Events

The EzelEnduro: Bigger and tougher

· By BikeHubCoreAdmin · 49 comments

The weekend of 9th to the 11th of September 2016, saw 52 brave riders head to Ceres, to take on the 2nd edition of the brutal and challenging, invite-only, EzelEnduro.

With more than 40km of trails, 1660 meters of vertical climbing, and the addition of another stage, the event was designed to be even tougher than last year’s. Stages 5 and 6, like last year, required riders to hike-a-bike for about 1.5 hours each, before dropping into a 10 minute, arm destroying descent. Riders spent between 7 and 8 hours battling against the unforgiving Ceres terrain, with 15 DNF’s at the end of the day, and plenty of mechanicals in the mix. With riders from KZN and Joburg travelling down specifically for the event, racing was set to be tight, and in the end, Hayden Brown (PYGA) took the win over Oli Munnik by 5 seconds, with last year’s champion Matt Lombardi (GIANT) rounding off the podium in 3rd.

A standalone event this year (previously piggybacking on the Eselfontein Festival), riders and supporters had full access to the entire campsite and eco-huts, and were free to roam the entire farm. A post event chill-zone was setup on Saturday, treating everybody to some delicious potjiekos, with beers and energy supplied by CBC and Redbull. The after-party ensued, and the unbroken ones took things into the early hours of Sunday morning…

The idea behind the EzelEnduro is a simple one. Super tough riding with a small group of people looking for the same challenge. The fact that it’s showing us how many people are keen on this type of riding as well as the fact that it’s the youngsters that are most amped about the event gives us massive hope for the riding talent in this country. Well done to all the participants – it was an honour to meet, ride and party with you!
Daniel Dobinson | iRideAfrica

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ccs-38514-0-59860500-1473746940.jpgFriday night saw most of the riders arrive at Ezelfontein to setup camp and get the fires going. Some were better prepared than others to fight the cold…

ccs-38514-0-82312300-1473746928.jpgFor most it was an early night as Saturday would be a tough 8 hours in the hills.

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ccs-38514-0-50994100-1473747023.jpgLast minute bike preps and the daily caffeine fix in the early hours of Saturday morning.

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ccs-38514-0-99166800-1473747064.jpgFrosty morning beats provided by Redbull. No sleep-ins at the party.

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The EzelEnduro, far from easy… and definitely a far cry from cruising on Cape Towns beaches… Thanks for a ROCKIN event! – excuse the pun…
Joe Nesbitt
Best weekend EVER!
Guy Ian McKechnie
Thank you Daniel! Scared the crap out of me but loved every second!
Nico van Zyl

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What a jol it was. High 5’s all round!
Carlos Marquez
Proper mountain biking.
Gina Nixon
I nearly bombed on stage 4, but stage 5 went really well and about 300m before the end of the stage I had a huge crash, went OTB, and had to ride the rest of the stage on a rear flat.
Hayden Brown

ccs-38514-0-31912400-1473747286.jpgThe official EzelEnduro trophy – hand crafted by Dave Mercer.

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ccs-38514-0-44325500-1473747326.jpgRupert trying his best to brief the eager crowd.

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Every stage was f*ing gnarly, but everyone tried their best and I got third on the day – so I’m happy with that.
Matt Lombardi
I came out here very scared, I didn’t know if I’d be able to ride all these trails – I rode them all and I’m so proud and so happy and I had so much fun.
Craig McKune
I’m in charge of making the big decisions.
Rupert von Tutschek

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ccs-38514-0-93393100-1473747457.jpgAwesome timing system provided by KZN MTB – worked a charm!

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ccs-38514-0-72499200-1473747479.jpgRider getting ready to take on SS3.

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ccs-38514-0-25513500-1473747507.jpgMatt Lombardi, 3rd overall.

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ccs-38514-0-62291600-1473747547.jpgEvent organizer Daniel Dobinson – 5th overall.

ccs-38514-0-22371300-1473747557.jpgRika Olivier – 2nd overall in the ladies category.

ccs-38514-0-50131200-1473747598.jpgGina Nixon – 1st overall in the ladies category.

ccs-38514-0-53479400-1473747606.jpgWinner winner chicken dinner. Hayden Brown, the king of Ezelfontein.

I’d like to say that I wasn’t beaten by all the girls, but I was beaten by the first lady.
Cliff Beckett
For the rest of the year, Cliff Beckett is my b***h.
Dave Hartley
What a legendary event. Respect to the organizers, respect to the sponsors, and I beat Cliff Beckett also.
Richard Dick Goldstein

ccs-38514-0-85952200-1473747614.jpgKeira Duncan, only 15 years old and smashing out 4th overall. The future is bright.

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ccs-38514-0-45752500-1473747634.jpgOli Munnik – 2nd overall.

