these distances through the various countries will afford the crews many wonderful opportunities to meet the local people, be introduced to their local customs and traditions and generally meet people they would not normally have met.

The Wachizungu crew will be tackling the rally in their trusty old Land Rover Defender, with sufficient time inbetween checkpoints to explore parts of the countries on the route, while mostly camping and living it rough!

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FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: 1. Participants in the 2012 rally getting the opportunity to meet with and fit the shoes on the children in Zambia.

2. Kids from Emfundisweni Primary School in Alexandra in their brand new shoes. 3. Alexandra Emfundisweni Primary School children supporting Wachizungu.

Says Kim, another crew member and chemical engineer involved in the eco-solutions industry, “There is no better way to make new friends and sell South Africa than to travel through Africa with a cause. Ubuntu is, after all, one of the oldest cultural phenomenons in Africa. As Madiba put it, “I need you in order to be me. And you need me in order to be you.”

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For more details about the Put Foot Rally, visit www.putfootrally.com If you would like to show your support or contribute to this worthy cause, then visit the Wachizungu Crew at www.wachizungu.com and leave messages of support or use the ‘donate safely online’ link to make a contribution. Supporters can also follow their progress on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ wachizungu.sawasawa and on Twitter at https://twitter. com/wachizungu to get the latest news on all their adventures along the route.

The Put Foot Foundation recently reported that R20 000 is sufficient to buy new shoes for 200 children, which would represent about half of an average school they visit during their shoe drops. The shoe drops

occur annually after the rally has concluded and collected sufficient funding for this purpose. During February 2013, the Put Foot Foundation did their annual ‘shoe drive’ through South Africa and more than 4,000 shoes were given to pupils at various schools. Wachizungu participated in the shoe drop in Alexandra Township, where almost 1,000 children received brand new leather school shoes. •

50 • DO IT NOW Magazine | May 2013

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èRelated articles:

• 94.7 Cycle Challenge - Ride for a Purpose (Issue 19, p. 132) • Teachers and Children Fly High (Issue 17, p. 144)

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Words: Craig Jarvis | Photos: Various Photographers | Video: Quiksilver

Surfing

Down Under It’s four o’clock in the morning and the beachfront is illuminated from the pop-up shops and security spotlights. The contest village at the Quiksilver Pro at Snapper Rocks, Gold Coast, Australia, will be waking up soon as the crowd flock down to watch their heroes surf in the first World Championship Tour contest of the year, but for now it is still. I’m in an apartment block that looms

over the village and can see the entire strip of shops, restaurants and bars, all closed, but that’s not what I’m looking at. I’m looking beyond their facades, behind their shop fronts, out to sea. There is a new swell pouring down the point and if I want to get a few runners before the crowd emerges, I have to get moving, really quickly. I turn on the kettle.

In South Africa we have no idea about crowds. We complain when there are 40 guys out at Long Beach on a weekend, we moan when the Supertubes in Jeffreys Bay are busy. We look on and gripe when New Pier in Durban has an early morning pack on it. We have no idea. I go down to the gully at Snapper at five in the morning and the sun is already up. It’s not light, but there is plenty of vision. There are 50 guys in the water already, waiting for me to join them. There are another 50 on the beach with me, getting ready to paddle out. That’s 100 surfers, at least, and it’s only five o’clock. Many South Africans, not accustomed to such crowds, would turn tail and go for coffee at this stage. But I’m psyched, ready to give it a go, up for the challenge. Anyway, I want to go for a quick surf so that I can understand what the conditions will be like when the South Africans compete later today in the first competition of the Quiksilver Pro Surfing World Championship Tour. Jordy Smith, Travis Logie and Bianca Buitendag are all there and will be hitting it later.

52 • DO IT NOW Magazine | May 2013

As more and more surfers arrive at the gulley in groups of ten or more, it’s dog-eatdog out there, with everyone scrambling for anything that moves. It’s hard to fathom the

absolute numbers of surfers; there are young girls, old guys, pros, longboarders, Japanese surfers, knee­boarders, stand up paddlers and everything in-between. They are relentless and they just keep on coming. I manage to sneak in a few quick waves and with a few under the belt, I decide to retreat before frustration kicks in.

Jordy Smith surfed in a Super heat amongst the barrels at Kirra.

Photo by: ©ASP/WillHaydenSmith

The World Championship Tour is the premier surfing tour in the world and we have three surfers from South Africa competing in it. In the Men’s, we have seasoned campaigner Travis Logie, from Durban, and the 2010 WCT runner up Jordy Smith, from Cape Town. In the Ladies, we have rookie Bianca Buitendag from George. There are said to be 3,3 million surfers in America and a reported 2 million surfers in Australia. In South Africa? Some people use a figure of 60,000. It might be less. So, in comparison, for us to have three surfers on the elite tour is pretty good. It’s hard for South African surfers. The Rand is weak, and the local surf industry is obviously so much smaller here. Our surfers need to train hard and invest in themselves, and very few South Africans actually succeed in the dog-eat-dog world of pro surfing. Luckily, we have some of the best and uncrowded waves in the world, so our surfers do have the best training available.

The Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast tOOK place from 2 to 13 March, at Snapper Rocks, Rainbow Bay, just down from Coolangatta and an hour’s drive from Surfers Paradise. It’s an enormous event with a carnival atmosphere, and starts the professional surfing tour off with a bang. Jordy is a regular stand out at this event, having placed fifth or higher over the least three years, and all eyes are on him this year.

In the first round, the South Africans are on fire. Travis gets the highest score of the first round and Jordy the second highest.

Bianca doesn’t fare as well as them, but bounces back and kills it in her second heat. The South Africans are impressing all and sundry, with the local press and media documenting their every move.

www.doitnow.co.za | Sport • 53

FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: 1. Kirra, the scene for the contest final - Photo by: ©ASP/Kirstin 2. Bianca Buitendag is going to make a huge name for herself in professional surfing - Photo by: @ASP/Kirstin 3. Travis Logie was the highest placed South African in the event Photo by: ©ASP/Kirstin 4. The deciding confrontation between Joel Parkinson (in red) and Kelly Slater - Photo by: ©ASP/Carey.

The wave at Snapper Rock is a freak of nature.

Just south of the waves, the Tweed Head River has a system where they pump tons of sand from the mouth and deposit it further out to sea. This sand snakes northward with the prevailing current and forms a sandbank along the shoreline. All the sand collects and packs in-between the rocks and stones to form a perfect sandbar over which the waves run. These waves get longer and longer, and on occasion, a few waves join up, forming a mile-long wave, sometimes more. It’s called the Superbank, but it’s not at its best this year.

The pump that throws the sand out is broken, a casualty from the recent cyclones that have belted the Gold Coast. The waves are good, they’re just not the world-class quality that the world has come to expect. Still, the South Africans love it and are racking up the points.

Through the seeding system, Travis and Jordy are unfortunately placed against each other in the third round. It’s math, with the top seed facing off against the bottom seed and increments thereof.

Jordy is tenth seed after the first round and Travis is fifteenth, and they draw each other. It’s a disappointment for many, but either way a South African is going to advance.

It’s a tight heat. Travis leads for the majority of the heat, but Jordy sneaks in a wave in the last minute.

He surfs it as best he can, ripping it all the way through to the inside, and we all wait for the scores.

Some people think that Jordy has it in the bag, while others see it going Travis's way. It goes to Trav, by .01 of a point. Jordy is out. The big guy shakes Travis's hand graciously, hands his vest in and disappears into the crowd.

54 • DO IT NOW Magazine | May 2013

Travis and Bianca are eliminated along the way to the final, and it turns out to be a final between current ASP World Champion Joel Parkinson and 11-times World Champion Kelly Slater. The contest is moved down to Kirra, a famous surfing spot that has all but disappeared over the years due to sand build-up and the removal of 30 metres of groyne (a low wall built out from the coast into the sea, to prevent the repeated movement of the waves from removing parts of the land). It has come back to life for this event and the waves are excellent. This is an unusual move, but the surf conditions are so much better at Kirra, and the contest organisers are all for the venue move.

It’s a barrel fest between the two world champions and in the end Kelly shows the world why he has 11 world titles, shutting the door on his opponent to win his 52ND professional surfing event.

Travis Logie placed 9th at the Quiksilver Pro and Jordy Smith 13th.

Bianca Buitendag placed 5th in the Roxy Pro. The Men’s World Tour moves on to Brazil for the Billabong Pro Rio from 8 to 19 May, and the ladies head on over to New Zealand for the TSB Bank Surf Festival from 3 to 7 April. •

èRelated articles:

• Introducing Surfing's Newest Addition (Issue 21, p. 56) • Riders of the Surf (Issue 16, p. 68) • Why We Surf (Issue 9, p. 28)

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For more information about the Quiksilver Pro Surfing World Championship Tour visit www.Aspworldtour.com or http://quiksilverlive.com/progoldcoast/2013.

BLACK EDITION

KEY CAMERA SPECS 2.7K Cinema 30 / 1440p48 fps 1080p60 / 960p100 / 720p120 fps 12MP / 30 fps Burst Wi-Fi Built-In Wi-Fi Remote Included GoPro App Compatible Also available in White and Silver Editions.

Pro Low-Light Performance

Wear it. Mount it. Love it.™

LCD Touch BacPac™

Wi-Fi Remote

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The Frame Mount

Head Strap Mount

Handlebar/Seatpost/ Pole Mount

Chest Mount, aka “Chesty”

Helmet Front Mount

Adhesive Mounts

inH2O:

Words: Deon Breytenbach | Photos: Ryan Peel & Kate Walton | Blog: www.doitnow.co.za/blogs/deon-breytenbach

s Basicth e

Executing Sculling Brace & Space godzilla By now, you shou ld have the hang of brac es and draw strok es, and made them something you can rely on to keep your hair dry. The next recovery tactic I’m going to look at is the scull ing brac e. This comb inatio n of strok es is essential when you end up in place s you did not plan to be.

Landing my right-hand Space Godzilla, right hand active and pulling hard down to keep the rotation going and link it into a cartwheel.

56 • DO IT NOW Magazine | May 2013

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FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: 1. Sculling brace step 1. 2. Sculling brace step 2. 3. Sculling brace step 3, look at how Bertie is looking back over his shoulder to keep an eye on the rescue team about to throw bag him. 4. Bertie paddling away safely after his session in Curtain Falls. 5. Philip using a sculling draw to try and work his way out of the hole.

