A record number of mountain-biking enthusiasts endeavoured the trails around Grabouw over the weekend of 13-14 April for this year’s edition of the Weekend Warrior: Grabouw, Grown by Tru-Cape MTB event, a fundraising initiative for the local Grabouw High School.
“It was our best one yet, and certainly the biggest in numbers,” says Shaun Glover of Red Cherry Events, who organised the fun-filled, family-friendly stage race that raised R50 000 for Grabouw High School.
“The event attracted a lot of future stars. For many kids, it was their first taste of a stage race, making it a great stepping stone to get more people involved in mountain biking in the future.”
Tru-Cape has been involved in mountain bike races in the Grabouw area for the past three decades.
Conrad Fick, marketing director at Tru-Cape Fruit Marketing, attributes the event’s success to the fact that it is accessible to young and old. “It is affordable to enter, and the whole family can participate. It is also a fun way of exposing children to a professionally timed stage race.”
The Weekend Warrior event aims to provide a bang-for-your-buck mountain biking stage race for everyone while cultivating a love for sports and the outdoors. “The two-day event has grown from strength to strength over the last few years,” said Glover, “with the number of entrants growing from about 280 riders in the initial race to 460 riders attempting the tracks this year.” He added the growth was purely organic thanks to the positive experiences riders had in the past.
For Tru-Cape it is a unique way to showcase the role fruit plays in a healthy lifestyle. “There is no better way to get a jolt of energy than biting into a fresh, juicy apple or pear,” said Fick.
“Two-A-Day, our packhouse in Grabouw, is one of the biggest employers in the area. The Weekend Warrior MTB race is our way of helping the community and supporting schoolchildren in the valley. It is also great for Grabouw tourism, as the event attracts hundreds of visitors to the area.”
The school plays an active role over that weekend, with staff manning water stations, acting as marshalls or lending a hand in erecting the race village.
“It was an amazing event, and I must applaud Tru-Cape for getting involved at grassroots level to support the sport of mountain biking,” says Ralston Parnell, headmaster of Gabouw High School. “It is my dream to see more children, from all backgrounds, participate in the sport.”
He was delighted to see so many old learners from Grabouw High School among the entrants. “Next year we’re entering a team from the school, and I will be among them,” he said excitedly.
The donation to the school is “welcomed with open arms”, the principal declared.
“We are facing many challenges and budget cuts. A part of the money will be used to repair the school’s swimming pool and activate swimming as a school sport again.”
