My dad is a beast! My friends dont call him “Tarzan” for no reason…
March 8th, 2009 by Conrad Stoltz
For those who dont read Afrikaans so well- shame on you! Just kidding. It says here: Gert Stoltz won the Grand Masters (60+) agegroup at the recent 40km Sabie Classic mountain bike race. He beat the 2nd placed guy by 6 minutes!
Obviously he rides the fastest bike out there, (one of my old S works Specialized Epics) but mostly his amazing performance comes from some serious genes. I think I got the diluted version, because my dad only trains on Saturdays, and I have to train a full 6 days a week to win.
If I could just get him to do an XTERRA, but he says swimming is for frogs and running is for criminals…
We started triathlon together in 1988 when I was 14. We trained together (where his all-out training ethic murdered me) and we raced sprint triathlons, road races and fun runs over the weekends. We were both terrible at swimming and for some reason our swim coach couldnt stop my dads toes from dragging on the bottom!
When I’m on the farm we ride together once a week, (Saturdays!) and when I’m out of shape from the off season he will have me on the ropes!
My dad also “taught” the iconic Anke Erlank cycling when she was still in high school. The two of them would take off and race each other to the next town and back. (90km) They share the love of suffering gene and the smack talk before (and after) these rides were monumental. My mom (Liesbeth) got Anke her 1st sponsored bicycle, (I dont think she has bought a bike in her life) and has been involved in triathlon since my dad and I started in 1988. She is now president of the African Triathlon Union and has been involved in the ITU for over a decade. Its great to have sport in the family.
Anyway, on a parting note- here is my dads’ pride and joy- he had been saving (and salivating) over this bike for 4 or 5 years now. Finally the beast is now here. Its a BMW GS 1200 dual purpose bike. now the pressure is on me to get something similar so we can tour together. I’m eyeing the KTM 990, as the BM-trouble-U is allergic to sand.
6 Responses to “My dad is a beast! My friends dont call him “Tarzan” for no reason…”
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March 9th, 2009 at 4:16 pm
Congrats to your dad! Your father, and others competing is those age groups are a huge inspiration to all of us. Thanks for sharing!
March 9th, 2009 at 4:19 pm
I am so so impressed and delighted to see your dad with what his heart really wanted. Fair play to him like yeah know!!!
March 9th, 2009 at 4:22 pm
He can take me for a spin when I head back up to the “South Side of …. The baddest part of town” in November!!!!
April 9th, 2009 at 9:36 am
And if you think the Caveman is exaggerating…go riding with Tarzan…I won’t say anything else.
April 9th, 2009 at 10:11 am
I rode in the group before him in that race and he started 15 minutes after me. Clocked in 5 minutes after me…woosh!
Oh and he cut his finger just before the race (I’m not so sure if it wasn’t intentional-some wierd Stoltz blood-letting ceremony), but we we’re idly chatting at the startup line with him dripping blood everywhere.
I can imagine him just as easily standing there with a ruptured spleen and a rib poking out .
April 1st, 2011 at 7:32 am
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