2022 has been another great season at Giba! We have grown our community and we are so happy to continue to share our beautiful space with more of you. In the spirit of the year’s conclusion, we thought we would reflect on the very best moments of 2022.
Summit Series
We started the year off with a bang, with January hosting our very first Summit Series! Our Summit Series was a trail running challenge that entailed summiting the four highest peaks in the park. It was a tough challenge and we were very stoked with the outcome and response we received. This challenge will certainly be considered in the 2023 calendar again!
Gorge to Gorge Ultra Trail Run
February saw the soft launch of our Gorge to Gorge Ultra Trail Run as Michael Hay hosted our first race recce. The recce gave us a lot to work with in terms of ideas and guidance going forward. This idea will hopefully be further cultivated in the New Year!
Flood Recovery
Speaking of groundbreaking events, the month of April saw the worst floods KZN has experienced in a long time. Despite the floods themselves being devastating, the community effort we saw subsequently warmed our hearts and gave us hope for the future. Moreover, we were fortunate enough to be able to clean up the trails relatively fast, and introduce a completely ‘renovated’ park. For the reasons mentioned above, we decided to include the floods in our reflection as one of the most formative moments of 2022.
Backyard Ultra
In August, Adventure Academy and Devil’s Peak Brewing Company helped us host our first Backyard Ultra Marathon! Backyard Ultra Marathons are growing in popularity and we were stoked to host our very own! It was well attended, the runners thoroughly enjoyed it. 2022 has seen huge growth in trail running at Giba, and we hope to see more of this in the new year.
Giba Gallery Reopening
We added a new dimension to the trail centre in September when we reopened the stunning Giba Gallery. Having been closed for 8 years, the reopening of the gallery was overdue. You can find local artefacts, gifts and a whole lot more at this destination retail shop!
Placement in SA BMX Nationals
Finally, in October, we were proud to see two of our Giba BMX team riders place at the SA BMX Nationals. Tyler Klumper and Manqoba Madida placed 1st and 2nd respectively in Elite Mens.
Social Rides
Near the end of this year, we reintroduced our Social Rides! With the help of Fiona Williams from Dirt School, we curated an awesome weekly schedule that accommodates all riders! On Mondays, we have a Giba Gals ride, on Wednesdays; Wacky Wednesday group rides and on Fridays it’s Fun Enduro Friday! These rides are the perfect opportunity to join a local riding group and explore the park with some regular riders! Check out our Instagram page and website for more information on the weekly social rides.
Instagram: @gibacyclingclub
These are only a few of the moments that made 2022 fantastic! We are so grateful for our team, members and customers for everything you have done this year to keep Giba, Giba! Thank you all. We will see you in the new year!