Written by Justin Boast
Back in April 2006 I was driving home
and took one of many back roads that lead to Durbanville. I chose
Malanshoogte which was just a dirt road in the middle of massive
wheat fields that lead down to the Fair Cape milk farm. Cruising down
I noticed the road had a nice gradient which kept going for quite a
distance. Then about 1.8km into the road was this killer drop,
thoughts of this road been paved and reaching high speeds on my
speedboard rushed through my mind as I sped down the hill in my car.
It was one of those hills that you look back and say to yourself
don't you wish they could pave that hill.
About 2 weeks later
I drove on the road again and this time they had cleared the road and
made it wider, which looked like they were going to pave the road. My
mouth watered with the thought of the road been paved with smooth
tar. That was it it was scout time, for the next month I went
back to check on the progress till one day they got to the base coat.
The road was going to be paved, I could of taken my board then I was
so excited that there was going to be a killer hill just 10mins from
my house. But no I contained myself and looked to the
skies and
ask the big guy just this once can you please pave this road nice and
smooth. About 2 weeks later I went back and there it was the
smoothest tar in the middle of nowhere, black and new, with 2km of
road to skate on before the hill went back up. No stop signs or cross
sections just a smooth road.
After months of skating on the
road we approach the Fair Cape farmer to allow us to host and event.
The meeting went well and the date was set for Sunday the 18th of
March, which was just 3 weeks away. SAGRA got into gear and in 3
weeks got all the necessary permits and advertising out before
the event. We organised a party the night before the race at one of
the local clubs, Corner Bar. We had a big screen projector showing
downhill DVD's. The party went well and the next morning it was up
early to finish setting the course.
Sunday the 18th arrived
and the first race of the year was on. Weather conditions were
perfect in the morning with clear skies. All the local riders came
out plus a bunch of new riders came to give racing a go. Been only
that we had one day to have the event we started early. The riders
got their leathers on and started practicing.
The course
starts with a straight push and then into a tight right turn. The
road curves to the left and back into a straight. Flying down the
road you prepare for the final right which drops into the fastest
section of the course where top speeds of 97kmh have been reach for
downhill skateboard and 117kmh for street luge. Unfortunately during
the course of the day an easterly headwind was blowing which kept the
speeds in the high 80's. It was quite a process to squeeze everything
in one day but finally the racing began.
Positioning was
essential due to the course been not to technical so you had to be in
the right spot for drafting. There were some tight races with neck
and neck finishes. In the end it was two young guns Richard Dweza and
Decio Lourenco up against two of the best riders in SA, Stuart
Bradburn and Mike Zietsman. Mike used his big push and was riding
90mm fly to get him in front and stay there for the whole 1.9km and
took first spot followed by Stuart then Decio and Richard.
Racing
went well and the day was a success with plenty of spectators and new
riders coming to race. The first race of the year was over, everyone
had a good time and there will be a defiant 2 day race again in
November. Keep checking www.sagra.co.za for more info and the
message board.
Downhill Skateboard
1.Mike Zietsman
2.Stuart Bradburn
3.Decio Lourenco
4.Richard Dweza
5.Kent Lingeveldt
6.Ben Malherbe
7.Anton Pratt
8.Oliver
Nielsen
9.Tibor Hery
10.Justin Boast
11.Luke Godfrey
12.Bradley Barham
13.Dave Hort
14.Josh Smit
15.Christi
Wiehahn
16.Tertius Vivier
17.Jerry Jackson
Street
Luge
1.Russell Naude
2.Ken Breukel
3.Waldo Swiegelaar
4.Glen Phillips
5.Justin Gootman
6.Michael Malan
Classic luge
1.Russell Naude
2.Faizal Samsodien
3.Jason Kottler
4.Waldo Swiegelaar
5.Ken Breukel
6.Glen
Phillips
7.Jeremy Godfrey
8.Ben Malherbe
More Pictures:
Images courtesy of Bay Sports and Mark
Le Grange
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