Gtribe Blogs

Barry Lewin keeps us up to date on his news

Thu, 05 Apr 2012 12:21:18 +0100

The last month has been jam packed with work and training.

Netball news from Leresia at Oranje

Thu, 22 Mar 2012 07:21:23 +0100

This month we played our first games for the season. It was just inters, but also games to start learning our team because we are a young and new team this year. It took us a while to get in the mode and to get the feeling. Throughout the whole match we could feel that our preseason helped us. Our last game for this term we played yesterday and we did great. We played so well together and our fitness was great, but we still have a lot of work this season to win our under 18 A league. This year ou...

Toni Jardine on the Garmin Edge 800

Thu, 22 Mar 2012 06:40:42 +0100

This year I have been greatly spoilt by Garmin SA and have been given a Garmin Edege 800. This Garmin is one of the best for offroad riding because it has a built in heart rate monitor and you can record your lap times as well as your overall time. It gives you the option to add different bikes and there information for training purposes. I have used my Garmin Edge 800 this year so far not for navigating but to get my heart rate, calories, top speed and average speeds for my races. This has b...

Oscar Mthimkhulu, our man at uKhahlamba Park

Thu, 22 Mar 2012 06:07:44 +0100

Oscar Mthimkhulu probably has one of the tougher jobs in conservation in South Africa. As co-ordinator of uKhahlamba Drakensberg Park, the 38 year-old Zulu from Makhosini near Ulundi is responsible for ensuring the conservation and commercial success of this unique mountainous area. The 242 000 hectare reserve, running 200 kilometres north to south and about 50 kilometres west to east, is one of the country’s biggest conservation areas, and covers Southern Africa’s most inaccessible terr...

Menlopark Netball

Fri, 16 Mar 2012 11:40:23 +0100

The time has arrived!

The Menlo Park 1^st Netball side was chosen and announced last week.

The team is left with only two players from the successful 2011 team.

Die Hoërskool Menlopark bedank Garmin

Fri, 16 Mar 2012 11:31:10 +0100

Die 1ste netbalspan van Die Hoërskool Menlopark in Pretoria sê “ Baie dankie Garmin vir die borgskap van 2012!”. Hiermee is ‘n Garmin horlosie met ‘n hartmonitor aan elkeen van die speelsters geskenk wat sodoende die afrigterspan in staat stel om elke speelster individueel te monitor. Die monitering vind plaas wanneer die speelsters passief is, sowel as wanneer hulle oefen en wedstryde speel. Die data wat so bekom word, word gebruik om persoonlike waardetoevoegende afrigrin...

Scott / Amundsen Centenary Race to the South Pole

Thu, 15 Mar 2012 13:29:13 +0100

I have recently returned from an epic race to the South Pole! Pete Van Kets and I represented South Africa in the Scott / Amundsen Centenary Race to the South Pole. Seven teams from six nations took part with us coming 3rd. Only three teams made it officially. The first of the British teams were emergency evacuated by aircraft after one of the team contracted bilateral pneumonia and almost losing his life. The second British team saw a team member breaking his arm. They decided to try a...

Off-season training: How we used our FR60 units

Thu, 15 Mar 2012 13:27:38 +0100

The off season has come to an abrupt end and after the final round of trials the squad for the Easter tour has been selected. We look back with much satisfaction at the results gained from the hard work put into the gym and on the training field. Through the use of the Garmin units we were able to create a positive feedback and evaluation system to motivate the boys to achieve higher gains during fitness training. We did the following:...

Work conquers all - Paarl Boys’ High School

Thu, 15 Mar 2012 13:22:22 +0100

Labor omnia vincit. Work conquers all. The pre-season was long and hard. The players could literally not wait for the start of the season. With the first matches looming the atmosphere in the team environment is filled with contained energy. We only have a few matches before the big upcoming tournament at St. Johns and even with all the work put in the pre-season there is still much to do before D-Day. Structures, attack lines, defensive patterns…we want to polish this rough diamond so that it...

More thanks to Garmin from Oranje!

Thu, 15 Mar 2012 13:19:18 +0100

I just want to thank Garmin for our sponsor an Michelle who helped us with the testing. All the girls will work hard to get better results next time. It will be one of our top goals to achieve this year. The Garmin sponsor motivates us to work hard and to do our best. This year we expect really good results for our netball and Garmin will play a really big role in achieving our goals. It is a really great opportunity from Garmin and we try to do our best by giving you the results you want to see....

Pushing the body to the limit

Thu, 15 Mar 2012 13:13:36 +0100

Hi everyone I hope all is going well with the conditioning and skills developments of your athletes. As we are entering into the season the pressure starts to build, especially on those athletes who are injured and eager to get back into action! I would like to congratulate Lerisia Du Toit on playing her first match yesterday after undergoing ankle surgery 3 months ago... Hard work, dedication and the desire to succeed combined with the correct rehab exercises is a winning combination...

Mkhambathi Nature Reserve…I’ve found what I’m looking for

Thu, 15 Mar 2012 13:08:43 +0100

I think I have found what I’m looking for. Mkhambathi Nature Reserve in the Eastern Cape is one of the most photogenic, pristine and priceless places I have been on my Year in the Wild. There is so much to admire about this relatively small 7000 hectare reserve on the northern Wild Coast of South Africa. Excuse all the superlatives which you’ll come across in this blog..but this place deserves them. The reserve runs along spectacular coastline, where calm inlets offer respite from the hu...

Runners World - Love Running Trail Run

Thu, 15 Mar 2012 13:05:09 +0100

What better way to enjoy Valentine’s evening than to spend it running with your special someone through a world famous botanical garden at the foot of one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World.

