Gravity Adventure Festival - an untamed adventure weekend

 

The festival takes place in the Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve, just outside Kleinmond and an hour’s drive from Cape Town. Taking place over the weekend of 16 to 18 August 2013, it is the perfect time of year to catch the Palmiet River at its very best, while still being able to enjoy the Koggelberg Mountains, the beach, estuary and Palmiet Valley. A unique aspect of the festival is the set-up of the Festival Hub at the Palmiet Caravan Park, the point from where all the events start and finish. So for those travelling from Cape Town or afar, it's a 'one-stop shop', with everything happening in one area.

 

Events on offer

The festival showcases a wide range of disciplines that all combine to create a weekend full of adventure for participants and spectators alike. Friday night starts with a bang, with Mountain Runner Events hosting the 4 km and 8 km Black Diamond Night Runs. All you need is a headlamp and shoes, and you can look forward to experiencing the sounds and area by night. If water is more your thing, there's the Rocky River Night Swim. Probably not for the 'warm' hearted, swimming one mile at night is sure to be an unforgettable experience. Thereafter, it's time to kick back at the Festival Hub, grab a beer, a bean bag, and watch some awesome adventure films as part of the Film Festival. With all that just for starters, you know you're going to be in for a cracker weekend!

 

Saturday is the big adventure activity day, with loads of events to choose from. If you are feeling super energetic, you can enter all of them.

 

The schedule of events was planned with this in mind so you really can do all the events - if you dare. For the trail runners, there's the Cape Winter Trail Series, with the option of XL, Long and Short course routes. The rock rabbits can enter the Black Diamond Rock Rally Climbing competition and the Ark Inflatable Croc Sprint Race is perfect for those of you looking for more of an adrenalin rush. This is a fast paced and exciting event designed to deliver some intense white-water action for teams of two, who will race against the clock down Judgment Day, the most intense rapid on the Palmiet. Just when you think you couldn’t possibly have any more fun, the Kayak Downriver Race and Timed Event begin. This aqua action will make for spectacular viewing from the banks. After a quick lunch break, the next set of events will get underway. The WCAD 30 km Adventure Race takes runners through and around the reserve. Alternatively, there's also the Naisch SUP and Cape Town Estuary Sprint, the Second Skins River Swim and, most importantly, the Kiddies Adventure Activities, where kids can try their hand at mountain biking, swimming, and trail running.

 

Come Sunday, you can take part in the Ark Croc Race and Sportsman’s Warehouse Mountain Bike Race before packing up and heading home.
Events for everyone

 

The beauty about all of these events is that they cater to the novice, who just wants to have fun, and the competitive types, who want to go out there and test their mettle. Even if you've never paddled or been in a two-man inflatable boat, you can still enter the Croc Race. There are safety marshalls at all the rapids and experienced guides to show you the way.

 

This weekend is about everyone being able to try their hand at a variety of outdoor adventure sports and have experienced people there to help you. There will be sweep guides along the route at all the events so you'll never feel like you are alone. You can also take comfort in the fact that there will always be someone behind you.