During the ARWC 2023, the Cape St Francis Resort was a hive of activity, packed to its maximum and overflowing with foreign athletes, media teams and race supporters. Hosting an adventure race is a highly complex endeavour and without a doubt, the Resort nailed it. Having run the Expedition Africa race in 2017, they knew what was ahead and what was required. Ideally suited geographically for this type of race format, the Resort is close enough (or far enough) from the Baviaans and the Karoo, both suitably contrasting in biodiversity and terrain. Additionally, our challenging coastline with dunes and rocks also ensured that racers would have to ‘flex their muscles.’ With the Resort’s perfect facilities, restaurants and accommodation, plus their great team dedicated to promoting the area and sporting codes, it was a no-brainer for Heidi and Stefan Muller to host the event in Cape St Francis.
Arranging accommodation for all the visiting teams was easy compared with the logistics that accompany an event of this kind. Imagine housing about 400 foreigners in Cape St Francis, each of their very expensive bicycles and every team’s giant black box. This doesn’t yet include all the additional bodies – volunteers, media and supporters.
For those of you who aren’t familiar with how an adventure race works, everyone gets dropped together at the starting point of the race. Then they must make it through various legs, in this case over 800km, stopping at checkpoints along the way and ultimately finding their way to the final stop. This year’s world championship ended at the Resort. The first teams returned after about 118 hours – the last teams came 100 hours later! This meant that for those 100 hours there always had to be someone around to welcome incoming teams, even when they arrived in the wee hours of the morning. Additionally, those teams needed to be fed and shown their new accommodation (most teams checked out during the race and during that period the Resort welcomed 6 tour buses – so, it was business as usual). Yet it all worked seamlessly, thanks to the incredible staff and management of the Cape St Francis Resort.
The Resort staff were absolutely amazing and welcomed each team with heartfelt singing and dancing. For many, including Anita Lennox (CEO of the Resort since 2001), this was the highlight of the event. No matter what time of the day and night teams arrived, they were given a warm Eastern Cape reception. And the singing didn’t stop there! The Resort staff added a real South African flavour to the opening event held at the St Francis Links by singing and dancing in the flag parade as the participants walked up to be greeted by praise singers and drums. They have been a constant source of joy during this world championship event. And when the teams started returning from their epic adventure, they were there to guide them to the finish line and podium, celebrating every step of the way.
We were lucky enough to chat with Danni Shaw (née Malherbe) shortly before the race began. Her family has owned the Resort for many years and were all very much involved in this event.
DD: You have had personal experience with adventure racing?
DS: We were introduced to adventure racing in 2017 when we hosted the 500km South African Adventure Race. My sister competed in that event as part of the Resort team, so I have had personal experience with her with the sport.
DD: How long in advance did you start preparing for this event?
DS: We started preparing for it about 18 months ago, so it’s been quite a while in the making.
DD: What has been the biggest logistical challenge of hosting the ARWC?
DS: Finding enough beds and organising transport have been a challenge. We have had to overflow out of the Resort which has been tricky as most of the guests are foreign and want to be on site as they don’t have transport. Arranging everyone’s transport from the airport as well as to the village to go shopping or visit the other restaurants in town has also been a logistical manoeuvre. Stefan and Heidi’s work has been figuring out the route and liaising with the landowners and getting the necessary permission to through these properties. At the moment, their biggest concern is the transition zones and getting all the bikes and boxes to these positions.
DD: We see that your staff have been dancing and singing day and night to give the guests a warm welcome. How has the atmosphere been at the Resort and have you been surprised at your staff’s dancing abilities?
DS: We have not been too amazed by how well our staff dance – we knew this before! What has surprised us has been their charisma and how much they have enjoyed showing off South African culture and welcoming all the foreigners. Their enthusiasm has been massive and the way that they have embraced people being interested in their culture, and our African way of dressing, dancing and singing has been phenomenal.
DD: Have any menu items stood out as being more popular than others?
DS: In terms of food, people have different ways of preparing for races. Some people have been eating a lot of protein-heavy dishes such as steaks and fish and others have been carbo-loading with pastas.
DD: Have you had any unusual requests from adventure racers?
DS: Other than a few language barriers, there haven’t been anything other than people trying to figure out their logistics.
DD: How are you preparing for their return to the Resort? Are you anticipating a lot of parties? Especially with the rugby World Cup?
DS: Teams have placed orders for the food they want when they arrive back after the race. We will be dot watching so we will know when a team is about to arrive and we can have their food ready. From Wednesday or Thursday next week, the village we have created with extra tents and food trucks will be happening and should be quite festive. We have a lot of live music planned, but these guys won’t party too hard as they will be very tired. They will enjoy a bit of a celebration and some food, but they will probably want to rest.
DD: Teams have been arriving all day and night and when they return it will also be at all hours of the day. Are you getting any sleep and what are your stress levels?
DS: It has been hard work but thank goodness we have an amazing team and have worked well together. Everyone has taken turns to sleep and rest so we haven’t gotten too burnt out.
DD: Would you do it again?
DS: Definitely. It has also had an impact on the community of the St Francis area. The SPAR has had great foot traffic and I believe the biltong shop in the village was sold out. Those who helped with the overflow of guests in Cape St Francis have been fully booked. Also, many of the South African teams who have had access to transport have also stayed in the village. So I believe it has been positive for the area.
To all at the Resort: We are so proud of you and are grateful to have such a wonderful facility in our midst. Thank you for all you do for our area and for having the courage to bring an event like this to St Francis. We love you.
We have mentioned the great team at the Resort and credit must also go to Anita Lennox, who knows every aspect of managing a Resort of this size inside out. As the Resort is recognised for its sustainability practices, we chatted to her briefly about their affiliation to the Eco Atlas, Fair Trade and TravelLife Sustainability in Tourism and how they maintained their green code with an event of this size.
AL: That’s been our biggest challenge – fortunately adventure races are very aware of their environment, and this made it a lot easier (there is a zero-footprint policy in adventure racing). We have glass water bottles in the rooms as well as refill stations which helped. Obviously, the restaurants produce a lot more waste, so our earthworms are not complaining and Kouga recycling has been very busy.
CONGRATULATIONS! YOU WENT MORE THAN THE EXTRA MILE, WE ARE SUPER PROUD ! WE WERE THERE WHEN THE FIRST TEAM – SWEDISH TEAM, ARRIVED, I COULD NOT STOP CRYING BECAUSE OF THE BEAUTIFUL SINGING IN MY EARS!!
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