Bergfietsry nou ook deel van HP-program : 2016-05-11
Bergfietsry is nou ook deel van die Maties Sport Hoë Prestasie-program by die Universiteit Stellenbosch en vanjaar ook reeds deel van die opwindende Varsity Sport-reeks.
Die Varsity-bergfietsuitdaging strek oor twee meerdaagse byeenkomste. Die eerste byeenkoms is op 9 en 10 Julie in die Sondela-natuurreservaat in Bela Bela. Die tweede byeenkoms is op die La Paris-landgoed in Franschhoek tussen 1 en 2 Oktober. Die byeenkomste gaan ‘n ekstra unieke universiteitsgeur hê met die algemene publiek wat ook kan deelneem en die universiteit van hul keuse kan verteenwoordig.
Die pas afgelope naweek het Maties Fietsry die intervarsity teen Ikeys op oortuigende wyse gewen en die fietsryers het gewys hulle gereed is om kompeterend te wees in die Varsity-bergfietsuitdaging.
Mariske Strauss, Afrika en Suid-Afrika se bergfietskampioen en ‘n Sportwetenskap-student aan die US is baie opgewonde oor die impak wat die HP-program op die sport in Matieland gaan hê.
“Dit is beslis ‘n stap in die regte rigting. Dit beteken ons sport is besig om te groei. Dit gee ook die Maties fietsryers toegang tot ‘n groot verskeidenheid van hulpmiddels, wat almal gaan help om hul sportloopbane te bevorder,” het Strauss gesê.
Strauss, ‘n vierde jaar student, hoop om vanjaar na die Olimpiese Spele in Rio te gaan. Sy het in 2014 haar land by die Statebondspele verteenwoordig.
“Danksy die ondersteuning van die HP-program het ek nie net toegang tot al die wêreldklas-geriewe nie, maar ek het nou ook die geleentheid om saam met die administrasie te werk en hulle die bes moontlike idee te gee oor wat presies in ons sport aan die gang is. Dit is ‘n baie goeie geleentheid om almal bekend te stel aan ons sport en hopelik kan ons sodoende meer deelname en belangstelling in die sport betrek.”
Volgens Strauss help die HP-program om die sport van bergfietsry meer toeganklik te maak op universiteitsvlak. “Ons kan nou meer studente betrokke kry by die sport en bied ‘n geleendheid aan diegene wat nie noodwendig dit self sou kon bekostig om al die ekstras (wat ons nou toegang tot het) te bekom nie. Ons kan dus mense ‘n beter idee gee wat die sport behels en sodoende kan ons baie vinniger groei en verbeter.”
Vir meer Varsity MTB Challenge inligting besoek www.varsitymtbchallenge.co.za. Sosiale media platforms is Facebook: Varsity MTB Challenge; Twitter: @VarsityMTB en Instagram: @varsitymtb.
ENGLISH
HP programme now includes MTB
Mountain biking is now part of the Maties Sport High Performance programme at the Stellenbosch University and this year already also part of the exciting Varsity Sports series.
The Varsity MTB Challenge comprises two multi-day stage races. Varsity MTB Challenge will see the two races take place in the Sondela Nature Reserve in Bela Bela between 9 and 10 July and on La Paris in Franschhoek between 1 and 2 October 2016. The Varsity MTB Challenge will have a unique university flavour. The races are open to the general public, who will be able to race for their university of choice.
The past weekend Maties Cycling won the Intervarsity against UCT convincingly and the local cyclists showed that they are ready to be competitive in the Varsity MTB Challenge.
Mariske Strauss, Africa and South Africa’s mountain bike champion and Sports Science student at the University is very excited about the impact that the HP program will have on the sport in Stellenbosch.
“It’s definitely a step in the right direction. This means our sport is growing. It also gives the Maties cyclists access to a vast array of resources, all of which will help to promote their sports careers,” said Strauss.
Strauss, a fourth year student, is hoping to go to the Olympic Games in Rio. She represented her country at the Commonwealth Games in 2014.
“Thanks to the support of the HP programme I not only have access to all the world-class facilities, but now I also have the opportunity to work with the administration and give them the best possible idea of what exactly is happening in our sport. This is a great opportunity for our sport and hopefully we can get more participation and interest in the sport.”
According to Strauss the HP programme will help to make the sport of mountain biking more accessible at university level. “We can now engage more students in the sport and offer an opportunity to those who might not have been able to afford all the extras – which we now have access to – themselves. We can therefore give people a better idea of what the sport is about and in this way we can grow much faster and become better.”
For more Varsity MTB Challenge information visit www.varsitymtbchallenge.co.za. Social media platforms are Facebook: Varsity MTB Challenge; Twitter: @VarsityMTB and Instagram: @varsitymtb.
