I was fortunate enough to be able to go on a training camp with my coach Johann Wykerd and other riders, at Clearwater. It was the best training camp i have ever gone on!
On Wednesday the 16th Johann picked me up from home to take me and a few others to Clearwater Farm in Port Shepstone, a MTB park of sorts. Soon after arriving and unpacking all the bikes we went to the High-intensity pump track. After we had done a warm up, Johann gathered us to teach us a few things. Taking Berms, riding over bumpy rocks and taking sharp corners with lose sand at high speed. We were paired up to race, with the track being a figure of eight, we were started in different directions and raced until we caught the other rider. It was hard, my legs were soon burning form the lactate acid build up from the continues sprinting out of corners. That night we were told that we must pick a partner for jobs around the camp. Brendon Davids and I paired up and on our stay there we had to Portuguese style braai chicken and wash the dishes a few times.
The next morning i was woken up by the early birds already eating breakfast outside our cabin. Johann soon dragged us out of bed for some morning core exercise workouts. While having breakfast later on Johann told us that we were doing force riding today. He explained that we will be doing a long ride with steep uphills and downhills and some technical spots all in one gear. That gear had to be fast enough to keep up on the flats and downhills, so it was quiet a heavy cadence gear. All i have to say is that it was tough! i have never been so uncomfortable in my life. I prefer high cadence pedaling, so for me to climb steep hills in a heavy gear was an almost impossible task but i did manage to pull it off. Later that night we told stories around the fire and just relaxed in the cabin and chatted.
The following Friday morning had a similar events but at least we were aloud to wake up late.
Johann told us that we were going to learn how to ride rocks today. The ride started great but soon turned sour for me. We ended up doing alot of kilometers on a dangerous tar road with a very small shoulder to ride in. I am alot better at Road cycling because i only recently converted to MTB. But this was not the same for alot of the other riders, they road quiet dangerously on the tar road, not thinking and not noticing hazards. This caused a few near crashes. The ride didn't get any better for me because i later crashed, where i flipped over the handlebars. This put me into a negative mindset causing more crashes, four more! Lets just say i got a crash coarse on how to ride rocks.
The following days ride was one to remember. Allegra, Johann wife and Luke Roberts had joined us the previous day and we all went on a scenic ride along the valley side, near to the cliffs in the Transkei on the other side of the valley. I enjoyed the ride so much because it was challenging but we could do it at our pace. It was so quiet on the trails and the view was amazing! After the ride we all had supper quiet early because we had to get to bed early for the race the following day.
The following day we made our way to the start of the Sardine Classic race in Johann's car, playing the Shakira Waka Waka world cup song to get us into the mood. As we got there i got this feeling that this was going to be a great day and event.
The race started with a steep climb where Burry Stander and Craig Paul made an attack. I climbed onto Darren Goddard a Jeep multiSport athlete's wheel. Darren soon road away from our little group. I road as hard as i could, pushing myself up the climbs. I road alot of th race with Bell Specialized rider Hayley Smith, a small U16 rider that could ride! Wow was she fast!
Johann Caught me 5omins into the race. He told me to stick onto his wheel but he was just to fast for me. I road with Hayley until we hit the Clearwater trails, i knew these trails and knew i could drop her here. I broke away from her and stayed away until the end.
I sped up alot at the end because an old Road cycling buddy was just in front of me and i wanted to beat him. I chased him all the way to the end, finishing beside him on the finish line. according to Johann i road a good time and i really enjoyed it. After the race we swapped race stories and got our free Tiagos Burger. Prize giving was later in the afternoon, where alot of the riders who were on the Boot camp got onto the podium, including Johann and Allegra in the respective age groups.
The Five days at Clearwaters with Johann, Allegra and the gang was the best fun that i had in a long time. Not only did i have fun but i learned so much in the 'Art' of MTB riding, i also made new friendships and strengthened other.
Cheers for now.
