13 September 2016 Events

The EzelEnduro: Bigger and tougher

By BikeHubCoreAdmin · 49 comments

The weekend of 9th to the 11th of September 2016, saw 52 brave riders head to Ceres, to take on the 2nd edition of the brutal and challenging, invite-only, EzelEnduro.

With more than 40km of trails, 1660 meters of vertical climbing, and the addition of another stage, the event was designed to be even tougher than last year’s. Stages 5 and 6, like last year, required riders to hike-a-bike for about 1.5 hours each, before dropping into a 10 minute, arm destroying descent. Riders spent between 7 and 8 hours battling against the unforgiving Ceres terrain, with 15 DNF’s at the end of the day, and plenty of mechanicals in the mix. With riders from KZN and Joburg travelling down specifically for the event, racing was set to be tight, and in the end, Hayden Brown (PYGA) took the win over Oli Munnik by 5 seconds, with last year’s champion Matt Lombardi (GIANT) rounding off the podium in 3rd.

A standalone event this year (previously piggybacking on the Eselfontein Festival), riders and supporters had full access to the entire campsite and eco-huts, and were free to roam the entire farm. A post event chill-zone was setup on Saturday, treating everybody to some delicious potjiekos, with beers and energy supplied by CBC and Redbull. The after-party ensued, and the unbroken ones took things into the early hours of Sunday morning…

The idea behind the EzelEnduro is a simple one. Super tough riding with a small group of people looking for the same challenge. The fact that it’s showing us how many people are keen on this type of riding as well as the fact that it’s the youngsters that are most amped about the event gives us massive hope for the riding talent in this country. Well done to all the participants – it was an honour to meet, ride and party with you!
Daniel Dobinson | iRideAfrica

Friday night saw most of the riders arrive at Ezelfontein to setup camp and get the fires going. Some were better prepared than others to fight the cold…

For most it was an early night as Saturday would be a tough 8 hours in the hills.

Last minute bike preps and the daily caffeine fix in the early hours of Saturday morning.

Frosty morning beats provided by Redbull. No sleep-ins at the party.

The EzelEnduro, far from easy… and definitely a far cry from cruising on Cape Towns beaches… Thanks for a ROCKIN event! – excuse the pun…
Joe Nesbitt

Best weekend EVER!
Guy Ian McKechnie

Thank you Daniel! Scared the crap out of me but loved every second!
Nico van Zyl

What a jol it was. High 5’s all round!
Carlos Marquez

Proper mountain biking.
Gina Nixon

I nearly bombed on stage 4, but stage 5 went really well and about 300m before the end of the stage I had a huge crash, went OTB, and had to ride the rest of the stage on a rear flat.
Hayden Brown

The official EzelEnduro trophy – hand crafted by Dave Mercer.

Rupert trying his best to brief the eager crowd.

Every stage was f*ing gnarly, but everyone tried their best and I got third on the day – so I’m happy with that.
Matt Lombardi

I came out here very scared, I didn’t know if I’d be able to ride all these trails – I rode them all and I’m so proud and so happy and I had so much fun.
Craig McKune

I’m in charge of making the big decisions.
Rupert von Tutschek

Awesome timing system provided by KZN MTB – worked a charm!

Rider getting ready to take on SS3.

Matt Lombardi, 3rd overall.

Event organizer Daniel Dobinson – 5th overall.

Rika Olivier – 2nd overall in the ladies category.

Gina Nixon – 1st overall in the ladies category.

Winner winner chicken dinner. Hayden Brown, the king of Ezelfontein.

I’d like to say that I wasn’t beaten by all the girls, but I was beaten by the first lady.
Cliff Beckett

For the rest of the year, Cliff Beckett is my b***h.
Dave Hartley

What a legendary event. Respect to the organizers, respect to the sponsors, and I beat Cliff Beckett also.
Richard Dick Goldstein

Keira Duncan, only 15 years old and smashing out 4th overall. The future is bright.

Oli Munnik – 2nd overall.

Thumbs up on liaison 5. Only about an hour’s hiking left… on this stage.

#lunarlandscape

Today I had a great day, I beat Cliff Beckett, and I went OTB twice on the last stage.
John Toastie

EzelEnduro 2016 – 6 extremely tough stages, specially the last 2 – It is dubbed the toughest Enduro in South Africa for a reason.
Joanna Dobinson

Thanks for the awesome day guys. Final stage saw me hit the deck 3 times but it was worth it!
Karl Kielblock

Hayden Brown charging his way into top spot.

Matt Lombardi showing the signs of an OTB on stage 5, with Dave Mercer apparently moving rocks out the way with his face.

