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DRAW THE OUTLINE
It’s been a strange couple of months here at NDORFIN HQ. I’ve been ranging free within the wide-sky Karoo, mapping new MTB routes on a wicked Rocky Mountain ETSX. The venerable Shill has been seduced by more lofty aspirations, and has set of to scout a Table Mountain Skyline Run as a potential future NDORFIN event. 

From Rhodes Memorial to Granger Bay following the most famous city skyline in the world is a good 17km. The route goes up Devils Peak, down to the Saddle and up to Maclear’s Beacon. Across the table and down Kloof Corner. Up Lion’s Head and then across Signal Hill. If you carry a Garmin GPS, you’ll end up drawing yourself a damn good oultine of the Table that both Van Hunks and the Devil would be proud of.

THE CAPE EPIC
As for the indomitable Crute … We’re helluva proud to say that the man himself proved to be a force to be reckoned with during the recent Cape Epic. Crute and his partner Rinnes (an erm … up and coming star in the Adventure P*rn Industry) kicked ass during this monster 8-day MTB Stage Race between Knysna and Cape Town.
 
Team First Ascent-NDORFIN came in the top half of the field, but failed to achieve their major objective of convincing organisers to change the name of the event to the rather catchy "ABBA Cape Eric presented by Meatloaf".

The team did not score any chicks in the small dorps along the way due to extreme BO and saddle sores, but did manage to build a major fan club through the masterful blogging of the inimitable Roger Hoffman - check here for deranged examples from the Epic Blog.

CHECK YOUR DATE
May is one Mother of a Month! The action is wall to wall, with a full house of running, MTB, adventure racing and paddling action, plus a couple of adventure festivals chucked in for good measure. And June will klap you stukkend as well … how’s this for an Adrenaline Top 10?

Montagu Mania Adventure Festival, with the Asics Xtreme17 Trail Run, the First Ascent Krakadouw MTB Challenge, Van Loveren Cogmans Rock Rally and Petzl / Scott Night Run & MTB Events. Now in its 7th glorious year, so don’t miss out!

Another Red Letter Weekend, with country wide action. Line up for the Magalies Monster MTB Classic in the North-West Province; Buffelsdrift MTB Challenge in the Western Cape or the APL Cartons De Doorns Road Race (also in the W/Cape) … plug into the Bultfontein Vit-T-Go MTB Challenge in Gauteng, or go ballistic at the Durban Triathlon (both on- and off-road) in Umhlanga, KZN.
Run Like a Girl is hostings its trail weekend on the gorgeous slopes of the Grabouw area. Its a weekend for ladies to come hang out with Sylvie Harris, multiple Puffer winner, run with her and learn about nutrition and injuries from the experts. This weekend will certainly keep the winter chills away.
Ever wanted to do the Dusi on a bike? Well, then the Jonsson Dusi Mfula MTB Challenge, which follows a similar route to the legendary KZN canoe race, is your chance. Other options on the day include the Pick ‘n Pay Robertson Half-Marathon (W/Cape) and the Subaru Sprint AR in Pietermaritzburg, KZN.
Here's a couple for those guys way up north. Run or ride the Kumba Iron Ore Witsand Desert Challenge up in the Northern Cape, or crank the Powerade Kremetart Road Cycle in the Limpopo Province.


WE DON'T NEED NO HIBERNATION

And you don’t need any thought control to know the best way of surviving winter is to head to Duesouth. With brand names like Columbia, The North Face and Fox hogging the in-store limelight, you can be damn sure every item have been tested to the absolute max in a range of challenging outdoor conditions right around the globe.
 
Give the big chill the middle finger by slipping into a TNF Nuptse Vest, the ultimate in multi-purpose down garments. Weighing in at a minimal 482gr it boasts an outstanding warmth to weight ratio, plus you get two-handed pockets, a ripstop outer and an emergency taffeta hood. Wear it and be mosty toasty.
 
We can yada-yadda the whole day long about best prices, unequalled quality, urban chic and other crappy catchphrases, but enough already. Just get your butt to a branch near you or check out www.duesouth.co.za. Or be just another brick in the wall.

WAS THAT RUN, THEN BIKE, THEN SWIM?

What a response; you are a bunch of bloody geniuses, that’s for sure! We received more than 120 entries for our March Caption Comp, and some of them have been real beauties. Funny thing is, the winner this time around is actually the same guy who did the watery face plant in the photo!
 
Yup, this time around Noel Erntzen walks away with a R1000 Fox hamper from Duesouth rather than mud on his face. His caption "Was that Run, then Bike, then Swim, or can I combine them all at once?", got the thumbs-up from the judges, so well done.
         AND...CAPTION!

We’ve decided to stick with the Wipe-out
Theme for the next Caption Comp, so go ahead and knock us out! The winner will once again be notified by email, this time towards the middle
of June. And the prize? None other than that bloody marvellous NORTH FACE NUPTSE VEST (valued at R999) that we mentioned earlier on!

Competition ends on the 9th June 2007  

CLICK NOW AND SAVE

NDORFIN has been wheeling and dealing with the cream of the outdoor community to bring you some sweet deals ... First up, we have SA’s top MTB Trail Site offering three lucky subscribers free access to www.mtbroutes.co.za With more than 260 trails on offer in all nine provinces, you’ll never have to ride on tarmac again! Subscription value is R195 for the year, and all you have to do is crank up the site and register on-line (no need to pay), or forward your name, address and contact details to info@mtbroutes.co.za

If, like me, you are a bit of a girl, then RLAG - read Run Like A Girl - is an initiative you need to plug into. And don't think it is just all about running either; these outdoor adventure workshops for women cover everything from rock climbing and sea kayaking to a mountaineering mission to Kili!

Check out our Run Like a Girl Competition here.

And that, Brave Outsiders, is all from us here at NDORFIN for the month – now go forth and get adrenalised!