That’s how I, and about 200 runners, spent Valentine’s evening – only my special someone had an Achilles niggle so couldn’t do the run...

Ingo Machts thanks Garmin's Walter and Michelle

Thu, 15 Mar 2012 13:03:10 +0100

Dear Walter and Michelle

On behalf of Grey College I would like to thank you for entrusting us with your latest Garmin technology. We deem it a GREAT PRIVILEGE to be associated with such a world class company and product.

A word from Grey College's 1st Team Hooker

Thu, 15 Mar 2012 12:56:12 +0100

A new year, a new start, with an almost uncontrolled energy and enthusiasm amongst our group! The reason: the 2012 Rugby Season, for which we have high expectations. In addition, there is an unnatural urge to complete a task where only the fittest and the strongest will survive. Will the players contribute their skill and showcase their undeniable talent on a higher level than those before them? Some would argue whether that may or not be feasible. One can only respond by judging how the ...

Some news from Margot from Diamantveld High

Thu, 15 Mar 2012 12:13:34 +0100

After five hectic months of fundraising we eventually collected all the money we needed for our netball tour to New-Zealand from 26 March to 7 April 2012. Not only did we have a rough schedule of fundraising, but also participating in major Netball matches. On 3 March 2012 , High School Fichardtpark, Bloemfontein hosted their annual sports day. Competition was tough but we had a very succesfull day, winning all our matches. During the same week High School Sentraal, Bloemfontein hosted an ...

Diamantveld High: Bright and shining

Thu, 15 Mar 2012 12:08:05 +0100

It is mid-March 2012 and the Diamonds team is looking strong and fit! We have played in Bloemfontein at Sentraal’s night league. It went very well we finished undefeated which is very good for so early in the season. We also played at the Jim Fouche and Orajne Meisies sports days also finished undefeated! So far so good! There is definitely still area’s on which we need to work hard on and improve, but for now I think that the team’s fitness and basic skills are looking good. ...

Albert’s produces hefty sacks at the BETT event

Thu, 15 Mar 2012 11:58:19 +0100

After a fog delay of over an hour, we eventually put the hammer down and raced across the dam to our first spot. Andrew had miraculously drawn starting position number 1 for us, so getting to our spot first was no problem. A huge field of teams had gathered at Albert Falls for the second event of the 2012 BETT season and with insanely hot temperatures forecast, the anglers were left worrying as to whether the bigger fish would bite or not. By 7am the temperatures were already at the 30’C m...

An update from Barry Lewin himself

Thu, 15 Mar 2012 11:45:43 +0100

I have been a busy dude organising the Varsity College Marine Surfski Series and of course racing. The first 3 months of the year are always a bit quiet on the surfski front as I take a back seat from racing and get the body ready for the year as from April when my season starts is non-stop racing till November. I also did Dusi for the first time in a number of years and raced two lifesaving champs with good results, the longer sessions were really good for the base training which is going re...

Barry and Mark Lewin tackle Tropical Cyclone 'Irina'

Thu, 15 Mar 2012 11:36:09 +0100

Its 630am and the 10min drive from home to the beach feels like it’s taking about an hour. The blood rushing through the veins and the smell of sea air are so evident with heightened sense. It is going to be one of those days where you are going to have to take life by the horns. For days the media had been hyping up the news Tropical Cyclone IRINA was rolling through Durban and would be bringing some BIG swell with it. All the tow in surfing dudes were out the day before practicing in ant...

Afrikaanse Hoer Seunskool plans for March and thank Garmin

Thu, 15 Mar 2012 11:32:26 +0100

After a hugely successful rugby season during 2011, during which the Affies first rugby team finished in second place on the FNB schools rankings, our players are looking forward to a great 2012 season. Although we are not allowed to have a fulltime off season rugby program, we still put in a few hard conditioning sessions during January & February. The players responded well during these sessions, and the positive attitude that has been developed with regards to these high intensity tra...

Affies and Garmin join forces!

Thu, 15 Mar 2012 11:27:37 +0100

After long collaborations between Garmin and Affies, we are proud to say that we are being sponsored by Garmin. As Garmin is a world class brand, and we believe that we are one of the leading schools in South Africa, the relationship will help both parties to reach their goals.

Revamp yourself and WIN with the Schick Adventure Boot Camp Challenge!

Thu, 15 Mar 2012 11:16:10 +0100

STAND IN LINE TO WIN YOUR SHARE IN PRIZES VALUED AT R100 000! Do you find yourself thinking ‘If only I could start again? If only I had more time to prepare healthy meals and eat properly? If only I had the motivation to exercise enough to stay slim, keep fit and be healthy. If only I had taken better care of myself when I was younger? If only I had the finances to get the support I need?’ For most of us life is demanding and for many of us it’s easier to focus on work, the kids, o...

Adventure Boot Camp test drive the new Garmin FR70 fitness tool

Thu, 15 Mar 2012 08:20:13 +0100

Here's what our connections at Adventure Boot Camp have to say about the new Garmin FR70 fitness watch and training tool: Danica Bloomberg: ABC Camper and Marketing Manager During the month of February I was lucky enough to be the first person in the Adventure Boot Camp fold to get to test the new FR70. The Fr70 bundle includes the watch, a heart rate monitor as well as a foot pod and as someone who likes to get to try all her options, I tested both the male and female version. As one w...

Varsity College Marine Surfski Series - Race 1 - Borland Surfski Challenge

Fri, 17 Feb 2012 07:32:52 +0100

The Borland Financial Services Surfski Challenge got the 2012 Varsity College Marine Surfski Series underway on Friday evening with the vastly experienced Herman Chalupsky the first of the record field of over 350 surfski paddlers across the line in testing conditions. Chalupsky got off to a good start with Team Jeep’s Barry Lewin and then raced a conservative first half of the race before really knuckling down and edging away from his nearest competitors and claiming a victory which could pos...

