Enduro World X-Country Heidelberg (Feb2009)

Ok, so this is not really ride report, as I did not ride the event, but I rode my bike all the way to Heidelberg and all the way back, pretty boring road I must say, so not much to report on my ride there and back.

I arrived at the Enduro World X-Country event in Heidelberg and saw a couple of familiar faces among the spectators and competitors, mostly the guys from the MOAM Racing team. The guys racing that I knew was Braam Smit, Stefan Jansen van Rensburg, and Martin (Tjopper). Garth and Belinda Bell was also there as spectators, Garth was not racing as he has not been spending too much time on the bike lately. I also spotted Adriaan Scheepers there.

So, I made my way along the course, mainly to see if I could ride it on my CRF230, and I am happy to report, that pending my fitness and some weight-loss, I will also be riding in an EWXC event in the future.
The loop was 12km long and very “technical” and “in your face” riding. Fitness played the biggest role and the guys in the front was very “TYRED” and the oaks at the back very “EXHAUSTED”
I am not too good at typing and better with pichas, so here goes:

The Pro’s getting ready (Ruan Robberts #13 and Altus de Wet #E1)


Some eye-candy


First corner


Darryl Curtis – It is AWSOME to see these guys ride, just AWESOME!!!!


Some more Pro’s


Stefan’s brother (MOAM)


Some more:










This is how you corner on a dirt-track (don’t try this at home!!!)


Another MOAM rider



I will post more photos later.

thanks for sharing. would love to see those guys in action! not sure about riding one of those tracks myself though...

Some pics of "ELM Street" a very tight section with lots of off-camber turns drop-off and step-ups. Al least this was in the shade!!

A friend of mine, Ronald Doyle


Some more ELM Street










Braam Smit on the G450X

Thanks for this - I've been the Mystic Dolphin venue last year - saw Pieter & Stefan in action - what a work-out! Not to mention the skill display..
Great to see Braam in action again ...

Some more of the "Water-fall Section"

This was the hardest part, about a 4m drop, huge loose rocks with a turn at the bottom and a vertical rock-face straight ahead. The pics do not do this part justice, it was VERY steep.

And the last few of a mate of mine doing a stoppie......oops...

He was OK.

Lindsay getting ready


Stoppie turned into an endo


The end (captured by Wild Will Gillet's wife)


Eish.............

Sooooooo Sharkie, when are you going to join me for a ride on the plastic bike? Hmmmm? No substitute for time in the saddle

great (wicked) stuff

thanks for sharing

Marnus wrote:Sooooooo Sharkie, when are you going to join me for a ride on the plastic bike? Hmmmm? No substitute for time in the saddle

Hi Marnus,

You are welcome to join us on Saturday morning. I will chat to you at the March Club Night.

Nice report Sharky. I am glad and sad that I missed it although our SCMSC race was pretty awesome.
Tell Lindsay it helps if you rather stand as far back on the bike, than sitting in front on the tank, when tackling these obstacles. (Normally you get so intimidated by the obstacle that you seem to forget the basics!! ) I normally either ride standing down, weight as far back as possible. But if it really gets tough I just push my bike down. Takes much less energy pushing the bike down than trying to get up the bike off you and then picking it up. That will kill your energy levels!!!

Some riders im sure have some mountain goat blood in them!!! Good pics and some awesome riding