Tim_Fair

At the moment the distances and ascent are as follows: (Please note that some land access has not been finalised yet, so the routes may still change slightly.) Ultra - 120km | 2650m Marathon - 75km | 1800m Half Marathon - 45km | 900m Fun Race - 20km | 350m

Event Name: MTN NATIONAL MTB SERIES #2 Sabie When: 22 February 2014 - 23 February 2014 Where: York Timber Sport Grounds, Sabie, Mpumulanga Category: MTB Date 22 / 23 February 2014Venue York Timber Sport GroundsGPS Location S25 06' 00.47" E30 45' 20.91"Elevation 1015mTerrain Plantations | Humid | SavannaFeatures Waterfalls | River Crossings | Handbuilt Single track | BridgesRegistration Fri 21/02 17:00-21:00 & Sat 22/02 05h30 - 16h00 & Sun 23/02 05h30 - 08h00Online Entries Early Bird Close 22 January 2014 06:00 / Online Entries close 19 February 06:00 Go to Event Page

For more info about the MTN National XCM #1 Dullstroom, check out http://advendurance.com/nationalmtbseries/dullstroom

Online entries are open...http://advendurance.com/entries/dullstroom

Hi guys, Thanks for the heads up. I have informed out IT guys and they are looking into it at the moment. Will try to have it sorted ASAP.

Hey guys, Advendurance calendar has been updated with final dates for 2014. Take a look....http://advendurance.com/calendar

Routes should be finalised in mid January, but will be able to give you a good indication of distance and total ascent before then.

Yes that is correct. Dullstroom will be held over one day (Saturday 8th Feb)

Route scouting for MTN Dullstroom...

Event Name: MTN NATIONAL MTB SERIES #1 Dullstroom When: 8 February 2014 Where: Dunkeld Estate, Dullstroom, Mpumalanga, Mpumulanga Category: MTB Entries open soon...http://nationalmtbse...tionalmtbseries Go to Event Page

You can check the dates on the Advendurance website...http://advendurance.com/calendar We are aware of Van Gaalens clashing with Magalies Monster, and have approached CSA about this. Hoping to have it resolved before the end of the week.

At the moment all the MTN races should be over 1 day with the exception of Sabie and Crater Cruise...but we will only know for sure closer to the time so keep an eye on the website and calendar when entries open.

2014 MTN National Series dates: The 2014 MTN National MTB Series driven by Nissan dates 1. 8-9 February - MTN Dullstroom 2. 22-23 February – MTN Sabie (UCI World Series) 3. 15 March – MTN Tulbagh (UCI International Event) 4. 3-4 May – MTN Clarens (UCI World Series) 5. 24-25 May - MTN Van Gaalen 6. 14-15 June - MTN Rooiberg 7. 22 June – MTN Hilton (UCI International Event) 8. 13-14 September – MTN Ride Crater Cruise