Grey College Pre-Season Preparation

Fri, 17 Feb 2012 07:19:02 +0100

Our pre-season training is now in Week 27 and the Grey boys are working very hard for the upcoming season. This year is going to be especially difficult seeing that we shall only play three home games out of the scheduled nineteen games. A week consists of various activities to prepare for the season. We are now in a 4-week training block that consists of two speed -, two video -, two gym -, one fitness - and one wrestling session. During this period we are preparing the players for the tria...

Love is my running shoes!

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 12:59:47 +0100

For Deborah Heroldt of Bryanston, love is a complicated affair, yet when it comes to what she loves about life that is simple. Her children, being healthy and fit and trail running are her three true loves. So many people celebrated Valentine’s Day this week by showering the one they love with gifts but for those of us without a significant other it may have been just another day, another year. As a mother of three children, Deborah is currently going through a painful divorce after 15 years o...

OMS Pre-Season Conditioning Report

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 10:06:07 +0100

There is no doubt that a physically well conditioned sports team will enhance their opportunity of achieving desired goals and success. As a Biokineticist I have noticed that female athletes are far more ‘exercise sensitive’ than male athletes. Common statements such as ‘ I don’t want to build big biceps and glutes’ is an indication of the sensitivity regarding female athletes and their physical awareness. The key to achieving a thorough commitment towards the conditioning program...

We'll do BETTer in 2012

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 08:22:11 +0100

Well, the 2011 BETT season has come and gone. We competed in the qualifying final event at Craigie Burn this past weekend with most anglers in the event being grateful to the season’s end after such a testing event. During practice, the anglers were somewhat disheartened by the reward less venue and goals had not been set to high for the biggest event of the season. To add to the negative disposition, the weather building up to the event tossed a drastic curveball into the mix and the rapidly ...

The heat is on!!

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 08:06:19 +0100

Well, summer is proceeding with extreme passion. The daily temperatures are ridiculous to say the least and water temperatures have peaked. This is not the ideal scenario for targeting bass, and although they still have to eat they generally tend to become more selective with their feeding patterns.

Getting a treble of bass

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 08:00:53 +0100

Woodstock Dam was the last stop on the BETT calendar for the 2011 season. The top 10 teams going into the event were not safe as the anglers just out of the top 10 were hungry to make the cut and the pressure was on. The standings were set to change, and with reports of awesome pre-fishing, there would be no room for error. With plenty of water to explore, an epic race to the hotspots ensued from the start with most teams running to the dam wall section, no less than 15kms from the launch. Gar...

Catching up with the unstoppable Emma Horner

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 07:48:39 +0100

Well it has been a great break over the festive season and I am back and ready for the New Year and the challenges the year will bring. I have done a couple of races over this time and have enjoyed some good results. The main focus over this period has been for me to look back over my last year and then to set new goals and targets for the coming year. :-)

Dakar Rally Roundup

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 10:43:23 +0100

January is traditionally a quiet month in the motor industry, but for me this year started with a massive bang. The one moment I was lounging around after a New Year's party, and the next I was in the midst of Gulf War III. Or so it seemed, when I arrived at the so-called bivouac outside the town of Copiapo, Chile, to spend a couple of days on the famous Dakar Rally. Thankfully I managed to load the waypoints for the Dakar onto my GPSMAP 78s before leaving, which greatly aided us during our visit...

Sky Run 2011 - ending the year on a high

Mon, 16 Jan 2012 12:36:13 +0100

In November I ran the race I’ve wanted to for years: Sky Run. Not to say it was my first time – it was actually my third, but this time I got it right: I carried extra batteries for my Garmin, I didn’t take any wrong turns, and best of all, I crossed the finish line as 1st lady, and in tied 3rd position overall (men and women).

More than motoring: a Nüvi on the move...

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 10:42:57 +0100

As a motoring journalist, I often get to play with really fancy, expensive cars. But I've noticed that it isn't just the break-the-bank machines that come with built-in navigation these days: little piddly cars have these systems too, even though they are quite often fitted as expensive options. Incidentally, from a car buying point of view, it is never a great idea to spend extra money on optional extras for your new car. Firstly, you can't keep them when you sell the car; and secondly the used ...

Flying High! Wilderness from the air

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 09:29:36 +0100

At the end of last year, I was fortunate to be taken paragliding over the Wilderness Lakes section of Garden Route National Park. It gave me a great opportunity to see how beautiful this area is.But also, it gives a great perspective on the challenges that organisations like SANParks face. In among the rivers, forests, beaches and lakes which the rangers have to conserve and look after, there are literally thousands of people, homes, cars, roads and trucks. It’s an open access system mostly…t...

Wild and wonderful

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 09:14:35 +0100

I was supposed to spend a few weeks at Kogelberg Nature Reserve in December, but will only get there in July, once the reserve's new accommodation is ready. I can't wait, because the Kogelberg is one of the world's most famous nature reserves. Here's why: it hosts the greatest diversity of plant species per hectare on earth. Of course, it's almost impossible to prove this emphatically, but the general assertion remains true....

Waving an injured hand goodbye to 2011

Mon, 12 Dec 2011 15:03:59 +0100

Unfortunately this wrist tendonitis has gotten the best of me, and I have had to cancel the remainder of my races for 2011. It has really given me a big knock, and forced me to rethink my future.Luckily, the bigger the knock, the bigger the comeback! Here is the link to my blog post I wrote on my 4 month injury dealings:http://micheray.com/2011/11/19/1427/ I had an article in the latest issue of Go Multi, on dealing with tendonitis, and will hopefully be getting more articles (written by me). I a...

