The original concept of the Drak Descent was for riders and runners to see and follow the paddlers for short sections of the river as they did their annual Drak Challenge canoe race.
That was until the human spirit kicked in! Now it’s a question of can we ride all the way next to the Umzimkulu river – from Restmount Children’s Home to the Umzimkulu River Lodge – and more importantly can we ride and/or run faster than the canoeists??
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Sani Spoors – the presenters of the Drak Descent, is the brainchild of Ian Bonsma, Derek Christie, Ed Smith and Pierre Horn. Whilst it is a commercial venture, necessary for funding the preparation and maintenance of the riding, running and walking trails, it is the desire and passion of these local farmers and businessmen – to share the beauty of the area and the exhilaration of mountain biking, with as many people as possible – that fuels the venture and also the presentation of the Drak Descent.
The Drak Challenge – is one of the best known and most popular canoe races in the country. The concept of the Drak Descent mtb race was partly conceived by Richard Jardine, principal organiser of the Drak Challenge, when he asked the Sani Spoors founders to organise a mountain bike ride along the river – so that supporters could ride and see the canoeists in action. It is thus thanks to Richard Jardine and his organising committee that the Drak Challenge and the Drak Descent are able to share certain structures and facilities.
Euro Steel – our principal sponsor, is South Africa’s premier stockist and distributor of stainless steel, aluminium and other corrosion resistant materials. The proudly South African group is predominantly positioned in South Africa but also has operations in neighbouring countries. The CEO of the group of companies is Colin Wilson who happens to own a farm in the Underberg area. The union of Euro Steel, Sani Spoors and mountain biking began when Colin/Euro Steel kindly donated the steel cables and fittings used to build the Euro Steel “swaying” bridge over the Umzimkulu river at Ekhutuleni farm – that riders will cross on stage one of the race. Happily this partnership then extended to becoming the principal sponsor for the inaugural Drak Descent. Euro Steel is also a supplier to Morewood – the local mtb manufacturer.
Goodersons Leisure – owns and manages a variety of leisure destinations across South Africa offering guests the choice to experience the very best of the beach, berg and bush. Luckily one of their principal resorts is Drakensberg Gardens Golf and Spa resort in the Underberg area. Gavin Castleman, the CEO of Goodersons Leisure, and Peter Muil the manager of Drakensberg Gardens resort are both keen to develop mountain biking in the area and thus they are our accommodation venue of choice – with the excellent fully inclusive accommodation specials that they are offering for riders in the Drak Descent. Stage one of the race will be starting at the Drakensburg Gardens resort.
GWK – Terence van Dyk is the local manager of GWK who are leaders in RSA of agribusiness. They offer farmers a complete range of products and services by partnering with a diverse group of agribusinesses solution providers. GWK sponsors the “Run the Rivers Trail Run”. The Landzicht trademark is owned by GWK wines, and as much as Underberg is principally a dairy producing area – riders of the stage race will receive not a milkshake, but complimentary bottles of the very popular Landzicht wine.
First National Bank – We are proud to have FNB Business on board as a sponsor and encourage you and your families to support an afternoon of top class music entertainment at the Underberg Country Club on Saturday.
Cost for this event is R400 for both days. Entry will include a garment.
Riders who enter the Eurosteel MTB challenge or GWK Run the Rivers Trail Runs can only enter for both days (i.e. can’t enter for one day or the other). There is currently no closing date for the Eurosteel Challenge and Run the Rivers Trail Run at this stage.
Approximate Distances:
Ride safely through 2018. The Sani Spoors Team is really looking forward to hosting you all again at the EuroSteel Drak Descent 2019.
19 and 20 January 2019 – Preferential entries, for previous entrants are opening on 01 August at 14H00 to 30 September 2018.
Entries to the public open 1 October 2018. For the 2019 Eurosteel Drak Descent we plan to limit entries to either 400 riders (i.e. 200 teams or teams plus solo riders = 400). Entries for the main race will run separately from the Eurosteel MTB Challenge and the GWK “Run the Rivers Trail Runs” .
Eurosteel Drak Descent = Team R 1500 , Solo R 750 (substitutions at a cost of R200)
The Eurosteel DrakDescent is classified as a Mini Stage Race and therefore riders of the age 15+ in December are allowed to ride.
Eurosteel Drak Descent: Team R 1500, Solo R 750 (substitutions at a cost of R200); The Eurosteel Drak Descent is classified as a mini stage and therefore riders of the age 15+ in December can ride;
Eurosteel MTB Challenge: R400 per rider – Riders who enter the Eurosteel MTB Challenge can only enter for both days (i.e. can’t enter for one day or the other) There is currently no closing date for the Eurosteel MTB Challenge.
