DH Avelanche at Mankele
Once a year Mankele bike park, just outside of Nelspruit, MP hosts one of the premier DH / all-mountain races in South Africa. Three days of adrenaline pumping fun and no climbs…
This is what the organisers had to say about the upcoming event:
” Hi all,
One week until a weekend of Mountain biking heaven!
The perfect winter race, NO CLIMBS, it makes you feel better about your non training/late sleeping hot chocolate over dosing mornings. The course looks awesome. Geoff, I and an undercover secret training downhiller went for a test ride on Wednesday. I was blown away, the new sections are super awesome. Believe it or not but we managed to add in more single track. D/hillers vs X-country. Fritz, Bryce, Ben Melt will be representing the XC boys so the D/H guys have got something to prove.
Stage One: Starts on a flat out peddling single track section that runs on the contour of the mountain leading you to the famous “Neil’s Diamond” bush tunnel drop in. If you have not dropped one in your pants after the drop, be sure to ride the half pipe style bush tunnel and remember to do it styling. Oh yes we have put in a chicken run. Once you pop out of the bush tunnel and regained feeling in your heart area be prepared for the best flowing single track which leads you to rock garden and slippery snake. This is one of my favorite sections at Mankele. 6,4km stage WICKED!
Stage Two: 3 2 1 and you will be doing close to 60km’s per hour within seconds! Down the old Sabie road into tight single track. This leads you to Snakes & Ladders (winter means: no snakes!!) drop into the bush tunnel and flat out, down Burry Standers favorite XC section. We have added a new section after the bush tunnel, it is fast and super cool. Geoff noticed that his front brake does work and the rocks are harder than his helmet. 4,6km stage WICKED!!
Stage Three: Now this stage is so cool it’s been ruled illegal. No one can have so much fun legally!! This is one mother of a stage. Fast flowing single track, with a view of note. It cuts into the new downhill top section. 2m high wooden berm, 27m boardwalk and some awesome tight tricky corners will take you all the back to Mankele. 4.3km stage WICKED!!!
Get your entry in ASAP www.mankele.co.za
R500 (Includes: Race, shuttle, tented accommodation and Saturday night supper, best fricken chicken you will ever eat).
Friday night: Race Briefing
Sat morning: Stage 1: 2 runs best time counts.
Sat Afternoon: Stage 2: 2 runs best time counts.
Sat Evening: Chicken time and prize giving. War stories around the fire.
Sunday morning: Stage 3: 2 runs best time counts
Prize giving, you cry because you must go home!! “
Tags: DH, Downhill, Freeride, Mankele, Stage races