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Sculling brace

The scull stroke was originally intended to move open canoes sideways, while still facing your original direction. With modern kayaks, we still use it for lateral movement, but also as a survival stroke to keep your head above water in retentive features.

First, let us look at performing it on flat water, the easiest place to get the hang of this stroke. The key to remember here is the angle of your paddle shaft. The more vertical your shaft is, the more you will move sideways, whereas if your shaft is horizontal, you’ll get more leverage from the stroke to keep your head up. This stroke is also a bit of a risky one, especially when using it to keep your head out the water because paddlers tend to over extend their arms and this puts strain on their shoulders. Therefore, you must keep your arms slightly bent at the elbow.

Remember, the starting point of the neutral draw stroke set-up is from your hips, with your non-active hand at eye level and your shaft vertical. Now you want to slice your blade forward, with the open blade facing towards your knees. As the blade reaches your knees, close the blade face a little and slice it back towards your hips. The blade should remain the same distance away from your kayak all the way through this move.

When you get back to your hips, open the blade face again and slide it forward towards your knees. This should keep your kayak facing in the same direction, but moving sideways towards the side of your kayak that you are doing the stroke on. When slicing back and forth, your core muscles and torso rotation should be doing the work. If you find that your bow is changing direction and pointing in, then you are not engaging your core muscles and slicing too far forward. If your stern is coming round, then you are going too far back on the stroke.

The ideal position for the sculling brace is from just behind your hips to your middle thigh. It is a smallish movement, but it must be a strong one.

The sculling stroke can also help you to pull yourself over the retentive part of stopper waves and flush out. It also comes in handy if you are being pushed against a wall, rock or bank and need to open up some space so that you can get in a proper stroke to paddle away.

I recommend you practice the vertical scull stroke first, so that you get comfy with the movements required and build up some muscle memory. Practise on both sides, folks.

When things get a bit messy and you’re stuck in a retentive pour over/waterfall, you can use the scull stroke, but you will need to get your paddle as horizontal as possible. This is when it evolves from a scull stroke to a sculling brace. To give you an example, let’s say that you are stuck in a drop with your right hand on your downstream side. You want to get your paddle as horizontal as possible, with your right-hand blade as close as possible to the surface. Now you need to sit upright, slice faster and keep your head still. You will now be upside down, so position your blade next to you, with your blade face open. A quick, hard slice forward should give you some initial resistance on your paddle, which will enable you to engage your hip muscles and move your head closer to the surface. As your stroke almost reaches your knees, close the blade face and slice back hard towards your hips. If you are thinking that this is similar to your high brace action, well done, it is.

The key to using the sculling brace to keep your head above the surface is that you must do it with total commitment and it must happen continuously. If you hesitate between sweeping forward and back, you will lose the resistance created by the bracing action to keep your head above the surface. The best way to practice this is to flop over in flat water and have a friend keep an eye on you, as well as let you know if you are locking your elbows. Remember, never lock your elbows. Using the sculling brace to keep your head above the surface in flat water is very tiring and requires a lot of practise, flexibility and commitment. But once you get the hang of it, this technique can be a lifesaver and swim stopper. In a real situation, you’ll want to be able to get your head above the surface so that you can keep an eye on the person who is going to rescue you with a throw bag.

You need to keep eye contact with your rescue team whenever possible and for as long as possible to make the rescue safer and faster.

SPACE GODZILLA

To end off on a lighter note, I’ll take a quick look at the Space Godzilla, the easiest tweak to the super cool Loop. Your set-up and initial body and paddle positions are the same as the Loop’s, except that you need to tuck forward for a Space Godzilla instead of tucking to the side. If you are going for a right-hand-blade Space Godzilla, then tuck forward as you get to the top of your pop and punch your right hand past your left knee, while looking over your left shoulder. Tucking at an angle will start the twist rotation of your move. If you tuck hard to your left and are completely inverted, you will have twisted enough so that your kayak is on its side in the air. When your right-hand blade touches the foam pile, put in a forward stroke and kick your legs out in front of you. This will level out your kayak so that you end up in the front surf. On a big enough feature, and if you have enough air, you can rotate all the way round before landing flat in the front surf.

If you use this move in a competition, you will need to get a minimum of a 90° twist to land on edge and score the move. This is also a totally wicked move to link to a few cartwheels, seeing as you are already landing on edge and have some spinning momentum. And for your efforts, you will score bonus link points for both the Space Godzilla and cartwheels.

As we are reaching the end of our summer paddling season and the days are getting a bit chillier, next month I will look at the top toys to keep you warm, as well as how to get your pivot turns going to save energy during winter. •

èRelated articles:

• Basics, Styling Draw Strokes and Cartwheels (Issue 23, p. 70) • Free Your Style (Issue 8, p. 34)

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For more information and tutorials on executing the sculling brace and Space Godzilla, plus photos and links to other online resources, visit Deon’s blog: www.doitnow.co.za/blogs/deon-breytenbach

www.doitnow.co.za | Sport • 59

inH2O:

Words: Francois Flamengo | Photos: Various Contributors

www.shutterstock.com

The blue ribbon eel adult male is a charismatic and elegant creature, with its thin blue body, high bright yellow dorsal fin and dragon-like head. As its mouth is almost always wide open, it looks like it is ready to attack anything that gets too close. Although it’s an incredibly beautiful and colourful creature, it also gives you the impression that it is really angry and very unhappy. For divers who like to see them up close and personal, like myself, Sodwana’s Ribbon Reef, close to 5 Mile, is just the place to do this.

Ribbon Reef with

Da Blue Juice

Blue Ribbon Eel

60 • DO IT NOW Magazine | May 2013

I recently visited Ribbon Reef with my wife, Elri, and some friends for a weekend dive excursion with Da Blue Juice, a dive operator with a deep love for the marine life and Sodwana. I have dived with them for many years and keep going back as they have this uncanny ability of making each and every trip unique and special.

Arriving at the beach, Digger and Mich, the owners of Da Blue Juice, and their crew warmly welcomed us and then proceeded to sort out all our pre-diving needs. Once we had checked all our equipment and kitted up, we were briefed on Ribbon Reef and what to expect. The weather conditions were perfect for diving, with the water visibility expected to be well over 20 metres and the temperature above 25 degrees. Our group would be dropped on the small 'round' part of the reef and from there, we would make our way across to the bigger part once we had inspected the nooks and crevasses for the elusive blue ribbon eel. They are not easy to spot because they’re usually well hidden and with their thin body that is no longer than 100 cm, they are able to entrench themselves in the reef so that only their small heads are visible.

With the briefing done and everyone clued up again on what signs would be used once in the water, it was time to launch the boat. Digger, in my book, must be one of the most qualified skippers in Sodwana, as he is able to get his boat through the surf with the least amount of ‘bump’. In no time at all, we were beyond the backline and heading north towards Ribbon Reef, our excitement mounting with each passing mile.

On the way there, Digger pointed to a school of dolphins that were frolicking in the deep blue.

He then gave the command for us to ready our snorkelling gear, so we could go in for a closer look. We were all eager to swim with these amazing mammals, as it is always a wonderful and truly memorable experience. Once Digger had brought the boat to a stop just in front of the approaching dolphins, he gave the command to enter the water.

As we rolled from the boat, everyone tried to make the least amount of splash so that we wouldn't startle them and send them hurtling in another direction. Everyone gathered behind the boat and we were rewarded when the dolphins came towards us for a closer look - clearly they were just as curious as we were. Digger then started to ride in a big circle around us to create a ‘bait ball’ effect and, as a result, the dolphins became very excited and started swimming in a circle. We watched in awe as these amazing creatures showcased their excellent manoeuvring capabilities just below us. Then one of the bigger dolphins decided it was time to move on and the group followed swiftly behind, leaving us bobbing around and savouring this amazing experience that had lasted for about three minutes.

When everyone was safely back on board, still awestruck by what we had just witnessed, Digger continued northwards.

Harlequin Shrimp

We reached the dive site and the water lookED magnificent; it was crystal clear, the temperature was perfect and a more inviting dive you could not ask for. The group plunged into the water as soon as Digger gave the command and set about adjusting their buoyancy as we reached the reef. The aim was to be able to explore the reef from as close as possible without touching anything.

As we started searching for the blue ribbon eel, a massive turtle crossed our path. The leatherback looked very relaxed and laid back as he slowly glided between the divers on his way to what felt like destination anywhere. If that was not enough excitement to get the dive going, we saw massive schools of big eyes and kingfish weave their way around and through the reef, enhancing its brilliance even further with their amazing colours. There was so much to see as we moved over the reef and everyone was constantly pointing at some or other marvel, including many different nudibranchs decorated in the most fascinating colours and detail, paperfish, harlequin shrimp, rock lobster hiding in the reef and so it went. It‘s amazing how much more there is to see on a reef if one just takes the time to look a little deeper.

As we were about to swim over to the largest part of Ribbon Reef, Elri casually pointed to an eel that was partially hidden in a crevasse in the reef and signalled the dive master if that was what we were looking for. Everyone paused and judging by the dive master’s response, we knew that we’d hit the jackpot. With great excitement, we all made our way over to where the ribbon eel was doing its best to remain inconspicuous. When it was my turn to feast my eyes upon it, I was amazed by how small it was and could understand how easy it would be to swim over an eel and not notice it.

These eels can grow up to 100 cm long and I remember thinking that if they were two or three metres bigger, they would be very scary creatures. Now that we’d found what we had been looking for, anything else would be the cherry on the cake.

www.doitnow.co.za | Adventure • 61

Da Blue Juice diving charter

Ribbon Reef, the largest part of the reef, was buzzing with marine life and we were once again treated to sightings of more turtles, large and colourful parrotfish and honeycomb eels.

As our dive came to a close, almost an hour later, we came across three massive potato bass (each more than a metre long) that were swimming along without a care in the world.

However, these incredible fish can be quite intimidating when they start moving into your space, their massive heads and large bodies resembling that of a bouncer. Without asking for it, they demand respect from you and thoughts of ‘I should move now and get out of your way’ started to creep up in the back of my mind as they swam closer and closer. The one that passed directly beneath me was almost the same size as me (and I’m 1.8 metres), and with those large mouths I can just imagine how vicious they must be when they start hunting fish on the reef.

With everyone nearing the 50 bar air limit and the surge starting to pick up, it was time to leave this magical underwater world.

We stopped at five metres to do our safety stop for three minutes before surfacing and climbing into the waiting boat. As soon as we hit the deck, everyone started talking about how awesome the dive had been and what they had seen. After engaging in all the feedback and treating everyone to a Fizz Pop, Digger started the engines and headed back to the beach.

