Gravity Adventure Festival

Adrenaline junkies, get ready for the adventure sporting festival of the year

In association with Merrell apparel, the tenth Gravity Adventure Festival takes off at the Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve near Kleinmond – approximately an hour’s drive from Cape Town – from Friday, 16 to Sunday, 18 August 2013.

Starting out solely as a kayaking event, the adrenaline-fuelled festival added different sporting disciplines over the past decade, and is now one of South Africa’s most diverse and biggest adventure festivals.

Boasting nine challenging, but scenic, competitions across seven disciplines, the alternative fitness fair also allows competitors with similar fitness profiles to enter numerous events - a policy that encourages the cross-pollination of athletic prowess.

Participants and even members of the public are invited to pitch a tent and spend the weekend enjoying the accompanying evening entertainment, or alternatively, it’s possible merely to come through for the day to watch the adrenaline junkies get their fix.

Events at the 2013 Gravity Adventure Festival

The Trail Series – Trail Run

Part of the popular Winter Trail Series, this trail run takes participants through the Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve, and claims a variety of distances to suit runners. Routes boast a mix of single track and jeep track, taking you through the fynbos, mountains and along the Palmiet River.

Second Skins Rocky River Mile Swim

This traditional mile long swim is amped up with an adventure twist: it takes place in a river. Prior to the open water swim to the finish line, swimmers need to negotiate the small rapids situated before the Palmiet estuary – a partly enclosed coastal body of water. Since it is a cold water swim, an outer layer is encouraged.

The Sportsman’s Warehouse Mountain Bike Challenge

A firm festival favourite, the 30-km mountain bike challenge is for riders of all levels. This unique route – which is usually closed to the public – offers great technical riding as well as a jeep track. The race starts at Highlands Road and shuttles are available for riders who do not have transport.

Black Diamond Night Run

Get your headlamps out for some fun! In this race, runners traipse through the Kogelberg Nature Reserve on a 4-km or 8-km trail in the dead of night. A mix of river-flanking single track and jeep track will give participants the opportunity to take in the stars.

Black Diamond Rock Rally

The rock rally boasts over 40 routes – sport and traditional – and 20 boulder problems to conquer with grades ranging from 15 to 30, making for great practice for both first time rally participants and those training for the Boven Rock Rally. Prizes will be awarded to the best-dressed climbers.

Paddlezone – Kayak Down River and Sprint Race

The festival’s flagship event pits kayakers against each other in a gruelling head-to-head race through 4-km of three to four grade white water rapids.

Merrell Adventure Sprint Race

Limited to 30 teams, this multi-discipline events sees teams of two compete in trail running, mountain biking, paddling and river crossing in a short 30-km course.

The Inflatable Croc Race

The croc race is a 2.5-km fun race for those who want to participate in a river event, but who don’t have the skill to man a kayak. Full of thrills and spills, this fun race has no rules, and the one who gets to the bottom rapid the fastest wins. The ARK Best Fancy Dress prize has become a tradition, so don’t forget to don your costume and life jacket. Safety is provided at the major risk areas.

Naish Stand Up Paddling – Estuary Sprint

A new and dynamic sport, stand up paddling is here to stay. This 8-km course has technical sections where participants navigate through small rapids and turns at buoys. Hosted in a wind-protected venue for smooth as silk water, the conditions make for a great race through the magnificent untouched estuary.

Spur Kids Events

The family friendly festival has four events for the kids this year. With a 4-km mountain bike, a 2-km trail run, a swim and a fun gecko paddle on the estuary (subject to weather and tide), children of all ages can enter with or without parents.

GoPro Film Festival

Taking place on Friday and Saturday evening, the GoPro film festival gives audiences an up-close-and-personal look at previous year’s competition footagethrough the eyes of the participants (GoPro cameras are those attached to helmets of competitors).  Though, if you’re an avid GoPRO-er, you can submit your own one to ten minute film for judging at the Gravity Mega party. Previews will be shown on Friday, and the three finalists’ videos will feature on Saturday night.

Lucky Draws

There will be a lucky draw – automatic entry is given to registered participants, alternatively you can enter via the Gravity Adventure Festival website – on Saturday evening where entrants stand a chance of winning either an Orange River Gorge trip for two valued at R7000 or a KYX inflatable - including a paddle and carry bag - worth R6190. Entertainment for the Saturday night will be provided by poi dancers, DJs and live band, Boulevard Blues.

How to enter

Entries have not yet opened but subscribe to our newsletter for updates.

Event vendors and stalls

Braaing facilities are available each evening at the Festival Hub, and a bar service will be present throughout the weekend. Though, you don’t have to rustle up any grub if you don’t want to, Spur Steak Ranches will be operational all weekend, as will Ola Ice Cream, Jacobs Kronung Coffee and Snack Shack stalls.

Security and medical assistance

The car park and camping area have security day and night. You can leave your tent pitched, but it is highly recommended that valuables be locked up in your vehicles. Traffic officers, SAP, rescue services and medics will be available all weekend for any emergency situations.

Please note events are subject to change.

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