A giant gap jump of 110 feet (34 metres) over a road is just one of the features that will greet the world's best freeride mountain bikers at DarkFEST this weekend (April 21-22).
The mountainside trails at the Hellsend Dirt Compound near Stellenbosch in the Western Cape will host an international array of world-class riders to showcase skills with the mountains around Helshoogte as the backdrop.
Featuring South Africans Ike Klaassen, a well-known Stellenbosch and Hellsend local, and Capetonian Theo Elangsen, the tradition of the event is to push for never-seen-before tricks on even more massive jumps, with improvements in height and distance year on year.
A clue to this year’s event being the biggest yet lies in the work by the trail build crew – led by Clemens Kaudela from Austria, himself an invited rider – to extend the road gap jump from 90 feet (27 metres) to 110 feet (34 metres), which makes it one of the world's longest.
The event is a highlight on the world extreme sports calendar, with past editions garnering worldwide acclaim and thousands of spectators.
“The 2023 edition of DarkFEST promises to build on this legacy,” says creator and founder of the event, Sam Reynolds from the UK.
"Every year, we push the limits of what's possible, and the riders never fail to amaze us. We're looking forward to bringing together another incredible line-up of riders and a new speedier line that boasts a gravity-defying 110ft jump to showcase the best of the sport," Reynolds added.
There will be merchandise stalls, music, access to the riders, and food and beverage on offer at the festival.
