Words & Photos: Jacques Marais
The Spur Adventure Duo series of events definitely gets my thumbs up as one of the best family fun ways to spend a day outside. Come on then, go get a taste of it!
Photos credit: Jacques Marais
Presented by Ugene Nel and his Quantum Adventures crew, the long-running SPUR multisport races have introduced a whole generation of racers to the sprint adventure racing platform. A few exciting changes to the current format have seen the inclusion of a new Spur Adventure Duo category, enabling serious competitors to get their teeth into a technical 25 km MTB ride, followed by a 6 km trail run without water obstacles along the way.
Image 1: Take me to the river
The Shot: A boulder river crossing made up part of the route at the Lourensford Spur Adventure Duo, and made for great images as the competitors fjorded the strong-flowing stream. I shot from in the water, using my Outex housing to keep my camera safe and dry.
The Specifications: 1/250 th sec @ f9; Sony A99-SLT + 16-35 mm wide-angle lens; ISO 50; WB setting (Auto); AE setting (-1 EV); on-camera flash; Outex waterproof housing.
More Information: www.facebook.com/outexSA
Image 2: Tyre boy
The Shot: The water obstacle during the Team event allows competitors to cool down towards the end of the race. Using a telephoto zoom allowed me to isolate the subject through a narrow depth of field.
The Specifications: 1/500 th sec @ f5.6; Sony A99-SLT + 70-400 mm lens; ISO 400; WB setting (Cloudy); no flash used; AE setting (0 EV); cold filter in Adobe Lightroom.
More Information: www.sony.co.za
Image 3: Splash ‘n Dash!
The Shot: Competitors from both the Spur Adventure Duo and Team events had to cross this muddy ditch and this made for close-up action. The Outex housing allowed me to get right in there, while a Phottix transceiver fired an off-camera flash to light up the scene.
The Specifications: 1/500 th sec @ f5.6; Sony A99-SLT + fisheye lens; ISO 50; WB setting (Auto); wireless flash triggered by Phottix; AE setting (-1 EV); levels in Adobe Lightroom.
More Information: www.quantumadventures.co.za
Image 4: Road to Somewhere
The Shot: A dash onto a nearby dam wall gave me a bird's-eye view of the mountain biking leg, and the use of a fisheye lens enhanced this perspective.
The Specifications: 1/250 th sec @ f8; Sony A99-SLT + fisheye lens; ISO 50; WB setting (Sunny); AE setting (0 EV); no flash utilised.
More Information: www.spur.co.za
Image 5: The Flashman Cometh
The Shot: Rob Flashman probably holds the record for the most Spur races done by a single individual. Here he does his best to make sure I get my fair share of mud as he bounds through one of the many water crossings on the Solo Duo route.
The Specifications: 1/250 th sec @ 10; Sony A99-SLT + fisheye lens; ISO 50; WB setting (Auto); wireless flash triggered by Phottix; AE setting (-1 EV); levels in Adobe Lightroom.
More Information: www.jacquesmarais.co.za
Photos credit: Jacques Marais
This event has been a huge hit with the local Cape AR community, allowing them to combine a family fun day with hard-core racing in some of the most beautiful destinations in the Western Cape. The concept of family participation lives on in the ‘team component’, with a short course aimed at weekend warriors and kids keen to join mum and dad in this fast-growing sport.
Hundreds of competitors and stunning weather made for a great day at gorgeous Lourensford Wine Estate this past weekend, but there will be lots more to come from Spur and the crew at Quantum Adventures.
Keep an eye on www.spur.co.za and www.quantumadventures.co.za (or the QAE Facebook page) for images and upcoming event dates.
