The action-packed Fedhealth XTERRA will make its Nelson Mandela Bay debut this coming weekend, 29 – 31 January 2016.
South Africa’s premier off-road triathlon will start and finish at Kings Beach. With four events to choose from: an XTERRA Kids on the Friday, followed by the XTERRA Full on the Saturday and the XTERRA Lite and PUMA Trail Run on the Sunday, there will be no lack of excitement over the three day period.
XTERRA warrior/Managing Director of ButtaNutt, Antoine van Heerden in action at the Fedhealth XTERRA Buffelspoort that took place this past weekend. Van Heerden will be on the start line of the Fedhealth XTERRA Nelson Mandela Bay Full. Photo Credit: Tobias Ginsberg
According to Michael Meyer, Managing Director of Stillwater Sports, XTERRA Nelson Mandela Bay will not be a traditional XTERRA SA Event. “While XTERRA Nelson Mandela Bay won’t feature an Urban course, it will have a ‘City Feel’ to it. The event will also feature an ocean swim this has been missing from XTERRA SA for a few years now. We’re excited by the new dynamic that the venue brings to the sport of XTERRA and look forward to hosting a memorable event.”
“Entrants can expect a unique XTERRA experience, the routes in Baaken’s Valley and Happy Valley will guarantee this,” says Hendrico Burger, Route Manager. “XTERRA Nelson Mandela Bay will start off with an ocean swim. From here XTERRA Full contenders will need to overcome a 25km MTB course. The first 2km has its own unique set of ‘city like’ obstacles in the form of railway tracks and steps. The Baaken’s River Valley, however, will break the city feel with its fast-paced single tracks and unique cliffs. Although the trails aren’t extremely technical, riders can expect a few surprises. Prepare for a lot of short steep granny gear climbs.”
“The XTERRA Lite will feature the same MTB climb as that of the XTERRA Full, but riders will keep within the first half of Baaken’s Valley cutting out the more technical single track deeper within the valley. The run routes will head towards Happy Valley and will include a short beach run section. Depending on the tide, this section will either be a rocky crossing towards the tunnel or an ‘up-and-down’ some steps. The run routes aren’t extremely technical, with the largest challenge being the different running surfaces which will vary from soft sand to short, rocky, hard packed sections as well as some paved and/or tarred sections.”
Fedhealth XTERRA Nelson Mandela Bay (Eastern Cape)
Friday, 29 January 2016: 16:00 Fedhealth XTERRA Kids
Saturday, 30 January 2016: 08:00 Fedhealth XTERRA Full: 1.5km swim, 28km MTB, 12km trail run
Sunday, 31 January 2016: 07:00 PUMA Trail Run (6km & 12km)
Sunday, 31 January 2016: 09:00 Fedhealth XTERRA Lite: 400m swim, 12km MTB, 6km trail run