This is a mere snippet of what we experienced on our weekend diving trip and words barely do justice to how incredible this part of the world is when it comes to sheer diving pleasure. The only option is to book a trip with Da Blue Juice and go dive this amazing reef yourself. You won’t be disappointed! •

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recommendations: • Occi Lodge - The lodge has a lovely outdoor pool and braai area that will ensure you get the most out of your humid Sodwana evenings. Alternatively, there's an entertainment area and lounge where you can sit and relax indoors while watching DSTV. The open communal kitchen is fully equipped and the comfy rooms have en-suite bathrooms. Wifi is available to all guests.

• Drunken Tree - This new bar is perfect for some local Sodwana R&R. It delivers on great entertainment and is where you can meet the locals and share great stories over a cold one, in the hot African sun. And if you are brave enough, ask the barman to fix you a Sodwana Grenade. It will definitely get the party started ... Boom!

èRelated articles:

62 • DO IT NOW Magazine | May 2013

• Preparing to Dive the Red Sea (Issue 10, p. 39) • In Awe of the Majestic Whale Shark (Issue 5, p. 38) • Exploring Sodwana (Issue 2, p. 13)

inH2O:

Words & Photos & Video: Steven Yates

Raja Ampat Southern Mystique of Misool

If a more beautiful place than Raja Ampat exists in the world, I have yet to find it.

Thousands of lushly covered islands of limestone and coral plunge into the deep blue depths. Lagoon mazes and vast bays are navigated by the calls of many birds, while schooling flying fish gracefully skim the ocean’s surface.

Misool rests nestled in the southern region of a diving Mecca known as Raj Ampat, in West Papua, Indonesia. Departing Sorong, the gateway to this underwater jungle, Laura and I enjoyed a fivehour speedboat trip south through the magnificent archipelago to our luxury eco-resort - the Misool Eco Resort. The journey kindled the spirit of the ocean in me and I yearned for a yacht to ride the winds and explore the uninhabited majesty of the islands and their underwater treasures. Luckily for us, Misool offered us this opportunity, although unfortunately without the freedom of being alone on the ocean and under the power of the wind.

64 • DO IT NOW Magazine | May 2013

Misool Eco Resort is built entirely from driftwood salvaged from the surrounding area, yet the water cottages, with their open-air showers, ocean-slung hammocks and decadent queen-size beds would make you think otherwise. The wooden walkways over the tidal lagoon provided the perfect vantage point to watch the underwater creatures as they explored the coral. From sea crates to week old blacktip sharks, Misool was a marvel … and we had not even ventured underwater yet.

The first couple of days of diving were a kaleidoscope of colour as we got to experience the world’s most bio-diverse underwater environment. Known for its unbelievably high concentrations of soft corals, southern Raja Ampat was a wonder from 30 m right up to the surface, with the majority of our dives ending with 20 minutes spent exploring the vibrant pink, red and orange soft corals just below the surface. One of our first dives was also a wonderful night dive, where Laura managed to spot one of the very elusive and shy Raja Ampat epaulette sharks. Along with the Raja Ampat pygmy seahorse, this shark is endemic to the region and provided a special tick on the bucket list of strange creatures.

Christmas Eve rolled around and Laura and I decided to take a break from our busy diving schedule of three dives a day and explore the island. The terrain was extremely tough and the vegetation not that conducive to hiking, but we made it to a high point and were rewarded with the most exquisite 360 degree vistas of the southern Raja Ampat islands and her turquoise seas.

Home for a week

Christmas heralded the start of the ‘proper’ diving. We were informed that from Christmas Day onwards, we would be frequenting the very best of Raja Ampat. The morning started better than could ever be expected with a dive on the fabled ‘Magic Mountain’. We dropped into 15 m of water and nearly landed on a lone reef manta ray as it circled the deep ocean pinnacle.

Amazed, we watched it slowly glide off into the deep blue. We then made our way along the pinnacle, across a deep saddle and up to a cleaning station at about 22 m. Here, we were intrigued by the rare and difficultto-spot Raja Ampat pygmy seahorse, only to look up and witness the approach of another four reef mantas. They circled the cleaning station for a good 15 minutes, showing off to the watching crowd of gobsmacked divers.

As our time began to run short, we let the slight current pull us slightly off the reef and drift us back towards the main pinnacle. As we began to drift, a dark shape emerged. As the shape took form, the 6 m wingspan of a giant oceanic manta became discernible and the majestic creature graced us with one of the ocean’s most wonderful sightings.

View from paradise

www.doitnow.co.za | Adventure • 65

FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: 1. Manta overhead 2. Picturesque breakfast dpot 3. Whitetip reef sharks 4. Friendly bat fish 5. Turtle in the big blue

Some of the other dives on Christmas Day and the days that followed were to the reefs known as Boo Window, Fiabacet, Yillet and Nudi Rock. It is near impossible for me to describe the beauty of these sites from the ‘window’ swim through that bisected the island of Boo to the eroded caverns (some only small enough to pop you head into the stale air) accessible only by swimming under the overhanging islands of Yillet. Coral gardens of glowing colours were common place and offered us rare sightings, the likes of harlequin shrimps, ornate ghost pipefish, juvenile sweetlips, massive schools of uncountable anchovies, fusiliers, batfish, travellis and barracuda, all living out the abundant food chain before our very eyes.

Christmas Day ended with a bottle of Veuve Clicquot and yet another sumptuous meal combining Indonesian and Western flavours. The expedition

to Raja Ampat’s southern reaches and the Misool Eco Resort ended with a burning desire to return to this underwater paradise and see more of this wonderful world. • 66 • DO IT NOW Magazine | May 2013

èRelated articles:

• The Lembeh Straight - A Muck Place to Dive (Issue 23, p. 80) • The Great Barrier Reef and Beyond - Australia Part 1 of 2 (Issue 14, p. 40) • My Search for the Legendary SS Waratah 1909, Part 1 (Issue 7, p 28)

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• Raja Ampat is also known as ‘the Four Kings’ and relates to the four main islands of Misool, Salawati, Batanta and Waigeo.

• The name Raja Ampat comes from local mythology that tells about a woman who finds seven eggs. Four of the seven eggs hatch and become kings that occupy four of Raja Ampat's biggest islands, whilst the other three become a ghost, a woman and a stone.

• The Raja Ampat archipelago comprises of more than 1,500 islands, including the largest marine national park in Indonesia.

• There are 1,309 fish species, 699 mollusk species and 547 coral species to be found in the Raja Ampat archipelago – this constitutes 75% of all species that exist in the world.

• When travelling to Misool, prepare yourself for a five to six hour boat trip to and from the island. This can be considerably more if there are technical issues with the boats or if the weather is bad.

• Misool Eco Resort is the only island stay in southern Raja Ampat, an area otherwise only accessible by live-a-boards www.misoolecoresort.com

inTRANSIT:

Words: Damien Laird | Photos: Various Contributors

Road Trippin

How many times have you imagined going on a road trip, which has not materialised? We've all dreamed of how much fun it would be to jump into a car with a few of our best friends and go wherever the road takes us. For those of us who

have followed our dreams and were brave enough to venture out with no real agenda, other than to live and grow through experience, we've been fortunate to learn that there’s more to life than daily routine. We realise that everything we dream about is right here on our doorstep.

68 • DO IT NOW Magazine | May 2013

1 This is what happened to some friends who packed their bags and said, “Let's go!” What followed was an amazing adventure that none of them had expected or planned. This story is about their experiences, and is intended to paint a picture of what may be encountered during life on the road.

A group of eight mates got together in Johannesburg from where they road tripped in two cars to Cape Town and then along the coast to Jeffreys Bay. Meet 'the guys': Australian James Meyers; Sean Erasmus, who has lived in Australia for two years; Dylan Benson, who has also lived overseas for a year; and local lads Gabriel le Roux, Andrew le Roux (Stoltz), Michael Tout (Tout), Daniel Schlebusch (Mr Muscles) and Michael Schlebusch (Busch). Equipped with tents, sandboards and supplies, they hit the road.

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6 Long roads were made short with good music and even better company, and after an overnight stop along the way, they arrived at Contermanskloof Farm, Durbanville, for a four-day-long trance festival known as Rezonance. With a theme centred on transformation and a line-up of more than 50 of the nation’s hottest local psytrance, progressive, techno, dub and electronica overlords, it was guaranteed to be one big party right from the start. Unable to spend the first night at the venue due to security reasons, they went to Llandudno Beach for an afternoon of relaxation and fun. Early the next morning, they headed to Muizenberg to take in the sunrise and do a bit of surfing and bodyboarding before heading back to Rezonance. When surfing, no wave is the same, and one learns to appreciate and make the most of this ever-changing experience. Much like life, one learns to love the moment for all it has to offer.

As the festival got underway, the DJs enthusiastically thumped out their sounds and there was stomping all around. Over the next four days, the nights were spent enjoying the eclectic mix of people, jamming and dancing, while the days were spent tanning, surfing, bodyboarding and just taking pleasure in the absolute beauty and power of the ocean.

FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: 1. Left to right - Andrew le Roux, James Myers, Lay Keun Yee, Daniel Schlebusch, Michael Schlebusch, Michael Tout, Gabriel le Roux, Dylan Benson and Sean Erasmus. 2. All our camping equipment tied to the outside of the bakkie to dry. 3. SA youth. 4. James in action.

5. Rezonance New Year’s festival, Cape Town.

6. Andrew sandboarding.

As daylight welcomed in a fresh new day, the party came to an end and a different adventure was waiting to unfold.

It was destination Betty’s Bay for the next two days, with a night in Kleinmond. Betty's Bay is a fifty-minute drive from Cape Town as you head east along the coast.

It is one of South Africa's largest heritage sites and home to some of the most incredible dunes around.

www.doitnow.co.za | Sport • 69

What had started out as a perfect second day in Betty’s Bay was turning out to be not so perfect. Busch had been stung by a bee upon leaving Rezonance and his foot ballooned as a result of an allergic reaction and had to be taken to the hospital in Hermanus for treatment. Just as one crisis was averted, a new one revealed itself and involved reversing the other car into a pole. Thankfully there was little damage and all was laughed off. After an eventful day, accommodation for the night was either in the car or in a cave on Gansbaai Beach. Sleeping in the mouth of a cave just 20 metres above the roar of the ocean, whilst it was raining, turned out to be one of the most amazing and tranquil experiences for the guys.

