Get ready for an exciting triathlon experience

Multisport enthusiasts better get out their wetsuits, dust off their bikes and clean their running shoes as an exciting and unique new triathlon competition is set to get underway early next month with races taking place across the country.

The new X-Dirt Triathlon Challenge, as it will be known, will start off comprising of four events for the 2013/ 2014 Road and Off Road competition, with plans to expand the annual competition to six races in 2014.

The first race will take place on Sunday, 1 December at Buffelspoort in the North West Province followed by the second event at Roodeplaat Dam, just outside Pretoria on Sunday 15 December.

During the festive season triathletes will have the opportunity to take a break and then the action resumes in Vanderbijlpark on 16 February with the final event to be held, again at Buffelspoort on 2 March.

The brainchild of X-Dirt owners, Kyle Mc Connach and Albie De Lange, who, together have over 25 years experience in sports and sporting events coordination, is in charge of this new series which will offer the professional triathlete, as well as the weekend warrior and first-time multi-sport enthusiast a challenge, but one that is achievable.

A unique aspect to the series is that competitors can choose to do their cycle discipline either on the road or off-road.

“Sport is changing and more and more athletes are turning to mountain biking so to stay abreast of the times and keep triathlon growing we decided to give participants in the X-Dirt series an option for their cycle leg,” says Kyle.

Each race will consist of a 600m swim, 20km cycle or 16km mountain bike stage and 5km run leg which is manageable, even for most beginners.

Obviously this unique feature means there will be a split transition area and the timing will be different with the off-road cycle routes being more challenging, even though shorter.

Another interesting facet of the competition is that participants can either enter individually or in a two-member team with both team members required to complete all three disciplines and finish within two minutes of each other to be eligible for a placing.

For the pro’s who are going after the prize money in the competition – a total of nearly R100 000 will be up for grabs over the four events – with prize money presented for each race.

To make sure the X-Dirt Challenge is a family event a kiddies race has also been included into the calendar with children able to participate in a mini race prior to the main event, with the latter consisting of junior, open and senior divisions.

For safety – and to keep it fun – the children’s stamina will only be tested over short swim, mountain bike and run distances starting at 8am on race days followed by the main event which kicks off at 9am.

It is also worth noting that by participating in the X-Dirt Triathlon Challenge, Discovery Health members can earn up to 4250 Discovery Vitality Points and the competition will also bebroadcasted on SuperSport.

For further details go to www.xdirt.co.za or call Corne on 082 568 0301 or Kyle on 082 769 2663 or send an email to info@xdirt.co.za.