Mike and I, and our super-second Phili, drove up to Underberg at 4:30 in the morning to be there for the start of the Sani2C dry run starting a 6am. 6am SHARP turned out to be 7:45 sharp, but the early morning wait (without any coffee) turned out to be a good bonding session for Mike, Phili and I (searching to get a positive out of waking up at 3:30 in the morning!).
The first day was ridden at a very leisurely pace and there was a group of about 25 of us including, Nick Floros (course designer, my Imana partner and general Hardman), Glen Haw (Sani2C visionary and creator), Roger Mann aka Super-Sloth (co-creator with Glen and phenomenal athlete) and Craig Stone (Mike’s Sani and Imana partner). The course was still without its finishing touches (Nick hasn’t gone over it with his tweezers yet), but it was still leagues ahead of any other course in the country. Glen, Nick and Roger’s dedication, creativity and attention to detail will always make Sani a course designer’s benchmark. The singletrack was amazing, especially with the addition of new “twin-track” which has two tracks running parallel in most of the old sections, creating an awesome dual slalom type race between opponents on the two tracks. Supposedly the tracks were made to alleviate congestion (which they certainly will do), but they are way more exciting than that. It’s an exciting dual as your competition gets ahead on his track, and you dice him to come out of the next corner ahead. Nick raced Craig, and I raced Mike just behind them, and we had a story to tell after each section and a discussion as to which was fastest line. Epic fun.
I don’t want to tell you too many more secrets, but expect more great things from day one. The day wore on and Craig and I rode ahead to Mackenzie Club and chilled in the Grass waiting for the rest of the crew to arrive, and then off to a 5 star meal at the Haw’s house courtesy of Mandy and Jabu.
Day 2 was another early start (though not quite 3:30!) and we got going at about 6:05. Some more “twin-track” started off the day. Murray’s Meander is a new addition to the singletrack start of the day, and is a true engineering feat, a track cut into an almost vertical slope covered in indigenous bush. I do not exaggerate when I say that if anyone falls off it, they have got about a 200 meter fall. At least they will have unreal views on the Umkomaas Valley on the way down.
The awesome long singletrack section down trough Nick’s Pass was a bit muddy, but still special as usual. Mike managed to win a battle with a fence, all but destroying it, with only barbed wire puncture marks and severe bruises to show for it... he had to be pulled out by Roan Exelby.
The rest of the day was completed at a good tempo, with myself, Mike, Road and Craig riding up front. We arrived after 5 hours at Jollivet Farm after another great day in the bushes. Sani2C promises to again raise the mark for Mountain Bike races around the country and I look forward to another awesome event.
The first day was ridden at a very leisurely pace and there was a group of about 25 of us including, Nick Floros (course designer, my Imana partner and general Hardman), Glen Haw (Sani2C visionary and creator), Roger Mann aka Super-Sloth (co-creator with Glen and phenomenal athlete) and Craig Stone (Mike’s Sani and Imana partner). The course was still without its finishing touches (Nick hasn’t gone over it with his tweezers yet), but it was still leagues ahead of any other course in the country. Glen, Nick and Roger’s dedication, creativity and attention to detail will always make Sani a course designer’s benchmark. The singletrack was amazing, especially with the addition of new “twin-track” which has two tracks running parallel in most of the old sections, creating an awesome dual slalom type race between opponents on the two tracks. Supposedly the tracks were made to alleviate congestion (which they certainly will do), but they are way more exciting than that. It’s an exciting dual as your competition gets ahead on his track, and you dice him to come out of the next corner ahead. Nick raced Craig, and I raced Mike just behind them, and we had a story to tell after each section and a discussion as to which was fastest line. Epic fun.
I don’t want to tell you too many more secrets, but expect more great things from day one. The day wore on and Craig and I rode ahead to Mackenzie Club and chilled in the Grass waiting for the rest of the crew to arrive, and then off to a 5 star meal at the Haw’s house courtesy of Mandy and Jabu.
Day 2 was another early start (though not quite 3:30!) and we got going at about 6:05. Some more “twin-track” started off the day. Murray’s Meander is a new addition to the singletrack start of the day, and is a true engineering feat, a track cut into an almost vertical slope covered in indigenous bush. I do not exaggerate when I say that if anyone falls off it, they have got about a 200 meter fall. At least they will have unreal views on the Umkomaas Valley on the way down.
The awesome long singletrack section down trough Nick’s Pass was a bit muddy, but still special as usual. Mike managed to win a battle with a fence, all but destroying it, with only barbed wire puncture marks and severe bruises to show for it... he had to be pulled out by Roan Exelby.
The rest of the day was completed at a good tempo, with myself, Mike, Road and Craig riding up front. We arrived after 5 hours at Jollivet Farm after another great day in the bushes. Sani2C promises to again raise the mark for Mountain Bike races around the country and I look forward to another awesome event.
Start of Day 1
Umkomaas Valley
Murray's Meander
Mike and his gate
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