Marching on

get the pdf of this here
http://tinyurl.com/d9have


The WPASS week – 31 March 2009

Once again, there’s plenty on the platter for those with an active appetite.

I’m busy recovering from just following the Cape Epic. Between the live tracking, the Epic Website and a few other sneaky sources it was easy to see the drama unfolding. Then all the racing was on the 10pm daily highlights package. Well done to all those who took it on and got to Lourensford. Forgetting the seasoned pros at the sharp end of the pack for a second, the real winners are those who manage to juggle work, family, finances and training while keeping a smile about it.

My issue with the Cape Epic is the sheer cost of it. 2010 requires R25200 to get your pair to the startline. However the fact that the initial batch of 100 entries got snapped up faster than Burry’s front wheel on stage 4, means that the price is justified given the demand – a true success story right on our doorstep.

Staying with the Cape Epic, here’s the overhead map of the grueling Stage 1 – Gordon’s Bay to Villiersdorp. Same distance as the Argus, but offroad and almost 2.5 times the cumulative altitude gain. Participants from last year’s WPASS 100 should recognize a lot of the terrain. The highlight of the route is from WP2 you’ll see the route (blue line) trace up a mountain.



That mountain is ….GROENLANDBERG…it’s a monster! But the view from the radiomast at the top is amazing. It’s also a conservation wonder with buy in from almost all the landowners on it, look more at its own website www.greenmountain.co.za.

Last week saw the final race in the PenOC Sprint Series. It was a great little course in Bishopscourt with some route choice options to play with. I for one never knew that there was such an awesome little garden section in the Liesbeeck river right there next to the M3 highway. The final log is up here and you might find some recognizable names in the list – well done to all who took part and a big thanks to PenOC for putting them on.

Staying on Orienteering, the end of the Sprint season becomes the beginning of the Colour Coded course season. Sunday sees the first of these. There’s normally four routes ranging in length from about 4-10km to suit all tastes. Remember orienteering kilometers are hard, so a 10km course is about 15 normal kays!

Diarise the week-end of May 23/24 – It’s the WP Orienteering champs, at Lebanon Forest in Grabouw. We’re working on putting a decent program to play with some bikes and boats inbetween the events…maybe even a quick shot nav course!

Before I forget. here are the details:
Event: Nuweberg Colour Coded
Date: 05 Apr 2009 Planner: Kobus Coetzee
Venue: Nieuweberg Forestry Station, Grabouw Controller: Ricky Raine

No dogs allowed
Registration: 09:00 - 11:00
Starts: 09:15 -11:15
Courses Close: 13:30
Courses: Standard colour coded; details later
Emit e-punching will be used
Cost: COST: MEMBERS NON-MEMBERS
Individual: R40 R60
Junior < 21 R20 R30
Group R50 R70
Orange/Novice: R30 R50
Extra map R10
EMIT card purchase - R300 per card
EMIT card hire - R10 per card per event


All info of course from PENOC. EMIT is the fancy electronic timing device, very cool!

Now the intuitive here might have followed my line of thinking and noticed the plan that’s hatched. Nuweberg Forest station is WP2 on the map, and the starting point of the ride up Groenlandberg. Now being on the fancy Cape Epic, surely there’s no way we’ll be able to access that land? Ha ha, our friends at CapeNature have this as one of their trails. It’s public access for R24 (considerably less than what the 1200 riders paid to put their rubber on this route last Sunday).

Whilst we’re at it, here’s the profile – starting from 55km/Nuweberg.



We’re arranging to split cars and make it a point to point ride. Warning/Achtung! this is quite a big ride, and should take us about 4 hours. It’s probably safe to say that only riders capable of a sub5 hour argus(on a calm day) should attempt it. However, Grabouw is a mtb paradise, and we’ll be happy to point you in the right direction for Oak Valley(stage base for Epic), Thandi or Lebanon.

Please indicate if you’re keen to join by emailing westprov@gmail.com or getting hold of Steve @ 0834586091 by Friday lunchtime!

Next evening meeting:
Monday 6th April – 7:30pm
Avalon Three, 123 Hope Street, Gardens
Please rsvp westprov@gmail.com, so we can get an idea of numbers (and have some snacks and refreshments accordingly)

We have the awesome Tatum Loftus (Prins until recently), coming to share some of her amazing stories from AR. She’s the business having raced in Brazil, Scotland and all over SA. However she’s also going to give us an insight and advice into how to get there (there’s more to it than just train/train/train!). So if you’re daunted by the longer 100km+ races, come get inspired.

We’re also going to give you an insight into what’s on our calendar for 2009, so you can get your race schedule loaded! There’s some exciting stuff on the menu, but we need YOU to support us so we can put it all on!

See you soon,
Steve and the team

PS. It’s fair to say that the Cape Epic, oops sorry
the ABSA Cape Epic presented by Adidas, fueled by energade, navigated by Garmin and driven by Toyota
is the ‘Argus’ of MTB races, where Joe Public reckons you’re not a MTB till you’ve finished one. I still get asked if I’ve done it, despite doing way more hardcore stuff like the Freedom Challenge (plug - have a look at MiWay MTB show on Supersport this week for episode 2 of 2 of that badboy!). It’s hard to get a ticket anyway given the demand so here’s some sneaky tips on some other awesome events that WON”T break the bank.

Easter Week-end
MAKADAS stargazer. 3 day stage race in Montagu. Nightracing! So you chill out during the day. R500 per team of 2. That’s R83 a stage! BARGAIN – I’m doing it. Enter HERE before Sunday

25/26 April
Wines 2 Whales – grabouw to hermanus
I can’t believe this is not sold out! R400 for a 150km 2 day stage race!
Go here now and get your ticket…I’ll be in Swazi jolling with the AR big boys

May 16
AMArider 100 Miler
I’m a self-confessed disciple of AMArider, link from here to find out more. Any interest in a WPASS team?

Pps. Excuse the MTB bias this week, blame the Epic. I didn’t even get to mention the awesome nightride we did with the Warthogs..17 bikers flying through tokai at night! You have got to go and see what’s new at Faerie Garden!