This year has been a great year for CSharp and riders alike. A variety of challenges faced us both, from muddy routes to technical terrain.
Route recce was always fun, trying to find spots that would afford the best mix to get the greatest photographs possible. The opportunity to photograph in some of the most pristine areas is always a treat not to be taken for granted.
Highlights of 2011 for us were MTN Sabie, MTN Clarens, MTN Hilton to name a few. Clarens was an extremely muddy weekend, needless to say the views from the top of the King /Queen of the mountain were awe inspiring…but unfortunately the mist and rain rolled in and we had to make a dash for lower ground. Sabie’s forests were beautiful, the climbs were intense, but for every up there is an equivalent down! Spoilt for choice for spots but we realised tall trees sometimes don’t play the game for available light. Hilton is such a beautiful area and we love traveling to experience it. More riders should enter this race, it has some of the best scenery and singletrack.
The Nissan Trailseeker series was a great success, nearly all the races were sold out well before race day. The series kicked off at Hazeldean on one of the coldest mornings we have ever experienced. While waiting on route for riders it felt as though our fingers were freezing off. Thankfully the sun came out and warmed us all up! Nissan Trailseeker Down & Dirty was a solemn day for CSharp, we lost photos due to corrupt data cards … I’m sure it has happened to most photographers at some point … but it is not the greatest feeling when it happens to you.
We had some close calls at Nissan Trailseeker Diamond Rush in Cullinan with riders. We positioned ourselves at a corner that turned out to be tricky for some to negotiate. Some people really felt the had to get up close and personal with the photographers. Steve Bainbridge, a Choc Cow, had a nasty fall right in front of us due to the loose sand and had to be rushed to hospital to be stitched up.
Our season finale was Nissan Trailseeker # 5 at Van Gaalens cheese farm, which some say is Joburg’s singletrack heaven. Thankfully for all of us this year the heat stayed away. We enlisted the help of two extra photographers since logistically this is not an easy race for rider photos and keep everyone happy.
2012 sees CSharp Photography taking a new direction, my focus will still be mountain biking but I will concentrate on downhill and XCO (cross-country).
Enjoy 2012!
Adrien Niyonshuti during MTN Hilton
- Steve Bainbridge’s fall at Nissan Trailseeker Diamond Rush
Candice Neethling riding MTN Hilton
Thomas Zahnd in the forests of MTN Sabie