Glen Anil resident ready for Amashova debut
The para-surfer, who recently participated in the aQuellé Tour Durban, said he is looking forward to the upcoming Amashova.
A CHANCE meeting with Paralympian and para-cyclist, Ernst van Dyk, has given Glen Anil resident David Williams his first ever hand cycle.
The para-surfer, who recently participated in the aQuellé Tour Durban, his first-ever road cycle race, now has plans to cycle his first-ever Amashova Durban Classic in October.
“It was surreal. I was at my prosthetist when Ernst and I began chatting about hand-cycling. He asked why I didn’t give the sport a try, and I mentioned that cost was a factor. He mentioned he had his old bicycle in the garage and kindly offered it to me. He just had to make a few repairs and adjustments. A week went by, and I thought nothing of it, but he got in touch and stayed true to his word. I actually couldn’t believe it.
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“He was so genuine and sent down the hand cycle to Durban, which gave me some time to cycle along the promenade – something I had never been able to do before. I can’t thank Ernst enough for opening this new world to me,” he said.
Williams said the experience of cycling in his debut Amashova was an exciting one.
“My friends have been cycling and training with me, and other cyclists we meet along the way have been massively encouraging. Prior to entering the Tour Durban 45km race, the farthest I’d cycled was around the 20km on the promenade in training. I had very little time to train for that event, but now, knowing that I have a month before the Shova takes place, I feel quietly confident that I will find the experience more fulfilling.”
“As for my group of friends, it is a pre-condition they also have to enter,” he quipped. “The debate now is whether we will cycle the 38km or 65km event.”
The 35-year-old added that hand-cycling has now also helped him bolster his training regiment.
“Cardio was the one thing I was struggling before this, and now, it has given me an extra dimension. I feel it in my backs, abs and arms. I’m also hoping this will help me ahead of the ISA World Para Surfing Championships in California in December,” he said.