Press Release: MTN National MTB Series driven by Nissan dates and races announced for 2014 15 November 2013 at 14:11 PRESS RELEASE: For immediate release – no embargo DATE: 15-11-2013 The MTN National MTB Series driven by Nissan has changed the face of mountain biking in South Africa. What started as a small series with a couple of hundred participants in 2002 is now the biggest national mountain bike series in the world with tens of thousands of participants. The events that formed part of the MTN National MTB Series in the past have all become institutions on the local and international racing calendars. Advendurance the company behind the MTN National MTB Series have made some changes to the list of events that will be part of the 2014 Series. Key to the success of the MTN National MTB Series has always been their carful consideration of their dates to allow South Africans to shine on the international cycling stage. This is why Advendurance director Fritz Pienaar and his team went the extra mile planning the 2014 dates to not only help South Africans shine at the Absa Cape Epic but also at the UCI World Marathon Championships hosted in KwaZulu Natal next year. Pienaar and his Advendurance team took the international calendar into account to make it more attractive for foreigners to come race on South African soil. The current economic climate makes it near impossible for our young riders to base themselves in Europe to gain international racing experience. Four of the eight races in the MTN National MTB Series are recognized as fully fledged international events making it easier for local riders to get international racing exposure. The MTN Sabie and MTN Clarens events form part of the UCI World Series while the MTN Tulbagh and MTN Hilton Nationals are also listed on the international calendar. Riders competing in the 2014 Absa Cape Epic (23-30 March) could start their preparation by competing in the MTN Dullstroom on 8 February. Two weeks later it is the world series event and MTN Sabie (22 February) followed by the MTN Tulbagh (15 March). One of the buzzwords in endurance sport is high altitude training. The MTN Dullstroom National is a must do for anyone keen to test themselves at altitude. Dullstroom (2100m above sea level) is listed in the Notes from Higher Grounds: An Altitude Training Guide for Athletes as one of the top 15 high altitude training venues for international athletes. Advendurance have spent a lot of time and energy over the last year to develop new trails in the region ensuring this will be a real mountain bike route on par with the rest of the series. It could just happen that South Africa becomes the hub of the international mountain biking scene from 8 February to 30 March. Pienaar and his Advendurance team have also took the World Marathon Championships (29 June) into account when they planned the MTN National MTB Series calendar. The MTN Hilton National (22 June) takes place just one week before the World Marathon MTB Championships in Pietermaritzburg. Pienaar predicts that quite a few of the top international riders will be competing at Hilton so as to get a feel for the local racing conditions. The ever popular Van Gaalen event previously part of the Nissan TrailSeeker Series is now also part of the MTN National MTB Series next year. The Barberton and Wellington events are the races that fall away in the 2014 Series. Asked why for the first time in 13 years the Barberton event won't be part of the MTN National MTB Series Pienaar simply said that a change is sometimes as good as a holiday. “Don’t get me wrong. Barberton is fantastic race we just felt it was time for a change to freshen up the series a bit with new exciting routes and venues". The 2014 MTN National MTB Series will also be more compact as a result and will span eight months as opposed to the ten in 2013 making for more exciting racing “We are always careful that we don’t stagnate in our way of thinking as organizers of the MTN National MTB Series. We see the MTN Dullstroom event as a new challenge. What I personally like about it, is that it is a real weekend breakaway for families. After racing there is so much to do and see in Dullstroom. It is very similar to Clarens.” The series does not only cater for the top professionals and international riders but through the various distances on offer the masses also get to ride the pristine routes designed by the Advendurance team. The Nissan National Half Marathon Series coincides with the MTN National MTB Series and usually takes place the day after the main MTN National MTB Ultra Marathon and the MTN Marathon events. The core emphasis of the Nissan National Half Marathon Series is developing junior and youth mountain biking while providing an easier option for all the weekend warriors who are just looking for awesome trails and well organized events. The 2013 addition of an under23 category in the MTN Marathon event aimed at encouraging growth in the "gap years" for young riders between the junior and elite categories is hoped to enable them to bridge the jump to be able to compete and not just ride in ultra-marathon races. The 2014 MTN National MTB Series driven by Nissan dates 1. 8-9 February - MTN Dullstroom 2. 22-23 February – MTN Sabie (UCI World Series) 3. 15 March – MTN Tulbagh (UCI International Event) 4. 3-4 May – MTN Clarens (UCI World Series) 5. 24-25 May - MTN Van Gaalen 6. 14-15 June - MTN Rooiberg 7. 22 June – MTN Hilton (UCI International Event) 8. 13-14 September – MTN Ride Crater Cruise Ends. For full results and more info visit www.nationalmtbseries.com Find us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/nationalmtbseries Find us on Twitter: @mtnnationalmtb

Event Name: Advendurance Events 2014 When: 1 January 2014 - 31 December 2014 Where: South Africa, Gauteng Category: MTB Keep up to date with the Advendurance events. Go to Event Page

Hey guys, We will be sending out a news letter in the next day or two with the official calendar for next year and a statement from Fritz Pienaar regarding the new events in the series. Basically Barberton is out and Dullstroom is in. The reason for this is that Barberton has been in the series for the past 13 years and we feel as if it is time to swap it out for something new and fresh. The Barberton event was a great race and I am sure that it will continue without the MTN sponsorship, however we have not had 100% confirmation from the organisers on this yet. I assure you that Dullstroom is a worthy replacement for Barberton, and we are working hard to ensure that the trails are awesome. Dullstroom is also a great venue with lots of other activities to keep you and the family busy after the race, so we would like to create the same sort of weekend breakaway atmosphere as we have with the Clarens event. The other change in the series is the replacement of Gravel Travel with Van Gaalens. Van Gaalens is obviously a lot closer to home for the Gauteng riders and the Magalies area offers some fantastic riding that will ensure that the event is on par with the rest of the series. I will post the official Calendar and newsletter in a new thread called Advendurance Events 2014.

Hey guys, You can expect your mails for "5X Finishers Shirts" today. You will need to indicate your shirt size and preferred pick-up location. We would also appreciate it if you would provide us with some feedback and rate your favourite TrailSeeker race of 2013. It's going to be well worth the wait...

Make sure you take a look at the PhotoMarx website...http://www.photomarx.co.za/products/mtb_2013/nissan_trailseeker_5_downdirty They have tons of rider photos uploaded from Down & Dirty.

Highlight Video: Action packed is an understatement! https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10151786418497659&set=vb.157607670966173&type=2&theater

Video: Chopper flip over Down & Dirty...Thanks Protea Coin Security for the great marshals, security and chopper https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10151781846672659&set=vb.157607670966173&type=2&theater

Video: Interview with Robyn De Groot, ladies winner of Down & Dirty https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10151781846672659&set=vb.157607670966173&type=2&theater

Video: Matt Britain talks us through his 2nd place at Down & Dirty https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10151781845862659&set=vb.157607670966173&type=2&theater

We have been hard at work building some awesome new river-side single track. These new trails will minimise the overlap and congestion towards the end