Better and BETT

Wed, 23 Nov 2011 12:08:58 +0100

Lemme teach you about Garmin...

Wed, 16 Nov 2011 11:40:22 +0100

Garmin is such a fantastic product and I was thrilled to get the chance to experiment with it during one of my classes. The campers loved it and said they really thought it was an essential part of their training, and being able to keep track of their heart rates, the calories they burnt and knowing where they could improve made the session that much more exciting.

Adventure Boot Camp Houghton thinks out of the box and achieves something astounding!

Wed, 16 Nov 2011 11:01:51 +0100

October was Breast Cancer month and because ABC focuses on women and health we decided to get together to try raise enough money to open 10 mobile clinics, which will travel to disadvantaged communities and provide free mammograms, pap smears and other important tests. Our aim was to raise R40 000 to do all the above and each camp was requested to have “drop in camps” or hikes where all proceeds would be go to CANSA. We were also encouraged to think out of the box for additional ways to rais...

6 Weeks till Roof of Africa race

Tue, 01 Nov 2011 10:28:23 +0100

At the end of September i took another trip down to Lesotho to do some more Roof Training with Enduro World. This time i decided to try my Yamaha YZ125 as it is much lighter then the YZ250F and easier to start. The last time i rode a 2 stroke was a year ago so ofcourse i had some getting used to. After burning 3 clutches i got the hang of it and was flying around the Lesotho Mountains using my Garmin Foretrex 401. I am very happy to say i have mastered the whole navigation skills!...

Singapore World Marathon Champs report

Tue, 01 Nov 2011 10:16:55 +0100

I was warned by many people that the conditions would be hot in Singapore - well nothing could have prepared me for the heat. We arrived at 8 in the morning and it was already 32C with over 85% humidity. You break out in a sweat instantly and don't stop until you get back on the plane to South Africa!We arrived on the Monday and went straight to the course. The buildings are absolutely spectacular. It is unbelievable to paddle past such massive tall skyscrapers. The portage was across a floating ...

Not your average fisherman's tale

Mon, 17 Oct 2011 16:32:56 +0100

First of all the most recent BETT event was held at Goudetrouw Dam this past weekend. Being the signature spawning month for KZN and in particular this dam, anglers were more than willing to make the journey to hopefully stick some pigs!! More than 50 boats lined up for the 6:30am start. As usual I was unpacking my rod locker and laying my loaded rods out on the deck for the day ahead. I am not too sure exactly how I lost focus of what I was doing but in the process stuck a needle sharp treble ho...

Table Mountain by moonlight

Mon, 17 Oct 2011 16:29:17 +0100

There’s nothing quite like moonlight. There’s also nothing quite like a trail run in the cool of the night. Add a full moon and a magic mountain to the mix and you have something very special.

Voetspore: All-terrain vehicles

Mon, 17 Oct 2011 16:22:31 +0100

The Voetspore team has been making steady progress on the Agulhas Alexandria expedition. Currently the six guys in their three Amaroks are halfway there. The journey had taken them from South Africa to Lesotho, Mozambique, Zambia, Tanzania, Rwanda and Uganda where they crossed the Equator.

Riding with Lance Armstrong

Mon, 17 Oct 2011 16:18:52 +0100

Been some month this last one. Got to race against Lance Armstrong at the Xterra USA final in Ogden Utah three weeks back. And since it was his first triathlon in 23 years there was a roar of media attention. Since then I spent one week back in my USA base of Boulder, one on Kona supporting Specialized and the launch of a new tri-specific bike, and now finally on Maui prepping for the World Champs next weekend....

The Crazy Store Table Mountain Challenge 2011

Thu, 13 Oct 2011 09:36:11 +0100

Crazy day, crazy weather, crazy race around up and over an iconic mountain – that’s the Table Mountain Challenge, and it’s great! While my four-month layoff to heal my stress fracture didn’t lend itself to helping much on the fitness stakes, the fact that I was running injury-free meant that as tough as it was to race, it was incredible to be back, out on the trails again and up on my most favourite mountain in the world....

Sky Run 2010

Thu, 13 Oct 2011 09:22:04 +0100

Sky Run – without a doubt the most challenging ultra trail run in South Africa. It’s tough, long and gruelling. And it’s beautiful – in a harsh, rugged, uncompromising way. The route spans 100km across the Witteberg in the Eastern Cape Drakensberg region, much of it following a ridgeline that towers more than 2 000m above the vast farmlands below, with what used to be the Transkei on the one side, and the Free State on the other....

Day 5 of the Namib Desert Challenge 2011

Thu, 13 Oct 2011 09:15:23 +0100

The Namib Desert Challenge: five days and 220km of running across sections of the oldest desert on the planet. The race is tough (self-sufficient, meaning you carry your own food), long (average distance each day 44km), gruelling (the highest dune in the world was saved for Day 5) and unbelievably hot (we ran in temperatures hot enough to slow-roast a leg of lamb).The race covers an extensive area of Sesriem and the Namib Naukluft National Park, ending in the heart of the Sossusvlei – after sum...

SA Surfski Champs 2011 - Richards Bay

Wed, 12 Oct 2011 09:15:37 +0100

After a month away from home racing in the USA and Portugal, I got home some 2 weeks ago to refocus on the next block. SA Champs the first of a number of local races to finish off a busy year. Driving up to Richards Bay on Friday evening I was confident I had go through some really good sessions in the time I had been home to be ready to race.Richards Bay is wild in every front. The town is in the bush basically with sharks, hippo’s and crocodiles all in the same section of water around the Z...

