Savanna Origin of Trails 24/25 April - Cancelled due to Covid "3rd wave"!?

[Mark James]

A small whine of the day... I had entered the Savanna Origin of Trails MTB Experience in Stellenbosch on the 24/25 April, and was REALLY looking forward to participating in my first MTB race. I received an email today notifying my that the event has been cancelled due to the pending "Covid 3rd wave lockdown", and moved forward 6 months to November 2021...

 

https://www.stillwatersports.com/news/savanna-origin-of-trails-moves-to-november/

 

Interestingly enough, other MTB/Cycling events planned for April all seem to be going ahead (including the Amohela classic in Clarens - also the 24/25 April weekend). 

 

There is nothing in the news about an immediate 3rd Covid wave, nor a pending lockdown. We are in level 1 currently, and its is my understanding that even in level 2 an event can still be held. So why has the event been cancelled, and moved forward 6 months... When I went past Stilwater Sports in Stellenbosch 2 weeks ago they told me that they were thinking of cancelling/moving the event "due to Covid reasons". 

 

My guess is that this has more to do with giving the organisers another 6 months to fill their entry books, than anything remotely related to Covid lockdowns and pending 3rd waves... With the entry fee being R1600-1800 for a 2 days event, I'm guessing that they haven't had a stampede of people entering, and this 6 month delay buys them enough time to re-promote the event. 

 

I have requested a 75% refund which I am entitled to (I do get to keep the goodie bag I was sent with a cycling top and  socks, which is pretty decent and fair of them) 

 

Unless I am horribly wrong, and we do enter a 3rd Covid wave (and move to level 3 lockdown), I am still pretty bummed that the event has been moved/cancelled, with the organisers blaming it on Covid.

 

I will now be looking for another ride I can enter end April to put the last month of training to good use!

Edited April 1, 2021 by Mark James

[AdamA]

Maybe there is something the organizers know that we don't, the event below scheduled for May has also been moved to September 

 

 

https://community.bikehub.co.za/topic/187450-event-strada24-mtb-24-hour-12-hour-6-hour/?do=findComment&comment=3785041

[Skubarra]

 

There is nothing in the news about an immediate 3rd Covid wave, nor a pending lockdown. We are in level 1 currently, and its is my understanding that even in level 2 an event can still be held. So why has the event been cancelled, and moved forward 6 months... When I went past Stilwater Sports in Stellenbosch 2 weeks ago they told me that they were thinking of cancelling/moving the event "due to Covid reasons". 

 

 

My guess is it has something to do with government regulations for the number of people at outdoor events that have not yet been updated despite us not being in lockdown.

 

Few other events in April has also been cancelled, Boland 100 Miler and Swartberg Gran Fondo comes to mind

[Jewbacca]

My guess is it has something to do with government regulations for the number of people at outdoor events that have not yet been updated despite us not being in lockdown.

 

Few other events in April has also been cancelled, Boland 100 Miler and Swartberg Gran Fondo comes to mind

We are still in 'lockdown'..... I think people forget this.

 

Unnecessary travel and large gatherings are still against the rules... technically.

 

So while everybody is slipping back into their 'old habits' the regulations still exist for event organisers.

 

It's a tough pill to swallow, but put your 'racing' boots away and enjoy your bike. It's going to be a long time before event organisers can host anything without jumping through a LOT of costly hoops

[Mark James]

We are still in 'lockdown'..... I think people forget this.

 

Unnecessary travel and large gatherings are still against the rules... technically.

 

So while everybody is slipping back into their 'old habits' the regulations still exist for event organisers.

 

It's a tough pill to swallow, but put your 'racing' boots away and enjoy your bike. It's going to be a long time before event organisers can host anything without jumping through a LOT of costly hoops

 

Hey Jewbacca, thanks for that 

 

I think this is where it is unclear, as many sporting events are still taking place, in cycling, and other sports. I looked at other cycling events taking place around the same time (end April), and on the Amohela MTB website found their official statement WRT Covid:

 

 "THE COVID-19 EVENT UPDATE – We have the green light to go ahead on the 24th and 25th of April 2021. This will obviously be under certain Covid-19 compliance regulations that we will inform you of in the run up to the event.. We can operate to full capacity safely at level 2 and lower"

 

So this is where I don't fully understand why some events are being held, and others are being cancelled. It was also my understanding that when SA is in level 2 and lower, events can still be held? This also probably explains my cynicism when events get cancelled. 

 

- Mark 

 

 

BTW: I was stuck in Indonesia last year for 10 months from March - December. We went there for a 3 week diving holiday, got stuck there, and were only able to return to South Africa 40 weeks later... So "fortunately" I did not have to endure the high levels of lockdown that you guys were experiencing back home in SA. 

Edited April 1, 2021 by Mark James

[117]

I have a third theory: it's the venue owner putting the brakes on the event organiser. The venue owner can't take a risk against loosing a license (of sorts) due to the event happening, and therefore revokes the permission to have the race.