Bidding Gansbaai farewell, the group headed to Franskraal, where they had a fantastic time kite flying and swimming in the ocean. Their next stop was Cape Agulhas, the most southern-most point of Africa, and where you'll find South Africa's second oldest lighthouse. They then travelled to Struisbaai, a small coastal settlement in the Overberg region and after finding a free campsite, it was time for an awesome game of soccer that was played within 10 metres of the sea.

The next morning, they headed to Stilbaai, stopping along the way at Waenhuiskrans, a fishing town also known as Arniston. The scenery here is gobsmackingly beautiful and sandboarding on the beach exhilarating.

With cameras out and a small jump on the slope, GoneSkiing sponsored snowboarder, Andrew Le Roux, threw down some tricks that made for some picturesque photographs. The rest of the day was spent sandboarding and bumboarding, all done with due care for the natural environment. Andrew summed it up nicely when he said, "Leave only carve marks and footprints." Dinner, at the lagoon in Stilbaai, was a festive occasion with some locals, and by the end of the evening, new friendships and connections for the future had been made. They then set up their tents on a remote beach to end off another great day.

With a stopover in Knysna for lunch, next up was Plettenberg Bay. Booking into a backpackers on the main street, they spent a chilled afternoon on the beach. Jumping off the Bloukrans Bridge early the next morning was a definite highlight of the trip. At a height of 216 metres above the ground, it is the world's highest bridge bungee and a serious adrenalin rush. A sure attraction if you are ever in the area.

The next three days were spent enjoying the peacefulness of the beach and recharging batteries for the remainder of their stay in Plett.

On the way to Jeffreys Bay, the group stopped to explore the beautiful Tsitsikamma Forest. A 45-minute hike through the lush environment led them to the top of a magnificent waterfall that flowed into the sea. Like kids in a candy store, everyone enthusiastically took their turn jumping straight over the face of the waterfall into the gurgling pool below.

The serene splendour of Mother Nature had worked her healing magic, as everyone agreed how great they felt during and after the walk.

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Heading out for a surf

Jeffreys Bay was the final stop and Island Vibe backpackers became a temporary home. Island Vibe is a party place and has many international guests staying there, so no travelling was necessary to find entertaining company. Their stay in J-Bay consisted of visiting the beach, surfing this worldrenowned surfing destination and generally taking things easy during the days, whilst meeting new people and living it up in the evenings. Andrew pointed out that J-Bay is home to a number of surfing schools and the constant swells along this stretch of coastline make it the ideal spot for beginner or aspiring surfers.

Touring on a tight budget didn't mean that the guys enjoyed their trip any less, proving that having a good time and staying healthy does not need to be costly. It's all about planning wisely and packing things like a soccer ball, frisbee, some kites and a slack line (a tight rope used to balance on), provided entertainment and minimised costs. Music made the driving seem a breeze and a portable speaker meant that it was accessible anywhere. Two Canon 60D cameras captured everything, allowing the experienced photographers to bring the holiday home to share with everyone. All in all, when the petrol, food and drinks costs were split between them, each person did not spend more than R5 000 for the two weeks. One tip though for anyone planning to do a trip like this is to pack a first aid kit, tow rope and jumper cables.

Having been on the road for two glorious weeks, it was time to head back home with open eyes and a completely fresh perspective on the value of life. Many beneficial life lessons had been learnt and the breathtaking sights, meeting new people, being in touch with nature and having loads of fun with great friends had all combined to create one unforgettable holiday. So if you're thinking of going on your own road trip, it's time to stop thinking and start doing. •

èRelated articles: • Crossing the Kei (Issue 21, p. 76) • Touring Through Baobab Country (Issue 18, p. 24) • Touring Tales Through Botswana and Namibia (Issue 12, p. 28)

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A community Facebook group has been created for the continued sharing of this holiday. Be sure to like the page 'SA Road Trippin' and you are welcome to share your similar stories and photographs, as well as any ideas on the page.

inTRANSIT:

Words: Adri Ludick | Photos: Adri & Xen Ludick

Hidden Gems & Gorges Zimbabwe is home to many incredible national parks, natural sites and attractions, and as Xen and I hadn't been there for a number of years, we decided to go for a 25-day, tour through Zimbabwe as well as Botswana and Zambia,with Xen's two brothers.

Travelling by 4x4, our mission was to visit the Hwange, Chizarira, Matusadona and Mana Pools Game Reserves before heading for Zambia.

Hwange National Park Most people prefer to travel to Hwange National Park, in Zimbabwe, via Bulawayo and then head north along the A8 to Mana Pools. Another route would be via Harare and then north on the A1 towards Chirundu. We decided to enter Zimbabwe through the Pandamatenga border post on the Botswana border. Being the rainy season and close to sunset, we saw a lot of animals, including a few shy sables, and then spent the night at Robin’s Camp, in Hwange Game Reserve.

The next morning we followed the Tshowe route and to our utter amazement saw two cheetahs in the middle of the day. Other than this rare sighting and a few buffalo, we didn’t see any other animals in this part of the reserve, which is known to have prides of lion and hyena. That night, we camped at the Deteema Campsite, which was a bit disappointing due to the lack of trees, but a cool lapa overlooking a waterhole soon had us forgetting about our troubles. During the night, a young hyena sneaked into our camp and chewed our wheel bag and it was only when it started to pull at the bag that we woke up and chased it away.

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Rising early, we planned to visit the Little Toms game-viewing area, but heavy rainfall in the area and some advice from a ranger about the presence of cotton soil, which would make the recovery of the vehicles problematic, had us travelling further north to Chingahobe Dam. It was a lovely drive until one of the vehicles in our group got stuck in the thick cotton soil and we ended up having to winch it out of trouble. From there, we made our way to our next overnight stop.

Besides the ‘green water’ in the shower, Mandavu Dam Camp is beautiful and overlooks the Mandavu Dam, which is full of hippos and crocs. It is also a bird lover’s paradise and where you will see fish eagles, herons and egrets, to name but a few.

a 25-day, to r throu ugh Zimbab Botswawe, & Zamb na ia

Fuel tranfer on Rhino Loop at Matusadona.

As we were about to leave the next morning, two rangers entered the camp carrying a tent, food, clothes and AK47s. Their task was to patrol the veld for poachers and return to the camp after a week. Although they were terribly thin, their smiles radiated just how proud they were to be protecting the area around Mandavu Dam. Bidding them farewell, we took the Dombashura Loop to Sinamatella, but after encountering one dead end after another, eroded roads and washed away bridges, we had to back track and ended up taking another route to Shumba Picnic Site. The scene that greeted us here was a sad and gruesome one - and one that I hope to never witness again. Around the waterholes lay the carcasses of about 15 elephants.

The rangers informed us that a drought had ravaged the area earlier in the year and the elephants, having walked a long way to reach the waterholes and their only hope of survival, had drunk too much water, causing them to collapse and die.

Elephant carcass

www.doitnow.co.za | Lifestyle • 73

Mayhems digging in the dung.

Besides millions of horse flies and the most tawny eagles I've ever seen, the game viewing was disappointing. However, the road between the main camp and Ngweshla Picnic Site more than made up for it, as we saw a honey badger teasing a buffalo, knob-billed ducks, elephants and many other animals. Ngweshla turned out to be a wonderful surprise and is a must for anyone travelling to Hwange. At the campsite, which overlooks a waterhole, we settled down to enjoy the antics of blue wildebeest, kudu, lots of young animals and a huge variety of birds, such as kites, marabou storks and tawny eagles, as they congregated at the water’s edge. Besides hearing an argument between two groups of lions that night, we unfortunately didn’t see any of the cats.

Chizarira National Park

After spending seven wonderful days in Hwange, we set out for Binga, the passing landscape made all the more interesting by the colourful traditional huts that lined the road. Binga was once a bustling harbor town and we'd heard only good things about it, so we decided to take a look. Maybe it was the pouring rain or the fact that we couldn’t wait to get to Chizarira National Park, but besides a few houses and crocodile farm, Binga didn’t impress us. So we refuelled and set off in search of the ‘hidden gorges’ in the Sendwa area, which we'd heard about from a fellow traveller.

Back on the road, we made our way to Matusadona National Park. Although this road is terrible, the area is green and lush and I enjoyed every moment travelling there. En route, we stopped in Siabuwa, a small traditional village 40 km east of Kariba Dam, and were surprised to see small solar panels gracing the roof tops of their dwellings, which provided electricity for lights in their homes. You could see that life in the village was hard and nothing goes to waste, as was seen when a young girl tried to shield herself from the harsh midday sun with her home-made umbrella made of a used apple tray, precariously balanced on top of a wire! Our short time here had been fascinating, but it was time to move on.

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The dirt track to Chizarira National Park took us through many villages and was in such a terrible state that it should only be attempted with a good 4x4. But this was not the worst of it and once in the park, the road deteriorated even further. However, it was breathtakingly beautiful. We camped at the Muncheni Look Out, which overlooks the most picturesque gorges. The camp is very basic and has no electricity or water. The long drop is a definite no-go area and I'm sure the shower is only used by very desperate or brave travellers. We unanimously agreed that it would be much safer to shower under a tree using our own bucket system. The overall experience at this campsite was fantastic due to the location and view of the valleys below, however one needs to be aware that the facilities are not desirable due to the lack of maintenance and presence of creepy crawlies.

Photo courtesy of Vera Simonsson, )HMÄnbabes.com

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Matusadona National Park Once we entered Matusadona National Park, situated on the southern shores of Lake Kariba, it took us nearly three hours to travel the 35 km to Tashinga Campsite, on the lake's shore. Matusadona is an Intensive Protection Zone (IPZ) and home to several relocated rhinoceros. It comprises some 1,400 square kilometres of diverse flora and fauna, and was proclaimed a non-hunting area on 7 November 1958 before Kariba Dam was built. With the lake came ecological changes and the lake shore has contributed greatly to the increase of large mammal populations in the area, especially elephant and buffalo.

Rising early the following morning, we found lion tracks close to our campsite, our first sign of lion on our trip so far. The Rhino Loop was amazing and we saw many birds and animals scattered across the plains. But halfway round, the power steering on one of the vehicles packed in, so Xen contacted Hennie at Honeydew Toyota, by satellite phone, who recommended that we don't drive any further and find gearbox oil. Xen and I offered to return to camp, to try and source some gearbox oil, and what was supposed to be a short trip turned out to be an arduous three-hour trip due to very poor road conditions.

