2009 was a crazy year of work and travel. Assignments and shoots in 14 countries and less than two months at home. After a month of snow and down time at home in Bend, Oregon my wife and I were missing riding our bikes. This is the only time of the year where I have more than a few days to myself. So it is way more productive to head south, far south to visit the family in South Africa for an extended trip combining work and holiday... where the days are long and beers cold.
Packing for a three month trip is no joke. Four bikes, wetsuits, XC and DH stuff and all the camera gear for a variety of jobs. We flew on Christmas day and our gift must have been no excess luggage charges. Some people do have souls I guess. The Satori loads up nicely. Double stack a few things, fill all the holes and I can fit nearly all my important stuff. I put tripods in my carry on, the rest getting squeezed into my laptop bag also goes as carry on. Just don’t let the airline employees get a feel. I dont load the top compartment, rather I strap it down, it makes the bag look a lot less bulky for checking in. It weighs close to 40lbs.
While here I have done a variety of jobs for both editorial and commercial clients. So much for the off-season. I have done some good shoots already, travelling riders are out here are looking for some warm weather training. A mix of XC, DH, DJ and even some trials with Lene Byberg (Specialized), Fairclough, Kirt Voreis, the Neethling brothers, trials god Kenny Belaey and of course my wife Anka. Between this a bunch of surfing, a 3 day stage race (we road), I have also been heavily absorbed in a book project that myself and Gary Perkin are doing. A 200 page thick coffee table book, documenting the 2009 UCI World Cup series: Chronology. But there will be more news on that later.
Unfortunately my favorite camera, my trusty and handy G-10 disappeared somewhere on this trip, I can only hope its new owner gets as much joy out of it as I did, and they treasure the 4 gigs of photos still on the card. Luckily I had given Anka a new Canon S-90 for Christmas and I may just have to get one of my own. Nice smaller size than G-10 and same if not better quality shots in a neat package.
Day Zero
Anyway an annual big job started today, im shooting my fourth Absa Cape Epic MTB stage race. It is an 8 day event where 500 - two person teams cover over 700km. Its the biggest and best of its kind, the Tour de France of mountain biking with all the top riders present, world champions, Olympic gold medal riders and regular amateurs. It receives more media coverage in print and TV hrs than any other MTB event world wide. I am part of a 4 person photo team shooting the whole event, tracking the riders the whole way with motorbikes and helicopters. First stage begins in about 6 hours time and then its flat out 18 hour work days until next Sunday, all the gear is packed and batteries charged and the ever important grenade blower sits right on top.
In the airport Satori loaded. It may not look it but that suckers almost 40lbs.
One of my last shots on my G-10 that went walkabout soon after. Downhillers in the off-season need to keep carbo loading, Andrew Neethling after a hike up Table Mountain, Cape Town, couldn't have asked for a better day.
Visiting professional Brendan Fairclough came to South Africa for some warm weather training. When I don't have to- I try avoid taking out the lights as much as possible and sometimes it pays off even in terrible lighting conditions.
Ankas new Christmas present the S-90 is joining me on a lot of rides lately, perfect size for your pocket and quality is awesome.
Kirt Voreis on a houseMartin trip keeping it natural on an anthill. Look out for a full feature in Bike Magazine sometime. Botswana.
Its sunsets like these that keep bringing us back to Africa, Anka at the end of a HouseMartin ride in Botswana.
Multiple world champion and world cup champion trial rider Kenny Belaey from Belgium for Adidas, Cape Town, South Africa. 2 days ago.
2009 Winners Karl Platt and Stephan Sahm at the opening press conference in Cape Town South for the 2010 Absa Cape Epic that I will be following for the next week.