Adventure News: MARAIS AND SLOAN TAKE NO PRISONERS AT TOTALSPORTS XTERRA KNYSNA

Adventure News: MARAIS AND SLOAN TAKE NO PRISONERS AT TOTALSPORTS XTERRA KNYSNA - Ndorfin, South Africa

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Thursday, 12 July 2012
MARAIS AND SLOAN TAKE NO PRISONERS AT TOTALSPORTS XTERRA KNYSNA

Susan Sloan completed the 3km trail run, 22km mountain bike and 7km trail run in an impressive combined time of 02hours01minutes58seconds securing her the top podium position at the 2012 TOTALSPORTS XTERRA Knysna presented by REHIDRAT� SPORT at the PEZULA Field of Dreams on Thursday, 12 July 2012. Seen here: Sloan in action on the day.
(Photo Credit ~ www.oakpics.com)

PEZULA Private Estate�s Field of Dreams was the equivalent of a battle field on Thursday, 12 July 2012 when just under 800 eager XTERRA warriors toed the line to take on the fast paced TOTALSPORTS XTERRA Knysna presented by REHIDRAT� SPORT. Stuart Marais and Susan Sloan were the victors in the individual men�s and women�s races respectively.

Marais� win did not come easy on the day going up against former multiple SA mountain biking champion and 2010 XTERRA Knysna winner Kevin Evans. �Today�s race was really hard,� says Marais. �I had to build a lead on Kevin Evans and Nico Pfitzenmaier, which meant that I had to go out really hard on the first 3km run. Kevin caught me quickly on the mountain bike leg, it felt like I was standing still. I tried to stick with him, but in under a minute he was gone. I waited for Nico Pfitzenmaier and Tyronne White who were in 3rd and 4th place and cycled with them pretty much into transition.   I heard that Kevin had 2 � minutes lead on me, so I put my head down and just tried to find my rhythm.   XTERRA Knysna is perfect for those athletes that want to compete for the first time. I just loved it,� says Marais who crossed the finish line in an impressive time of 01hour39minutes32seconds.   Kevin Evans came in second, while Nico Pfitzenmaier finished third.

Though she doesn�t consider herself to be a good swimmer, Susan Sloan found it tougher to transition from the run discipline to the mountain bike discipline than from the swim discipline to the mountain bike discipline. �It�s really hard on the legs going from a run to the mountain bike. I had some technical trouble with my mountain bike today, forcing me to work harder. The runs were good, however I had to push hard as I knew that Alae Brand and Fienie Barnard were right behind be, both of them being really strong runners. Running is fun and mountain biking is fun, if you put them together you get XTERRA, it�s the best. I�ll definitely like to be back next year,� says Sloan who had a winning time of 02hours01minutes58seconds. Alae Brand came in second, while Fienie Barnard finished third.

Team Perde was the first men�s team home on the day with a time of 01hour58minutes24seconds, followed by Team Brittain in second and Team Just Relax in third.

Team Giant Mavic was the first women�s team home on the day with a time of 02hours15minutes30seconds, while Team Locarno finished second.

Team Fun Freaks was the first mixed team home on the day with a time of 02hours18minutes28seconds, followed by Team DT in second and Team New Balance Legends in third.

Dan Howitz took honours in the individual men�s category of the TOTALSPORTS XTERRA Knysna Lite presented by REHIDRAT� SPORT with a winning time of 01hours02minutes43seconds. Matthew Lombardi came in second, while Philip Van Niekerk finished third.

Heleen Rossouw walked off with gold in the women�s category of the TOTALSPORTS XTERRA Knysna Lite presented by REHIDRAT� SPORT with a winning time of 01hour18minutes40seconds. Marguerite Van Niekerk came in second, while Jade Hooke finished third.

Team Pa en Seun was the first men�s team home on the day with a time of 01hour06minutes39seconds, followed by Team C and D PRG in second and Team Austin Powers Squared in third.

Team Lombardi Salomon was the first women�s team home on the day with a time of 01hours17minutes47seconds, followed by Team Rola in second and Team Dream It in third.

Team Cyclerun was the first mixed team home on the day with a time of 01hour07minutes42secnds, followed by Team Merrell Mixed Lite in second and Team Jimmy�s in third.

EVENT INFO:
Date:   Thursday, 12 July 2012
Venue:    PEZULA Private Estate, Field of Dreams (Knysna)
Start:    XTERRA Lite ~ 10h00
             XTERRA Full ~ 12h30

Forming part of the much loved Pick �n Pay Knysna Oyster Festival, XTERRA Full athletes needed to complete a 3km trail run, 22km mountain bike and 7km trail run, while XTERRA Lite athletes were faced with the same challenge, but just over a shorter distance of 3km trail run, 12.5km mountain bike and a 3km trail run. All three legs of the XTERRA Full and XTERRA Lite took place in and around the spectacular PEZULA Private Estate.

Entrants could compete individually or in teams of two.

All XTERRA entrants had the opportunity to stock up on energy at the much loved Bokomo Breakfast Zone the morning of the XTERRA at PEZULA Field of Dreams. Once completed competitors could regain their strength in the much loved REHIDRAT� SPORT Recovery Zone.

Exciting News: For the first time in the XTERRA Knysna�s history, XTERRA Full Warriors received age group prizes. Positions 1-3 in each age group were also awarded a specially designed Gold, Silver or Bronze medal event BUFF�!

In addition every entrant received a unique Totalsports XTERRA BUFF� in their goody bag. Lucky draw prizes up for grabs on the day included: a R2500 TOTALSPORTS Voucher, a spectacular KTM Ultra 2.29 bicycle valued at R9495 and four pairs of New Balance shoes.

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For more information on the TOTALSPORTS XTERRA presented by REHIDRAT� SPORT please contact Stillwater Sport & Entertainment on 086 138 3591, email entries@stillwatersports.com or visit www.stillwatersports.com. For more information on the Knysna Oyster Festival visit www.oysterfestival.co.za.

Stuart Marais completed the 3km trail run, 22km mountain bike and 7km trail run in an impressive combined time of 01hour39minutes32seconds securing him the top podium position at the 2012 TOTALSPORTS XTERRA Knysna presented by REHIDRAT� SPORT at the PEZULA Field of Dreams on Thursday, 12 July 2012. Seen here: Marais in action on the day.
(Photo Credit ~ www.oakpics.com)