The opening race of the Trail Series® Super League 2023, in partnership with WWF South Africa, didn’t disappoint. But there was definitely a collective sigh of relief when the sun dipped down behind Table Mountain’s Nursery Buttress, and cast its long shadow over Kirstenbosch Gardens and the TSSL race village - and wow what an evening it made for this exclusive race around these most treasured gardens and surrounding mountain estate.
Billed as a sunset run meant that those fast enough could race without a supporting light to shine the way, but those making the most of it needed a Petzl headlamp or similar to catch the reflective trail markers guiding the way forward! Running through the gardens in the dying light, under huge tree ferns and towering forest canopies is a truly rewarding experience.
Katjiri defends
As the gates closed to the public, the XL runners were first out of the blocks on their...
When you enter the TSSL 2023, you have the option to make a donation to WWF and stand a chance to win an exclusive ocean experience in Hermanus, including luxury accommodation for 2 people.
Oceans produce 70 per cent of our oxygen, absorb vast amounts of carbon dioxide and drive our planets weather systems. They are also an essential source of food, feeding over a billion people. Our security, economy and survival require healthy oceans.
Make a donation of R180 or more to WWF to safeguard our oceans and stand a chance to win an exclusive ocean experience in Hermanus, including an exciting whale watching adventure and luxury accommodation for 2 people.
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DID YOU KNOW?
Hermanus is considered as one of the premier spots from which to view whales! Southern right whales make their way to this beautiful part of South Africa annually and now you could stand a chance to connect with these...
Nature is at the very core of why trail running is so incredibly inspiring. Every trail is different, every experience unique. For the last 15 years, the Trail Series® has been connecting people with nature, inspiring children and adults alike to get out and be challenged in this wonderful sport of trail running.
Along the way these events have been at the leading edge of establishing sound environmental practices, working hard to ensure that collectively, the events have as soft a touch on the planet as possible. From cupless aid stations, to designing reusable signage; from drastically reducing our use of single use plastics, to producing recyclable medals. “We have worked hard to leave as little footprint as possible in the execution of the Trail Series® events. Not for any reason other than, we can do what we can to make a difference” says Owen Middleton, founder & events director of...
Overnight rain and a cool westerly breeze made for perfect trail racing conditions at Oak Valley Wine Estate, the final race venue in the 2022 Trail Series® Super League.
First out of the stable were the 22km XL competitors…
Katjiri, Cronje & van den Heever give no quarter
The pace was electric from the get go, with Charl Cronje putting the foot down early in a last ditch attempt to unseat Wano Katjiri. Christian van den Heever made up the leading trio that smashed through the 4km mark in just 16 minutes.
The relentless pace continued to the 12km mark, but by this stage Katjiri had stretched a 2 minute lead on Cronje, with van den Heever close on his heels.
By the 16km mark, van den Heever had leapfrogged Cronje and so began his unrelenting chase of the race leader, who was at this stage still holding onto a 2 minute lead.
By the finish...
The Super League format to the Trail Series® was launched in November 2019 for the 2020 trail running year, but like many many things, COVID-19 flung the handbrake up on that plan.
Fast forward two years and understandably at the beginning of 2022 no-one really had any certainty yet over how the first post COVID year was going to pan out. Likewise, we had no idea if indeed we were going to achieve the full Super League. So like most folks, we simply focussed on getting by, race by race.
Then 2022 took off like a supersonic missile, leaving a trail of loose ends and wish-we-had-time-too’s in its wake. And so it seems that all of a sudden we find ourselves a week out from fulfilling the first full six-race Trail Series® Super League.
And while we hadn’t really been pushing the TSSL theme, the results after 5 races are pretty exciting indeed…
Consistency...
The Super League format to the Trail Series® was launched in November 2019 for the 2020 trail running year, but like many many things, COVID-19 flung the handbrake up on that plan.
Fast forward two years and understandably at the beginning of 2022 no-one really had any certainty yet over how the first post COVID year was going to pan out. Likewise, we had no idea if indeed we were going to achieve the full Super League. So like most folks, we simply focussed on getting by, race by race.
Then 2022 took off like a supersonic missile, leaving a trail of loose ends and wish-we-had-time-too’s in its wake. And so it seems that all of a sudden we find ourselves a week out from fulfilling the first full six-race Trail Series® Super League.
And while we hadn’t really been pushing the TSSL theme, the results after 5 races are pretty...
Understanding the changes
From the traditional Trail Series® to the new Trail Series® Super League, what you need to know.
You might or might not recall that back in November 2019 we announced that after 11 years, the traditional four race Summer & Winter Series format was being replaced in 2020 by the revised Trail Series® Super League format.
The significant change was that instead of running the traditional four races in relatively quick succession, we would be picking the best of the bunch, adding an XL race to every race day, and spreading them out over the year.
The other very important change is that we have dropped the old discard system. For those who don’t remember, since 2008 you had the option of discarding your worst result in any particular four race Series. This meant that you could even miss a race and still win your category and take the Championship title.
It’s worth...
Gift a child a trail run at Ida's Valley
Backstory
On the 26th February 2022, the Ida’s Valley Nature Area (IVNA) and neighbouring historical Stellenbosch suburb of Ida’s Valley, will play host to it’s first ever trail running race, and in doing so officially become part of the six-stage Trail Series® Super League planned for 2022.
The Ida’s Valley is steeped in history, being one of the earliest rural settlements in the Stellenbosch area. Tucked away out of sight, and out of mind, is a portion of municipal land that was allocated as a nature reserve, but sadly never maintained. The area was, until 2020, in a very dilapidated & unhealthy state.
Then, during lockdown, a handful of Ida’s Valley community visionaries said enough is enough, and began the process of reclaiming the Ida’s Valley Nature Area for the good of their community. And so, the Ida’s Valley Community Non-profit organization was started. What...
Kirstenbosch delivers!
What an spectacular balmy summers evening to kick start the six race Trail Series® Super League in 2022!
Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens always delivers, and to have the privilege of racing through this national treasure is simply goose bump stuff. The three race distances were 5.2km short, 9.5km long and a 14.2km XL - all concluding with a snaking route right through the heart of Kirstenbosch.
With the COVID fog of the last two years slowly beginning to clear, it was so awesome to have a capacity field again, to feel the buzz and to see and chat to so many familiar faces in our trail running community. The heart of 15 years of short course trail running is pumping again!
As usual the front end was a fast and furious one, with Llewellyn Groeneveld (XL), Brandon Keeling (Long) and Mikaeel Moolla (Short) setting the pace in their respective distances. Llewellyn's winning time of 1:01:37 set a new bar, breaking the...
There is good reason why Oak Valley is some of the most sought after mountain bike trails in the Elgin Valley. Smooth, fast and full of flow, these custom-built trails are closed once a year for the Trail Series® Super League - and they never disappoint.
It’s been another fractured year for events as a whole, and with COVID-19 wave after wave there was no certainty in any date. Hence, it was every race for itself, with no chance of bedding down the overall Super League in 2021.
It was a classic blustery summer SE ripping through the valley over the weekend, keeping many from making the trip. But still, over 500 runners rocked up to tackle one of the three distances on offer.
Lovemo Nyaude rules the 22.5km XL roost
First to go at 7am was the 22.5km XL runners. Lovemo Nyaude set a blistering pace up front, with Simon Short not far behind. In the ladies...