Joanna Dobinson – 3rd overall in the ladies category

The 3 brave ladies taking on EzelEnduro 2016. Legends.

Daniel, you guys did an Awesome job on the Ezelenduro, thanks!
Frank Corris

I can’t remember the last time I consumed alcohol with no regard for the consequences…. great after-party peoples!
Harry Millar

Such an awesome weekend guys, thanks so much to the team for organising.
Julian Moore

Flannel for the win!

The podiums from left: Danie du Toit taking the hardtail category. Overall ladies and overall men.

Top 10 overall:

1. Hayden Brown – 26:19
2. Oliver Munnik – 26:24
3. Matt Lombardi – 27:16
4. Keira Duncan – 28:31
5. Daniel Dobinson – 29:18
6. Hilton Frost – 29:19
7. Neil Bradford – 29:26
8. Harry Millar – 29:28
9. Rupert von Tutschek – 29:53
10. Julien Louw – 30:31

Download the full results here.

Shoutouts for making this event possible, goes to Redbull for music, shade, energy and very importantly, accurate timing. To CBC for some well deserved beer afterwards. To SRAM and WPGE for financial support and event insurance. To Deon Malherbe for providing us with this unique playground and building so many top quality trails for us to play on, and providing accommodation and motorbikes for myself and the event organizers to use during the event. To Llama bars for some amazing trail food. Lastly, to all the ladies that helped prepare the delicious potjiekos for all the starving riders Saturday afternoon.

See you all in 2017!

All images by Ewald Sadie | instagram: @ewaldsadie | www.esphotography.co.za

Tags: eselfontein, ewald sadie, ezelenduro

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Comments

49 comments · Page 2 of 2

GysMalan44

Sep 14, 2016, 9:23 PM

Super keen to do this event next year.

Just need to get the trail bike up and running, recon i'll have more fun around the fire at night. Looks like a great mission. Great article and AMAZING photos @EwaldSadie

tunariaan

Sep 15, 2016, 5:38 AM

yo looks awesome

on my list to do thats for sure

Die dirt roadies gaan maar hier sukkel

Nofearnofun

Sep 15, 2016, 5:53 AM

Hi Rock, it was R850 for two night's camping, a whole-lotta-painful racing, all-you-can-eat potjie, lots of free after-party booze, bonfires, good vibes and endless positivity!

And at the risk of opening myself up to the trolls, FYI, the "invite only" thing is a bit of a misnomer because all anyone had to do was say "yo, can I come?" and the answer was always "yes of course!"... contrary to popular belief, there ain't no secret society and handshake! We f'd up a bit in the beginning by making the 2016 facebook page private instead of public and frustratingly facebook don't allow it to be switched back, and by the time we realised it was too late to create a new one, but next year it'll be public and then word will get out better - it's only our second event, and we live and learn! Join us next year!

Damn! Just wasted the last 6 months learning a handshake that may or may not be the one...

To everyone involved, keep up the great work!

Captain Fastbastard Mayhem

Sep 15, 2016, 6:20 AM

Damn! Just wasted the last 6 months learning a handshake that may or may not be the one...

To everyone involved, keep up the great work!

It's a fistbump. Shhhhhh!!!

nox1111

Sep 15, 2016, 6:37 AM

It's a fistbump. Shhhhhh!!!

You know the secret handshake/fistbump... where were you Myles?!

Nofearnofun

Sep 15, 2016, 6:58 AM

You know the secret handshake/fistbump... where were you Myles?!

Suspence background music plays....

Sent from my E6653 using Tapatalk

Captain Fastbastard Mayhem

Sep 15, 2016, 7:01 AM

You know the secret handshake/fistbump... where were you Myles?!

wallowing in my own self pity and lack of fitness...

Also known as going hiking with my lightie.

Captain Fastbastard Mayhem

Sep 15, 2016, 7:04 AM

I'm under no illusions as to the fact that I'd have been BROKEN after 3 or 4 stages. I've ridden there, I know the terrain and I've seen the hike-a-bike sections are (or where they could be) and they're brutal. I know I need to be a lot fitter than I am at the moment to even think about doing the Ezel. But it's a goal for next year for sure.

Going back to Ezel in December. Love that place.

