‘Greatest Of All Time’ trail to expand in Stellenbosch
There is an exciting transformation happening within the new Devonbosch development.
The ‘Greatest of all time’ (GOAT) trail is a planned mountain bike park with trails within Devonbosch being developed by a trail guru designer and builder, Duran van Eeden, along with full time trail builder Wynand Basson and coordinated by recognised and respected local rider, Eldorette Carinus.
“We are really excited about what they are planning to unleash in Devonbosch that will undoubtedly make this area the destination for mountain biking and a host of other amazing activities that exudes Life Unlimited,” explains Reghard Goussard, Marketing and Sales Executive at SquareTurn Developments, which as an organisation is responsible for the development of Devonbosch.
Mr van Eeden’s trail building CV extends as far afield as China with tracks closer to home being laid down in the likes of Pretoria, the North West, Port Elizabeth and within the Western Cape.
His Western Cape triumphs include trails within Plaisir der Merle, Zevenwacht, Tokai, Avondale and Langebaan – to name a few. Having competed in multiple national championships over the years and international competitions in France, Germany and Switzerland – he is certainly no stranger to riding on world-class trails.
Mr Basson became a full time trail builder in 2018 and quickly attracted a following of fellow mountain bike enthusiasts for his amazing wooden features on Old Bethlehem farm in the Banhoek valley.
In 2022 he built the wooden features for the technical section of some of the Cape Epic stages, having previously worked on numerous trails in the Western Cape including Hoogekraal, Bloemendal, Tokai and Jonkershoek, collaborating with some of the country’s top trail builders.
While Ms Carinus, as Mr van Eeden’s partner, brings mountains of international riding experience and her passion for mountain biking has seen her compete in the BCBR in Canada. She has also ridden in various high profile South African races that includes the Wines2Whales, Attakwas, Tankwa trek stage race and she is currently training to ride in the 2023 Cape Epic.
The seasoned cyclists vision in creating GOAT is to create an elevated maze and trail that will offer a unique riding and visitor experience - with dedicated pause areas along the way.
Some of the proposed features within The GOAT will include jumps, drop-offs, elevated trails and switchbacks, rock gardens, clay switchbacks, rollers, a treehouse, roller coaster and bespoke pause feature.
“We see the trails at Devonbosch being like nothing else in SA. Apart from the exciting and varied technical tracks that would cater for different skill sets of riders, the setting itself is just breathtaking with the view of the surrounding mountains and winelands.
“The plan is to also incorporate a Skills Academy to the offering at Devonbosch where people can learn from the best in the business on how to improve their riding and even running skills”, Mr van Eeden explains.
Ms Carinus, who is project managing the planned activities within The GOAT, says that Devonbosch will play host to a multitude of activities, facilities, and family-centric features available to all visitors.
“Mountain biking trails, trail run routes, an obstacle course, dedicated training areas, and in the long-term future an indoor skills and skateboarding parks are just a few of the exciting activities planned to form part of the Devonbosch offering,” says Ms Carinus, who is also the Chairperson for Franschhoek Trails development and maintenance.
Mr Goussard, also the Founder of Trails SA Network NPC, believes that mountain biking – as one of the top sporting disciplines within the SA sporting landscape - is a catalyst for change in the area.
“With world-famous mountain biking stage events such as the Cape Epic and Wines2Whales, there’s no doubt that the rolling winelands and surrounding vistas make this area the perfect playground for cyclists,” comments Mr Goussard.
