The exciting family oriented Seabreeze Build-It ‘Bitter-Sweet’ MTB Challenge is scheduled to take place in October 2015. Be a part of history and join scores of other riders at this inaugural, two-day event at Rocky Bay Resorts.
The KwaZulu-NatalSouthCoast is well-known for its sprawling beaches and sunny skies. But not many visitors know that the breathtaking experience extends far beyond the winding coastline. A one-of-a-kind adventure awaits mountain bikers at the Rocky Bay Resort, a leisurely 45 minutes out of Durban. Tucked away in a coastal forest that is home to beautiful birds, raptors and crested cranes, is a cyclist’s paradise. It will offer you the perfect opportunity and terrain to test your skills – all while taking in panoramic views of the ocean.
Put your bike – and your body – through its paces along the bush track, packed with enough uphills to test your endurance and all the downhills to enjoy the thrill of speed.
“It is very exciting for our Build it Regional Office to be involved in supporting our retailer in Toti, Seabreeze Build it, owned and managed by Arthur Snel and his family. The Build it Group believe in empowering our owners to engage with their respective communities in a meaningful, relevant and sustainable way. Our involvement with Arthur in this fantastic cycling experience achieves this ideal as Arthur services both the weekend warriors who will be enjoying the ride and the time with their families, and the community who live in and around the beautiful route we will all be enjoying. We believe in the team behind the scene, the route, our retailer and the South Coast and trust that the success of this event will benefit all associated – thank you for the opportunity,” said Retail Operations Director for Build it KZN, James Crawford.
The competition is open to men and women, 15 years old and over, of varying skill levels, so bring the family along and make a weekend of it. Day one will see participants getting their heart-rates pumping as they take on a 60-kilometre trail, while day two’s route is 40-kilometres long.
Since the distance does not exceed 60 kilometers daily, it is good news for the Juniors (17-18) and Youths (15-16), who are not usually allowed to participate in stage races but will have this opportunity to take part as per cycling rules – a real opportunity for the juniors.
“It allows for moms and dads, and even gran and grandpa to enter a stage race with their children or grandchildren,” said event spokesperson Andre Greeff. “Can you imagine how special it will be to take part in an event with them?”
He says the organisers are trying to move away from the usual trends associated with other stage races, where riders often leave their families behind in order to train and enter.
Greeff added: “We want families and friends to enter together, to train together, and thus get to spend even more time together. They can all take part in this family event, whether riding or just enjoying the weekend away. It’s a win for all.”
Part of the course is sponsored by the Mpambanyoni Conservation Development. The development which is due to be built in the beautiful green valleys between the Mpambanyoni and Amahlongwana rivers on KwaZulu Natal’s South Coast, will feature a series of interconnected residential and commercial villages which offer sustainable and modern urban living integrated with nature.
In keeping with moving away from the usual trends of stage races, entries are open to both teams and singles. Entry for a team of two will cost R3 500 and R2000 per single entry. In addition to a spectacular experience, entrants will receive a complimentary goodie bag and a t-shirt. The price also includes access to both days of the two-stage event, as well as dinner on Friday, breakfast, light lunch, dinner and music on Saturday night as well as breakfast on Sunday morning. Prizes to the value of R34,000.00 are also up for grabs.
Bushlife Adventures, a locally based adventure sport company, are also involved in the event. It will give riders peace of mind that this experienced team have joined forces with Rocky Bay Trails.
To make riders feel at home, Rocky Bay Resorts will be running a special over the race weekend. Log cabin accommodation will cost R275 per person sharing, while bringing children between the ages of 5 and 12 will cost just R135 each per night. Children under the age of 5 get to stay for free.
If you can’t get enough of the outdoors, camping is the way to go. It’s only R135 per person per night, or R70 per night for children between the ages of 5 and 12. Again, there’s no charge for children under 5.
But you don’t have to wait until October to experience the thrill of this trail – competitors are invited to visit the area beforehand to get a taste of what’s in store. Get your entries in for the Seabreeze Build-It ‘Bitter-Sweet’ MTB Challenge now by logging on to www.roag.co.za.
For more information in English, isiZulu or Afrikaans, please do not hesitate to contact, Lodge Reception on 039 976 0336 or lodge@rockybay.co.za.
