[Event] Euro Steel Drak Descent

[Kylie]

Event Name: Euro Steel Drak Descent
When: 28/01/2023 - 29/01/2023
Where: The Olde Duck, , Underberg, KwaZulu-Natal
Category: Mountain Bike

The original concept of the Drak Descent was for riders and runners to see and follow the paddlers for short sections of the river as they did their annual Drak Challenge canoe race.

That was until the human spirit kicked in! Now it’s a question of can we ride all the way next to the Umzimkulu river – from Restmount Children’s Home to the Umzimkulu River Lodge – and more importantly can we ride and/or run faster than the canoeists? Well, that will depend on a number of factors! The River Gods, how much rain we have had, when it fell and how fast the river is now flowing. As any canoeist knows, the Umzimkulu can be at an all-time low on the Wednesday and be flooding by race day Saturday.

• The Euro Steel Drak Descent is unique for many reasons – and this is why:
• The numbers for the MTB race/ride are strictly capped.
• It’s a race (there are very nice prizes and give-aways – but no cash)
• Or it is a leisure ride, if you want. But whatever you want it to be, it’s assured to be testing, spectacular and lots of fun.
• Much of the route is along the banks of the Umzimkulu river and its tributaries and also from the plateaus – right alongside the canoeists doing their race, . But don’t watch them for too long ….or you’ll be in the water – without a paddle!!
• This is an annual ride only and much of the route is on private property (part of a World Heritage Site) – that is otherwise inaccessible during the rest of the year.
• There will be a race/ride come hell or high water. The race is held in afternoon thunder-storm season in the Drakensberg – and if the rain or river gods are not with us, we may well be swimming and not riding. But at least it’s bound to be warm at that time of year!
• It’s the first stage race/ride of the season and will test your early season fitness and skills – as it’s definitely not for the inexperienced beginner! You’ll see the river from close – and also up from plateaus – giving some spectacular views. It is a “descent” but as you may well have heard “Life is not all downhill!!”
• The race is one of the pillars of the FNB Drak Adventure Weekend, together with the Euro Steel Run the Rivers and N3TC Drak Challenge.

Go to Event Page.

[Danger Dassie]

Reminds me of the old Dusi2C event, two glorious days of MTB through KZN from Pmb to Durban along the Dusi route. 
So underrated.