PE gears up to take sport to the extreme
PORT Elizabeth’s first extreme enduro motorcycle competition is set to pit bikes against tough terrain on Saturday as contestants prepare to dodge tyres, ride over scrapped cars and climb a cliff – with pre-events starting today.
The Inner City Enduro, called ICE, is a man-made obstacle race course with spectator viewing points along Valley Road next to the Baakens River and at Fort Frederick in Belmont Terrace.
The event will see South Africa’s top 14 extreme enduro riders compete head-to-head in a series of elimination rounds.
Among the competitors is South African Wade Young, who is ranked in the top 10 in the world.
Three-time world endurance champion David “Knighter” Knight had to withdraw from the challenge after taking a fall during the British Enduro Championship on Sunday.
One of the main features of the event will see riders battling up the mountain cliff near Fort Frederick before jumping over the Baakens River.
Organisers have called the course the “perfect place for professional riders to battle it out”.
While the main knockout rounds start at about 1pm, from about 10am riders will be strutting their stuff with riding exhibitions and practice sessions.
Red Cherry Event organiser Mike Glover said this was the first event of its kind to be held inside a city in South Africa.
“We are hoping that this will ignite a spark for more extreme sports in Port Elizabeth,” he said.
“The course has been set up in such a way to ensure that all spectators can enjoy the race and watch the riders battle it out.
“There are 14 man-made obstacles which include riding over four cars, a 10m tyre pit, a cliff hanger and logs placed along the Baakens Valley.”
A separate category has been added for amateur riders.
“There is a support category which will see about 15 amateur riders participate in the same route,” Glover said.
“We are looking forward to seeing how these riders do compared to the pros.”
The competition will start at 10am at the Donkin in Central where riders will meet before spectators head to Fort Frederick. “There will be food stalls and a beer tent, DJs and music,” Glover said. “The event is going to be filmed for television so specta- tors can enjoy live commentary.”
Redbull’s Brian Capper will entertain crowds with gravity-defying stunts in an extreme riding exhibition. He will be at the Baywest Mall at 6pm tonight and at the Bru Bar in Heugh Road, Walmer at 6pm tomorrow.
The extreme enduro comes a day before the Urban Run charity event, which starts at 9am from the Donkin in Central.
‘ We are hoping that this will ignite a spark for more extreme sports in Port Elizabeth