With the Enduro Western Cape series being disrupted this year due to COVID, local trail rider, architectural professional, husband and father, Chris Barrett decided to take things into his own hands.
On Saturday, 26th September @ 8:00, forty four riders from all over the country congregated at Ground Zero Bike & Trail Park, the start & finish for the Witfontein Funduro 2020. All praise to God for holding back the rain, and sending the chilly winds to keep the riders cool.
This was a free event for all Hillbillies Members, and non-members were only required to pay a day pass for the use of the trails. Some big names, such as Johann Potgieter (5x National Downhill Champ), made the journey to take part in the enduro. Even local Cross Country racer Tristan Nortje took part on his XC race bike.
The trails around George (aka Witfontein) are perfectly suited. Just begging to host an enduro race. The Hillbillies Mountain Bike Club, local riders as well as the trail running clubs pour hundreds of hours of work into building and maintaining the beautiful trails. The damage caused after the strong winds several weeks ago was excessive, but everyone pulled together to re-open most of the trails.
Scoping the new lines on race day didn’t slow down Johann Potgieter on his way to victory.
Riders entering the Full Funduro raced five stages, covered a total distance of 32km with elevation gain of 1200m. The Lite Funduro consisted of three stages, 23km. The route was just difficult enough to not overwhelm the younger and less experienced riders, but still give the hardcore gravity junkies a good challenge. The trails chosen incorporated all of the goodness that Witfontein has to offer while testing a riders full range of skills and fitness. From old-school fast and flat-out sections over loamy goodness, to slippery rooty trails with tight turns, and then finally big double jumps mixed with steep rocky chutes, the Witfontein trails have something for every rider.
A Community Effort
Various members of the George mountain biking community came together to make the inaugural Witfontein Funduro happen.
Braam Pretorius, Hillbillies Chairman, generously availed himself as a timing marshal on the day, as did Marthinus & Shauna Esmeyer of Paradise Adventures and Kendon Sharp.
The Hillbillies also sponsored a water table, which was over and above what could be expected at a free event. Skysha Barrett, Ella Barrett & Elsa Sharp braved the cold to make sure that riders didn’t bonk on the tough course.
Ride Life Bicycle Shop also helped out significantly with the course marking and making sure that the trails were not obstructed on the morning of the race.
Jacques Lourens of Frontier Medix was on site, but thankfully no one had to leave the mountain in an ambulance.
A last thank you to everyone who has not been mentioned, but who contributed behind the scenes to make the whole event possible. It was a huge team effort with weeks of planning that could not have happened without the support family and friends.
Witfontein Funduro Top 10 Finishers
- Johan Potgeiter
- Andrew Savage
- Nico Bester
- Chris Barrett
- Julian Bunge
- Tristan Nortje
- Jean-Pierre Malherbe
- Danie van Tonder
- Joshua Langenhoven
- Sean van Niekerk
Full results: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1i_EL228mwK-hUuvvaB9W9e0Ve7gLqntG/view?usp=sharing
considering that he isn't I rider, I was actually super impressed when he made it all the way down Stage 5 on the e-bike we were using for route marking the day before.
What a super rad event. And the trails, wow the trails. Best in the WC except if Status Quo was there as well (and some sneaky off radar stuff). So glad we make a plan to go there at least once a year, but honestly it should be far more.
Also, at R200 a year for Hillbillies membership...I just bought a years membership. If you look at how much time and dedication has gone into that network over the years (even when I still lived there in 2011), all who entered should be considering a years membership as a donation
It's half the cost of a single EWC event 
Oh man, did I mention how good the trails were?! A-lines that gave you an actual advantage too! Sooooo good