![\"ccs-62657-0-10429200-1433686253.jpg\"](\"https:\/\/wp-media.bikehub.co.za\/production\/uploads\/2023\/02\/ccs-62657-0-10429200-1433686253.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/a><\/p>\nLocal mountain bike manufacturer, Patrick Morewood, claimed the Championship title in the Veteran\u2019s category at the KZN Provincial Enduro Championships, sponsored by NMI-DSM, which took place at Cascades MTB Park in Pietermaritzburg on 6 June. \/\/ Photo credit: Mylene Paynter.<\/span><\/p>\n Conditions were cool and crisp and the lack of rain meant a dry and dusty track, which led to fast race times for the participants. The Enduro race saw riders in various age categories compete in a total of four timed stages, with the fastest total time determining the winner.<\/p>\n The star venue has hosted four World Cups and a World Championship event in the past for the cross-country and downhill disciplines and today\u2019s provincial Enduro event was unleashed on a championship worthy course.<\/p>\n Event organiser and avid rider, Dave Drummond, was pleased with how the event turned out. \u201cI had a blast today, it was so much fun. There were varied trails \u2013 we go into soft loose sections and then hard fast sections, and tight and twisty sections and open track. The climb was exhausting but it was worth it.\u201d<\/p>\n Alastair Brand tackles the man-made bridge during the final stage at the KZN Provincial Enduro Championships, sponsored by NMI-DSM, which took place at Cascades MTB Park in Pietermaritzburg on 6 June. \/\/ Photo credit: Mylene Paynter.<\/span><\/p>\n Maritzburg College Grade 10 pupil and Youth winner, Sharjah Jonsson, is a keen participant of Enduro, XCO and Downhill races stamping his authority on the events that he competes in.<\/p>\n \u201cMTB is the epitome of my existence,\u201d he laughs. \u201cI enjoy Enduro because it is a mix of the two [XCO and DHI]. I like the type of bike that we\u2019re riding in Enduro. It really is the most fun you can have on a bike. The climbs up to the top were hectic today, but I live 500m from the track so this is my back garden and I ride here often. I\u2019m used to the steep stuff and the rooty sections and there were some brand new trails with some really big ruts in them, which was really cool.\u201d<\/p>\n The 2013 XCO Champ and 2014 Enduro Champ will be competing in the DHI Championship event tomorrow. \u201cI haven\u2019t been able to ride much this week as I\u2019ve had seven exams in five days,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Sub veteran winner Craig Paul is no stranger to mountain bike racing. \u201cI\u2019m trying different things now. I\u2019ve had my days of racing cross-country and no longer have time to train, so I\u2019m doing some Enduro and Downhill now. I\u2019m enjoying it and doing it for fun. Obviously, coming from a racing background, I\u2019m naturally going to be competitive and I\u2019m always going to go flatbox when I\u2019m on the bike, but it\u2019s a good load of fun with a great bunch of guys who are all like-minded.\u201d<\/p>\n Winner of the Veteran Women’s title, Nicky Mcleod, at the KZN Provincial Enduro Championships, sponsored by NMI-DSM, which took place at Cascades MTB Park in Pietermaritzburg on 6 June. \/\/ Photo credit: Mylene Paynter.<\/span><\/p>\n Senior Men\u2019s winner and the young man with the fastest time overall, Tiaan Odendaal, said: \u201cIt was was quite cold this morning and hard to get going. I felt good and strong and didn\u2019t crash, so it ended up being a good day on the bike. Today was probably the hardest Enduro that I\u2019ve done, going up and down.\u201d<\/p>\n Odendaal will try and recover this evening in order to be fresh for the KZN Downhill Champs tomorrow, which will utilise the full World Cup track.<\/p>\n Women\u2019s winner, Kim Westbrook, was elated with her surprise victory: \u201cI came in today with low expectations and I came to have a good time. When I got onto the singletrack I found my pedals and tried to stay on my bike and I just had so much fun. I love Enduro, it is such a nice vibe and everyone is so chilled. You cruise up the hill chatting, pushing your bikes, and then you get to go as fast as you can on a clean piece of singletrack.\u201d<\/p>\n Local mountain bike manufacturer, Patrick Morewood, is a name synonymous with mountain biking and the PYGA co-founder claimed the Championship title in the Veteran\u2019s category.<\/p>\n \u201cFor me, having a business and a family takes a lot of time,\u201d said Morewood. \u201cDownhill is a time consuming exercise and cross-country is great but requires a lot of training, and the fun factor is not there if you\u2019re not fit. Whereas Enduro, you can have average skills and fitness and still have fun.<\/p>\n \u201cThe track today was technically very good with a nice gradient especially on the first two stages, and some good technical stuff with drop-offs. It really had all sorts.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n