Howick – As mountain bikers across South Africa feel the butterflies and excitement starting to build ahead of the 2013 Sappi Karkloof Classic MTB Festival, taking place at Karkloof Country Club from 19-21 April, renowned course designer Hylton Turvey and his team are hard at work adding the finishing touches to their masterpiece.
The trails in the Karkloof area have been known by many as the best in the business in KwaZulu-Natal and possibly across the country however year after year Turvey seeks to add something, exciting and widely spoken about long after the dust of that year’s event finally settles.
2013 is no exceptionally in this regard as the landscaping guru goes about cutting, digging, compacting and, all in all, redesigning certain elements of the variety of routes the weekend’s wide programme of events will be stage upon.
Many locals and regular visitors to the area have spotted an exciting new project taking place high up in the mountains and eagerly await their chance to tackle the new Sappi 60km Karkloof Classic standout feature.
“The Gauntlet, a big eroded valley with a trail and series of wooden bridges twisting its way through, has always been a talking point of the 60km route,” explained Turvey. “Rene’s Rumble trail and the Lebanon climb are two other big features of this route and once again riders will be able to enjoy these along the 60km course.”
“The biggest feature this year’s 60km course though is the newly built trail coming down Lebanon from the Fire tower, known as ‘Bat out of Hell’. This is a grassland trail and one which I would also classify as a “big mountain” trail.
Course designer Hylton Turvey believes the new descend down Lebanon known as the Bat out of Hell trail is going to be the talk of this year’s Sappi Karkloof Classic MTB Festival which takes place from 19-21 April at Karkloof Country Club.
Supplied/ Gameplan Media
“It’s nice and steep with plenty of contours and switchbacks which give it a really good flow and hence is all about flat out speed!
“Bat out of Hell will probably be the fastest trail in the entire Karkloof area and you almost get the feeling of skiing down a big slope as you fly down it.
“It should definitely get your heart pumping I’m sure it will create some major talking amongst riders after the race!
Those entered for the aQuellé 40km Half Marathon event will also be in for a spectacular experience as Turvey and his team have worked their magic over this pathway journey as well.
“The 40km half marathon is mostly made up of some very cool trails which I’ve tried to design and build each differently to the others.
“The trails twist through forest and grassland, go over streams, and along big dams so there really is a heap of great, different views and experiences these participants are in for. The Carnival, Free fall and Boomslang are a couple of the better known standout features of this route.
“There is also a new trail climb that is super fast and that spits you into the Carnival which should be lots of fun.
Kathryn Fourie tests the new stretch along the aQuellé 40km 40km Half Marathon of the Sappi Karkloof Classic MTB Festival known as Eagle Ridge.
Supplied/ Gameplan Media
“’Eagle Ridge’ is a new grassland trail that contours and crosses over streams connected by wooden bridges whilst ‘Tantrum Kim’ is new trail that takes riders down to the Karkloof Falls view point which I’m sure will be a major highlight for all taking part in this event!
Whilst Sunday’s more traditional marathon events take center stage there are also scores of cycling enthusiasts looking forward to the prospect the still relatively new concept of the Stihl Karkloof Enduro poises, especially after the recent ‘Bat out of Hell’ development.
“For the enduro we will use the new “Bat out of Hell” trail, which with its high speed nature could be incredible, and Jewitt’s Jive and the Gauntlet will make up the other run so that should be a really exciting event on Saturday!
Plenty of brand new single track has been cut ahead of this year’s Sappi Karkloof Classic MTB Festival which takes place from 19-21 April at Karkloof Country Club.
Supplied/ Gameplan Media
When tasked with developing the tracks required for this year’s showcase Turvey and his merry men set out to create something different from the ‘normal’ Karkloof experience for this year’s competitors, whilst never losing the nationally renowned feel of the Karkloof trails.
Despite some tough conditions and the regular challenges many designers face the faces behind the mud, grit and grime who have spent countless hours shovelling sand, soil and debris have put together another set of thrilling pathways for the 2013 Sappi Karkloof Classic MTB Festival field.
“We’ve really tried to mix things up a little more this year. Previously most of the trails have been in forest so a lot of the new ones we’ve been building include wide open grassland which really is quite refreshing and offers some awesome views!
“We’ve had our challenges along the way, such as having to hike all our tools up the mountain before any work could take place on the new Bat out of Hell trail and then digging through the tufty grassland to build the trail itself whilst fighting the rain, wind and baking hot sun was really difficult.
“Being out in nature we obviously also had a couple of creatures and critters encounters when we came across a few scorpions and snakes , which is actually always pretty cool and all in all things have gone really well for us and I’m sure everyone will have a great time out there at this year’s festival.
The Sappi Karkloof Classic MTB Festival takes place from 19-21 April at Karkloof Country Club. Riders and spectators alike can stay up to speed with all the news and developments via the event’s Facebook page (Karkloof Mountain Bike Club) or on Twitter (@KarkloofMTB).
More info can also be found at www.karkloofmtb.co.za
