Posts Tagged ‘specialized’
Caveman ready for XTERRA Buffelspoort, South Africa
Gearing up (read “tapering” – once over 40, tapering starts early!) for XTERRA Buffelspoort next weekend.
More info on Stillwatersport XTERRA page.
Here is a cut and paste job from Ride Magazine:
Xterra legend Conrad Stoltz will kick-start the 2015 season in Buffelspoort (North West Province) when he toes the line at the much anticipated Totalsports Xterra Full presented by Rehidrat® Sport on Saturday, 24 January 2015.
Stoltz started his Xterra career in Richmond in 2001 when searching for a way to get motivated after the 2000 Olympics. “I felt burnt out and had a hard time getting motivated for another four year slog to the next Olympic Games,” says Stoltz. “My coach at the time said that I could do anything I wanted to get my mojo back. Paging through a USA Triathlete Magazine, I saw a picture of Steve Larsen running his mountain bike through a knee deep stream. This really appealed to my sense of adventure”.
“I made a few rookie mistakes at my first event including not knowing the course, borrowing a bike, riding with road pedals and road shoes to mention just a few,” continues Stoltz. “For most new triathletes swimming is the biggest hurdle, but once you’ve learnt to swim it’s by far the easiest of the three disciplines. If you’re new to swimming, spend the time and money to get private lessons. Swimming fitness is not a big deal. It’s all about having a good stroke, being comfortable in open water and being able to swim straight without having to follow a black line on the bottom. The Xterra Buffelspoort mountain bike course is not exceptionally hilly or technical, but you need a decent level of fitness and skill to get through it in good shape. You’ll need some reserves for the run. It is a tough run that starts out fun, scenic and technical, trail running at its best. After about 5km, the trail points to the sky and you start climbing. It will probably be hot, you’ll definitely be tired and the hill is long, really long. Xterra is not easy, but I recommend it to all athletes because it is fun, it’s an adventure and you get to meet really cool people”.
Adventure enthusiasts that are not yet ready for the challenge of the Totalsports Xterra Full, can enter the less daunting Totalsports Xterra Lite.
Calling all trail runners: Forming part of the action of South Africa’s largest off road triathlon, the Puma Trail Run incorporates the Xterra trail run routes and will take place on Sunday, 25 January 2015.
Event Information
Totalsports Xterra Full
Date Saturday, 24 January 2015
Venue Buffelspoort Dam
Format 1.5km swim, 26.5km mountain bike and 12km trail run
Totalsports Xterra Lite
Date Sunday, 25 January 2015
Venue Buffelspoort Dam
Format 400m swim, 17km mountain bike and 6km trail run
Puma Trail Run
Date Sunday, 25 January 2015
Venue Buffelspoort Dam
Format 6km and 12km
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XTERRA Worlds is tomorrow. Follow it live here on XTERRA website.
Look for the well camoflaged Caveman.
The inspiration for my race kit (leaves and tyre tracks) I got from the Delicious Monster plants here in Maui. Fantastic gear from Nimblewear. Light, comfortable, hydrophobic yet breathable, UV 40 protection, and best of all- it didnt arrive the day berofe race- like it usually does with other manufacturers / printers.
We’ve had some rain this year. A lot of rain. As you can see below, the earth here is quite clay-y. It has dried out quite a bit since this pic was taken (a week ago) but we may get some showers again tonight…
Fun & games!
I drowned my phone in the ocean this am, so dont expect much tweeting or phone calls. The Lifeproof case was not #CavemanProof after all…
Stay tuned.
Conrad Stoltz, informal web interview before 2014 XTERRA World Champs in Maui, Hawaii on Sunday 26 Oct.
While you’re there, check out XTERRA YouTube channel.
Conrad Stoltz MTB Skills clinic – Kids on wheels
When Liezel and I started advertising the Conrad Stoltz Skills Clinics, we had 2 groups in mind: Novice and Intermediate.
Since it was middle of South African racing season, we didnt have much lead time, but once word got out, we quickly had a full Intermediate group, a big, unexpected Expert group (in the Paul Roos Gym Highschool MTB racing team) and a full Novice group- which turned out to be a gaggle of eager, fear nothing kids! – mostly from the Banhoek Valley.
Some of us were so novice, we’ve only had our “BIG bike” for 7 days, and our hands barely went around the bars- never mind reach the brakes… Kanyisa van Tonder doing a duathlon on our way to the “training grounds”.
Kids keep you humble- you learn to talk to the point, keep it simple yet interresting and keep it fun. It also taught me a lot about what I was teaching: Why do we dismount on the left? Exactly how much front brake you use for an emergency stop? How do you turn?
Brake early, elbows wide, look at the exit… Carl Bekker and Kruger Marais about to bend it
Rocky uphill starts. Light gear, pedal at 2 o’clock, sit on nose of saddle, hold the brakes, lean forward. Let go of brakes, apply smooth pressure and pedal with 1 leg till other one is clipped in. Carl shows us how.
Emergency stop on a dime. (Same principal for any kind of braking- just to a lesser degree) Throw weight back and down while grabbing lots of front (and some) rear brake. If you’re skidding you’re doing it wrong.
Tom – the least fearful and the youngest. (5!) Tom didnt bother with the kiddie sized front wheel lift obstacles (lines on the ground) and went straight for the fore arm sized logs- reserved for the Advanced group. Proving that we learn fear, only try to unlearn it later…
Soon Kanyisa (Smile a Minute) was killing it in the corners. A number of times it all became too much and he did cartwheels into the undergrowth. Once Liezel had to pull the bike off him before he could get up. I think the only time Kanyisa wasnt talking was when he was crashing. Awesome spirit.
Thanks for the support.
Coming summer we’re looking at more clinics and a new venue. Stay tuned…
Caveman wins XTERRA New Zealand.
I cant believe that after 22 years of pro racing this was only my 2nd race in NZ. Last time was ITU World Cup in Auckland in 1995 or 96. Draft legal road triathlon.
After a rocky start to 2014 (2 punctures in 2 races, a biomechanical at XTERRA South Africa, a random injury, and some minor health issues- eye & skin cancer surgeries) its good to finally get the monkey off my back with a good win in Rotorua.
What a phenomenal course and venue! Beautiful blue lake called “Blue lake” surrounded by green mountains covered with dense tree fern growth 20ft tall.
I was out the swim in 5th or 6th, about 35” behind some Kiwi roadie, followed by Roger Serrano (ESP) and Ben Allen (Aus). After a fair bit of climbing Ben and I filed into Billy T neck in neck- some of the very best and unique single track I’ve ever ridden. Rain
