Category: Bike

BMX, FMX, Mountain Bike and Enduro

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DarkFEST Freeride Mountain Biking Is Upon Us!

Darryl Brown testing the big jump. Photo: Eric Palmer

Stellenbosch sees the return of DarkFEST

Friday 8 February and Saturday 9 February will see the return of DarkFEST to Vuurberg Wines, Helshoogte Pass, Stellenbosch, and for those two full days the boys are going to cut loose! Sam Reynolds might be out of the competition, but it it still going to rock out over the weekend, as only DarkFEST can.

What is it? The biggest mountain biking dirt jump event in Africa.

Where is it? Vuurberg Wines, Helshoogte Pass, Stellenbosch.

When? Friday 8 and Saturday 9 February. Action starts at 9 am, and continues until 6 pm.

The local kid, Ike, testing the not small step up. Photo: Eric Palmer

Who? There are a crew of local and international riders, including Nico Vink, Tom van Steenbergen, Adolf Silva, Brendan Fairclough, Ethan Nell, Nicholi Rogatkin, Jordie Lunn, Graham Agassis, Matt Macduff, Tom Reynolds, Darryl Brown, Theo Erlangsen and Kurt Sorge, amongst others. Local legend Sam Reynolds unfortunately injured himself on a recent practice run, and is out of the event.

How does one attend? Tickets are available here www.quicket.co.za/events/64964-darkfest-the-fest-series/

More information? Check out the old faithful Facebook event link for more information here https://www.facebook.com/events/755601598144716/

Check out the 2018 Highlights

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African Dirt Jump Adventures with Nick Clarke

Nick falls in love with African Dirt

When Nick Clarke arrived in South Africa for the Mega Loop build three years ago, he did not know what to expect. The ultimate Dirt Jump was the goal. Turns out he fell in love with the Southern Tip of Africa. Maybe it was the awesome people, the really good riding or simply the laid back lifestyle. Whatever you choose, he chose to come back for Darkfest and two consecutive Night Harvests and would have stayed for ever, if not for a visa problem.

He loves a Dirt Jump

Nick loves dirt jumping and lucky for him, he made friends with the gents at The Trails Crew who quickly adopted him and took him to all the top spots. From Potato trails in Cape Town to the Garden Route trail park, he got a taste of all that SA had to offer. Oh and he took out back to back Night Harvest titles…

Not just riding!

He did not just ride either! Nick worked with myself as the co-commentator for Bmx at the 2017 Ultimate X event, did some work with Monster Energy and was a barmen at Aces n Spades, one of CT’s best bars. He really embraced the Cape Town lifestyle.

Check out the Video

Lucky for Nick, he got some serious video shot of the entire trip, thanks to Thomas Sandell, and now you get to watch the highlights from his African Dirt Jump trip! So sit back, pour some maple syrup over your biltong and enjoy the video, eyyyy!

Support Captain Pugwash

If you want to follow Nick Clarke’s adventures back home in Canada, he won’t be back here for a while sadly, then head over to his Facebook Page and Instagram and show him some love. I am sure he will appreciate it and you will be entertained!

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Darkfest 2017 – Official Video of Insanity

Good Lord, I thought I would have gotten used to the insanity of Darfest after seeing it for myself, but one watch of this video and it all came crashing back down. Seriously, if you are not at this event next year, you are missing out on the most crazy thing you will ever see in South Africa. So sit back, down a tequila and prepare for Darkfest insanity…

The Fest Crew made their way down to South Africa to take on the infamous Pure Darkness jumps. Sam Reynolds, with the help of Nico Vink & Clemens Kaudela, revived the beasts and added a few more to the party and what a party it was! In true Fest fashion, these boys went faster, higher and bigger than ever! With features like a 60ft roll in, 55ft gaps and a 35ft lip that sends you 25ft into the air it is definitely not one to be missed!

