SA's trail difficulty rating system

[Headshot]

On 10/26/2024 at 10:39 PM, Philip Varen said:

But as far as I know, there is no "orange" trail. Plumber is black and there are no double blacks? There is another european system based on the IMBA - the ITRS which, like the UK system, has 5 trail grades of the same green, blue red, black and orange (with 2 orange diamonds). 

I said in the OP that I'd never seen an orange rated trail in SA - nor have I heard of one mentioned, but there are reds - relatively few but there are reds. I know of double black. So are we not, when using red, using a hybrid of the two systems i.e. throwing a red in between blue and black - because this is useful when a trail isn't deserving of black. 

Ya, no orange trails that i have ever seen. Reds are blues. Red Phoenix is a blue graded trail Cobra at Hoogies is a blue. The upper section of DH0 is a double black for the upper section. The AM trail at Tokai is also black and even more so than it ever was. Trails change - Phoenix can get gnarly and even when well maintained is a high consequence trail due to the speed and exposure. 

[MORNE]

20 minutes ago, Headshot said:

Ya, no orange trails that i have ever seen. Reds are blues. Red Phoenix is a blue graded trail Cobra at Hoogies is a blue. The upper section of DH0 is a double black for the upper section. The AM trail at Tokai is also black and even more so than it ever was. Trails change - Phoenix can get gnarly and even when well maintained is a high consequence trail due to the speed and exposure. 

Then, thinking about it now, we’ve all been there…..at jonkers you are in some cases dealing with 7min descents. Depending on your energy levels, fitness…at some stage you are just a passenger and not actively riding your bike anymore haha. Thats when the risks get higher too. Armageddon, top to bottom…as stage 5 of an enduro = yellow leg imminent death lol 

[Robbie Stewart]

2 hours ago, MORNE said:

Then, thinking about it now, we’ve all been there…..at jonkers you are in some cases dealing with 7min descents. Depending on your energy levels, fitness…at some stage you are just a passenger and not actively riding your bike anymore haha. Thats when the risks get higher too. Armageddon, top to bottom…as stage 5 of an enduro = yellow leg imminent death lol 

I did a full run down Armageddon from 8 to the bottom without stopping once. By about Arma 3 I was beginning to think I was going to crash any second. Staying on the bike at that point was an achievement. I remember the wheels just getting pinged wherever the terrain wanted them to go and I was literally just holding on for dear life. Fitness makes a massive difference.

[Robbie Stewart]

3 hours ago, Headshot said:

The upper section of DH0 is a double black for the upper section.

I have this idea in my head that DH0 isn't that tough. But I just played the movie in my head again and I retract that idea. It definitely is gnarly as... but it is one of my favourite lines to ride.