RIP Meurant Botha

[Donovan Le Cok]

19 hours ago, DJR said:

............and I don't think he ever put on a race where the true distance didn't turn out to be a few kilometres longer than what my bike computer told me...........just when you thought you survived the day, it became clear that you still had an undisclosed few kms to the real finish line. 😉

And early days of Dirtopia a 7am start time could be 7:08 / 7:15 or maybe 7:23 😂

[Shebeen]

found some photos circa 2008-2011ish.

All tell a story, so many more stories to tell

 

[reteid]

20 hours ago, Skubarra said:

Great tribute - I started cycling/mtb'ing in the early 2010's and Dirtopia was HUGE in WC mtbing

Thinking back the Amarider 100 Miler you mentioned was also one of THE original gravel races, think I did one in 2011, Meurant was more than a decade ahead of the curve with the format. Pity it didn't really caught on at the time....

My condolences to Meurant's and JP's families.

 

I took part in the first or one of the first Amarider 100miler on a chrome Nishiki 26 hartail. All I remember from that day was that it was pissing down with rain Erik Kleynhans won and I had a long chat with swearwords with Meurant at the end. Many a chat later and with some kewl Amarider t shirts bottle openers and mugs which I still use today. I have always made time to drop by his shop to have a chat to the man that did so so much for MTB whenever I had the chance. Later years as the hills became tougher as age caught up to me I still enjoyed our chats on the full moon hikes over a glass of wine while watching the full moon. I will always remember our moments and will continue to drink from the mug of 24 hour races whilst wearing the shirt with pride. Gone but not forgotten.

 

My condolences for Arina and his family.

[AndreJvVZA]

Ons dink aan jou en die kinders Arina. Sterkte met julle verlies en die stukke nou optel. Ek dink ek praat namens die hele gemeenskap as ek sê jy moet net sê waarmee ons julle kan bystaan. Ons help met liefde. Jy weet hoe om my en Penny te kontak. 

 

The same to J.P's widow and kids. I did not know you but we all knew J.P. Just let the community know what we can assist with. 

My heart breaks for you.

💐

[Shebeen]

https://www.news24.com/life/motoring/news/mtb-and-muscle-car-community-lose-beloved-sa-titanic-duo-at-v8-pilgrimage-20250916-0513

[Shebeen]

7 hours ago, reteid said:

I took part in the first or one of the first Amarider 100miler on a chrome Nishiki 26 hartail. All I remember from that day was that it was pissing down with rain Erik Kleynhans won and I had a long chat with swearwords with Meurant at the end. Many a chat later and with some kewl Amarider t shirts bottle openers and mugs which I still use today. I have always made time to drop by his shop to have a chat to the man that did so so much for MTB whenever I had the chance. Later years as the hills became tougher as age caught up to me I still enjoyed our chats on the full moon hikes over a glass of wine while watching the full moon. I will always remember our moments and will continue to drink from the mug of 24 hour races whilst wearing the shirt with pride. Gone but not forgotten.

 

My condolences for Arina and his family.

First 100miler was 2009. Your nishiki  was pre classic!  Dick morkel had a cx bike from somewhere far off and also suffered. That was a mtb race of note.  It was supposed to be a 4x team ride but all that fell apart quickly! Great times

[Bos]

Those photos brings back great memories @Shebeen

I have had this on my mind since Saturday when me and many old friends who knew Meurant started sharing memories. So Heres my tribute, maybe it will help close the book.. 

I think It was 1998 I first saw Meurant. The image will stay with me forever. We were walking the course of the rock & sand Citrusdal/Piekenierskloof DH track in the hot summer when an old VW Kombi pulled up, "Hier kom Meurant" were the chants.. I had heard about him, but out jumped a barefoot hipster, rolled open the sliding Kombi door pulled out a shovel and continued down a rocky drop off.. Barefoot. I was only 16 at the time but that was the start for me. 

A few years later I would move to the Cape from Knysna, and do just about every ride, all the Festivals, anything that had dirt jumps. Meurant would do trials, Dual slalom barefoot, or in gumboots, whichever he was wearing, and Arina was always there in the background. For a plaster or a late entry, we were all family. 