Best Trick: Adolf Silva – Double Flip
Best Line: Andreu Lacondeguy
Best Whip: Kurt Sorge
Biggest Slam: Adolf Silva – Tripple Flip Attempt
Dark King: Clemens “C-Dawg” Kaudela – for killing the course build, riding and parties
Cam Zink, Graham Aggasiz

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Doonies3 – Monster Energy

Dirt Shark is back with the third edition of the Doonies, shot at the Glamis Dunes in California. The Monster Energy team arrive en masse for mayhem in the sand. Really think its time for us to do our own version right here in Cape Town!

With some new surprises, they brought the most outrageous Monster Energy Off-Road machinery imaginable – The Doonies journeyed back to the Glamis Sand Dunes of California to wreak havoc and go bigger then ever #DOONIES3

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Brad Binder wins the Moto 3 World Championship

What a proud weekend for South African motor racing, as we got to celebrate our Heritage weekend with a new World Champion! Brad Binder conquered the Moto3™ World Championship after finishing second at the #AragonGP – he now moves with KTM into the Moto 2 championship next year and I hope he continues his meteoric rise to the top of Moto GP!

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Nick Clarke slays Cape Town – MTB Freeride Mayhem

First off it was a hell of a good time entertaining this guy while he was in Cape Town. The Canadian kept us all entertained with his list for life and endearing way of talking. You will note in the intro he is in the Predator Tank at the 2 Oceans Aquarium, something he wished to do naked, but was asked very politely to do in a speedo. The guy kills it on a MTB and was the Night Harvest Champion this year. So put up your feet, crack a cold foamy one and enjoy the ride eeeeey!

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32 First ever Tricks at Nitro World Games

The inaugural Nitro World Games took place July 16 at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City. Travis Pastrana changed the game so many times it only made sense that his dream event would do the same thing. There were 32 never before done tricks at the Nitro Games this weekend, from the likes of winners Colton Walker,Levi Sherwood, Elliot Sloan, Gregg Duffy and with the new formats and judging system we may just see even more very soon. What will be especially interesting is how this will effect the more staple events such as X games and Dew Tour. Of course some of the events had mostly Nitro Circus athletes, who are the only people able to hit the giant ramps with specially modified landings, but it dont change the fact that the guys made history! Check out the winning runs below and I have also put the entire event stream up for you guys. Make some popcorn, gran a cold one and blow your mind!

On a side note, it is very interesting to see the outcry online over why they did not show the scooter and inline runs. While both are almost non-existent in SA, scooter has one of the biggest fan bases in the USA. On top of this it was a scooter athlete, Ryan Williams, who won the BMX best trick with a never before seen trick!

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Freeride Mayhem in SA – Pure Darkness 3

The Garden Route is normally known for its beautiful countryside, forests, mountains and ocean, but for a group of the World’s best Freeride guys, its Shangri la for another reason! Enter Sam Reynolds, Matt MacDuff, Danny Pace, Andreu Lacondeguy and Dylan Stone at the Garden Route Trail Park and the biggest dirt jump runs ever seen on the planet. You know when a bunch of loons like these guys and Monster Energy team up that mayhem will ensue…

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#Doonies2 presented by Dirt Shark & Monster Energy

Bikes, buggies, trucks and even snowmobiles are joined by the Monster Girls and the Monster Energy team for mayhem in the sand. What a great way to start the New Year!

Bringing a collection of the most outrageous Monster Energy machinery – The Doonies journeyed back to the Glamis Sand Dunes of California to wreak havoc and go bigger then imaginable #DOONIES2

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Pushing the limits of Freeride at LooseFest 2015

Just take moment and watch these videos! The guys are jumping 80ft jumps, back to back and at one point you will witness probably the biggest backflip in the history of Mtb. This is loose as it gets!

Here is the highlight video from Loosefest. Nico vink and the whole crew of riders pushed the limit of freeriding sending it over 80 foot plus gaps. There was huge crashes, people doubting whether it was possible or not, fear and lots of stoked for everyone when things worked out. What’s next? Nico is not planning on stopping or going smaller so what the next LOOSEFEST will bring us.
Enjoy the insanity!