KAP Sani2C 2017

[Velouria]

Sweet. A drop of rain and a bit of a chill in the air! Then at Epic it's too hot. Maybe someone should start a race for people who can handle the elements.

There are plenty. This isn't one of them. Safety first.

 

Munga entries are still open. Hope you've signed up.

[Escapee..]

Already back at work after finishing the Trail yesterday.

 

Had a lekker ride but had no legs left for day 3.

 

As always its a superbly managed event. Food, showers etc was brilliant.

[Nancy Drew]

They "detoured" in 2010 when it rained so hard that the Umko drop had to be cancelled so why not do the same today?

 

I remember 2010 was thick slushy mud for the whole of stage one and then a rainy start with the detour for stage 2. Stage 3 was the only stage with no rain.

 

I was disappointed mostly for riders that hadn't had the opportunity to go into the Umko valley via Nics pass, but I think the organizers made a good call otherwise they may have been airlifting a lot of riders out of the valley

[karlito]

Finished the trail yesterday, first time doing the event and it exceeded all my expectations. Amazing trails, fantastic organization and overall vibe is awesome. 

 

Always lekker to finish strong.

[River Rat]

Sweet. A drop of rain and a bit of a chill in the air! Then at Epic it's too hot. Maybe someone should start a race for people who can handle the elements.

I can only assume that you haven't done an Umko descent in the rain, well I have and I can tell you that if they gave me the option of a shortened day instead of a wet day 2 I would take it. It's simply idiotic to assume that a field of varying skills sets would be able to get to Jolivet without injury so it's good call from the organizers, I just feel sorry for the riders that don't get to ride one of the best trails in the country.

 

You will notice that I did not comment on the shortened Epic day and that's because I wasn't there and therefore I can't judge, perhaps you were and can share your experience with us?

[BigDL]

I can only assume that you haven't done an Umko descent in the rain, well I have and I can tell you that if they gave me the option of a shortened day instead of a wet day 2 I would take it. It's simply idiotic to assume that a field of varying skills sets would be able to get to Jolivet without injury so it's good call from the organizers, I just feel sorry for the riders that don't get to ride one of the best trails in the country.

 

You will notice that I did not comment on the shortened Epic day and that's because I wasn't there and therefore I can't judge, perhaps you were and can share your experience with us?

Boom

[Warthog]

I can only assume that you haven't done an Umko descent in the rain, well I have and I can tell you that if they gave me the option of a shortened day instead of a wet day 2 I would take it. It's simply idiotic to assume that a field of varying skills sets would be able to get to Jolivet without injury so it's good call from the organizers, I just feel sorry for the riders that don't get to ride one of the best trails in the country.

 

You will notice that I did not comment on the shortened Epic day and that's because I wasn't there and therefore I can't judge, perhaps you were and can share your experience with us?

I've only done it in the dry, and cannot agree more...

 

Looking at the state of the roads in the video's on the tweets, to have allowed not only racing down the descent, but also "a field of varying skills sets"  would have been irresponsible to say the least.

 

I also feel for those riders.

[JanJan]

I can only assume that you haven't done an Umko descent in the rain, well I have and I can tell you that if they gave me the option of a shortened day instead of a wet day 2 I would take it. It's simply idiotic to assume that a field of varying skills sets would be able to get to Jolivet without injury so it's good call from the organizers, I just feel sorry for the riders that don't get to ride one of the best trails in the country.

 

You will notice that I did not comment on the shortened Epic day and that's because I wasn't there and therefore I can't judge, perhaps you were and can share your experience with us?

 

I have never done Sani2C, and don't know the Umko descent's difficulty, but aren't the riders who qualified/seeded for the "RACE" version quite technically proficient?

[splat]

I remember 2010 was thick slushy mud for the whole of stage one and then a rainy start with the detour for stage 2. Stage 3 was the only stage with no rain.

 

I was disappointed mostly for riders that hadn't had the opportunity to go into the Umko valley via Nics pass, but I think the organizers made a good call otherwise they may have been airlifting a lot of riders out of the valley

I was also there. Very disappointing to not do the Umko drop, but was supportive of the decision.

 

There are large sections that are inaccessible for rescuers should something happen. And that nice single track turns VERY slippery when wet, so there is a lot of potential for people to need rescuing.

[Guest]

I have never done Sani2C, and don't know the Umko descent's difficulty, but aren't the riders who qualified/seeded for the "RACE" version quite technically proficient?

The route down the valley is very steep and in the mud there is no control. Steep dropoffs if you go off the track. Aside from this the real issue is the difficulty of a medical evacuation under the circumstances.

[Rudi Pollard]

I have never done Sani2C, and don't know the Umko descent's difficulty, but aren't the riders who qualified/seeded for the "RACE" version quite technically proficient?

You dont have to qualify to enter the "RACE". You choose the event you want to ride, you pay and you're in. The pro's ride in the race but the rest chose to enter at their own discretion. 

 

There is no way to know what the skills of the entire field is.

[Nancy Drew]

The route down the valley is very steep and in the mud there is no control. Steep dropoffs if you go off the track. Aside from this the real issue is the difficulty of a medical evacuation under the circumstances.

 

Just to put it into perspective for those that haven't done it, it's a singletrack all the way to the bottom. In some sections it can't be more than a metre and a bit wide with a sheer drop on your left. I've done it twice and both times I've had a 'don't look down' mantra going on... sometimes out loud

[Nancy Drew]

Found this on the interwebs

 

[Patchelicious]

I can only assume that you haven't done an Umko descent in the rain, well I have and I can tell you that if they gave me the option of a shortened day instead of a wet day 2 I would take it. It's simply idiotic to assume that a field of varying skills sets would be able to get to Jolivet without injury so it's good call from the organizers, I just feel sorry for the riders that don't get to ride one of the best trails in the country.

 

You will notice that I did not comment on the shortened Epic day and that's because I wasn't there and therefore I can't judge, perhaps you were and can share your experience with us?

 

As a dirt roadie, who did this event for FUN, I agree 100%

 

I did this route easily in the dry, but not a chance I would make it down there in the mud.

 

The Sani2C is supposed to be a enjoyable ride for thousands of people, its not the Epic, nor does it claim to be.

 

99% of the guys out there are just trying to enjoy themselves.

[Nancy Drew]

I did Sani last year so know the descent. It wouldn't bother me to ride it in the rain. Guess I am alone on that decision. 

 

Maybe not completely alone, I think given the choice there would be 3 groups of people.

 

• Those that do the descent in the rain because they know what to expect and have a lot of faith in their technical ability
• Those that do the descent because they've never done it and are blissfully ignorant/unaware
• Those that have done it before and value their lives too much to take a chance (I'd be in this group)

I have no doubt that it can be ridden whilst it's raining, but slippery conditions, mud being flung up into your eyes from the rider ahead, no visibility because your glasses are covered in mud... I reckon it would be a recipe for disaster

[Patchelicious]

I did Sani last year so know the descent. It wouldn't bother me to ride it in the rain. Guess I am alone on that decision.

It's lonely at the top.

 

One day we will all be Enduro heros like you