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Event Name: Greyvensteins MTB Classic When: 23 November 2014 Where: Slipperfields Mountain Bike Trails, Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape Category: MTB Greyvensteins MTB Classic This is the fourth year that Greyvensteins Attorneys in Port Elizabeth have sponsored this popular event. This year the race venue will be at Slipperfields MTB Trails which are situated on a 600 hectare dairy farm at Lady Slipper, 35 km’s from Port Elizabeth. The race will start off on gravel farm roads to spread out the racing snakes before entering the 30km's of single track that winds through the Maitland River Valley system. Race starts at 7.30am. Distances include a 50km Classic race and a 20km family fun ride. Entry fees are R120 for the 50km race and R60 for the 20km fun ride. Medals for all entrants and prize money for the top three riders, male and female, in the Classic race. Entries open on the 1st of October. Enter online at www.slipperfields.co.za. Registration will take place at Primi Coastal on the beachfront on Friday the 21st of November. Every registered rider will receive a pasta or pizza voucher to be redeemed at registration. Registration will take place from 3.30pm to 6.45pm. Contact Sharon on 0767525460 for any race inquiries. Race route maps to follow. Go to Event Page

Event Name: Super D Series When: 24 August 2014 - 21 September 2014 Where: Slipperfields Mountain Bike Trails, Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape Category: Enduro The Super-D series is being hosted by Slipperfields MTB trails and comprises of two events taking place on the 24th of August and the 21st of September. ENTRIES ARE LIMITED to 80 riders who will put their skills to the test on the new VIPA Trail on the slopes of Lady Slipper Mountain. Riders will be rewarded points at each event and their combined score will determine their overall position with prize money being awarded to the TOP 10 overall positions. SO WHAT IS SUPER-D? Super-D is a blend of cross-country and downhill. The course consists of both a downhill and uphill section. The downhill is on trails similar to the downhill segment of a cross-country race while the uphills are challenging enough to make the use of downhill bikes unlikely. As a result, most riders make use of cross-country or 'trail bikes' however you do not need a highly specialized bike to have a good experience in a Super-D event. Challenging yet not over the top technical, slow and high speed sections and maybe a few man-made obstacles all come together to challenge riders of varying abilities and fitness. It is all about being all-inclusive rather than being a very exclusive event. Super-D rewards the all-round bike rider. It is a balance of bike skills, fitness and even strategy. You do not need to be a technical god or a fitness fanatic to do well in Super-D. Depending on the trail and race venue, the start method and format may differ. Conventionally a seeded or mass start is used, however, at Slipperfields we intend to mix things up by and add a bit more excitement to the format by making use of knock-out heats. All 80 riders will however first have to complete a qualifying individual time trial whereby the fastest 16 riders will progress straight into round 2 and the rest will head into round 1 comprising of 4-man heats. Riders will then be knocked out with each round and eventually 4 finalists will compete in the finals. Super-D has gained popularity abroad and Slipperfields is proud to be the pioneers of this exciting racing initiative in the Eastern Cape and hope it will encourage a growth in spectator participation at MTB events. Go to Event Page

What we have done is to include genuine cross country sections varying in distance from about 4 to 5km in our routes and also to vary the degree or level of difficulty of the sections to cater for different skill levels. We have manage to introduce , for example, at least 3 to 4 four of these per 50 to 60 km trail. The riders also have the option of just training on these specific sections to hone their skills. It has worked very well for us.

What you are saying is very valid but there is light at the end of the tunnel. I have been actively involved in promoting ( successfully ) a XC marathon option with all the XCO elements on single track cross country routes. We have had an excellent response and have found that the overwhelming majority of mtbikers have a very keen appetite for this format. The new guys are a little shocked to start but soon learn the necessary skills and then become avid mtbikers.

Event Name: Merrelll Norm Hudlin Spring Series When: 20 October 2012 Where: Norm Hudlin Trails KraggaKamma Road Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape Category: Multisport The Merrell Norm-Hudlin Spring Series kicks off on the 20th of October. The RACE CATEGORIES are: 9km &15km Trail run 15km & 30km MTB 1km Kiddies run and 2km MTB Jumping castle and refreshments on sale Merrell Buffs for all entrants and Merrell shoe vouchers for the winners of the series See our website for more info and to enter online. LETS GET OUTSIDE Go to Event Page