By the time we finally managed to find some gearbox oil and return to the broken-down vehicle, it was dusk and the sky had turned grey, illuminating the brilliant green trees and shimmering white sand. Once the vehicle was repaired (it turned out to be a loose clamp) we headed back to camp and were reward when we saw a beautiful lioness.

We spent some time taking photos and admiring her, and soon the struggles of the day were forgotten.

Mana Pools National Park Our next destination was Mana Pools National Park and to get there we took the A1, stopping only in the small town of Karoi to stock up and refuel. This unique park is a UNESCO Natural World Heritage Site, based on its wildness and beauty, together with a wide range of large mammals, over 350 bird species and aquatic wildlife. It is also one of Zimbabwe's most popular parks and it was easy to see why.

Entering the gate, we were welcomed by the most majestic baobab trees and the 77 km to Nyamepi Camp went quickly, as we passed a variety of animals, birds and the cherry was a sighting of some shy nyalas. For the next two days we relaxed, were entertained by the monkeys and baboons and watched the rain falling like curtains in the lower Zambezi River.

At night, we heard the deep-throated roars of lions and saw a spotted hyena close to the camp. The full moon reflecting on the river and the changing colours of the landscape were incredible and no photo could do it justice.

Our time in the park had been truly memorable and I would highly recommend adding it to your bucket list.

The next morning we packed up in pouring rain. When we reached one of the low water bridges, we had to wait for about an hour before we could cross. But the highlight was when we reached the Rukomeshi River Bridge.

When we came over this bridge three days earlier, there was only a dry river bed. In one night, the river had swelled and now coursed barely a metre below the bridge. The banks were overflowing and tree stumps raced along in the brown, tumbling water, as if they were feathers. We stood amazed at the power of the water and even the locals, who had been visiting the area for years, said they'd never seen anything like this.

We exited Zimbabwe at Kariba Dam, but that's a story for another day. • Tips for Zimbabwe

• Remain patient and friendly at the border posts - it can be a long process.

• Be aware of the operating times at the Pandamatenga border post, as the border gate closes at 17h00.

• Have all your documents on hand for police checkpoints because there are many.

• Ensure you have red (rear) and white (front) reflectors on your vehicle.

• A fire extinguisher and emergency triangles are compulsory.

• Take spare gearbox oil, steering oil, engine oil and brake fluid.

• Always ensure you have enough fuel to get you to the next large town, so fill up wherever possible.

River in flood near Mana Pools Oh! Snakes!

èRelated articles

Mud Glorious Mud

76 • DO IT NOW Magazine | May 2013

• Book Review: More Back-Road 4x4 Trips (Digital article, Feb '13) • The Road Less Travelled Usually Surprises (Issue 21, p. 80) • Hwange National Park Via Hunters Road (Issue 8, p. 108)

inSHAPE:

Words: Hannele Steyn

Ideas for racing & training snacks I have been racing competitively for more than 25 years now. First it was athletics, then biathlon, triathlon, duathlon, road cycling and mountain biking. I am retired from all that now, but I still love to ride my bike and take part in races. I suppose you can never get away from your competitive spirit, but with age comes the wisdom that you must rather try to do your best at the age of 47, than compete with the professionals.

Throughout the years, I have learnt from my mistakes.

Being passionate about nutrition, I experimented with different foods to eat while training and racing, and realised that the amount of sugar, colourants and artificial things I was putting into my body when drinking and eating on the bike, was not good in the long term.

The problem is we get so caught up in all the information and advice that is given in the media that we forget about plain, good old-fashioned food. I am not against the energy foods and drinks recommended, but I am against the ones that were not really designed with healthy racers in mind and are flouted as ‘must haves to survive’. So, let’s take a closer look at two of the most commonly consumed energy products available.

Energy bar - Many on the market are just glorified sweets that have added ‘hype’ ingredients to push the price sky high. They are full of sugars, vegetable fat and a few other ‘bad’ ingredients, so select carefully when you buy.

Energy drink - Most of them contain a whole lot of sugars (glucose, fructose, sucrose, maltodextrose and the like), flavourants and colourants.

Remember, I said energy drink, not necessarily a health drink designed to give you sustained energy.

This could be an energy drink for a rave party, but because it says energy drink, people are using it for sporting events (I don’t actually know why and where it started?).

So, if you train five days a week and drink an energy drink that contains 200 calories per serving, 10 g of sugar, glucose or fructose and some kind of colourant or preservative, calculate what that comes to over a month and a year - you’ll be amazed. It’s no wonder we struggle with our weight, health and tiredness.

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When it comes to racing and you are doing a one-day event, you will survive on any of these energy products. However, for multiday and long endurance events, like the Absa Cape Epic, you'll need something that is closer to real food to sustain you.

We can't expect our bodies to perform for five to seven hours over an eight-day period eating only sugary, artificial bars and filling ourselves with sweet drinks.

So what is the solution? Well, there are a lot of very good companies out there that offer great products, but let’s take a look at what you can whip up at home that is easy and as close to natural as possible.

• Rooibos espresso with almond milk, a teaspoon of honey and pinch of salt gives you an amazing energy drink with lots of anti-oxidants, fast energy (honey), slow energy: protein and essential fats (almond milk) and minerals (Himalayan salt).

• When it comes to something to eat, and depending on whether you prefer savoury or sweet, try rice mixed with egg (to bind it) and a pinch of salt, or rice mixed with egg whites, nuts and raisins. You just bake this in an oven and then cut it up in squares. Rice is an excellent gluten-free, low GI carbohydrate, and egg is high in protein. The sodium is good for cramps. You can also add cottage cheese or peanut butter; just use your imagination. The only difference between a sweet and savoury rice cake is that the raisins and nuts in the sweet rice cake release energy faster. Plain raw nuts and dates are also excellent race foods.

• If you hate rice, mash some potato and mix it with cottage cheese (high in protein), then put it into a zip lock bag to squeeze and swallow (just don’t look at it J).

• You can also mix almond nut butter with honey and put it in a bank bag, to be used in the same way as an energy gel - it’s just way nicer tasting and healthier.

• For an even closer version of ‘lekker’ food, mix finely ground biltong (I call it biltong espresso) with some mash or rice and voila, you have yourself boerekos-ina-bag J.

Nothing in this article is based on any scientific trial, but rather on my 25 years of practical experience because I love real food and care about my health. •

èRelated articles: • Processed Foods (Issue 21, p. 74) • Getting Back to Basics - The Importance of Good Nutrition (Issue 10, p. 88) • Nutritional Supplements - Are They Really Good for You? (Issue 4, p. 76)

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For more information: Hannele@geminips.co.za or jesblue2@yahoo.com

inSHAPE:

Words: Andrea Kellerman, Educational Psychologist

Train brain your

to have the best race ever!

Generally, athletes only train their body to prepare for a race. They neglect

their mind and don't realise how important it is to have a strong mind to achieve their goals.

However, more and more sports men and women are recognising that it's just as important to train the mind as it is to train the body. But before I give you some great tips on how to do this, let's take a look at what goes on in our heads to give you a better understanding of how to train your brain.

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Everything starts in our mind.

It all starts with a thought, which can cause certain reactions or actions and creates our belief systems.

If we focus on negative thoughts and belief systems that's what we will feel and it will inhibit us to reach our goals. Did you know that negative thoughts take 15-20% of your physical strength away?

Therefore, to have the strongest, fastest and most positive race ever, you first need to know what your goal is. What do you want to achieve? Is your goal to finish the race because it is your first time you are taking part? Do you want to better your previous time? Do you want to stay with stronger riders? Or do you want to finish in the top ten? Once you have established what your goal is, you can focus on achieving it.

To effectively do this, you need to tap into your subconscious mind. We all have a conscious and subconscious part of our mind. Your conscious mind is the part you use actively during the day and it tells us what we should and shouldn’t do, and is also responsible for mental setbacks.

It is the mind’s policing system and can be quite negative if we focus mainly on negative thoughts on a daily basis. This part of the mind only uses about 10% of our brain’s capacity. Now our subconscious mind is the biggest part, using about 90% brain capacity. However, we do not use our subconscious mind actively. It is the part that stores everything we have experienced, our emotions that come up automatically and our belief systems. So, we need to influence this part of the mind to be able to achieve our goals more effectively.

To reach our subconscious, we need to bypass our conscious mind. When we relax, our brainwaves slow down from beta to alpha/theta, and when you reach this state, you’ll feel as if you are nearly asleep. At this point, our conscious mind relaxes as well and we are now able to work with our subconscious mind to create new positive thoughts and belief systems. What is interesting to note is that in this state, your mind doesn't know the difference between reality and fiction.

Now, when you focus on your perfect ride, mental strength, perseverance and achieving your goals, your mind thinks it has done it already. It stores that new belief and you can achieve your goals much easier than ever before.

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Here are six easy steps to train your brain to have a positive, strong ride:

Focus on the positive of your 1. race before falling asleep

Familiarise yourself with the route you will ride. Visualise yourself riding it. Pay special attention to critical points in the race. Then focus on having a great ride where everything works out perfectly. You will fall asleep with positivity, and you'll have a better night’s rest and wake up happier.

Start the day visualising 2. your perfect race

Do this on a daily basis in the build up to your race and you'll feel confident, more refreshed and surprised at how strong and motivated you are about doing the race. Remember, many people often focus on the negative aspects and this is what makes them feel down, anxious, upset and weak.

3. Positive reaffirmations

During the race, be aware of your strengths and make sure you keep reaffirming those strengths. If you are in a particularly hard part of the race, talk yourself through this situation with positive affirmations, for example, “I can do this,” and “I am nearly at the top of the hill.” Staying calm and positive inhibits cortisol (your stress hormone) production and this will help you to cope better, stay in control and be mentally stronger. Cortisol can also inhibit your physical strength. You waste energy when you are stressed, so it pays to stay calm and positive.

Be aware of negative 4. thought patterns

Being more aware of your thoughts will help to eliminate negative thoughts that creep up subconsciously. Tell yourself that you will not allow negative thoughts to penetrate. It may help to visualise a protective shield around you that does not allow those thoughts through. Your negative thoughts must be changed into positive ones, like reaffirming your strengths (I am fit and have trained enough to manage this hill). Also focus on what you have already managed to do and then break up the race into sections that you can manage step by step. Don’t focus on the whole race at once, as it can be too overwhelming. Always remain focused on your goal and repeat your positive affirmations over and over again!

