Variety on offer at Silverstar MTB Challenge
Route director: There are a number of features to attract the riders’ attention.
Floating bridges, single-track and a few technical challenges lie in wait for riders when the Land Rover West Rand Silverstar MTB Challenge takes place on Saturday, 10 September.
With races covering distances of 20km and 40km, there will be something for everyone. Route director Darren Herbst, of ASG Events, believes competitors can look forward to “some really cool features”. He has been working hard in recent months to ensure a memorable off-road experience, which will start and finish at the revamped Silverstar Casino in Krugersdorp.
With Land Rover West Rand aligning its brand with the rugged nature of mountain biking, Darren said there would be a number of features to attract the riders’ attention.
“The 20km ride includes a manageable uphill of 400m and would be mostly about fun,” said Darren. He continued, saying this route offered plenty of fun trails and was aimed at “weekend warriors and families”.
“But competitors in the 40km event will have a slightly different experience and, with an ascent of 700m, a bit more climbing. The longer event has all the fun elements of the 20km but added sections will give the riders a really good intermediate riding experience,” said Herbst.
“There will also be a few technical sections to test the legs, but it will all flow through to create a great overall trail. At least 30km of the course is custom-built.”
Darren added there would be “loads of single-track” as well as two floating bridges on the course. Besides the remarkable floating bridge built last year, he said there was a new floater measuring 130m.
“The views are amazing and on some sections you can see the entire Johannesburg. The design includes a variety of different terrains to give riders a wonderful mountain-biking experience. It takes in a shorter loop on the mountain with some of the more challenging technical bits taken out.
“There are two climbs but the rest is a fun trail with undulations. There are one or two tricky sections, but for those who are nervous there will be chicken lines.”
Darren said the majority of the climbing in the 40km was in the first 3km, after which participants would encounter various stretches of Jeep and single-track. Both events drop down the mountain to the finish on the Jeep track, which features a 100m palliated section to ensure rideability in the gorge above Silverstar Casino.
The races finish inside the square at the casino, which organisers believe will create a festive atmosphere. Entries close on Friday, 2 September.
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