Up and coming multi-sport star Ruan Van Zyl (17) will start the New Year with a bang by aiming for a hattrick win at the Fedhealth XTERRA Buffelspoort Lite on Sunday, 24 January 2016.
Ruan Van Zyl in action during the 2015 Fedhealth XTERRA Buffelspoort Lite. Photo Credit: Volume Photography.
According to Van Zyl, it’s the vibe and excellent event organisation that attracts him to the sport of XTERRA. “XTERRA is tough from the start to the finish. I’m not yet old enough to compete in the XTERRA Full individual category as you need to be 19 or older. The XTERRA Lite, however, is a good introduction to the sport of XTERRA. Claiming victory earlier this year felt extremely good. It gave me a confidence boost for the remainder of the year. My advice to newcomers to the sport is to stay calm in the water. Just repeat what you do in training, but most of all remember to have fun.”
“I have two XTERRA heroes, Conrad Stoltz and Dan Hugo,” continues Van Zyl. “They are both SA athletes that have achieved worldwide respect, proving that SA can compete with the best in the world. When I was in Italy I saw how the people adored Conrad Stoltz. He is a legend. This year I took part in the Cross Triathlon World Championships in Italy where I finished 6th. My goal is to work towards a gold medal at either the Cross Triathlon or XTERRA World Championships one day. I would also love to take part in the Olympics one day.”
XTERRA returns to Buffelspoort in January 2016. Adventure enthusiasts that are not yet ready for the challenge of the XTERRA Full or that are under the age of 19 can still be part of the action by taking on the XTERRA Lite as part of a team or as an individual entry.
For further information or to enter the Fedhealth XTERRA visit www.stillwatersports.com.