5. Focus on your breathing

It is important to breathe correctly throughout the race. If you stop breathing in certain situations, such as when you are anxious or nervous, this causes insufficient oxygen to reach your muscles and it will reduce your strength and performance.

6.

Focus and consistency You need to stay focused throughout the race. Many accidents happen because people lose their concentration and focus. Be aware of your concentration levels and keep focusing on what you are doing at all times. It is also important that your rhythm is consistent, as it will help you to get into a good stride. When you are in a good, consistent stride and your mind is focused on your race, you’ll be able to get to the finish line in no time.

If you follow these steps, your mind will be more prepared for the race. Being focused, positive and reaffirming your strengths does not come naturally to all of us, but with a conscious effort we can change that. A positive mind will allow you to feel positive, stronger and help you to reach your goals more effectively.

èRelated articles:

• Are You Supplement Savvy? (Issue 14, p. 96) • Kinesio Taping Receives Worldwide Support (Issue 7. p. 94)

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If you are looking for a personal trainer for your mind, then visit Andrea Kellerman’s page on www.eq-advantedge.co.za.

Finally, remember to have fun! •

www.doitnow.co.za | Sport • 83

inDULGE:

Words: Nadalie Norman | Photos: Marc Pendlebury & Andrew Howes Photography

Whisky gifting made easy

84 • DO IT NOW Magazine | May 2013

Finding the perfect gift can often turn into a daunting task because it’s not always easy to find something that shows how much thought you’ve put into the gifting process.

Whether the recipient is a connoisseur or brand new to the whisky experience, the world of whisky offers an intricate and diverse gift range to explore.

Marc Pendlebury, renowned whisky blogger and owner of the WhiskyBrother speciality whisky store, chats about the different ‘personalities’ of whisky and how you can find the right match for that special person in your life. “What many people don’t know is that whisky is considered to have the greatest range of flavours out of all the spirit categories,” he says. “If you’ve tried one or two different whisky flavours, it’s not to say that you necessarily know what whisky tastes like. Similarly, just because someone has tried a whisky or two that they don’t like, doesn’t mean they can’t like whisky.”

Whisky, or whiskey, depending on the country it is produced in (or the spelling the producer chooses to adopt if the country doesn’t dictate the spelling), is the result of distilling a grain mash and then maturing the resulting clear spirit in oak casks for several years.

Different countries have traditions of different types of whiskies, and the variance in flavours is as diverse as the countries that make it these days, including places such as Taiwan, Finland, France and even two producers on our very own South African soil.

Currently, the most widely drunk category of whisky across the world is blended whisky. Blended whisky is the result of carefully blending whisky together that has been made at more than one distillery, and includes both malt whisky that is made entirely of malted barley and grain whisky that usually includes grains like corn, rye, wheat and unmalted barley. You’ve no doubt come across brands such as Johnnie Walker, Chivas Regal and Famous Grouse - these are blended whiskies. Single malts are the product of just a single distillery, which only uses malted barley to make their whisky. Single malts account for only approximately 10% of whisky consumed globally and include big names such as Glenfiddich, Glenlivet, The Macallan and Lagavulin.

Pendlebury explains that even within each brand of whisky there can be a diverse range of unique flavours, which makes it difficult to broadly categorise across the range. Sixty to seventy percent of the whisky’s flavour comes from the casks that were used to mature the whisky.

Depending on the age of the cask, the previous contents it held (if any), the origin of the oak, the size of the cask and how long the whisky is matured in it, a distillery can produce many different variances of whisky from their single distillery.

Due to the large selection of whisky and its many flavours on offer, Pendlebury maintains that what is important to keep in mind is that, like food, your choice of whisky at any given occasion should be based on the time of the day, season, company and mood. You need to select a flavour to fit the occasion.

www.doitnow.co.za | Lifestyle • 85

Three top gift choices from the expert himself:

B alvenie Single Barrel

15 Year Old, single malt: Geared more for the serious whisky enthusiast, this whisky is an absolute stunner and because it is always the output of just a single cask, each batch varies slightly from the previous one.

G reat King Street

Blended whisky: Introduced into the market last year, this is a fantastic blend from the boutique whisky blender called Compass Box, which has consistently produced awardwinning whiskies.

Finding the perfect fit

When purchasing whisky as a gift for someone else, there are three main factors to bear in mind. Most importantly, do they prefer single malts or blends? Are they already invested in a preferred brand or are they more adventurous and game to try something new?

These factors can help you select the right whisky as a gift for that special person. If the recipient is stuck in their ways, then there is nothing wrong with giving them the brand of whisky they most favour. Alternatively, one could consider whisky accessories such as proper whisky tasting glasses or an informative whisky book.

If the person you are looking to spoil is more openminded, then feel free to have fun selecting something more unusual and lesser known. Look for interesting packaging, bottle shapes or unfamiliar names. Just make sure the labelling on the whisky clearly discloses its provenance, and there is no shame in asking an attendant for a second opinion or a recommendation.

Ranging in price from less than R200 to several thousand rand, you’ll be able to find an appropriate gift on any budget. “It’s good to be aware that just because a particular whisky is more expensive, it doesn’t mean that it is of a higher quality,” cautions Pendlebury.

“Similarly, age is not necessarily an indicator of quality either. Young whiskies can be fantastic and older whiskies can be over wooded and unbalanced. Worry less about age and more about quality and flavour.”

86 • DO IT NOW Magazine | May 2013

Bruichladdich Classic

Single malt: If the attention-seeking, bright aqua packaging doesn’t catch your attention, then the authentic single malt inside will. A fine whisky indeed and suited to the newcomer just as much as the ardent connoisseur.

A whisky’s age is determined by how long it stood in a cask patiently maturing. Each year in Scotland, a cask will experience approximately 2% evaporation, commonly referred to as the ‘Angel’s share’. Over the years, the Angels can get quite thirsty and consume large volumes of the whisky, resulting in a significantly reduced output. This is one of the main reasons old whiskies are more costly.

Visiting a store such as WhiskyBrother is an ideal way to learn about whisky and ensures you come away with the right selection. • èRelated articles:

• The Ireland Whiskey Trails (Issue 10, p. 106) • Take a Whisky Tour, part 1 (Issue 6, p. 118) • Hide the Good Stuff! (Issue 5, p. 92)

dinFO box

i

If you would like to find out more about whisky, then pop into the WhiskyBrother shop at Hyde Park Corner, check out their website, www.whiskybrother.com, or follow Marc on twitter@WhiskyBroShop.

inFOCUS:

Words, Photos & Video: Jacques Marais | www.jacquesmarais.co.za

Photographic

Chronicles

SHOOT! A Canoe Marathon

Aqua Action 88 • DO IT NOW Magazine October | November 2012

88 • DO IT NOW Magazine | May 2013

South Africa’s biggest river meanders through the Northern Cape’s incredible Green Kalahari desert region, and there surely can be no better place to present a multiday paddling race.

Wide-sky desert vistas, wall-to-wall sunshine, bighearted locals and an utterly unique Kalahari culture combine to make the Orange River one of South Africa’s favourite outdoor destinations. Verdant stretches of vineyards characterise this part of the Northern Cape, creating an appealing contrast with the arid surroundings.

Few people realise it, but the Orange River Winery is the biggest volume-producing cellar in the southern hemisphere and the second biggest in the world. The Orange, or ‘Groot Rivier’, is the undeniable lifeblood of the area, supplying a burgeoning agricultural sector with consistent water for their crops.

This is not the only benefit of being close to the river, though, as it provides an exhilarating playground for adventurers in search of some aqua action. This was the primary reason why Gawie Niewoudt from Khamkirri Private Nature Reserve started canvassing paddlers around the country to organise a world-class canoeing event on this part of the river.

The inaugural Green Kalahari Canoe Marathon was presented in 2012, but the event really came into its own this year, growing by more than 300%. More than 60 K1 boats and around a dozen K2s and K3s took to the water this year, to fantastic feedback from the scores of paddlers involved.

For more information on this premier paddling event, click on www.gkcm.co.za or orangeriverwines.co.za.

Image 1: On Golden Pond The Action: The start of Day 2 saw paddlers setting off at dawn from iKhaya, a gorgeous venue on the river near the village of Keimoes. Paddlers faced a 39 km stretch of river, with rapids, weirs and reed channels to negotiate en route to the finish line at ‘Die Mas’.

The Shot: A long lens may be a heavy piece of kit, but it enables you to explore compositions you won’t be able to replicate on other lenses. Pleasing diffusion because of the narrow depth of field made for a hazy, contrasting image.

The Technique: Pinpoint sharpness from Nikon’s advanced predictive focusing made it easy to focus on the paddlers, despite the shimmering water surface and extreme contrast.

The Specifications: 1/4,000th sec @ f11; Nikon D800 + 80-400 mm telephoto lens; ISO 1.0; WB Setting (Sunlight); AE Setting (0).

More Information: www.experiencenortherncape.com

www.doitnow.co.za | Sport • 89

Image 2: Into Neus Gorge The Action: The paddle through Neus Gorge rates as one of the most scenic stretches of river anywhere in South Africa, with black rock canyon walls towering above you for kilometres. Getting a camera in there means you have to paddle in yourself, though!

The Shot: A waterproof housing or backpack is an absolute must on this, as you negotiate a number of serious rapids on the way into the gorge. I went light with only one camera and lens stored inside a bomb-proof WX-TEX backpack.

The Technique: A high angle juxtaposes your paddlers in relation to the landscape, so a bit of cliff scaling was in order. The shot itself was a mere formality.

The Specifications: 1/250th sec @ f5.6; Nikon D600 + 20 mm prime; ISO 1.0; WB Setting (Sunlight); AE Setting (-1); Polarising filter fitted; Flash from on-camera SB-910.

More Information: www.nikon.co.za

90 • DO IT NOW Magazine | May 2013

Image 3: CANOE CANDY The Action: Paddlers line up at the start of the annual Green Kalahari Canoe Marathon, sponsored by www.experiencenortherncape.com, Orange River Cellars and Khamkirri Private Nature Reserve. The men’s contingent saw arguably the toughest field ever assembled at a South African river paddling event.

The Shot: The wide sweep of the Orange River near the Northern Cape town of Upington made for superb scenery, colour and light. What more could a photographer ask for?

The Technique: The high angle from the river bank offered a perfect opportunity to employ the shallow depth of field of a long lens, thus compressing the paddlers and enhancing the colourful spectacle of this amazing race.

The Specifications: 1/800th sec @ f5.6; Nikon D800 with 80-400 mm zoom lens; ISO – 250; WB Setting: Auto; AE Setting (0); No flash.