Weighing over 100 kg doesn’t mean the end of the road for you!

Wed, 12 Oct 2011 08:58:29 +0100

Tanya Ellis is the winner of the Nutren Activ Adventure Boot Camp Challenge 2011. She weighed in at 104.5 kg and has lost 12.3 kg, 5.3% body fat and a total of 70.5cm in just over three months. This is her story: Finding me and who I really am! I remember from a very young age wanting to grow up and be a professional netball player, even if it was to just get my Provincial colours. I really enjoyed playing all sorts of sport and being active....

Adventure Boot Camp report from Somerset West

Wed, 12 Oct 2011 08:40:17 +0100

My first impression of the Garmin FR60 model was that I liked the packaging, but would have appreciated a more feminine touch to the design of the watch.

Not being technically savvy meant that I had to study the manual given with the device and if you are pressed for time, it can be quite frustrating, because I found it difficult to understand.

Adventure Boot Camp report from Stellenbosch

Wed, 12 Oct 2011 08:30:11 +0100

After the past month, I’ve really enjoyed using the Garmin FR60 with the foot pod and ANT stick! I am the Franchisee and trainer of the Stellenbosch Adventure Boot Camp and I am a keen mountain biker. A few of my campers tried it out over the past four weeks and loved keeping record of their progress. They were chuffed to watch the calorie count function as their heart rates soared; it kept them motivated to push harder. They also loved seeing how fast and how far they were running over the hou...

Riding on the roof of Africa

Wed, 12 Oct 2011 08:19:56 +0100

This past month I went with Enduro World to Lesotho to do Roof of Africa Training. We rode in Ramabanta over four days.We rode on the old Roof tracks and did some of the common passes that will be in this years Roof like, Black Neck, Spiderman and 2 Tits pass. I could finally test out my Garmin Foretrex 401 in the Maulti mountains and learn how to use it properly. I found it quiet tough in the beginning to the follow the Garmin but in the end I was like a pro. It helps alot to be able to navigate...

Running ahead in 2011

Wed, 12 Oct 2011 08:13:40 +0100

The countdown has started for World Champs - 30 days to go before we fly to Singapore! My training is going very well and I am feeling great. I have taken part in two races over the last month with brilliant results.

Michele’s Blog Report: US Surf Ski Champs & Injuries

Wed, 21 Sep 2011 07:10:54 +0100

I jetted off to the USA last month, more specifically San Francisco, to race the US Surf Si Champs.It was my first trip to the States, and to say I was excited would be an understatement! The seriously long flight over there managed to dampen my enthusiasm, as well as being pulled over at customs for a rogue apple in my hand luggage! These guys are strict!San Francisco is an amazing city, so much water, and loads of massive bridges. The race itself would pass under the Golden Gate Bridge, as well...

The Write Direction...

Wed, 21 Sep 2011 07:00:22 +0100

The Expedition after a year of preparing is finally started as myself and partner CHUMMER, the Expedition vehicle make our way from Waterfront, Cape Town to Arniston Spa & Hotel.The hotel hosted the press conference and accommodation, with the local school invited, media and representative from Municipality.After all the interviews, we made our way to the Southern Most tip ofAfrica , at Cape Agulhas.The long drive took place toward the next stop at Clanwilliam, via mountain passes which begge...

Ripples for Good: What is your big adventure?

Wed, 21 Sep 2011 06:50:46 +0100

"You can't cross the sea merely by standing and staring at the water."-- Rabindranath TagoreYour life reflects your decisions: what are yours?The poet David Whyte asks: what is the courageous conversation I am refusing to have with myself, in my own heart and mind with regard to my work and the present life threshold on which I find myself?For each of us, there is a courageous conversation waiting to be had....

Team Goya Ruff Thumb-Bass Fishing

Wed, 21 Sep 2011 06:39:09 +0100

Spring is in full swing and fortunately the bass have received the change of season memo and started moving to the banks to partake in their annual spawning routines. The fishing at Albert Falls, Inanda, Midmar and Goudetrouw dam has improved dramatically. Although this is a time year when anglers need to respect the need to breed, we also want to get out there and catch some while their behavior is predictable!! Garth and I have just returned from a 3-day practice trip to Goudetrouw and enjoyed ...

Cruising USA - mountain biking in Colorado

Wed, 21 Sep 2011 06:33:56 +0100

Renowned mountain biking expert and Gtribe adventurer Dan Hugo gives us the inside scoop on what it's like to mountain bike in and around Boulder, Colorado.

NuMo59spFYI

Year in the Wild - Kgalagadi National Park

Thu, 01 Sep 2011 08:07:11 +0100

I am now in the Kgalagadi National Park as part of my year-long journey to 31 of South Africa's most special nature reserves. This part of our country is so very different to the rest...and it feels very FAR from anywhere else. That's partly because it actually is...it's a good 1 000km from Joburg, and even farther from Cape Town.

So far so good...

Wed, 31 Aug 2011 08:40:51 +0100

Well all I can say is - Mission Accomplished :-)This has been a fantastic month of racing and everything went according to plan - well almost! I raced four marathon races and won 3 events and only just missed winning the final event. The races on Shongweni Dam were fantastic preparation and I have gained huge experience.The main races were the KZN Marathon Championships and the SA Marathon Championships. My training went so well in the lead up to the KZN Champs and I peaked at exactly at the righ...

Mountainbiking in Colorado

Wed, 31 Aug 2011 08:21:29 +0100

Small clip of a mountain biking ride I did last week, just outside my USA base of Boulder, CO.

Racing under the Golden Gate bridge

Wed, 31 Aug 2011 07:55:54 +0100

Paddling under the “Golden Gate” is something that will stay with me forever.

