Subaru Sani2c Adventure 2008 - Day 1 - of many…
February 27th, 2008 by Dan HugoCresting a grassy hillside after another mint single track, I could see the finish arch of what was an excellent day of social riding enjoyment on the first stage of the 2008 Subaru Sani2c Adventure - South Africa’s favourite mountain bike race.
(A race start thats not a race - the Sani2c Adventure gets launched)
Great riding, across 87km of varied terrain offering top draw entertainment the entire way. Each little climb was rewarded justly with some single track descending. Single track thats been exceptionally well maintained and prepared, and spiced up with wooden bridges, choice of difficulty routes, and it just kept coming.
(The chaos at Sani Pass Hotel last night)
We only got to out hotel at 10:30pm. Registration was from 2pm till 6pm. A mare of a day. Testing times yesterday.
(Riders lining the start shoot in Underberg)
But this morning all was forgotten to the sound of a 4am alarm and thoughts of whats been described as the best stage event in South Africa. Dylan and I are part of the EA Sports crew, four teams, with some backup, and its all been a little too good to be true.
(Came off in a muddy corner)
We rode sociably, with boys being boys on the downhill’s and technical stuff. One such was a mud pool I misjudged and spent some time in. A soft landing, but another scratch to the S-Works Epic frame and ego…
The main race starts tomorrow morning. Main in the context of the pro riders racing, but as for the 1000 stunned souls here walking into the marque for the 24hour kitchen service, this is as good as mountain biking gets. The organisation is astounding. The attention to fine detail will demand a post on its own. This is vision and excellence intertwined.
(Dylan approaching one of the many ‘hand made’ single track bridges)
(Bike wash in back ground)
Note the high pressure bike wash in the back ground on some old tennis courts. There was warm showers, wood chips preventing mud, 600 tents lined with military precision. Dylan and my personal interest with EA Sports got out bags in our tents by the time we got to them, but for the rest, there was the antique tractor to cart tired legs and black holding boxes to tents.
(Tented village)
Life’s not all downhill - but the downs sure were rewarding today. EA Sports - we owe you.