GWK Run the Rivers and GWK Run the Rivers Lite trail run: R400 for both days. Runners who enter the GWK Run the Rivers can only enter for both days (i.e. can’t enter for one day or the other). There is currently no closing date for the GWK Run the Rivers Trail Runs.
The Southern Drakensberg has a variety of accommodation options to choose from.
We hope to have some awesome specials coming up for you, but in the meantime please have a look at Sani Spoors – In The Area or go to www.drakensberg.org to have a look at some of your options.
A limited bike maintenance service will be supplied by Howick Cycle and Gear – available from Friday to Sunday. They will be located at Sani Spoors (The Olde Duck Contact Travis on 076 913 3879 or Sean on 072 454 7689).
Basic cycling spares are also available from Doug Abbey at Farm Equipment and Garden Centre next to the KFC/Shell Garage in Underberg – at 033 701 1119 or 082 785 9775
IPSS will be responsible for your medical support, under supervision of Dr. Grant Lindsay (071 676 1826) and the key ICE numbers for you to record are 076 881 4216 and 082 391 1911. Please put these ICE numbers into your cell phone. Stickers with these numbers will be given to you to have on your person during your ride or to stick onto your number board.
A free bike wash service will be available to you alongside the river at the end of Day 1.
There will be shuttles on both days – from the finish back to the start – for riders only.
Shuttles will run on the hour on a first-some first-served basis – and will be from a designated area near to the finish. Click on the Car Shuttle Service banner above for more information.
Book now to avoid disappointment!
By definition a river is either flat or flowing downhill – therefore the total ascent (meters climbed) for the Drak Descent = Nil. Wrong – X. Remember, there is some exploring to be done from a position of altitude; to find the right river; see where the paddlers are; cross tributaries where they are not too deep or wide; portage around rocky river cliffs and gorges – and sometimes you just lose your way – don’t you, and you need to check-out your surroundings!! Hence the now famous saying “Life is not all down-hill”.
Also, what comes to mind when you think of any river? Water, rocks, vegetation, roots, trees, fish, snakes, crocodiles, etc. So, how on earth are we going to ride next to all that?? Well, with some difficulty! – but wherever we can, we are going to do exactly that – by using cattle, walking, Eland, horse, jeep, other and occasionally bike trails and/or no trails at all to keep a tail on those canoeists. We can’t let them get away’!!
Many of the trails are virgin and are cobbled together by a couple of bridges (some floating but according to local folklore the Euro Steel “Waltzing Bridge” at Ekhutuleni on Day 1 being the most fearsome!) some berms and switchbacks and a couple of rocky gorges and cliff portages. Oh! …. and unlike the Voortrekkers, a couple of stretches of potholed tar!! Once again, depending on the River Gods there may well be some river wading – at which point you may want to borrow a canoe?
So, please don’t expect all tailored and manicured trails. But, the good news is that eventually on Day 1 and the start of Day 2, you will get down to the well-established and legendary Sani Spoors river, forest and cattle trails.
The course will follow small tributaries of the Umzimkulu river from their source at Restmount Children’s Home down to Underberg on day 1 (+-45 kms with +-500m of ascent) and then from Underberg to the Umzimkulu River Lodge (+-40kms with +-400m of ascent) on day 2 – allowing you time to get home reasonably early on Sunday. Whilst the days are not particularly long or hilly, feedback from most of the riders last year is that the route is tough, technical and challenging – but the event spirited and fun. They said “Please don’t change anything!”
The race is held under SA Cycling rules and under the auspices of KZN MTB.
Team riders should never be more than two minutes apart and times are taken from the last team rider crossing the finishing line.
Decisions taken by the organizers or representatives of SA Cycling or KZN MTB, in terms of these rules, and in the best interests of the race and the riders will be final.
The original concept of the Drak Descent was for riders and runners to see and follow the paddlers for short sections of the river as they did their annual Drak Challenge canoe race. That was until the human spirit kicked in! Now it’s a question of can we ride all the way next to the Umzimkulu river – from Restmount Children’s Home to the Umzimkulu River Lodge – and more importantly can we ride and/or run faster than the canoeists?? Well, that will depend on the River Gods; how much rain we have had; when it fell and how fast the river is now flowing. As any canoeist knows, the Umzimkulu can be at an all-time low on the Wednesday and be flooding by race day Saturday.
The Euro Steel Drak Descent is unique for many reasons – and this is why:-
The mtb race/ride is largely by invitation only – and is limited to 200 teams of two riders (400 riders max).
Those riders who rode the inaugural event will be invited again and may in turn invite one additional team (men, women or mixed) for 2016. This year the invites and entries will be handled online by MyActive. If all the team invites are not taken up, only then will the entries be opened to “the public” to fill any balance of the 200 teams).
It’s a race (there are very nice prizes and give-aways ……but no cash) – or a leisure ride, if you want. But whatever you want it to be, it’s assured to be testing, spectacular and lots of fun.
