SA's best ready to race SA Marathon Champs
Jess Hattam negotiates a rocky section over the river during the trail run at the 2024 Sappi Karkloof Classic Trail Festival.
Image: Gavin Ryan / Gameplan Media
On Sunday, South Africa's top mountain bikers will compete for one of the most prestigious titles in local mountain biking — the SA Marathon Championships. Fittingly, the event will once again take place on trails considered some of the best in the country.
The 2025 SA Marathon Championships are the main attraction of the Sappi Karkloof Trail Festival, South Africa's longest-running mountain bike event. The festival runs over two days, with trail running and enduro riding taking place on Saturday, followed by the mountain bike races and a fun trail run on Sunday.
One of the reasons the festival remains so popular — and a regular choice to host the national champs — is the ongoing effort to improve and update the trails. These constant upgrades make sure that both riders and runners get to enjoy one of South Africa's top off-road experiences.
Danielle Strydom celebrates winning her South African title last year at the Sappi Karkloof Classic Trail Festival.
Image: Gavin Ryan / Gameplan Media
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This year, defending champion Wessel Botha, recently crowned XCO Champion Michael Foster and a slew of other big names in the competitive SA racing scene will be able to challenge themselves once more on a route that is almost perfect for MTB marathon racing.
Stretches of gravel, flowing forest trails, some tricky technical single track, grinding long ascents and some short punchy climbs make the event an ideal all-round test to decide the national champion. Meanwhile stunning scenery and the sublime infrastructure of the Absa Karkloof Country Club ensure spectators and the weekend warriors are also able to enjoy the weekend action.
Set against the breathtaking backdrop of the Karkloof valley, the 250km network of trails has been meticulously shaped over the last 30 years, evolving from rugged 'spade and pick' tracks to the smooth, flowing lines created by Turvey Trails. While elite participants may enter for the thrill of the race, most participants ultimately come for the trails, each crafted with care to provide an unparalleled experience.
Caleb Sanderman negotiates a rock garden in the ensuro at the 2024 Sappi Karkloof Classic Trail Festival.
Image: Gavin Ryan / Gameplan Media
The festival has grown from its origins 33 years ago, when it just featured mountain biking, into a popular multi-event weekend catering to runners and riders alike.
Saturday, 24 May, will se a variety of trail running distances (9km, 15km, and 21km), and an afternoon enduro – which includes a section for E-bikes and a reduced enduro Lite. Sunday, 25 May, features a 9km fun run and a kids' 10km mountain bike race, plus the traditional 20km, 40km, and 60km MTB races, and culminating in the South African Marathon Champs' 85km.
The Sappi Karkloof Classic Trails Festival at the Absa Karkloof Country Club has become the standard by which weekend trail festivals are judged, but there is a lot more to the co-operation between the leading forestry company and the country's top-ranked trail venue.
They share a deep commitment to adding value to their region via community enrichment projects, including Education Karkloof (Early Childhood Development support), Improve Karkloof (safety and local conservation efforts), and the newly included Karkloof Conservation Centre.
Through the Sappi Trails Programme, the Karkloof region has seen a significant rise in visitor numbers – up to more than 40,000 people annually, from hikers exploring waterfalls to cyclists, campers, and birdwatchers. According to a KZN Tourism study, the trails generate an estimated R231 million in annual economic impact, while directly supporting 503 jobs and sustaining 3,080 jobs within the uMngeni municipal area.
'Sappi's commitment to responsible land access means ensuring that events like these leave a lasting legacy,' says Tebele Makhetha, Head of Corporate Affairs, Sappi Southern Africa. 'Every entry contributes to meaningful projects that uplift communities and create sustainable opportunities, long after the dust has settled.'
This co-operation means the various national champions will be crowned on Sunday and will reign for a year, but the legacy of the event will last for a lifetime for many of the community beneficiaries.
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