Tour De Kruger Newsletter 2
Dear Cyclists
Well it's not long until the start of the great adventure! We have the Kyamandi Kamakazi's joining us once again on the Tour de Kruger this year . For those who did not cycle last year, I thought you might be interested in learning a little more about these cyclists who will be joining you on your tour. Here is some background information on the Kayamandi Kamakazis, given by their trainer Deane Hill, who will also be joining us on the Tour de Kruger. The Kayamandi Kamakazis is a mountain biking club based in the black township outside Stellenbosch and through fundraising initiatives it is now possible for four of their cyclists to join the Tour de Kruger this year. In 2001, Deane Hill, a young engineer working at Simonsberg Cheese chose to move into Kayamandi, a black township outside Stellenbosch. He saw the racial segregation that was still alive and well in Stellenbosch and wanted to be part of the process of breaking it down. In 2004 an opportunity arose for Deane to receive 10 bikes from the Western Province Mountain Biking Association(WPMBA) through monies received from the National Lottery. It was an opportunity for him to share his passion for moutain biking with young people from Kayamandi. It was an opportunity for them to experience the beauty of the Stellenbosch mountains, the exhilaration of a downhill single track and the responsibility of looking after and maintaining the bicycles.
“At the beginning I had to learn patience, I was riding well after competing the 2004 Cape Epic and it was at times frustrating waiting for the weaker riders, today I need to push myself physically and mentally to keep up with the riders. They love riding, they love seeing new places and meeting people” Today the club has have keen riders who train between 12-15 hours a week. Training for the Tour de Kruger has been great in terms of increasing the levels of endurance for each rider. Needing to maintain the training hours has also highlighted some of the difficulties that the riders face – coming back home after a winter’s ride they first need to boil water before they can wash, none of the riders had wind jackets for training in winter, jungle oats porridge has become the staple energy food be in 10 in the morning or 2pm in the afternoon. Riding with the riders you would never think that they face challenges none of us are even aware of, for them the Mountain Biking passion overcomes all hardships. Lets introduce you to the team who will be riding the Tour de Kruger.
On the left is Xhola “nothing will stop me smiling” Xola is the youngest member of the team at 16 years old. Xola is deaf and attends Noluthando the deaf school in Khayelitsha. I can not imagine what it must be like to be deaf but Xola is always smiling and rarely frustrated by his disability. He has the most contagious smile and has learnt to be part of the group despite his disability.
And on the right is Thembesile… Thembesile is in Matric this year, he joined the club when he was in Grade 10 in 2005. He is a very thoughtful and perceptive teenager, who thinks deeply about life and wants to achieve great things with his life. He is the captain of the club, gathering his troops and making sure that the team trains hard for 2007.
Masi “no more hills please” or Masi for short… Full of fun and laughter, Masi is a delightful individual full of life and colour. He is always looking on the brighter side of life, the joker of the group. He has been teased endlessly over the past year because he cramped in the middle of a village and had to be driven to the end camp during 2006 Tour de Kruger Lizo… Lizo is also in Grade 10, a gentle giant who has the most endurance and just keeps on going. He works 12 hours a day on both Saturday and Sunday and so is unable to train over the week-ends but despite this he keeps up with the group during the week rides. An amazing young man who helps his mother to provide for his family and is so positive about life. We look forward to having the Kyamandi Kamakazis with us once again Hey Group 1 watch out, they wont be far behind you......... A huge thanks to Capitec Private Bank for sponsoring the Kyamandi Kids participation in this event
Kind Regards
Heather