The Habrador

Sep 17, 2016, 3:36 PM

And I just realised, probably the best thing about the whole weekend is not one rider felt the need to wear their underwear in public! #coverthatlycradammit

Shebeen

Sep 17, 2016, 5:15 PM

And I just realised, probably the best thing about the whole weekend is not one rider felt the need to wear their underwear in public! #coverthatlycradammit

#dontlooknowboet https://scontent.fcpt1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/t31.0-8/fr/cp0/e15/q65/14352519_10157430275570494_3714330199300891605_o.jpg?efg=eyJpIjoidCJ9

Jewbacca

Sep 17, 2016, 9:58 PM

#dontlooknowboet https://scontent.fcpt1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/t31.0-8/fr/cp0/e15/q65/14352519_10157430275570494_3714330199300891605_o.jpg?efg=eyJpIjoidCJ9

It was hot, I am wearing shorts over my undies and, I thought if Duran couldn't be here someone had to take their shirt off for at least half an hour........

DubbelBuys

Sep 18, 2016, 11:24 AM

I'm under no illusions as to the fact that I'd have been BROKEN after 3 or 4 stages. I've ridden there, I know the terrain and I've seen the hike-a-bike sections are (or where they could be) and they're brutal. I know I need to be a lot fitter than I am at the moment to even think about doing the Ezel. But it's a goal for next year for sure.

Going back to Ezel in December. Love that place.

I take it that the trail is open all year round then?

Looks like awesome, but tough riding!

Keen to go ride there sometime as well as some of the other trails in the area.

Jewbacca

Sep 18, 2016, 11:55 AM

I take it that the trail is open all year round then?

Looks like awesome, but tough riding!

Keen to go ride there sometime as well as some of the other trails in the area.

Just bear in mind the ezelenduro trails are not part of the main trail network.

The 1st 2 stages are linked to the prescribed mtb routes, the others are all goat/weasel/hiking/mx enduro trails that the farm owners use to practice for roof of africa on.

Best to maybe get permission from the farm owner before yo go wandering looking for the Ezelduro trails off some strava bio's.

If you do manage to get it wrong it is quite inaccessible with limited cell signal in places.

It is however, absolutely amazing bike riding.

PhilipV

Sep 18, 2016, 11:58 AM

as far as I know you need to cross a neighbouring farm to get to stage 3. I might be wrong.

But the rest of the trails are open year round, we usually make a weekend out of it and camp in the Eco Huts. book them out (or the guesthouse) with a couple of mates and you'll have an amazing weekend with awesome riding.

I take it that the trail is open all year round then?

Looks like awesome, but tough riding!

Keen to go ride there sometime as well as some of the other trails in the area.

Riddem

Sep 19, 2016, 9:09 AM

Looks amazing, ill definitely have to join next year.

Sick shots @Ewaldsadie

PhilipV

Sep 19, 2016, 8:18 PM

I finally got the words on paper to describe the event. Here is my write up of how I experienced it.

https://community.bikehub.co.za/topic/163011-ezelenduro-a-riders-perspective/

Dan Dob

Sep 23, 2016, 8:27 AM

I finally got the words on paper to describe the event. Here is my write up of how I experienced it.
https://community.bikehub.co.za/topic/163011-ezelenduro-a-riders-perspective/

A good read for anyone who'd looking to do it in the future.Some of those comments in there are gold Philip!

Captain Fastbastard Mayhem

Jun 2, 2017, 7:26 PM

Well, made good on my word. Entered. Let the training begin.

What have I done

T-Bob

Jun 2, 2017, 7:42 PM

Still invite only? Would love a chance of wrecking my body and bike there!

jock_the_GIANT

Jun 2, 2017, 10:55 PM

Where does one enter?

Jewbacca

Jun 3, 2017, 7:42 AM

Still invite only? Would love a chance of wrecking my body and bike there!

Where does one enter?

Go to the iRide Africa website and sign up to the mailing list

As easy as that

jock_the_GIANT

Jun 3, 2017, 8:41 AM

Go to the iRide Africa website and sign up to the mailing list

As easy as that

Thanks,

but it looks like its the same weekend as the Eselfontein Festival 3 day stage race? Or is the stage race the Enduro? Im confused, anyway I entered the Stage race, so will have to wait and see.

Jewbacca

Jun 3, 2017, 10:57 AM

Thanks,

but it looks like its the same weekend as the Eselfontein Festival 3 day stage race? Or is the stage race the Enduro? Im confused, anyway I entered the Stage race, so will have to wait and see.

Unfortunately it is on the saturday, the same day as one of the stages.

It forms part of the Ezel festival of radness.... Trail runs, Enduro, stage race.... Beer drinking... the works

Dan Dob

Aug 18, 2017, 6:18 AM

Hi Hubbers, seems I've missed out on this conversation :/

Anyone wanting to enter or know more about the event can find out more here !

The EzelEnduro: Bigger and tougher

Top 10 overall:

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