JP - The Diamond in the rough.. I bought a bunch of jump bikes and stuff from him. Beyond that mouth was a heart of gold, and he let me pay off the Manitou Sherman fork I just had to have but couldn't afford. Missions to Eselfontein and randomly bumping into him. As silly as It sounds now, the way he called out my nickname "Bos!!" I knew who it was although sometimes I couldnt see him in the crouds of people there often were around these things, always that happy and slightly naughty smile. I can still hear it, it still brings a smile to my face. 

Most recently, this photo of Meurant at a "hub league event, where my kids participated and I got to say hi and good bye to the Legend, now behind that beard, but those eyes still the same, full of love, life and adventure. Not for his kids or his friends but because he had an understanding of what needed to happen so that even more kids could race bikes!

Its just not going to be the same without you guys. RIP.

 

The chaos would unfold and he just chuckled, the same way he did back in the day when it was us doing the riding.

Edited September 17, 2025 by Bos

[Velouria]

19 hours ago, reteid said:

I took part in the first or one of the first Amarider 100miler on a chrome Nishiki 26 hartail. All I remember from that day was that it was pissing down with rain Erik Kleynhans won and I had a long chat with swearwords with Meurant at the end. Many a chat later and with some kewl Amarider t shirts bottle openers and mugs which I still use today. I have always made time to drop by his shop to have a chat to the man that did so so much for MTB whenever I had the chance. Later years as the hills became tougher as age caught up to me I still enjoyed our chats on the full moon hikes over a glass of wine while watching the full moon. I will always remember our moments and will continue to drink from the mug of 24 hour races whilst wearing the shirt with pride. Gone but not forgotten.

 

My condolences for Arina and his family.

I remember how we it was. There was a section of slightly uphill road whee it was so flooded that it was the first time I ever had to pedal upstream.

That was a tough day out for both riders and organisers, and I remember at the end how Stoke the riders were for just finishing, and how stoked Meurant was for your diabolically hard the event had turned out to be. That knowing look and quiet grin he had across his face...

[Matthew Van Der Walt]

JP was the guy who got me to attend my first race. Both of them were legends - my condolenecs to everyone who were touched by them .

[Shebeen]

 

https://www.facebook.com/dirtopia/posts/pfbid02HFgq8GAea1UiaeddCuJNYuFeUY3Ma2yKcnY8EfpneG547hTFqogYVtxU8ZyodT5el

 

A TRAIL DAY OF REMEMBRANCE – HONOURING MEURANT & JP

Following the heartbreaking loss of Meurant Botha and his close friend JP van Zyl, the Muratie Trails Marathon scheduled for 5 October will not take place.

Instead, we’re opening the weekend of 4–5 October at the Dirtopia Trail Centre as a Trail Celebration Weekend, and we invite all mountain bikers, runners, and hikers to join us for a chance to enjoy the outdoors and remember two passionate trail lovers who shaped the sport and the places we love.

Permits as usual: R100 MTBers R75 for hikers / trail runners

Donations welcome toward trail maintenance & building

Entrants of the original event have been contacted regarding refunds or the option to donate.

Donations will go towards permanently opening the last piece of singletrack Meurant built, with signage in his honour. At the same time, we want people to know that their support will keep our trail team – Clinton and the rest of the maintenance crew – going strong.

**MTB guided ride will depart 8.30am. More on this later!

#RideForMeurant #RideForJP #TrailLegacy #Run4trails #TrailDay #hiking

 

 

 

 

[Headshot]

We went out to Muratie to do the memorial day ride. Brought back memories of Meurant's early enduro races at Delheim and Simonsberg. The trails are superb and brilliantly built. I hope Arina manages to keep the show going. I know it is a tough market these days with the growth of gravel. Not to mention the ever expanding trail networks in the area.

If you haven't ridden there before or havent been for a while, go support the business. 

[Shebeen]

1 hour ago, Headshot said:

We went out to Muratie to do the memorial day ride. Brought back memories of Meurant's early enduro races at Delheim and Simonsberg. The trails are superb and brilliantly built. I hope Arina manages to keep the show going. I know it is a tough market these days with the growth of gravel. Not to mention the ever expanding trail networks in the area.

If you haven't ridden there before or havent been for a while, go support the business. 

Was a cool morning! Trails are top class, fun to have a group ride with all the banter along the way.

 

For those from far away, you can actually stay on the farm - test drove this one weekend and felt like we owned the place!

https://www.muratie.co.za/visit/accommodation/