Warming up under the monstrosity certainly is awe-inspiring and I couldn’t help getting a fright now and again looking up.

Living Not By The Water But "IN IT"

Wed, 31 Aug 2011 07:32:29 +0100

The perks of my life right now are the many new people I meat or friends I get to catch up with from many corners of the globe that converge on surfski races. All after the same thrill of a crack downwind run, beating a friend or my favourite, to paddle in unique places.I have been to the US Surfski Champs 3 times and the experience of San Francisco has been one that opened my eyes to different lifestyles and cultures. The city is a mix pot with its routes strongly entrenched in hippie culture le...

Surviving August with Raoul De Jongh

Tue, 23 Aug 2011 09:23:02 +0100

Week 1: ReflectionAs the Tour de France drew to an end and we entered the usual Post Tour Depression, it was time to reflect on the year that has been, the process we go through to better the last half of the year and indeed, the rest of our lives. I like to reflect in a process called Personal Planning. In Google, just type Urban Ninja Personal Planning and it will come up 1st....

Voetspore

Tue, 23 Aug 2011 09:19:45 +0100

We are getting ready to go. The plan is to leave Pretoria on 1 September, overnight at Victoria West, and travel to Agulhas on the2nd. On the 3rd we’ll spend some time at the southernmost tip of Africa, before the journey starts in all earnest on 4 September, early in the morning, at the lighthouse of cape Agulhas. The first section we invite other people to travel with us. it will be hectic, but is will be fun. First aim is to get to the southern Drakensberg, and the hamlet Rhodes. From there ...

Michele’s Blog: The 50th Berg River Marathon

Fri, 12 Aug 2011 10:43:34 +0100

Doing the 50th Berg River Marathon was always on my hit list of things to do. Any race that is celebrating its 50th edition has to be special. With a brand like Windhoek backing it (“100% Commitment All the Way”) made for a perfect match, as once you got on the start line, there was only one way to the finish 244km down the river at Port Owen… 100% Commitment.It’s hard to describe what it’s like, paddling more or less 60km every day, I can describe what it’s like to race it: “awesom...

Riding the storm

Fri, 12 Aug 2011 08:45:59 +0100

This past month I have been training up a storm for The Roof of Africa. On the 2 July i raced the Liqourland Kei National Enduro down in P.E and after my bike catching on fire on the first lap I went out again for a second lap and took the Win in the Ladies class. The folloowing weekend 9 July was the Enduro World Cross Country (EWXC) and the Women in Motorsport (WIM) races which fell together as one race, after a tough first 2 laps from a serious amount of arm pump i got a 2nd place in both the ...

Surviving the Winter Thaw!

Fri, 12 Aug 2011 07:51:36 +0100

Spring is next month, can you believe it? Never mind the fact that it’s still snowing in some parts of South Africa. If you’re like me, you’re probably not that bothered because you’re hiding under mounds of paperwork, making sure deadlines are met before the holidays roll around and who cares what you look like, especially since all you are trying to do at the moment, is stay warm. This time of the year is what I like to call the winter thaw. If you’re lucky, you’ve managed to keep ...

Marlize Scheepers, Eldoraigne ABC Franchise Owner and Trainer

Fri, 12 Aug 2011 07:38:10 +0100

At first I was not too excited about the thought of testing the Garmin FR60 as I am not a person who is interested in gadgets and I usually give the manuals and gadgets to my husband to figure out and then get the short version from him. This time around I sat down with the device and was not sure where to start but eventually managed to find my way around the settings. I must say it was not easy to navigate around but once I figured out how the basics worked, I was feeling a bit more confident t...

The Band 4 Hope Project

Fri, 12 Aug 2011 07:28:31 +0100

We’re always on the look out for craftspeople who we can develop products with to sell through our shop, Vagabond Van. Through ongoing trade, we hope that we can help the wonderful people we meet along the way and share their talent with you.Near Harare, in Zimbabwe, we came across a business which produces copper and zinc bands (which are believed to have empowering properties but I’ll save that for another post)....

Race report: Xterra Richmond

Fri, 22 Jul 2011 09:00:55 +0100

Xterra East Championship, Richmond, VA2:22:372nd, 2’16 behind winner Conrad StoltzIt’s been more than two weeks of deliberating my direction for this race report. Sadly my race experience in Richmond for 2011 was one of the worst I’ve had – and this be my 16th year of racing in the sport of Triathlon. I definitely can’t recall being as angry and disappointed while racing, especially when the rebellion and frustration is not in the usual direction of self....

Conquering mountains

Wed, 20 Jul 2011 09:21:27 +0100

This morning my trusty Forerunner 305 and I went for our first run on the mountain in 15 very long weeks of non-running (forced rehab to heal a femoral stress fracture I picked up while training for the Namib Desert Challenge earlier this year).

Ripples for Good make waves in Westbury

Wed, 20 Jul 2011 09:01:07 +0100

The air is crispy and cold around my knuckles clutching the handlebar. The North West/Gauteng area is a summer rainfall area meaning dust everywhere. Even inside our sleeping bags and tents. Its been quite an exciting month during which the schools had their winter holidays and the 2 Ripples For Good schools got nominated. Westbury Primary School and David Brink Primary will be our homes for 2 nights. During the days we, together with the parents, children and teachers will be fixing their waterl...

The fun version of Camp Staldraad

Wed, 20 Jul 2011 08:41:11 +0100

After two tight games, we have made it! We are the Northern-Cape champions. We are now preparing and getting ready for the SA Schools Challenge in August. As part of our preparation we have just been on a “Survivor’s” team-building camp. When we arrived at the Soetdoring nature Reserve we met our guides. The girls received a hiking bag and 10min to pack everything they thought were most important for survival until the next day without knowing what they were up for! This was a time to prio...

