Oak Valley
4Oak Valley Private Estate06 October 2024
The hallowed trails of Oak Valley Estate play host to the final race in the 2024 TSSL.
Smooth, fast and super diverse as we enjoy exclusive access to the magnificent mountain bike trails that have made Oak Valley so famous.
KIDS UNDER 10, who have been pre entered online, can run for free.
Short
Long
XL
Long
1km in and we are onto a magical single track through a poplar forest. Then it's around and up to the main Oak Valley dam at 2.7km. Then we connect up with the Cape Leopard trail at 4km and begin the haul up to the highest point at 6.3km. Groenlandbergfalls and stairway trails get us to 8km and the aid station. Then it's down Vissies madness trail, up to double dam and onto join the Greenhouse Effect trail at 11.3km. It's the final downhill single track before the turn into the finish.
Short
Brand new 5km romp that includes the stunning poplar forest trail at 1km before a sharp climb to double dam and the highest point at 2.3km. Then it's downhill on the Greenhouse Effect trail to 4.4km and then the spring down and around to the finish line!
XL
After a short stint to spread the field, we tuck into the Boneyards trails through some lush forest. After connecting up with the Cemetary trail we turn out of the forest for a open and fast trail at 4km heading East. It's relatively flat and fast to 9km where we tuck into a small fun trail through a pine forest. Then it's up and over to the Oak Valley dam and a join with the Long course at 12km. Then we connect up with the Cape Leopard trail at 13km and begin the haul up to the highest point at 15.3km. Groenlandbergfalls and stairway trails get us to 17km and the aid station. Then it's down Vissies madness trail, up to double dam and onto join the Greenhouse Effect trail at 20.5km. It's the final downhill single track before the turn into the finish.
WILDRUNNER TRAIL RUNNING GRADING SYSTEM (WTG)
Download the WTG here.
The Wildrunner Trail Grading system (WTG), was developed in 2009 and designed to help you make informed decisions on trail running events around the country. Unlike road running, trail running routes and races have many more facets to them, making them either harder or longer (in time) than you may expect.
Every race/event should give you the total distance and accumulative ascent, but using road running sense to work out your time based on these factors alone would be a mistake!
The three primary 'trail factors' affecting your overall time and effort on a trail run are as follows:
1. Terrain difficulty (easy or tricky?)
2. % single track/off-road to on-road (how much on difficult terrain?)
3. Route severity (how steep?)
HOW DOES IT WORK?
The three factors mentioned above have been expanded into an easy three part grading system. Each trail factor is listed below with the descriptions. Look out for races with a WTG and use this guide to make informed decisions.
DEFINITIONS:
'Technical' terrain = trail that is ‘busy’, that requires extensive concentration and trail running technique - for example a rocky hiking path, or a 4x4 track.
'Off-trail'= Describes sections that do not have any obvious or established route, for example a river bed, grass field or a section of beach.
'Single-track' = Describing a trail that is narrow and typically only wide enough for one runner to run on at a time and in single file. Examples of typical single track would be a hiking trail, mountain bike trail, game trail, livestock trail
FOR EXAMPLE:
Cape Winter Trail Series® - Tygerberg Nature Reserve: YELLOW 8B
Gauteng Summer Trail Series® - Leeuwenkloof: ORANGE 7A
Jonkershoek Mountain Challenge 36km: GREEN 8B
Skyrun 100km: RED 9B
All Wildrunner events (www.wildrunner.co.za) carry this grading system - look out for the grading on the event listing.
PART 1: TERRAIN DIFFICULTY
YELLOW = Easy, non-technical terrain, all on established trails and tracks
ORANGE= Moderately easy terrain, short sections of ‘technical’ terrain but largely easy running, all on established trails and tracks
GREEN = Moderate challenging terrain, with a mix of ‘technical’ and ‘non technical’ terrain, mostly on established trails and tracks but may or may not have extended sections regarded as being ‘off-trail’
BROWN = Moderately difficult terrain, more ‘technical’ terrain than ‘non-technical’ terrain, challenging but mostly on established trails and tracks although may or may not have extended sections regarded as being ‘off-trail’
RED = Difficult terrain, majority ‘technical’ terrain that is extremely demanding, may or may not have large sections on un-established trails and tracks
PART 2: % SINGLE TRACK/OFF-ROAD
1 = 1-10%
2 = 11-20%
3= 21-30%
4 = 31-40%
5 = 41-50%
6 = 51-60%
7 = 61-70%
8 = 71-80%
9 = 81-90%
10 = 91-100%
PART 3: ROUTE SEVERITY
A = Mostly runnable gradient
B = Mostly runable gradient, but has some steep ascent and descent that may require walking
C = Lots of steep ascent and descent that may require walking