GEORGE NEWS - George Municipality has collaborated with local company oZone to promote George's trails in partnership with world leading trail runner, Ryan Sandes, who is currently in the area to train for the Ultra Trail Mount Blanc (UTMB).
The UTMB is a 160km race with almost 10 000m of vertical gain (the tallest summit in the Alps).
George's trails cover an expanse of over 1 000km - one of the main reasons the area is known as an outdoor paradise. Trail runners, hikers and mountain bikers can enjoy a variety of terrains and verticals. One particular South African trail running legend, Ryan Sandes, has decided it is just right for him.
Sandes is the first person to have won an ultra-race on all seven continents and is considered one of the world's leading ultra-trail runners. He is also fast becoming more than just a visitor, after running the local trails in May alongside Kane Reilly. Sandes has been training in the Outeniqua Mountains to prepare for the gruelling UTMB and he judges George's trails world class.
Partnership
Local adventure company oZone approached the municipality for a partnership that, in collaboration with Sandes, would highlight George's trails for their first-rate offering. OZone Africa is a collaboration between award-winning photojournalist and photographer Jacques Marais and adventure specialist Zane Schmahl. Marais regularly contributes to a wide selection of premium adventure, travel and outdoor magazines around the globe. As a premier columnist for the Media 24 national newspapers, his photographs and articles are published widely, and he has authored more than a dozen outdoor books and guides. Schmahl has been central to a range of trendsetting outdoor sporting events as both project manager and race director, most recently the George MUT 2021.
Beautiful trails
Portfolio Councillor for Strategic Services Dirk Wessels, a keen trail runner himself, said the municipality is very proud to be associated with the likes of Ryan Sandes. "Ryan has done remarkable things, and I certainly feel that the Outeniqua Mountains hold some of the most beautiful trails in the world. Together with our local trail running organisers and the tourism industry, I am very excited to make George the hub of adventure sport in the country."
Tourism manager Joan Shaw said it's common knowledge that George has fantastic trails. "If you look at the variety of scenery one gets to enjoy - forested sections, beautiful blue mountainous area contrasted against green fynbos sections, trails that wind through farmlands and next to our magnificent dam - that alone makes them very special. But for an elite athlete to use them as his training ground tells us something else. It says they are challenging enough for the great trail runners of our time; they are world-class."
Learn more about trails in George at www.georgetrails.org.za and see what else the area offers at www.visitgeorge.co.za.
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