More Information: www.jacquesmarais.co.za

Image 4: WILD WATER The Action: Day 3 constitutes a 32 km paddle to Khamkirri Private Nature Reserve, one of the best finishing venues one could wish for. To reach the ice-cold beers and river-deck plunge pool, however, you need to first negotiate a number of exhilarating rapids.

The Shot: A high vantage point and a long lens is a must if you cannot safely get into the river, as it allows you to isolate and zoom into the action.

The Technique: This is where Nikon’s ‘Active D-Lighting’ system comes into its own; the contrast between paddler and white water would have made this a difficult image to capture without the assistance of automatic contrast control.

The Specifications: 1/1 200th sec @ f5.6; Nikon D800 + 80-400 mm zoom; ISO 250; WB Setting (Sunlight); No flash; AE Setting (0).

More Information: www.khamkirri.co.za

inFOCUS Quarterly Competition

WIN 500!

R

The inFOCUS competition will feature a photo winner in every quarterly issue of the magazine, with a R500 voucher to be won! The closing date for the July 2013 competition is 8 June 2013. Please email entries to competitions@doitnow.co.za.

Good news for all entrants! All entries received in 2013 will be entered into a final draw to take place at the end of December.

The winner will be announced in the January 2014 issue. The details of the grand prize will be announced on DO IT NOW’s website (www.doitnow.co.za) soon.

When emailing your images to us please include the following information: • Name of photographer • Name of photograph • Camera type

• Camera settings • Place where the photograph was taken

Competition rules can be viewed on www.doitnow.co.za.

92 • DO IT NOW Magazine | May 2013

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

24 Megapixels

Full HD Video Full Frame Sensor

GUN FOR HIRE: Global shooter and author; national newspaper columnist; respected magazine journalist; author of 11 outdoor books and guides. Nikon NPS Member: shoots with the brand new NIKON D600.

EXPERIENCE: Accredited Merrell, Land Rover and Red Bull photographer; covers global extreme sport events; focus on Sport, Adventure Travel; African Culture; Documentaries; Environment and People. Interesting projects required.

AWARDS: Global finalist in Red Bull ILLUME International (2008); Silver & Gold Awards SONY PROFOTO (2010).

CLIENT PORTFOLIO: JM Media shoots, writes or coordinates media projects and events for clients as diverse as Nike, Land Rover, Capestorm, Salomon, Hi-Tec, Cape Union Mart, Red Bull, Maserati, Wilderness Safaris & Tourvest.

NO EGO: Buzz me now on (083) 444 5369 or on the details below for a quote on your next event or project. Do it now.

083/444-5369 • jacques@jacquesmarais.co.za • www.jacquesmarais.co.za

GO-PRO Ambassador Andy MacDonald bails during a huge air on the Vert Ramp at the MALOOF Money Cup World Skateboarding Championships.

Held in Kimberley in the Northern Cape.

I AM IN ACTION

inDULGE:

Words by Neil Ross, Executive Chef

Serves 4 / Preparation & COOKING time: 25 minutes

Bacon, Spinach and Gorgonzola Pasta INGREDIENTS:

350 g penne pasta 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil 1 onion, chopped 8 rashers of smoked back bacon, chopped 200 ml hot vegetable stock 300 g frozen peas 150 g pack of Gorgonzola, cubed 250 g spinach

94 • DO IT NOW Magazine | May 2013

METHOD:

1. Cook the pasta following the pack’s instructions.

2. Meanwhile, heat the oil in a large frying pan, then add the onion and cook for 3 minutes until it starts to soften. Add the bacon and cook for a further 5 minutes.

3. Now pour in the hot stock and bring to the boil. Simmer for a few minutes until the liquid has reduced slightly.

4. Add the peas, followed by the Gorgonzola, and stir until the cheese has melted and the peas are defrosted.

5. Quickly stir through the spinach to wilt.

6. Drain the pasta and mix with the sauce, then serve.

Serves 6 / Preparation & COOKING time: 25 minutes

BBQ Tamarind Salmon with Lemon Grass, Chilli and Ginger INGREDIENTS:

100 g jar tamarind puree 2 stalks of lemon grass, sliced (woody layers removed) 1 small red chilli, seeds removed and finely chopped 3 cm root ginger, grated 3 tablespoons of palm sugar or honey Small bunch of mint, chopped 700 g piece of salmon, skin on Small handful of coriander, chopped

METHOD:

1. Mix the tamarind, lemon grass, chilli, ginger, palm sugar and mint together in a small bowl.

2. Place the salmon on a greased piece of foil or a banana leaf (you can find these in the frozen section at Asian supermarkets).

3. Brush a thick layer of the sauce over the salmon and grill for 10 minutes.

4. Serve sprinkled with coriander and a bowl of extra marinade on the side for dipping.

www.doitnow.co.za | Lifestyle • 95

inTERTAINMENT:

Reviews by www.fortressofsolitude.co.za

MOVIE TITLE

Olympus Has Fallen

Director: Antoine Fuqua Starring: Gerard Butler, Aaron Eckhart, Angela Bassett, Ashley Judd, Cole Hauser, Finley Jacobsen and Morgan Freeman

HIGHLIGHTS • Cast and Action Recommended for: Action fans

VERDICT

Gerard Butler plays the role of Mike Banning, a demoted Secret Service agent who lost his job thanks to the actions in the opening scene. During the massacre that envelops on the White House, Banning has a chance to redeem himself when President? Benjamin Asher, played by Aaron Eckhart, is taken hostage by North Korean terrorists in his own home.

A great deal of emphasis with movies from this genre is placed on finding a good balance between action and comic relief at the right moments. Erring too much on either side can destroy even the best of films. Olympus Has Fallen provides almost two hours of intense action, something that will truly appeal to fans of this genre, while witty comments are thrown in every so often to put audiences at ease. There are times when the viewers will be pushed right back in their seats in anticipation of the next big move, which is almost always delivered. Be that as it may, if you’re looking for action, this is certainly where you’d find it. The film stumbles over the finish line, but, importantly, crosses the white line, and is definitely worth the watch.

MOVIE TITLE

Hitchcock

Director: Sacha Gervasi Starring: Anthony Hopkins, Danny Huston, Helen Mirren and Scarlett Johansson

HIGHLIGHTS • Cast

Recommended for: Fans of the Hitchcock francise

VERDICT

Hitchcock is a film aimed firmly at the fans. Those who do not know much about the legendary director, and those who have not even heard the name Alfred Hitchcock, will not find a lot to interest or engage them. Anthony Hopkins plays the renowned master of suspense and Helen Mirren his wife, Alma Reville. The film focuses on their close, yet tempestuous relationship – specifically during the conception and production of Psycho, arguably his most famous film.

Bernard Herrman’s famous score is lovingly recreated and punctuates the film, further honouring the celebrated slasher and its director, as well as the composer he worked with so often. Although, again, this is probably something that will be noted and appreciated only by those familiar with it. The film serves as a glimpse behind the scenes of film production and the layering of a film-within-a-film adds an interesting dimension.

A noble effort is made to portray the director as the world knew him – a bold genius, who was difficult to work with, yet everyone wanted to – while giving overdue credit to the influence and support his wife continually gave him, which Hitchcock himself always acknowledged.

96 • DO IT NOW Magazine | May 2013

GAME TITLE

Bioshock: Infinite

VERDICT

Bioshock: Infinite takes place in 1912, in an alternate world of America, in which some years prior, a magnificent city holding the principles of American Exceptionalism was launched into the air as a floating utopia named Columbia. The player controls Booker DeWitt, an ex-Pinkerton agent sent to retrieve a specific girl from the city to pay off some gambling debts. The game should be played to the end at least once, so don’t let a section make you stop playing; please just get the end, I beg you. You’ll have discussion material and thought-food for weeks.

The twists and turns will keep you addicted until you reach the end; and the end itself will give you such thoughts that you’ll want to play it again to see what you missed the first time and can now appreciate in hindsight. Filled with small touches, Infinite is a labour of love, and a possible contender for Game of the Year, so make sure to check back with us to see how it held up.

VERDICT

GAME TITLE

TOMB RAIDER

The game is set on a fictional Japanese island, and the player finds themselves crisscrossing the landscape to explore it in a very satisfying way. The design of the areas is simply beautiful, and the mixture of wildlife and overgrown ruins, together with ruined war equipment sets the tone wonderfully. The day/night cycle as the story goes on adds a definite sense of progression, and the environments are varied enough to remain exciting. The majority of the actual tombs that are raided are found as additional areas, but all of them are still fun to puzzle through.

Tomb Raider 2013 may have upset some purists, but I personally think Tomb Raider as a franchise has evolved for the better, keeping its tone and feel, while moving forward as a game and narrative piece. I hope the developers learn how to address some minor concerns learned through this title, and embrace this new Lara in a sequel.

Movies to look out for IRON MAN 3 Genre: Superhero, Action Director: Shane Black Starring: Robert Downey, Gwyneth Paltrow, Guy Pearce, Rebecca Hall and Jon Favreau Date: 1 May

Promised Land Genre: Drama Director: Gus Van Sant Starring: Matt Damon, John Krasinski, Frances McDormand , Rosemarie DeWitt and Hal Holbrook Date: 3 May

This Is 40 Genre: Comedy Director: Judd Apatow Starring: Paul Rudd, Leslie Mann, John Lithgow, Megan Fox and Albert Brooks Date: 3 May

Admission Genre: Comedy, Drama Director: Paul Weitz Starring: Tina Fey, Paul Rudd, Michael Sheen, Wallace Shawn and Lily Tomlin Date: 10 May

Dead Man Down Genre: Crime, Thriller Director: Niels Oplev Starring: Colin Farrell, Noomi Rapace , Dominic Cooper and Terrence Howard Date: 10 May

Bullet to the Head Genre: Action, Thriller Director: Walter Hill Starring: Sylvester Stallone, Sung Kang, Sarah Shahi and Christian Slater Date: 17 May

www.doitnow.co.za | Lifestyle • 97

inREVIEW:

Words: Francois Steyn | Photos: Francois Steyn & Nissan SA

IN the spotlight

Fun Family Favourites

Honda Civic Hatch 1.8 Executive

Is it my lack of attention to detail or is the ‘all new’ Civic Hatch no different to the outgoing model launched way back in 2006? The basic triangular silhouette shape looks pretty much the same to me, but from what I've read in the press, the new Civic is more aerodynamic due to an array of clever cosmetic enhancements like the new tail light cluster and a horizontal brake light that acts as an airflow-directing spoiler. The 2012 model is also 20 mm lower and 10 mm wider, producing the roomiest interior of any C-segment car.

