The organizers of the much loved Wines2Whales (W2W) Mountain Bike (MTB) Adventure and Race together with the Pedal Power Association (PPA) visited the De Rust Futura School in Grabouw (Western Cape) on Friday, 15 February 2013 to celebrate the official handover of 35 BMX’s and helmets, bicycle tools, repair kits and pumps to the school.
According to Johan Kriegler, a W2W Director, since its inception in 2009 W2W has supported various beneficiaries. “W2W is one of the most successful MTB events in South Africa. We’ve supported Rotary and Round Table Clubs, De Rust Futura and Botriver Schools, Botriver Educational Foundation, songo.info and the Boland Cape Leopard Trust. As W2W is about cycling we also wanted to assist schools in enabling wider sporting choices. BMX’s are sturdy bikes that are easy to maintain and loads of fun to do tricks with, making them ideal for children. Our vision is to establish BMX, a popular Olympic sport, as a school sport in poorer communities on the W2W route and the Southern Cape Villages of Riviersonderend, Riversdale, Swellendam, Groot Brak, George and Knysna. In partnership with local municipalities we plan to build BMX Pump Tracks at these schools. The Thandi BMX Track, different from a much smaller BMX Pump Track, is sure to become a popular inter school competition venue. ASLA Construction is sponsoring a container in which the BMX’s are to be stored at De Rust Futura, while Euodia Cycles, one of the W2W official mechanical partners, will co-ordinate the maintenance of the BMX’s,” says Kriegler.
The Pedal Power Association is the largest cycling organization in the Western Cape, and the biggest provincial cycling body in the country. It currently has some 19 000 paid-up members.
Liz Robbins (PPA Projects & Marketing Officer) and Johan Kriegler (a W2W Director) together with the learners of the De Rust Futura School at the Thandi BMX Track where they got to try out their new BMX bicycles. Photo Credit ~ Cherie Vale / Newsport Media
“We are in the fortunate position that the Pedal Power Association and the Rotary Club of Claremont are the beneficiaries of the Cape Town Cycle Tour Trust, who organises, amongst others, the annual Cape Argus Pick ‘n Pay Cycle Tour. The PPA uses any profits received in this way to run the Association, with over R1,85 million having been ploughed into cycling between 2011 – 2012,” explains PPA Chairman, Steve Hayward. “Over the years it has been important to the PPA to assist cyclists in previously disadvantaged and rural areas, not only from a commuting perspective, but also to use cycling as a means of life skills development; to foster a healthy lifestyle, or as a sport. To this end, the PPA spends the largest portion of its project funding on cycling development and junior riders. In this funding year, the Association will be supporting fifteen development clubs and two rural Foundations with specific projects. PPA has been a keen W2W partner from the start, co-funding some of the routes which have successfully been opened to the public. PPA also co-funded the BMX Track at Thandi, which was completed in 2011. One of the reasons for building the track at Thandi was to enable the De Rust Futura school kids to use it. W2W and PPA have both contributed financially toward getting the BMX’s, helmets and tools to the children, while some funds have been reserved for the future maintenance of these bicycles”.
EVENT INFORMATION:
Starting in the Winelands of Somerset West, riders will cross through (and over) 13 wineries, 26 private farms, six mountains, historic roads and mountain passes, nature conservation areas (including the Kogelberg Biosphere) before finishing within sight of the famous whales of Hermanus!
WINES2WHALES MTB ADVENTURE: Friday, 01 November 2013 until Sunday, 03 November 2013
WINES2WHALES MTB RACE: Friday, 08 November 2013 until Sunday, 10 November 2013
STAGE ONE:
Distance: 70km
Start: Lourensford Wine Estate (Somerset West)
Finish: Oak Valley Sport Field (Elgin)
STAGE TWO:
Distance: 70km
Start: Oak Valley Sport Field (Elgin)
Finish: Oak Valley Sport Field (Elgin)
STAGE THREE:
Distance: 75km
Start: Oak Valley Sport Field (Elgin)
Finish: Onrus Caravan Park (just outside Hermanus)
Follow us on Twitter: @w2wmtb
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For more information on the Wines2Whales MTB Adventure and Race contact 076 118 0874, e-mail entries@wines2whales.co.za or visit www.wines2whales.co.za For more information on the Pedal Power Association visit www.pedalpower.org.za