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ccs-38514-0-20932800-1473747708.jpgThumbs up on liaison 5. Only about an hour’s hiking left… on this stage.

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ccs-38514-0-19558400-1473747724.jpg#lunarlandscape

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Today I had a great day, I beat Cliff Beckett, and I went OTB twice on the last stage.
John Toastie
EzelEnduro 2016 – 6 extremely tough stages, specially the last 2 – It is dubbed the toughest Enduro in South Africa for a reason.
Joanna Dobinson
Thanks for the awesome day guys. Final stage saw me hit the deck 3 times but it was worth it!
Karl Kielblock

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ccs-38514-0-34440900-1473747766.jpgHayden Brown charging his way into top spot.

ccs-38514-0-58921000-1473747771.jpgMatt Lombardi showing the signs of an OTB on stage 5, with Dave Mercer apparently moving rocks out the way with his face.

ccs-38514-0-74973400-1473747877.jpgJoanna Dobinson – 3rd overall in the ladies category

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ccs-38514-0-42012400-1473747967.jpgThe 3 brave ladies taking on EzelEnduro 2016. Legends.

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Daniel, you guys did an Awesome job on the Ezelenduro, thanks!
Frank Corris
I can’t remember the last time I consumed alcohol with no regard for the consequences…. great after-party peoples!
Harry Millar
Such an awesome weekend guys, thanks so much to the team for organising.
Julian Moore

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ccs-38514-0-94122600-1473748060.jpgFlannel for the win!

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ccs-38514-0-78572300-1473748215.jpgThe podiums from left: Danie du Toit taking the hardtail category. Overall ladies and overall men.

Top 10 overall:

1. Hayden Brown – 26:19
2. Oliver Munnik – 26:24
3. Matt Lombardi – 27:16
4. Keira Duncan – 28:31
5. Daniel Dobinson – 29:18
6. Hilton Frost – 29:19
7. Neil Bradford – 29:26
8. Harry Millar – 29:28
9. Rupert von Tutschek – 29:53
10. Julien Louw – 30:31

Download the full results here.

Shoutouts for making this event possible, goes to Redbull for music, shade, energy and very importantly, accurate timing. To CBC for some well deserved beer afterwards. To SRAM and WPGE for financial support and event insurance. To Deon Malherbe for providing us with this unique playground and building so many top quality trails for us to play on, and providing accommodation and motorbikes for myself and the event organizers to use during the event. To Llama bars for some amazing trail food. Lastly, to all the ladies that helped prepare the delicious potjiekos for all the starving riders Saturday afternoon.

See you all in 2017!

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All images by Ewald Sadie | instagram: @ewaldsadie | www.esphotography.co.za

Comments

Meezo

Sep 13, 2016, 7:57 AM

mooi

Odinson

Sep 13, 2016, 8:06 AM

*Casually reading thread description*

 

"invite-only"

 

*TRIGGERED*

Thermophage

Sep 13, 2016, 9:00 AM

Dudes...this was soooooo unbelievably amazing...Even though I was swearing ALL of the last hike-a-bike and probably half of the first on the way up :P

V12man

Sep 13, 2016, 9:03 AM

*Casually reading thread description*

 

"invite-only"

 

*TRIGGERED*

#unlike

nox1111

Sep 13, 2016, 9:09 AM

Well captured Ewald!

Sad there's not a picture of me on one of the stages, lekker to have near death experiences on film, but oh well!

Found on your site, schweet!

Odinson

Sep 13, 2016, 9:12 AM

#unlike

 

#unlikeunlike

rock

Sep 13, 2016, 9:13 AM

on a scale from 1 to 2017 Cape Town Cycle Tour, how much was the entry fee?  :whistling:

Super_mil

Sep 13, 2016, 9:30 AM

Looks like a great event on some pretty serious terrain!

Hopefully next year... 

Headshot

Sep 13, 2016, 9:37 AM

Lovely pics as usual from Mr Sadie. I shall refrain from commenting on the "invite only" status because that would be like flogging a dead esel.  

Meezo

Sep 13, 2016, 9:38 AM

Lovely pics as usual from Mr Sadie. I shall refrain from commenting on the "invite only" status because that would be like flogging a dead esel.  

 

so how did it go?

duringd

Sep 13, 2016, 9:39 AM

looks brilliant!!

King Dean

Sep 13, 2016, 9:46 AM

That looks like some good fun! :-)

The Habrador

Sep 13, 2016, 10:00 AM

on a scale from 1 to 2017 Cape Town Cycle Tour, how much was the entry fee?  :whistling:

Hi Rock, it was R850 for two night's camping, a whole-lotta-painful racing, all-you-can-eat potjie, lots of free after-party booze, bonfires, good vibes and endless positivity!