 

Organisers that own the venue have more control or risk VS. reward hence a few races/events still happening.

 

I'm pissed that the strada is postponed, it's been 3 months of slog to train for this 12 hour. But, I've put on my big girl knickers and accepted the fact that we (the Organisers included) are mere puppets (read as schmucks) to the rule setters, sadly.

 

I'm still going to do the event, just at a later date and I've asked the Organisers to keep my entry fee. I feel their pain as for some it's their livelyhood - they didn't ask to be kicked in the rear end.

 

If it were 10k or more entry fee, I'd ask for it back (or a portion there of). A few hundred ronts won't put me out, but collectively it sure will hurt the Organisers

 

Sorry to add rain to your post. Look at it on the bright side, the training was always worth it

 

117, out

[Mark James]

 Look at it on the bright side, the training was always worth it

 

And here I was sipping on a G&T wondering if I now still have to wake up early tomorrow to go train...  

 

Habits die hard, so alarm clock already been set! lol 

[Jewbacca]

Hey Jewbacca, thanks for that 

 

I think this is where it is unclear, as many sporting events are still taking place, in cycling, and other sports. I looked at other cycling events taking place around the same time (end April), and on the Amohela MTB website found their official statement WRT Covid:

 

 "THE COVID-19 EVENT UPDATE – We have the green light to go ahead on the 24th and 25th of April 2021. This will obviously be under certain Covid-19 compliance regulations that we will inform you of in the run up to the event.. We can operate to full capacity safely at level 2 and lower"

 

So this is where I don't fully understand why some events are being held, and others are being cancelled. It was also my understanding that when SA is in level 2 and lower, events can still be held? This also probably explains my cynicism when events get cancelled. 

 

- Mark 

 

 

BTW: I was stuck in Indonesia last year for 10 months from March - December. We went there for a 3 week diving holiday, got stuck there, and were only able to return to South Africa 40 weeks later... So "fortunately" I did not have to endure the high levels of lockdown that you guys were experiencing back home in SA. 

I think a lot has to do with numbers, land owners, access and a host of other things.

 

I have stopped being sceptical and prefer to think of the plight of the event organisers. I had my business ripped out from under me last year, had millions worth of secured business cancelled and there is still little light at the end of the tunnel.

 

Event organisers are in a similar boat. They wouldn't cancel events willy nilly as they know it grates the participants and know that every time they cancel/postpone, many people will take a long while before they sign up again.

 

I've been training for 2 really big running races. a 200 miler in May and a 240 miler in July. I am hopeful they both take place. If they don't, I will try to beat Damian Schuurman's fkt across the cape fold mountains (or something similar).

 

It honestly is so far out of my hands that worrying about it is like worrying if it's going to rain next week.

 

It is or it isn't

[Shebeen]

I have a lot of sympathy for people trying to put on events in this day and age. I'm in no rush to do any of them.

 

BUT this does seem like a bit of a cop out, third wave se gat man, if anything the max numbers allowed at a gathering just got officially increased. The assumption that low entries was the main driver is probably a good one

[Mamil]

I see this is coming up end of this month -

Am I the only one who baulks at 1600 for 2 days of 45km each? 

I don't think I'm going to cough up that much for two short MTB rides.

https://www.stillwatersports.com/event/origin-of-trails/

Edited November 2, 2021 by Mamil
added link

[mrcg]

2 hours ago, Mamil said:

I see this is coming up end of this month -

Am I the only one who baulks at 1600 for 2 days of 45km each? 

I don't think I'm going to cough up that much for two short MTB rides.

https://www.stillwatersports.com/event/origin-of-trails/

Absolutely on the same page! Was super disappointed to note the distances. Used to be one of my fave events. But prefer min +-65km and enjoyed the routes in the Banhoek valley etc. Will thus sadly skip this one.....

[ChrisF]

2 hours ago, Mamil said:

I see this is coming up end of this month -

Am I the only one who baulks at 1600 for 2 days of 45km each? 

I don't think I'm going to cough up that much for two short MTB rides.

https://www.stillwatersports.com/event/origin-of-trails/

Seems this is a party ride ....

 

Clearly aimed at a different market.

 

 

R750 rider top included in the price .... except this offer transpired last month, yet full price remains in place.

 

 

The concept of a breakfast pack before a race seems wierd ....

 

 

But aint this the beauty of our sport .... different options to suit all different markets.

[Shebeen]

2 hours ago, Mamil said:

I see this is coming up end of this month -

Am I the only one who baulks at 1600 for 2 days of 45km each? 

I don't think I'm going to cough up that much for two short MTB rides.

https://www.stillwatersports.com/event/origin-of-trails/

I thought this was always a bells and whistles fancy ride, where most of your money goes towards the hype stuff.

In their defence, some of the route length might have been curtailed by the fire earlier this year?

[MajG]

What is the route and profile of this race, my Google skills ain't working