![\"ccs-62657-0-48219600-1459172789.jpg\"](\"https:\/\/wp-media.bikehub.co.za\/production\/uploads\/2023\/02\/ccs-62657-0-48219600-1459172789.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/a>Hilton Frost posted some quick times to take the Men’s overall victory at round two of the 2016 KZNMTB Provincial ENDURO Series – presented by Greg Minnaar Cycles at Giba Gorge MTB Park near Pinetown on Saturday 26 March. Photo credit: Paul Botma<\/span><\/p>\nThose that know the lie of the land at Giba Gorge know that there was a fair amount of climbing to get to the top from the central point at the trail centre, but that did not deter the thrill seekers who were hungry for twisty, slippery descending trails and gripping adventure.<\/p>\n
With two starts on each opposite hilltop, riders set off to begin either Stage one, two or three in any order, with everyone starting the fourth stage last. It was Hilton Frost and Kim Westbrook who would take the overall Men and Women\u2019s titles on the day.<\/p>\n
Enduro course designer, Guy Ronaldson, had a blast creating the course. \u201cNigel and Dave approached me about six weeks ago, because I ride the trails here a lot, and they asked if I wanted to set the Enduro course. They let me loose and it was a fun experience. There were a lot of existing trails but what we did is cut a lot of new sections as well. I think the guys really enjoyed the new stuff and had fun.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ronaldson enjoyed the fruits of his labour by competing as well. \u201cI enjoyed it hey. You know, I ride the trails here so much so I thought, well it’s a race I\u2019m not going to have that much fun, but its such a great place to ride and I thoroughly enjoyed it.\u201d<\/p>\n On the competitive side in the Masters class, Con Malherbe (Pyga) shared his thoughts on this social aspect of mountain biking. \u201cIt\u2019s really fun. I don’t have a lot of time to put into my riding right now, so Enduro is really ideal. The format is great because you don’t have to kill yourself up the hills; you just have to get there. And then there are fast downhills, which makes it really exciting.\u201d<\/p>\n In terms of the strong competition in the Masters category, Malherbe said: \u201cI came down and clocked in and I thought I was one of only two riders, but then there were five or six after us. There is a lot of competition in the over-50s. It\u2019s really cool to start a race where the gun goes and nobody launches off at 100 kilometres per hour. It has a great social aspect and it\u2019s a lot of fun!\u201d<\/p>\n Greg Minnaar Cycles\/Santa Cruz rider, Andre Pretorius, was thrilled with his third place overall. \u201cI\u2019ve been doing Enduro now for two years but it\u2019s the first year now that I am taking it seriously. I came third overall so I\u2019m pretty stoked about it. Hopefully I\u2019ll get a second or a first place next time. Giba is my home town, I was expecting to get a first here but I\u2019m still stoked with a third place in my home town.\u201d<\/p>\n Downhill organiser, Nigel Hicks, also enjoyed his time on the Enduro trails of Giba Gorge. \u201cThe trails here are fantastic. We had a whole lot of rain in the beginning of the week and it\u2019s been really good to settle in the dust. The past few days it has really packed in and it got a little bit slick out there, a bit \u201cmarbley\u201d, but it\u2019s fantastic and everyone has had a great time.\u201d<\/p>\n Hicks crashed heavily at the start of the fourth stage. \u201cExcept for landing on my head, it was great fun,\u201d he chuckled. \u201cThe guys at Giba have really done a fantastic job with the trails so big up to them. It\u2019s so nice to see them supporting Enduro. We really do need more bike parks like this to take a step forward and push the sport. It is growing exponentially \u2013 130 riders today, it\u2019s really good to see that many people taking part in such a fun discipline.\u201d<\/p>\n Young Robert Jessop recorded his second win out of two races in the sub junior category this season: \u201cIt went really well, I really flowed through the whole stage and went back to the top and started the next stage. I rode with a few friends. On stage three I got a bug in my eye and so I lost quite a lot of time there, otherwise I had really good runs. I\u2019m really happy to be leading the series \u2013 I\u2019m back winning again after losing it a bit in the cross-country races.\u201d<\/p>\n Overall Women\u2019s winner, Kim Westbrook (Pyga\/adidas Eyewear), didn\u2019t find the going tough and had an absolute \u201cjol\u201d on the trails. \u201cThe trails were awesome and so grippy. Normally when you ride Giba it can be quite slick and loose because of the gravel, but today was just perfect. It was hot during the in between stages, but then you hit the stage and the wind hits you in the face and keeps you cool. But hydration was important today.\u201d<\/p>\n Apart from technical skills coming in handy, Westbrook says that fitness is important too: \u201cFor the length of the stage, you are sprinting as fast as you can so fitness is very important. But you also need to be able to read the roots, rocks and corners so strong technical ability goes a long way.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cResident\u201d cyclist Jason Hall (Good to Go) finds the going getting a bit tougher with his two young sons chasing him on the trails. \u201cIt\u2019s an awesome family event, Enduro is the way forward. I ride with my two boys, Nate and Liam. It\u2019s a race that can be easily done, as there is no racing uphill. It\u2019s all about fun, I think more and more families should be involved.\u201d<\/p>\n Enduro enthusiasts will gather again for the 2016 Pietermaritzburg MTB Festival http:\/\/www.cyclingsa.com\/2016-pmb-mtb-festival\/<\/a> on Monday 2 May 2016 before tackling the third round of the KZNMTB Provincial ENDURO Series \u2013 presented by Greg Minnaar Cycles on the magnificent trails of Howick on Saturday 21 May 2016. See you all there! <\/p>\n<\/a>Kim Westbrook enjoyed the “grippy” trails and won the Women’s category overall at round two of the 2016 KZNMTB Provincial ENDURO Series – presented by Greg Minnaar Cycles at Giba Gorge MTB Park near Pinetown on Saturday 26 March. Photo credit: Paul Botma<\/span><\/p>\n<\/a>Local rider Andre Pretorius was happy with a podium position when he finished third at round two of the 2016 KZNMTB Provincial ENDURO Series – presented by Greg Minnaar Cycles at Giba Gorge MTB Park near Pinetown on Saturday 26 March. Photo credit: Paul Botma<\/span><\/p>\n<\/a>Tammy Sturrock flies into the finish area at round two of the 2016 KZNMTB Provincial ENDURO Series – presented by Greg Minnaar Cycles at Giba Gorge MTB Park near Pinetown on Saturday 26 March. Photo credit: Paul Botma<\/span>\n<\/div>\n