Much of the route is along the banks of the Umzimkulu river and its tributaries – right alongside the canoeists doing their race. But don’t watch them for too long ….or you’ll be in the water – without a paddle!!
This is an annual ride only and much of the route is on private property (part of a World Heritage Site) – that is otherwise inaccessible during the rest of the year.
There will be a race/ride come hell or high water. The race is held in afternoon thunder-storm season in the Drakensberg – and if the rain or river gods are not with us, we may well be swimming and not riding. But at least it’s bound to be warm at that time of year!
It’s the first stage race/ride of the season and will test your early season fitness and skills – as it’s definitely not for the inexperienced beginner! You’ll see the river from close – and also up from plateaus – giving some spectacular views. It is a “descent” but as you may well have heard “Life is not all downhill!!”
The race/ride is held in conjunction with the very popular Drak Challenge annual canoe race – allowing competitors in the Drak Descent to ride alongside the Umzimkulu river and its tributaries on both days – while the canoeists do their thing.
The course will follow small tributaries of the Umzimkulu river from their source at Restmount Children’s Home, down to Underberg on day 1 (+-50 kms) and then from Underberg to the Umzimkulu River Lodge (+-40kms) on day 2 – allowing you time to get home reasonably early on Sunday. Both days will incorporate some of the legendary Sani Spoors river, forest and cattle trails.
20 August 2019
Faster than we can imagine, summer turns to winter and after a few cold nights we start planning and preparing for the warmer summer days – which includes the now famous DrakDescent & Run the Rivers, to be held on the 1st & 2nd of February 2020. We are thrilled to bring you more improvements, new energy & excitement in our 2020 edition of this iconic Southern Drakensberg event. Our events form part of the growing FNB Drak Adventure Weekend, which will include the N3TC Drak Challenge and FNB Music Experience.
As a result of an overwhelming number of requests coming in from potential entrants for the DrakDescent we would first like to offer our faithful previous entrants a preferential entry period. To those of you that have heard the hype, but have not had an opportunity to enter in the past, never fear, there may still be a spot or two available when the entries open to the public. Jump in and enter in order to be placed onto the waiting list for entry allocation once the preferential entries close!
Did you enjoy the change of the start venue to the wonderful Glencairn Farm? We did and we thought it brought great opportunities to us for the future – watch out for what we have planned for you there. We suggest booking camping with them to stay part of the great race atmosphere which will build around the event.
Remember, while called the Descent, it is not an easy ride – and to our surprise that is what most riders of reasonable fitness and skill really enjoy. They have called it “real mountain biking”. Hence the change in date to give you a few more weeks of riding, to work off the Christmas excesses and be in better shape for our event. We are happy to announce that for 2020 our founding sponsor Euro Steel is again involved with the MTB race.
Entries will open on 2 September to all previous years participants and entries to the general public will open on 1 October. Due to our event having a limited number of participants we cannot hold entries indefinitely. We will allow previous year participants to register and pay until 31 October 2019, thereafter all unpaid entries will be notified and then removed. General public entries will have 14 days to register and pay before these are also removed. To reinstate an entry you will need to contact us and will be placed on the waitlist.
Euro Steel DrakDescent & Challenge:
= Team R 1600
= Solo R 800 (substitutions at a cost of R200)Euro Steel MTB Challenge = R500
Approximate Distances:
Euro Steel DrakDescent Day 1 = 42km Day 2 = 45km
Euro Steel MTB Challenge Day 1 = 25km Day 2 = 18km
The Euro Steel Drak Descent is classified as a Mini Stage Race and therefore riders of the age 15+ in December are allowed to ride.Our big news for Trail Runners is the announcement of new our partnership with Euro Steel for Run the Rivers 2020. What more could organisers ask for from a sponsor when they just continue to do more, give more and add such value to our event? We are ever grateful to Colin and his team and all at Euro Steel who make this possible – we also welcome them into the world of Trail Running where we are confident they will find a warm, receptive community to their brand and products of Stainless Steel and Aluminium.
Euro Steel Run the Rivers Trail run Day 1 = 25km Day 2 = 16km
Euro Steel Run the Rivers Lite Day 1 = 12km Day 2 = 8km
Cost for this event is R500 for both days.
Riders who enter the Euro Steel MTB Challenge or Euro Steel Run the Rivers can only enter for both days (i.e. can’t enter for one day or the other, but you can run only one day if you so wish.Follow the link to the entry page on www.drakdescent.co.za (as of 2nd September) and then click on the icon for the particular race you would like to enter.
Ride / Run safely through 2019.
The Sani Spoors Team is really looking forward to hosting you all again at the Euro Steel DrakDescent, MTB Challenge and Euro Steel Run the Rivers in 2020.
The Sani Spoors Team