GARDEN ROUTE NEWS - "This is the most excited I have ever been for the Sabrina Love Ocean Challenge," declared the event's director Mark Collins. "Enter now because this year is going to be off the charts," he added.
According to Collins it's the complete bouquet of events on offer that will make this year's challenge the best yet.
The big news is that this year's instalment of the annual Sabrina Love Ocean Challenge presented by Discovery has grown to be a three-day event, between 27 and 30 December.
The extra day out at Kurland Estate has enabled the organisers to offer a day dedicated exclusively to each of trail running and mountain biking races – in addition to the cherished first day on Central Beach. In addition, participants entering the 1 Mile Swim, the 21km Trail Run and the 50km MTB will be automatically ranked in the inaugural Tri-Challenge which already has created a wave of excitement.
The beloved 5km and 10km trail-run courses at Kurland now have an exciting, bigger 21km cousin. This half-marathon distance is what Collins predicts will grow to become the iconic trail event of the summer.
"It is a bespoke beautiful course with each metre lovingly crafted especially for trail running." He described it as varied, technical and demanding with spectacular vistas including a secret valley never before traversed. He promised an all-round trail experience that will have the trail-run fanatics "frothing at their mouths".
The 50km mountain bike is also something that has got the event director's endorphins flowing.
"Finally, after all these years we are able to offer the more serious mountain bikers what they have been asking for all along. They are going to love the new 50km course," Collins said, adding that it traverses mixed terrain with climbs, descents, forestry roads and beautiful flowing singletrack. The 25km course has not been neglected with tastes of everything that the 50km exhibits but is intended to be more achievable – but still not to underestimated.
The first day, 27 December, on Central Beach kicks off with the 10km Beach & Road Run followed by the 1 Mile Swim, the 5km Beach Walk and then the 15km Surf Ski Race. The exciting Kids of Steel adventure run takes place at Kurland on the Trail-Running Day on 29 December, and participants can treat themselves to a full day of activities by spending the afternoon at Kurland watching the International Polo.
The 2019 event closes with Mountain Bike Day on 30 December also at Kurland where the 2019 Tri- Challenge Champions will be crowned.
According to Collins the way the Sabrina Love Ocean Challenge is structured is unique, with 100% of the entry fees going to the foundation. "Your entry is already paid for by Discovery!" All you need to do is make the entry donation which enables you to be a part of the action and enables a child with special needs to thrive in 2020.
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