Riding as a Knolly Bikes grassroots team rider, and supported by Trailtech Cycles, Maxxis Tyres, South Industries, Leatt Protectives, and MRP in 2017, he hopes to gain the experience and skills required to be competitive on the EWS circuit in 2018.
This first part in the planned video series covers his background and why he’s taking on such an ambitious move, as well as providing you with a colourful, berm smashing, trail ripping, pedal stomping edit to push your visual senses to overload (editing courtesy of Hayden Brown Visual Media).
Over the course of the coming year, the video series will be detailing what it takes to try and break into the international racing circuit, including what sacrifices you have to make and the hard work you have to put in, how to adapt to new climates and being abroad, and the highs and lows of racing in Europe. Additionally, which is seldom covered in video series, he wants to show what it takes to market yourself, how to attract sponsors and how to create value for sponsors, especially when abroad.
Apart from the obvious goal of wanting to chase his cycling dreams and ambitions, there’s another important motive behind the video series:

The Bike Hub will showcase some race reports and pictures from Martin's key races abroad. His planned race schedule includes:
- Enduro World Series (4 races: dependant on the entry lottery system)
- 6 EWS qualifying races
- British Enduro series – the full series
- Tweedlove Scottish Enduro series
- UK Enduro Championships
- Scottish Enduro Championships
- Italian SuperEnduro
- A number of local and regional Enduro races
Instagram: @fietsman_SA
Facebook: www.faceboook.com/zietsmanracing
Twittter: @fietsman_SA
Guest, Jan 05 2017 07:29
Well done Martin and Hayden! Safe trip , not too long now
Ride your heart dude !!
Make us all proud.
Captain Fastbastard Mayhem, Jan 05 2017 08:06
Legend
Guest, Jan 05 2017 08:07
Hayden !!!! You're a LEGEND dude. We love the edit and look forward to all the rest .....
Epic Rookie, Jan 05 2017 08:42
Best of luck out there!
BaltazarMarques, Jan 05 2017 08:58
Wow Martin!! Inspirational Dude!! You, the riding, the words and the trails make for amazing content and Hayden has captured and put it all together so professionally and emotionally. It's world class and already can't wait for the next part. Congrats man and wishing you all the best for this exciting year ahead.Andrew_Smith, Jan 05 2017 10:18
All of the best Martin. Very inspiring video! As a youngster myself, it touched me.
Safe travels.
iteachcoffee, Jan 05 2017 11:37
chase those dreams always!
'Dale, Jan 05 2017 01:13
Superb clip🏆
Bizkit031, Jan 05 2017 02:31
The whole British Enduro series has been canceled due to sponsorship problems and low rider interest.snakedoctor, Jan 05 2017 02:48
Eish indeed: http://www.pinkbike....d-for-2017.html
Captain Fastbastard Mayhem, Jan 05 2017 02:56
Oh, that suuuuucks! And only announced today!
Bizkit031, Jan 05 2017 03:50
Yea Brexit starting to make its presence known now.Martin Zietsman, Jan 05 2017 05:40
That's correct, it has been cancelled. Fortunately, Enduro is massive over there and there's pretty much an enduro race every weekend of the year. I will now focus on the Welsh and Irish series too.
milky4130, Jan 05 2017 08:15
Nice stuff Martin, it was honour to meet you, travel & compete together. Wishing you all the best with your new adventure & career.NPJ, Jan 05 2017 08:29
I got so amped watching this, from a technical perspective to a motivational piece! Seriously well done guys! I recon this is probably one of the best video content pieces to come out of SA in a while! Hayden, on fire my bru!
Myth, Jan 06 2017 10:29
Best of luck!Grease_Monkey, Jan 07 2017 08:52
Good luck Martin, very inspirational story! Takes alot of work to finish an Engineering degree and focus on a sport like you did. Will be following your progress, make SA proud man!Rushdee, Jan 08 2017 12:09
Enjoyed the clip. The unfolding background story took the well-edited video to the next level. Not many MTB clips out there have accomplished the same.
Rushdee, Jan 08 2017 12:36
Took on the task of completing a degree with two small kids. Toward the end of the degree, third kid comes along. Managed to complete the degree successfully and somehow still made time to squeeze in a fair bit of MTB'ing too. One of the advantages of a crazy busy weekly routine is that it improves time management skills ten fold.
captain morgan, Jan 09 2017 01:37
Impressive ... riding ,story and video ... good luck!timwightman, Jan 09 2017 08:50
Great story and classy edit. Well done.
BlackSnow, Jan 14 2017 10:40
Best of luck bro. Make us proud !!!nox1111, Jan 30 2017 11:56
Now that's a feel good story!
Lekker Martin, best of luck with both ventures!
Christofison, Apr 07 2017 04:24
Warrapen Martin? Didn't see his name in the Round 1 results.
Mopkop, Apr 08 2017 11:27
Best of luck Martin, TRAP DIEP!!!