Wild Coast Rampage to be held in/around Port st Johns

[Selous Scout (aka LegTrap)]

My wife and I rather keen to do the above 2 day event,does anyone know anything about the ride/race ie the level of difficulty etc.

 

Any comments would be appreciated

[Jakkals.]

Hi, you can go onto www dot ecmtb dot co dot za website for some info regarding the race.

[DirtBag]

WILD COAST RAMPAGE 2 day MTB Stage Race

 

Hi Guys

Entries for a brand new race on our calendar have just opened up to the public!

Welcome the “WILD COAST RAMPAGE” 2 day mountain bike stage race in Port st Johns.

This race has been taylor-made for the guys who do not have a lot of leave to spare, but want to get into Stage Racing. Both stages start and finish at Cremorne Estate (4km outside Port st Johns town).

Come and experience why they call Port st Johns the JEWEL OF THE WILD COAST.

Race Dates: 1 – 2 September 2012 (Saturday & Sunday)

Race Briefing and Registration: Friday evening 31 August 2012

Stage 1 Fast Facts

• 59km
  
• 1440m total vertical ascent
  
• Gravel Road = 40%
  
• Jeep Track = 34%
  
• Single Track = 25%
  
• Rocky Footpath = 1%
  
• Tar = 0% , Beach = 0%
  

Stage 2 Fast Facts

• 55km
  
• 1230m total vertical ascent
  
• Gravel Road = 40%
  
• Jeep Track = 30%
  
• Single Track = 20%
  
• Rocky Footpath = 0%
  
• Tar = 10% , Beach = 0%
  

Prize Giving will be at 14:00 on the Sunday afternoon, so there is even time to drive home afterward.

The routes follow forest paths, jeep track, some gravel roads and a little tar on day 2 to get to the good stuff. No swimming through shark infested rivers or battling along sandy beaches. This is proper mountain biking

The entry options are as follows:

Full Team Entry:

Included in the Full Team entry fee of R 4,000-00 is: Entry into the race for the two entrants, 2 nights(Friday & Sat) full hotel accommodation and all meals, quality race tops and a goodie bag with some very indigenous goodies - Accommodation will be provided by The Spotted Grunter, Port st Johns River Lodge, Umzimvubu Retreat and Outspan Inn. If however you want the above entry and want to stay right at the race village at Cremorne Estate, there is an additional R300 booking charge. There is only space for 20 teams at Cremorne.

Camping – Fully Catered Option: This entry option costs R 3,000-00 per team of 2 and gives you: Entry into the race for the two entrants, 2 nights camp site(to pitch your own tent) and including all meals, quality race tops and a goodie bag(same as above goody bags). This also means you are staying within 100m of the start line!

Budget Entry option: Cost= R 2,200-00 which includes: Entry into the race for the two entrants, lunch every race day, quality race tops and a goodie bag (same as above).

Where is Port st Johns?:

Port st Johns is a coastal town in the heart of the Wild Coast. It is 90km due East of Mthatha.

It is 315km from East London (3hour drive all tar);

and 239km from Port Shepstone(2hour40 drive all tar);

357km from Durban (3hour40 drive all tar)

(See maps below on how to get to Port st Johns)

Many people's first reaction on Port st Johns is "but isn't there lots of crime?". And the answer is: In the past Port st Johns did battle with lots of theft. But, of late there have been many government driven projects in the area driving the economy. This brought about investment in the Town - a new Super Spar and many tourist accommodation venues. Thus there are much more jobs, and therefore crime has diminished to the odd petty theft.

The routes you will be riding were found by Dan Cornick, myself and a couple of avid mountain bikers in the Backpackers community. And most of the time we would be MTB'ing alone finding these routes. So according to our experiences, it is perfectly safe to come ride around The Jewel of the Wild Coast.

Brought to you by the same organisers that run the Lord of the Chain Rings.

For more info and online entries go to WWW.ECMTB.CO.ZA

[DirtBag]

found this on www.ecmtb.co.za

The Route:

Stage 1

Stage one starts at Cremorne Estate, winds West along the Umzimvubu river, then heads up North into some amazing ancient forests, along paths used by the locals as short-cuts between distant villages. The route then follows some inland jeep tracks up the side of a hill, bypassing the villages toward the Mzintlava River. You will reach the highest point of the day at 317m above sea level, before pointing your steed down and Southward , following some sublime single track for many kilometres down toward Poenskop(a renowned fishing spot). From here there is 7km of arguably the most scenic gravel road in the country: All flat , and the first stretch is constantly 20m from the beach, the next section runs right on the edge of the Mighty Umzimvubu river, and just below the towering cliffs of Mount Sullivan. The stage finishes again at Cremorne Estate.

 

 

Stage 2

Stage 2 starts at Cremorne Estate again, but this time there will be a neutral zone along the tar road all the way to Port st Johns town. Then we will be riding past all Port st Johns most famous beaches and world renowned surf spots. This road takes us to Silaka Game Reserve where we are almost guaranteed to see Zebra and Blou Wildebeest grazing right next to the beach!! (bring your camera’s as this is usually a once in a lifetime sight!). Then there is some climbing to do as we need to get over the back end of Mount Thesiger past some amazing coastal forests, cross over the R61, and then in to an unexpected world of farm lands along the banks of the Umzimvubu river. Here we will cross over the Umzimvubu 3 times!! Wait and see how we get across! Memories will be made here! The last 10km is jeep track hugging the banks of the Umzimvubu river, most of the time riding under canopy of ancient forests. These are routes that few ‘outsiders’ have ever seen. We finish again at Cremorne Estate.