Caveman loved XTERRA Las Vegas

Created on 11 April 2011 Conrad

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This was a really fun race. During pre riding the course seemed easy and boring, but once you’re flying at race pace, things happen a lot quicker and the surface gets really loose and gravelly as the riders churn up the packed desert.

Not too sure what happened in the swim. I think I forgot to open my hands all the way to the 1st bouy. Once I opened them, things came around nicely, but I had already lost about 1.30 to a charging lead group.

Felt quite good on the bike and was smashing it. This is 29er country for sure and the high speeds made for some fun technical situations I didnt anticipate when pre riding half asleep with jet lag. Speaking of half asleep, I somehow managed to follow 2 lapped riders in front of me who had taken a wrong turn and gone off course. I remember sprinting down the hill, looking back at Branden Rakita (cool website dude!) (in 3rd then) and thinking “today I’m gonna pump you guys”, only to see the 2 lost ones in front stop and look around with that “wheres the trail?” body language…

XTERRA Las Vegas- Old School vs New School

Created on 10 April 2011 Conrad

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Caveman at Urban Rage 2010

After fighting the 9hr time change and jet lag that comes with it, I think I’m ready for XTERRA Las Vegas, the USA Season opener. The form is good, I had great legs and won the Vigne a Vigne MTB race in South Africa on sunday, (despite a puncture and a bit of a tumble) but the question is, is 5 days enough time for acclimatization?

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I was stunned by the number of 29ers on the course today. The kiddie wheeled bikes make up maybe 25% of the people pre riding today. I’d like to think I put the 29er ball on the roll (I raced on a Stumpy 29er for the first time 4 years ago). Of course the Specialized 29ers are head and shoulders above the rest- you just cant argue with the level of engineering that went into the Epic. Speaking of which, I ordered a set of race wheels and was going to race on my Maui Swork Epic, but when Fedex came, the box looked a bit big, and contained an brand spanking new Sworks 29er, All built up with my favourite parts, the right tires, so sweet! Thanks to Garth and the crew at Specialized HQ.

How sweet are these Avia AVI STOLTZ‘s?! They look wickedly fast – even in the box.

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Tarzan is here and he is new again

Created on 01 April 2011 Conrad

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My friends call my dad “Tarzan.” Not sure why. 🙂

As you may know that he has been fighting colon cancer of the 2nd time over this past year. His plight had been an inspiration for me to win XTERRA Worlds in October– something which I knew would make him very proud. (“Stoltz” means “proud” in German.) Certain times had been extremely tough, especially Christmas and New Year. The chemo was hectic, he had a lot of pain and he sold all his cattle to focus his remaining strength on surviving. It didnt look good.

But in the last 4 or 5 weeks he suddenly improved and to such an extent, that he has jumped on his motorbike and rode the 2000km across the country to come and visit Liezel and I before I leave for the US on Monday. I’m not sure if it was Liezel’s visit to the farm a few weeks ago which perked him up, (I’m sure she played a large part) but he suddenly had a new bounce in his step, he played the piano after dinner, started planning fish farming and even rode his Stumpy 29er a few times.

We are so thankful he’ll be celebrating our engagement party tonight. My mom is in London for ITU stuff this week, but she’ll catch up at the wedding on Nov 11.

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