To me, the Civic Hatch is still one of the best-looking hatchbacks in South Africa. I like the rear doors’ hidden handles that fooled my wife into thinking it is a two door: mission accomplished and one-zero to the Civic. I do, however, miss the triangular tailpipe end pieces protruding from the backside of the old model. But then again the new Civic has a prettier face.

The futuristic interior, with the same flashy blue rev counter and digital speedo in front of you, as found in the sporty CR-Z Hybrid Coupé, lets you feel like you’re a pilot in a spaceship. Combined with racing-style pedals, I was rather let down by the lack of oomph when I tried some quick lift-offs.

98 • DO IT NOW Magazine | May 2013

That is until I remembered switching on the green ECON Assist button when I initially got in. In ECON mode, the gear indicator teaches you to drive economically and the 1.8-litre, 16-valve SOHC i-VTEC engine is tuned for frugality. This was proven by the 7.4 l/100 km reading from the centre control screen. Not bad for an eighteen hundred, but far off the claimed consumption of 6.3.

Switching off the green ECON button with the flower on it, the 104 kW and 174 Nm of torque is enough for a very engaging drive.

It revs freely to the soft limiter at around 6,500 r/min and the gear changes, via the six-speed manual, are slick and direct. The steering is smooth, but feels a bit light, which scores points in the comfort stakes.

However, a bit heavier weighting and more feedback would have been nice.

Nissan Qashqai+2 2.0 Acenta

To sum up the Qashqai: it’s hard to pronounce and easy to like. Unlike the Hyundai iX35’s weird styling, the Qashqai is pretty from the first time you see it. None of the angles look awkward (to me at least) and it is the perfect balance between practical space and stylish good looks. The appearance of this everyday family van is successfully disguised by twin creases on the bonnet and integrated spotlights next to a large air dam at the front and hunkered hindquarters at the rear. The diamond-cut 10 spoke rounds off the aggressive look.

The +2 version was introduced in 2010 with jumper seats folding out from the flat load bay. With all seven seats in use, the luggage space equates to 130 litres, but this can be stretched to 450 and a massive 1,520 litres with the third and second rows folded away respectively. Apart from this versatility, a generous 200 mm of ground clearance means you need not limit yourself to the roads more travelled. When you do leave the black top behind, just remember that you are on 18-inch alloys shod with low profile rubber and the fifth wheel on the wagon (sixth if you count steering wheel) is a space saver of the Marie biscuit variety.

The 2.0 Acenta’s 102 kW and 198 Nm of torque are sent to the front wheels via a sixspeed manual gearbox. Unlike the Civic, the claimed and actual fuel consumption was much closer to each other, with me returning around 8.7 l/100 km in mixed driving conditions. Not bad for a 2-litre petrol with seven seats. Even though you sit fairly high, there is limited body roll and generally the on-road handling is quite good. My wife sat in the middle row of seats with our newborn baby and commended the crossover for high levels of comfort.

The long wheelbase is no doubt partly responsible for this.

www.doitnow.co.za | Lifestyle • 99

Honda Civic Hatch

Nissan Qashqai+2

1.8 Executive

In the Executive model, you get heated front seats, climate control, an easy-to-use multifunctional leather steering wheel, cruise control and a rear-parking camera. I always try to figure out all the functions without looking in the manual and try as I might, I could not find the hands-free Bluetooth connection for my cell phone. It might not have been an option on my car (there was a USB cable connector in the centre cubbyhole), but if it was, it was not easy to find. Everything else was instinctive to use, as is the case with all the Hondas I’ve driven. You really feel at home in the car and the blue lighting that emanates from the door pockets adds ambiance. The only gripe I had was the annoying reflection of the intelligent Multi-Information Display (i-MID) bouncing from the smooth dash to the windscreen at night. Even if you switch it off, the not-entirely-black screen is still visible just to the left of your line of sight.

The Civic is one of the safest cars in its class, with the maximum stars in the new Euro NCAP tests, and comes with all the safety features we’re used to these days.

The boot is big, gulping up 401 litres of luggage, and so is the rear legroom. As always with Honda, you just know you won’t regret buying it. I enjoyed the Civic Sedan when I tested it last year and the Hatch is no different, expect in one way. It is good to look at too. At R274 400, I could not find a direct competitor in this hotly contested C-segment, as the closest actually-all-new Auris from Toyota, the seventh rendition of VW’s Golf and Opel’s Astra all have smaller engines at smaller prices or turbo-charged engines at higher prices.

As with smart phones, even though the prices are hard to compare, you usually know beforehand which one you like best. Regardless of your choice, I am sure you’ll find a way to justify it.

2.0 Acenta

The interior is rather sparse and it seems built to budget, though it has an integrated audio system with remote controls on the multifunction, leatherclad steering wheel. The facia and door panels are covered in soft-touch plastic, which adds a quality feel to the otherwise basic cabin. The cloth seats, which are manually adjustable, are perfectly comfortable and other conveniences include cruise control, rain-sensing wipers and brushed metal roof rails. Safety features are also in abundance, with offswitchable Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC), driver-, passenger-, side- and curtain airbags, as well as ABS with EBD and BAS. What I like most about the Qashqai is that even though it has a fancy tongue-twister of a name, it is styled to stay in fashion and no money was wasted on niceties inside, such as electric leather seats and touch-screen displays.

Above all, it is a practical mode of transport at a reasonable price. At R333 900 for the top of the range model, it’s about twenty grand more than the 211 mm shorter 2.0 Acenta. •

èRelated articles:

• In Review - 7-Up People Carriers (Issue 15, p. 98) • In Review - A Traveller's Delight (Digital article, Jul '12)

Honda Civic Hatch 1.8 Executive

Nissan Qashqai+2 2.0 Acenta

Capacity (cc)

1,798

1,997

Power (kW)

104 (6,500 r/min)

102 (5,200 r/min)

Torque (Nm)

174 (4,300 r/min)

198 (4,400 r/min)

Gearbox

6-speed manual

6-speed manual

0 - 100 km/h acceleration (sec)

9.5

10.5

Maximum speed

212

193

Claimed fuel consumption

6.3

8.5

Fuel consumption (actual)

7.4 l/100 km

8.7 l/100 km

Service plan (years / km)

5 / 90 000

3 / 90 000

Price

R274 400

R333 900

100 • DO IT NOW Magazine | May 2013

JUST ARRIVED

BOOK A TEST DRIVE NOW - PHONE 011 275 1699

TEL: 011 275 1699 FAX: 011 275 1620 CNR RIVONIA RD & WITKOPPEN RD RIVONIA CROSSING 2191

inCLOSING

inside the next issue ...

Quote: “Champions aren't made in the gyms. Champions are made from something they have deep inside them - a desire, a dream, a vision.” - Muhammad Ali.

APP Extras

NEW

When you opt for the app version of the magazine, you also get these exciting extras: • In the inDULGE section there are a couple of delicious recipes to try out.

• Enjoy the music, movie and game reviews in the inTERTAINMENT section.

Plus there's great action packed video content for many of the articles!

Don't miss the June 2013 issue of DO IT NOW Magazine to find out more about ordinary people doing extraordinary things. Here's a sneak preview of what you can look forward to.

Surfski Paddling in South Africa

Did you know that South Africans have taken the lead in all areas of surfski paddling (design, development and manufacturing), and more importantly, are winning the races in the World Series? Delve into the world of surfski paddling and find out what Dawid Mocke, who has won the World Series four consecutive times, and his brother, Jasper Mocke, think of surfski paddling in South Africa and around the world.

The art of fly-tying

Flies are used to fool fish into believing they are food. Fly fishing is a method of fishing used to present the fly to the fish. Fly-tying is the method of creating these secret recipes, flies, as faux food for fish. And almost any and every fish species can be caught on fly. Sounds complicated? Find out more in the next issue.

On the Lighter Side

Jim had an awful day fishing on the lake, sitting in the blazing sun all day without catching a single one. On his way home, he stopped at the supermarket and ordered four catfish. He told the fish salesman, "Pick four large ones out and throw them at me, will you?" "Why do you want me to throw them at you?" asked the saleman. "Because I want to tell my wife that I caught them," said Jim. "Ok, but I suggest that you take the orange trout," said the saleman. "Why's that?" Jim asked. The salesman replied, "Your wife came in earlier today and said that if you came by, I should tell you to take orange trout because that's what she'd like for supper tonight."

SUBSCRIBE & WIN

see page 9

WIN

powe rmon key-e Xtrem e value d at R1,799.99 The powermonkey-eXtreme houses a massive 9,000mAh capacity lithium polymer battery and offers users real power in a compact, durable shell. The unit is capable of recharging most 5V devices, including an iPhone (up to 6 times), a Garmin Edge 800 (up to 6 times) and standard mobiles (up to 12 times). It is IP67 rated, which means that it is waterproof for 30 minutes and up to one metre, and shock resistant. The powermonkeyeXtreme is perfect for the outdoor, marine and adventure enthusiast, as well as military and aid agencies.

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 MAGAZINE (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 MAGAZINE (Pty) Ltd opinion. Copyright 2009 DO IT NOW MAGAZINE (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 MAGAZINE (Pty) Ltd. DO IT NOW MAGAZINE(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 our environment.

102 • DO IT NOW Magazine | May 2013

NEVER RUN

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www.kiska.com

READY FOR MY

Do not imitate the riding scenes shown, wear protective clothing and observe the traffic regulations! The illustrated vehicles may vary in minor details from the series model and some show optional equipment at additional cost.

Photos: R. Schedl, H. Mitterbauer

NEW ADVENTURE

Pack the limousine and head off on a relaxed trip.

Accelerate the sports car dynamically out of the corners.

Pilot the SUV along dirt tracks and across wild streams.

For this you need three cars or just one motorcycle – the new KTM 1190 ADVENTURE! Fully specced with high-tech equipment for all your adventures – no matter where in the world!

STANDARD EQUIPMENT:

THE NEW KTM 1190 ADVENTURE

150 HP (110 KW) / 230 KG INCL. 23 LITRES OF FUEL C-ABS / TRACTION CONTROL WITH 4 MODES + OFF 15,000 KM SERVICE INTERVALS COMPREHENSIVE TECHNOLOGY AND SAFETY PACKAGES

YOU CAN FIND ALL THE FEATURES AT WWW.KTM.COM

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