The ABC's of fitness

Thu, 14 Jul 2011 12:56:46 +0100

Robyn Hubbard - Assistant Trainer @ Fourways Adventure Boot CampThanks to Garmin we were able to give our campers the opportunity to train with a Garmin heart rate monitor. They have heard us speaking about the monitors and the benefits for training. Two campers in particular were keen to try it out as they wanted to get their own.Vivienne used it on a Tuesday for Arms and Abs. 510 calories were burnt, an average heart rate 130 and a maximum heart rate of 153 was reached. Her comments after the s...

My shiny new "boat"

Thu, 14 Jul 2011 12:38:55 +0100

Well it has been a VERY cold month. I am now in the build up to the KZN and South African Marathon Champs at the end of the month. The big news is that my new marathon boat arrived at last from Plastex Poland. What a beautiful boat. Plastex used an emerald green glitter on the boat and as you can see from the photo, she is stunning. At 8kg's, the boat is exactly spot on for the international marathon specs and I can already feel the difference when racing. I was lucky enough to have Brandon van...

Team Goya-Ruff Bass Blogs

Thu, 14 Jul 2011 08:24:08 +0100

The winter fronts and insipidly cold weather have hampered the KZN bass fishing. We are still religiously preparing for and fishing the monthly BETT series which do not stop for any such weather! The fish and their feeding habits have slowed down considerably with the cooling water temperatures, but they still need to eat.Most anglers (including us) have been targeting the deeper water with slower presentations which has definitely paid off as we have maintained our overall position in the top 5 ...

Michele’s Blog: Durban World Cup

Tue, 12 Jul 2011 10:55:53 +0100

Windguru couldn’t quite make up its mind as to how hard the wind would blow come Sunday, however it was certain of one thing: the surf coming in at La Mercy beach would be massive! I had woken up with a sore throat and blocked head on Saturday morning. In my final race prep paddle my heart rate was unusually high, and I slunk off the water and into bed for the rest of the day. I am learning (finally) that when your body gives you warning signs, you need to listen, and act on them. Lots of Vita...

Michele’s Blog – SA River Champion

Tue, 12 Jul 2011 10:52:46 +0100

I spent a week in June in the beautiful wine lands region of the Boland/Swartland area in the Western Cape. I managed to trip the ever-changing Berg River a number of times, and at all different river levels. It was amazing, as the change that occurred after the heavy rains of Wednesday and Thursday changed the river so much that I could hardly recognise where I was. Weirs that were big drops the day before, I paddled right over the top, oblivious that there was something below me! And tree block...

Tired of being cooped up all winter?

Tue, 12 Jul 2011 07:29:53 +0100

Exercising outdoors during winter isn’t easy, especially when its icy wind and stabbing rain rips through you like an angry tornado. It’s no wonder so many of us flock to the stuffy warmth of a gym. We’ll do anything not to put on weight and stay warm at the same time. I don’t how many times I’ve had to wait in long queues for equipment, classes, squash courts and swimming pools, not to mention toilets, showers and parking bays. I have grown tired of being cooped up in doors all day...

Building a Base

Wed, 06 Jul 2011 09:38:23 +0100

Week 1: Building a Base So often I am asked what it takes to qualify for Kona or be the best age grouper. What it takes to build a base big enough to add some speed on top of to make it near the top. Surely it’s that easy, right?Here is what you need to do: Keep your heart rate below 150 on the bike, 155 on the run. ALWAYS. Ride every hill possible at 60 cadence and keep the HR at that as a MAX value. Run easy flat roads with work on form and economy, not speed and power. Now do this...

Durban Surfski World Cup - Race Report - 6th

Tue, 05 Jul 2011 07:54:33 +0100

I am sitting in the Joburg airport about to fly out to Mauritius for the Island Shamaal with a very sore body. My back certainly knows I paddled 26km yesterday but through the stiffness I am quite stoked. The stoke doesn’t come from me heading off to an Island but rather from the race yesterday. I have a missed history with my home world cup with some races I would rather forget. I really wanted to do well at this one being on my door step. With the niggles in my back a thing of the past thanks...

Durban World Cup Time

Tue, 05 Jul 2011 07:43:00 +0100

It’s late Friday evening with the Dunlop Durban Surfski World Cup Weekend about to kick off. Sitting up front during the media conference and briefing this morning at Marine was a privilege. Being a spokesperson for our sport to the media is a task I don’t take lightly and I hope I did it justice. (thanks to John Hoshin for the shot, watch www.capetownsportsphotography.co.za for plenty more pics of the weekend) Nothing new coming out the ramblings this morning other than the race is wide open...

World Cup Courses for 2011

Wed, 22 Jun 2011 12:29:08 +0100

I have been doing some homework using Garmin Connect on the 2 courses for this weekend’s Dunlop Durban Surfski World Cup. Over the last couple of weeks I have paddled both courses and for those doing the race here is some useful data to check out of the paddles I have done from the 2 courses. Marine to La Mercyhttp://connect.garmin.com/activity/93634725 This run was done in a solid SW wind. Surf coming in was big. I was on my own so stayed quite shollow, on the day the top dudes will be wider t...

Sigmaringen- Germany My home for 4 months :-)

Wed, 22 Jun 2011 12:09:59 +0100

Coming to Europe has been on the cards since 2007 and I find that coming here is vital to my progress every year…I first have a few months of base in Cape Town/ Stellenbosch then I move to Johannesburg for some altitude training February- May. After this I move to Germany-Sigmaringen till World Triathlon champs in September. PRETTY radical if you ask me !Sigmaringen-Germany is an hour South of Stuttgart “for those who have NEVER heard of it”....

