It might not be the World Championships, but here in Stellenbosch it’s most definitely The World Championships in many local’s minds!! Every year a swarm of us buzz our way to Oudstroom, for the annual “To Hell And Back” MTB Race. The race is an out and back event. We ride in to this really remote valley called The Hell (about 60km) and the next day we ride back out. It takes about 5-7 hours in and out depending on how fast you want to ride. Last year I surprised myself with 10th. This year the pressure is on. Let’s just hope the nightmares of that pass where Susi pushed me don’t come back to haunt me! The first climb on day one is up that bloody thing! They called it the Swartberg Pass!

Tomorrow I take that drive to Oudstroom with Ernie “The Genius” Gruhn and Nordan “VO2 Coach” Jordan. All the crew are going and it’s going to be some fun. After we’ve race in, we spend the day sitting around eating drinking and talking crap!!! I am excited!