INTRODUCING A NEW STAGE RACE: THE WATERBERG TRAVERSE

The Glacier Cradle Traverse mountain bike stage race will be moving north, leaving behind the familiar trails of the Cradle of Humankind for the unexplored gems of the Waterberg. Glacier by Sanlam, a leading investment platform in South Africa and a subsidiary of Sanlam, is the naming rights sponsor of the Waterberg Traverse, which is organised by Dryland Event Management and hosted by Summerplace Game Reserve. The maiden Glacier Waterberg Traverse will take place from 3 to 5 May 2024.

Paid partnership with Dryland Event Management

Building on the foundation laid by the Glacier Storms River Traverse in the Tsitsikamma region of the Eastern Cape, the Glacier Waterberg Traverse will feature short stages with a minimal amount of elevation gain. The idea is for riders to be able to take part at a leisurely or race pace – to enjoy the ride or to flex their competitive muscles. Analog and eBikes will both be welcome at the Traverse, with an eBike racing category taking advantage of the fact that all three stages are short enough to race on full power without having to be concerned about battery management.

“The Glacier Waterberg Traverse, which will be hosted in the stunning Summerplace Game Reserve in Limpopo, is one more opportunity for us to host the many role players who are important to our business”, says Khanyi Nzukuma, Chief Executive at Glacier by Sanlam.

“At the Glacier Cradle or Glacier Storms River Traverse weekends, over the years, we have been excited to welcome existing clients, intermediaries, potential clients, colleagues and friends, who love the outdoors as much as we do. The Glacier Waterberg Traverse will be no different,” explains Nzukuma. “The Glacier Traverses are designed for participants to connect outside of work and share a moment of wellbeing and fun in beautiful surroundings.”

Early-Bird Specials

For the month of June 2023, mountain bikers can take advantage of an early bird entry special of R7 600 for a solo rider and R14 500 per team of two. Thereafter, the standard entry fee of R8 900 for individuals and R17 300 for two-person teams will apply. An entry includes the following:

• three mountain biking stages on marked, handcrafted trails
• nine meals (from dinner on Thursday, 2 May to lunch on Sunday, 5 May)
• access to the riders-only chill zone,
• a pristine bushveld experience,
• complimentary First Ascent race apparel.

Entries do not include accommodation, but Summerplace Game Reserve has a range of accommodation options, which can be booked via the race website. Riders can also choose to book luxury canvas tents or bring their own tents and camp.

Exploring Summerplace

Summerplace Game Reserve, the race venue, is a 2.5-hour drive north of Johannesburg – 260 kilometres from OR Tambo International Airport or 275 kilometres from Lanseria Airport. Already famous for its incredible trails, the Reserve has hosted Enduro and SA Cup XCO races. There are, however, more trails to ride, as well as a vast network of jeep tracks through the bushveld.

“Summerplace is unquestionably one of the most remarkable mountain-biking destinations I’ve ever been to,” remarked Dryland’s Henco Rademeyer. “The riding is exceptional! It is varied with flowing singletracks mixed with technical features and breath-taking scenery. There are so many wildlife close encounters to look forward to while on the trail, which also contribute to making the mountain-biking experience so memorable.”

“We have created three routes which offer great, but not technically challenging riding,” Rademeyer assured. “The typical Traverse rider is not the mountain biker who will take on the Summerplace A-lines. So, the technical features we’ve included are those that provide a challenge when ridden at speed, but are easily navigable at a slower pace. Additionally, there will be no rock gardens or drop-offs which cannot be bypassed on a B-line. Therefore, the Traverse will be fun for those who want to test themselves but also for the social riders who prefer smooth singletracks to rocky trails.”

The game reserve is home to over 40 species of mammals, including giraffe, kudu, sable antelope, zebra, warthog, and leopard. It also boasts a plethora of bird life and provides a stunningly relaxing environment for mountain bikers and their families to unwind while off the bike. In fact, non-riders will arguably have as much fun at the Glacier Waterberg Traverse as their mountain biking family and friends.

Glacier Waterberg Traverse Entry Packages

Entries are limited as the race also offers supporter and children’s packages, which include meals. To enter the maiden Glacier Waterberg Traverse, visit www.waterbergtraversemtb.co.za. For a hint of what to expect, like the Glacier Waterberg Traverse on Facebook page and follow @WBergTraverse on Twitter or @waterbergtraverse on Instagram.

For more information on the 2024 Glacier Waterberg Traverse visit www.waterbergtraversemtb.co.za, or contact Suné van Wyk on (044) 279 1013 or via email at sune@dryland.co.za.