Reigning XTERRA champions Stuart Marais (Stellenbosch) and Flora Duffy (Bermuda) will leave nothing to chance on Saturday, 20 February 2016 when they toe the line at the Grabouw Country Club to defend their cherished titles at the action packed Fedhealth XTERRA South African Championship.
“I absolutely love XTERRA Grabouw,” says Marais. “The vibe is electric and the course offers so much for all athletes, swimmers, mountain bikers and trail runners alike. The event is without a doubt a massive highlight for me. I will definitely be going for the win. The XTERRA SA events are incredibly well organised. I love the XTERRA lifestyle and the type of people it attracts. My advice to newcomers to the sport is to start slowly and pack enough water bottles for the relentless heat.”
Flora Duffy in action at the 2015 Fedhealth XTERRA South African Championship. Photo Credit: Tobias Ginsberg.
According to Duffy, it’s the adventure and unpredictability of the sport that attracts her to XTERRA. “Every XTERRA SA event is world class. The venues are beautiful, the setup is spectacular, the course is well marked, and the vibe is great. XTERRA Grabouw is my favourite XTERRA on the circuit, the course is incredible. The mountain bike discipline offers everything – climbing, twisting single track, rock gardens and beautiful views. The run is also really cool. At the highest point of the course, you can see the entire race village and the surrounding mountains. It’s quite breath taking. My favourite part of the run is the final 1km. The contrast between the water, beach sand and mountains is really cool. My goal is to secure my third XTERRA Grabouw victory.”
The Fedhealth XTERRA Grabouw has attracted the attention of elite road triathlete, James Cunnama. “XTERRA will be a new challenge for me,” admits Cunnama. “I have been cross-training a bit on the mountain bike, which will without a doubt be the biggest challenge for me. I absolutely loved taking part in the Wines2Whales last year. My primary goal is to have fun, but I want to see what I am capable of and will give it my best shot.”
Top South African contenders to look out for will include: Bradley Weiss – who is currently on a winning streak having claimed gold at both the Fedhealth XTERRA Buffelspoort and Fedhealth XTERRA Nelson Mandela Bay as well as the
XTERRA Philippines, Theo Blignaut, Antoine Van Heerden, Carla Van Huyssteen and Susan Sloan.
Top international XTERRA Warriors that will be vying for the top spot on the podium will include: Jan Pyott (Switzerland), Niels Brandt-Jørgensen (Norway), Aiden Dunster (New Zealand), Simone Calamai (Italy), Carina Wasle (a former XTERRA Grabouw champion from Austria), Daz Parker (UK) and Dominik Wychera (Austria).
EVENT INFORMATION: Fedhealth XTERRA Grabouw (Western Cape)
Friday, 19 February 2016 – Fedhealth XTERRA Kids
Saturday, 20 February 2016 – Fedhealth XTERRA Full
Sunday, 21 February 2016 – Fedheatlh XTERRA Lite
Sunday, 21 February 2016 – PUMA Trail Run
Exciting News:
After a gruelling day out on route, XTERRA Warriors can look forward to recovering in the NUUN Recovery Zone. “We’ll be there to put back what the race takes out with cold coolers of our proprietary blend of electrolytes in natural, delicious flavours – all without any sugars. Get excited for refreshing flavours like Strawberry Lemonade, Tri-Berry, Fruit Punch, Lemon and Lime and Citrus Fruit,” says Etienne du Plessis, CEO of NUUN.
Another special feature to look forward to in the NUUN Recovery Zone will be the serving of the proudly South African ButtaNutt series of authentic tree nut spreads. “Our spreads are filled with healthy fats and proteins for sustained energy. ButtaNutt will also be giving away an entire year’s supply to one lucky XTERRA finisher at each of the three events,” says Antoine van Heerden, Managing Director of ButtaNutt.
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For further information on the Fedhealth XTERRA visit www.stillwatersports.com or www.Fedhealth.co.za
