sports-and-lifestyle

Ladies mountain bike weekend – Arabella Hotel & Spa

December 16, 2013 / by / 0 Comment

On the 6th of December, a bunch of fun-loving outdoorsy woman, made they way to Arabella Hotel and Spa in Kleinmond for my ladies mountain bike weekend. On the shores of the Bot River Lagoon, with panoramic views of the Palmiet mountain range, Arabella Country Estate is renowned for tranquil estate living in the magnificent surroundings of a World Heritage nature reserve… the perfect spot for a mountain biking weekend! Mountain biking is quite an intense and highly technical sport to master, which makes it intimidating for women and most perceive it to be a dangerous sport. When I first started mountain biking, I was thrown into the deep end! Not many women were mountain biking at the time either. I didn’t acquire the much-needed skills until many years later & I found myself a bit isolated within a mostly male-dominated sport. To ensure other women do not go through this, I decided to organise a few mountain biking weekend specifically for woman. Ladies booked in throughout the Friday afternoon and then gathered in the hotel bar in the early evening to meet one another. At first a bit shy, by the time we headed to our rooms after dinner and a […]

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Cape Epic Training Camp - 24 to 26 Jan 2014

ABSA Cape Epic Training Camp – Greyton, 24 to 26 Jan 2014

December 13, 2013 / by / 0 Comment

From the 24th – 26th of January 2014 (3 nights, 3 days of riding), Vanessa Haywood in association with Rockhopper Adventures, will be hosting a Cape Epic training camp in and around the Greyton area! Although the camp is designed for athletes taking part in the Cape Epic, all cyclists are more than welcome. Vanessa is no stranger to stage racing and the Cape Epic in particular. She is a respected endurance athlete having completed two ABSA Cape Epic’s in 2012 and 2013, the Leadville 100 miler in Colorado and many other grueling races. She has graced the covers of many sporting and cycling magazines and owns her own sports marketing and events company. Rockhopper Adventures was founded by Corne Barnard who is a Greyton local and knows the trails in the area like the back of his hand. He was a South African provisional cyclist and completed 2 seasons as a professional cyclist in Belgium. Also an accomplished stage race athlete, Corne coaches mountain biking to youths, owns his own cycling shop and is actively involved in building trails around the Greyton area. He’s been involved in the cycling industry for more than 16 years. Vanessa and Corne,  assisted by […]

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fitness-and-food
Avoiding the mud....

Glacier by Sanlam Storms River Traverse

August 14, 2012 / by / 0 Comment

Lush green indigenous forests, a good dose of mud, icy streams, great company, fantastic wine and a whole lot of fun! That’s the best way to describe the Glacier by Sanlam Storms River Traverse – a 3-day stage mountain bike race I’ve just returned from. It was just the second time that Dryland Events had put on the race but I can see it having a very long future! The event focuses on family and the social aspect of mountain biking, and believe me when I say this: Mountain bikers know how “socialise”! My mixed team partner, Robert Bateman and I flew up to George last Thursday morning and drove through to Tsitsikamma where we stayed at the Village Inn – a gorgeous hotel abundant with history dating back to the 1800’s! Since it was Woman’s Day, Glacier by Sanlam made it a very special occasion for all the woman there – both riders and supporters – with bursting goodie bags filled with everything from jewellery to body products! We auctioned off a beautiful Craig Port dress the same evening, which he kindly donated, the proceeds of which went to the event’s community project which involves both renovating a local […]

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Glacier by Sanlam Storms River Traverse

Vanessa Haywood to ride the Glacier by Sanlam Storms River Traverse 2012

August 06, 2012 / by / 0 Comment

Dryland Event Management and Glacier by Sanlam are excited to announce that Vanessa Haywood will be riding this year’s Storms River Traverse. Vanessa confirmed her involvement as ambassador late last week and is looking forward to the challenges that the race will bring. “I have always been an avid mountain biker and I am looking forward to the Glacier by Sanlam Storms River Traverse. Even though I am sure the race will be a challenge, I am also looking forward to the social and community aspect that is synonymous with this race. The stunning area of Tsitsikamma is also going to make for some interesting routes as well as beautiful scenery.” Vanessa, who is a keen athlete, has competed in some of the most grueling mountain and road biking marathons as well as triathlons, road and trail runs over the years, and continues to search for races that will challenge her both mentally and physically. Vanessa has donned the covers of both local and international magazines and was cast as the leading lady in the critically acclaimed District 9, which was nominated for 4 Oscars. Glacier by Sanlam and Dryland Event Management are thrilled with Vanessa’s involvement in this year’s […]

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