 

And at the risk of opening myself up to the trolls, FYI, the "invite only" thing is a bit of a misnomer because all anyone had to do was say "yo, can I come?" and the answer was always "yes of course!"... contrary to popular belief, there ain't no secret society and handshake! We f'd up a bit in the beginning by making the 2016 facebook page private instead of public and frustratingly facebook don't allow it to be switched back, and by the time we realised it was too late to create a new one, but next year it'll be public and then word will get out better - it's only our second event, and we live and learn! Join us next year!

Headshot

Sep 13, 2016, 10:04 AM

so how did it go?

 

It was my sons 11th birthday party and I was braaing the burgers so I didn't have a chance... Looks like proper fun and what Harry Millar said is correct about the entry process.  I am looking forward to the Esels three day stage race in a months time. That is such a great spot to do any kind of riding. 

RvonT

Sep 13, 2016, 10:39 AM

Hi Rock, it was R850 for two night's camping, a whole-lotta-painful racing, all-you-can-eat potjie, lots of free after-party booze, bonfires, good vibes and endless positivity!

 

And at the risk of opening myself up to the trolls, FYI, the "invite only" thing is a bit of a misnomer because all anyone had to do was say "yo, can I come?" and the answer was always "yes of course!"... contrary to popular belief, there ain't no secret society and handshake! We f'd up a bit in the beginning by making the 2016 facebook page private instead of public and frustratingly facebook don't allow it to be switched back, and by the time we realised it was too late to create a new one, but next year it'll be public and then word will get out better - it's only our second event, and we live and learn! Join us next year!

 

Actually, you gotta ask me cause I make all the big important decisions. Yup. That's what I do.

rock

Sep 13, 2016, 10:41 AM

Hi Rock, it was R850 for two night's camping, a whole-lotta-painful racing, all-you-can-eat potjie, lots of free after-party booze, bonfires, good vibes and endless positivity!

 

 

as I suspected, a whole lot of good value there.

RvonT

Sep 13, 2016, 10:42 AM

Great to see riders shocking themselves at their own capabilities. If we make tougher courses, riders just somehow seem to push themselves and hit the trails. Not sure what EzelEnduro will look like in 2025...!!!

Meezo

Sep 13, 2016, 10:54 AM

Great to see riders shocking themselves at their own capabilities. If we make tougher courses, riders just somehow seem to push themselves and hit the trails. Not sure what EzelEnduro will look like in 2025...!!!

 

E-EzelEnduro

PhilipV

Sep 13, 2016, 10:56 AM

Great to see riders shocking themselves at their own capabilities. If we make tougher courses, riders just somehow seem to push themselves and hit the trails. Not sure what EzelEnduro will look like in 2025...!!!

EzelRampage?

I for one have a "new normal" or baseline when it comes to judging a trail after the weekend.

Dan Dob

Sep 13, 2016, 11:02 AM

E-EzelEnduro

NEVER! And you can quote me on that in 2025 ;)

DoomedUser

Sep 13, 2016, 11:16 AM

Wors on a braai never looked as good as this.

 

Awesome photies again!

Sarel See Monster

Sep 13, 2016, 12:47 PM

Best weekend I spent riding my bike, kuiering with like-minded bike riding fools and riding my bike. Thanks guys for putting it all together.

 

PS. Keep the invite open, keep the description of the event scary (true to what it is), keep the stages gnarly and/or make them harder and, if I may, cap the amount of entries. This sort of thing will loose its majic if it goes over 60 riders. #justsaying. The weekend felt like a tightly knit family wedding. Net 'n klomp mooi mense. 

Jewbacca

Sep 13, 2016, 1:34 PM

Best weekend EVER!

 

Absolute bunch of legends riding bikes and being rad.... 

 

It is hands down one of the best races I have ever been to. Very tough going on a hard tail, but we always knew it would be!

 

The most fun and laughs and radness I have had in 48 hours without drugs... But I did have Pilchards..... 

Hairy

Sep 13, 2016, 2:03 PM

Hi Rock, it was R850 for two night's camping, a whole-lotta-painful racing, all-you-can-eat potjie, lots of free after-party booze, bonfires, good vibes and endless positivity!

 

And at the risk of opening myself up to the trolls, FYI, the "invite only" thing is a bit of a misnomer because all anyone had to do was say "yo, can I come?" and the answer was always "yes of course!"... contrary to popular belief, there ain't no secret society and handshake! We f'd up a bit in the beginning by making the 2016 facebook page private instead of public and frustratingly facebook don't allow it to be switched back, and by the time we realised it was too late to create a new one, but next year it'll be public and then word will get out better - it's only our second event, and we live and learn! Join us next year!

R850 with "all you can eat potjie" .... damned ... I could get my whole entry fee back in one night it I was there :P

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