With a rare few days of sunshine over the Summerveld Estate in Shongweni, the STIHL Sharks Trail Adventure’s much anticipated routes have taken shape ahead of the hundreds of eager competitors tackling the six mountain biking and trail running events of the ever-popular festive season opener this Sunday, 7 December.
The scenic Shongweni Valley and Tongaat Huletts Estate play host to the spectacular trails that are laid out for the STIHL Sharks Trail Adventure that starts at the Summerveld Estate on Sunday, 7 December. // Anthony Grote/ Gameplan Media.
2013 saw a big change to the routes of all four mountain biking events at the Sharks Trail Adventure but this year the adjustments have been more subtle. Route co-ordinator Andrew van Rensberg believes the addition of a few bridges as well as a new switch-back section have made the tracks more accessible to everyone and should see plenty of smiles on the faces of participants.
“We have gone with a flatter gradient for the 40km ride this year,” van Rensberg says. “We have been creating a family orientated vibe around the event and I think that having a route that is a little easier would be more appealing to the average rider and so we will not only grow the event but encourage people to return to ride in the area socially as well.”
Maintaining the family appeal is the ultimate goal for van Rensberg and his team of trail builders which means that they have sacrificed ever so slightly on the technical elements to make the ride more enjoyable for all.
A new switch-back section has been added to the route at the 2014 STIHL Sharks Trail Adventure that will be incorporated in both the mountain biking events as well as the trail running races when the event starts at the Summerveld Estate on Sunday, 7 December. // Supplied/ Gameplan Media.
“We have added in some cool new sections to the route and with the amount of time we have had to prepare the track, we have definitely created tracks that everyone will enjoy.
“There is nothing soul destroying but it will be still challenging enough for all while still very manageable,” a satisfied van Rensberg mentions.
Van Rensberg has always used the location of the event as a major draw card and this year he has tried to make the breath taking views available to most of the competitors with some changes to the 20km MTB race that will take riders along the edge of the Shongweni Valley.
“With so many events on it is hard to make sure that everyone has the best possible ride or run and this year we have put in a lot of effort into the 20km race which now runs into the Tongaat Huletts Estate which will give riders a much better view and the same sort of visual experience that the 40km riders will have.
“We have added in two climbs into the 20km route so the riders will experience a proper ride, something fresh that we wanted to give them this year compared to last.”
With the STIHL Sharks Trail Adventure heading into its third year in 2014 the route builders have made some minor adjustments to some of the track for the ever-popular event that gets underway at the Summerveld Estate on Sunday, 7 December. // Supplied/ Gameplan Media.
The 2013 edition of the Sharks Trail Adventure saw a hotly contested 18km trail run and van Rensberg believes that he and his team have done the runners justice this year with a track that he is extremely proud of.
“The 18km trail run is going to be a really interesting race this year and we have done a lot to make sure that the trail is top notch.
“There are sections where the runners and the riders share track which gives the runners some really good, well-manicured trails but we have tried to make it a bit more interesting by also sending them on some enduro track.
“There is also going to be quite a testing section of motorbike track that they will have to run along which should be a good test for the legs.
“In my opinion there is really no better way of experiencing the views of the Shongweni Valley than on foot. When you’re on a mountain bike you going a bit too quickly to take in the scenery, even though you do still get an idea of the beautiful surroundings.
“It isn’t too technical or demanding and with the valley views by your side it is such a great area to run in,” he explains.
The 2014 STIHL Sharks Trail Adventure takes place at Summerveld Estate, Shongweni on Sunday 7 December. Entries can be submitted via www.roag.co.za and more information is available at www.sharkstrailadventure.co.za.
Yoh, wish I could be there for this one