A team of six athletes from Cape Town, including two from the Helderberg, recently made history when they competed in the “Battle of the Cities” category of the prestigious Dubai Games.
Conrad Herbst of Strand and Trevor Lagerwey of Somerset West joined Jan de Beer, Sabrina Daolio, Richard Fraser, and Ashley Benatar, to face off against 50 teams from around the globe.
Herbst (29), who grew up in Strand and runs a local bakery while training hybrid athletes, described the experience as “incredible.”
With over 10 years of experience in obstacle course racing (OCR) and multiple national podium finishes, Herbst was thrilled to represent South Africa. “The chance to represent South Africa on such a prestigious international stage was an incredible motivator,” Herbst said.
The South African team aimed for a top-four finish, and while the competition was fierce, the camaraderie among the athletes was a highlight.
Herbst emphasised the honour of being part of the first South African team to compete in the Dubai Games. “It’s exciting to think that we’ve set a precedent,” he said.
His training focused on strength, agility, endurance, and obstacle technique, both physically and mentally.
The most challenging aspect was adapting to unfamiliar obstacles, requiring adaptability and resilience. The highlight for Herbst was the Burj Khalifa climb, where teams of five, tethered together and wearing 10 kg vests, ascended 160 floors.
“It was an exhilarating challenge,” he said.
Herbst learned the universality of athlete drive and determination, and stressed the importance of mental toughness. He hopes their participation will inspire more South African athletes to pursue OCR. The team has already been invited to next year’s games, with plans to refine techniques and improve their Burj Khalifa time.
“Stay consistent, train hard, and never lose sight of your goals,” Herbst advised aspiring athletes.
Lagerwey (39), head of Athletic Training at the Virgin Active national head office, also shared his experiences. Growing up in White River, Mpumalanga, Lagerwey competed in hockey and tennis before excelling in OCR, winning the South African championships twice, and more recently was the winner on SABC3’s reality TV show Tropica Island of Treasure on the island of Curacao, as well as the Toyota 4×4 Fortuner Challenge on SuperSport.
Lagerwey was inspired to participate due to his long-standing involvement in the OCR community. Despite a severe ankle injury eight weeks before the event, he felt honoured to be part of the pioneering South African team.
“Being an OCR athlete, you prepare yourself in training for the unexpected,” Lagerwey said, focusing on grip strength, power-to-weight training, and cardiovascular fitness.
For him, the most challenging aspect was the high-level teamwork required.
The athlete hotel, where teams from around the world mingled, was a highlight for Lagerwey.
He learned the importance of not judging a book by its cover and witnessed incredible human talent.
Due to his injury, he sat out the Burj Khalifa climb but plans to participate next year.
Lagerwey emphasised the team’s ability and teamwork, but noted they could improve on urgency and risk-taking. He hopes to compete again, stressing the need for a rigorous selection process to form the best team.
“Don’t give up on your dream,” Lagerwey advised, highlighting the importance of clear focus and hard work.
He hopes the exposure from the Dubai Games will revitalise OCR in South Africa after the challenges of Covid-19.