Second place again for Hugo behind Stoltz

Wed, 22 Jun 2011 11:58:45 +0100

South Africa's Dan Hugo finished second at the last weekend's Xterra Richmond in the state of Virginia.His fellow countryman Conrad Stoltz won the event over 1.5km-swim, 32km-mountain biking and 10km-trail run in 2 hours, 20 minutes and 24 seconds. Hugo's time was 2:22.38. Nico Lebrun from France took the final podium spot in 2:28.02.Hugo was second out of the water only seconds behind Craig Evans and splits seconds in front of Stoltz....

Tree Blocks, Rain, Fish Eagles and the Swartlands Marathon

Wed, 22 Jun 2011 11:40:52 +0100

I spent the past week in the beautiful winelands region of the Boland/Swartland area in the Western Cape. I managed to trip the ever-changing Berg River a number of times, and at all different river levels. It was amazing, as the change that occurred after the heavy rains of Wednesday and Thursday changed the river so much that I could hardly recognise where I was. Weirs that were big drops the day before, I paddled right over the top, oblivious that there was something below me! And tree blocks ...

The Vagabond Diaries: The Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe

Wed, 22 Jun 2011 11:12:52 +0100

Usually, the most stand out moments of our journey have been unplanned and have cost very little.Like the magical evening when we called bush babies from their tree top slumber and fed them gooey bananas in Swaziland. In between sleepy munches, these primates gripped our similar but much bigger hands with their own tiny digits. It was enchanting.Or when we found the perfect spot to set up camp on a dry river bed deep in Kaokaland and could hear the laughter and ancient melodies of a nearby Himba ...

Table Mountain National Park – Week 1 of Year in the Wild!

Wed, 22 Jun 2011 10:15:47 +0100

I spent this week on Table Mountain for Year in the Wild (http://www.yearinthewild.com). It’s the first of 31 nature reserves and national parks that I’ll be visiting during the coming year, taking photographs of our country’s awesome natural beauty and interviewing the people who work in conservation. Table Mountain is actually a really appropriate place to start the journey, because it is symbolic of our country’s (and earth’s) environmental situation. There are 4,5 million people liv...

Practise makes perfect

Wed, 22 Jun 2011 09:17:45 +0100

Thank goodness my exams are all over - now I can focus on more important things like training It's been a hard month with cold weather and lots of long sessions on the road and in the boat. Getting up at 4:30 in the morning in the freezing cold is tough enough, but paddling and portaging in the dark with sleet and snow can lead to a major sense of humour failure! I know the Europeans would tell me to harden up, but this is Africa and its meant to be warm!My training is definitely on track and i...

Making waves in rural South Africa

Wed, 22 Jun 2011 08:16:10 +0100

Life and the beauty of people never ceases to amaze us! Even though being around water in the crispy cold winter weather adds new challenges we find it amazing to experience the willingness and support of people to assist us in our mission. The grateful faces of children when we open a tap and safe drinkable water that was once not there starts to flow brings a warm feeling in our beings. As part of our mission we have decided to assist schools with water and to educate and inspire the children t...

On the road to wearing green and gold

Thu, 19 May 2011 19:18:15 +0100

So far this year Garmin has made sure that I am one step ahead of my opponents, being one step ahead is one step better in what I do and how I do it.This year we already played 10 top class games. We toured to the Eastern Cape in April when we played two games against St Andrew College and Marlow. In the second term we travelled to the Kearsney rugby Easter festival. There we played Monnas, Helpmekaar and Kearsney. After the festival we went to Kimberley for the Wildeklawer Tournament and played ...

Rhinos in the UK

Thu, 19 May 2011 19:13:11 +0100

By now, A number of you would have heard that I managed to finish the London Marathon in the Rhino suit and have attached a few photos to prove this.My plan was to try and complete it in 6 hours which to some of you may think I am crazy, but remember the suit does weigh 15 kgs and yesterday en-route the temperature went up to around 24C. I did 06h06 Trust me that is warm in a suit in the UK! With my SA flag attached to my “HORN” boy did I receive some shouts and “GO BOKKE”.I believe I was...

Garmin and Grey College – taking rugby to the next level

Thu, 19 May 2011 19:04:49 +0100

Message from the Grey College rugby team captain:Garmin has had a huge influence in my sporting development thus far; I can now take my training to the next level. With my Garmin Set, I can monitor my heart-rate and see the actual running distance covered during any specific training session. It’s great variety of applications such as intervals, heart–rate zones and alerts for calories and distance makes it very useful in practice.I think that the actual value of Garmin would become evident o...

The Wild Coast Hike

Thu, 19 May 2011 19:00:20 +0100

The Transkei is an amazing coastline which is hugely diverse with some spectacular unpopulated areas. We always talked about walking the Transkei and last year we made the commitment by starting the first leg. Because of time constraints, we divided the coatline into three parts for three years during the Easeter holidays. Port Edward to Port St Johns last year, Port St Johns to Hole in the wall this year and Hole in the wall to Kei River next year.The Haworths joined us this year and we spent th...

A life waaaaay less ordinary

Thu, 19 May 2011 18:52:53 +0100

As if skydiving fulltime isnt enough to get the adrenaline flowing— it was time for Charles and Ralph to take a road trip. It wasn’t to be any thing special just a quick trip to Mozambique involving scuba diving eating fresh crayfish and drinking lots of beer.WHAT COULD POSSIBLY GO WRONGWe elected to take the VW Touareg it was Charles pride and joy and a four wheel drive with a lot more than your average comfort level. After many exciting days encompassing all a road trip could throw at u...