Choose to either RUN, CYCLE or PARAGLIDE

Multi-day adventure race in South Africa, Drakensberg

X-Berg Challenge, Mike Semple Mountain Biking 1
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Extreme 4-day race
Mini 2-day race
Jon Kirkman 2021 Overall Winner
2021 Overall Winner - Jon Kirkman
In 2019 he won it mountain biking,
this time round he won trail running.
Jon is an incredible athlete!
Congratulations on winning the Extreme race 2021!
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2020 cancelled
2019 Extreme Race Overall Winners, 3rd Wesley Antonites (Trail Running), 2nd Pete Joughin & Justin Armstrong (Mountain Biking), 1st Jon Kirkman with new record time (Mountain Biking)
2019 X-Berg Challenge Extreme Race Winners
3rd Wesley Antonites
(Trail Running)
2nd Pete Joughin &
Justin Armstrong (Mountain Biking)
1st Jon Kirkman with new
route record time (Mountain Biking)
2019 Mini Race Overall Winner
2019 X-Berg Challenge Mini Winners
1st Hendrik van Zyl
(Mixed Discipline)
2nd Russel Smith
(Mountain Biking)
3rd (Trail Running)
Andre Dempers & Justin Armstrong 2018 Overall Winners - copy
Justin Armstrong & Andre Dempers
2018 Overall Winners
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Pierre Carter 2017 Overall Winner
Pierre Carter - 2017 Overall Winner
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1st place Mixed Discipline 2017, Team Pure Adventures
1st place Mixed Discipline 2017,
Team Pure Adventures;
Michael de Haas, Adrian Saffy
Laura de Haas, Floors Welhagen
& supporter Ebeth Enslin
X-Berg Challenge, Mbulelo Thinta Trail Running 1
Run IT
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X-Berg Challenge, Scuttling Spiders Mountain Bike 1
Ride IT
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X-Berg Challenge 6
Fly IT
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Juraj Koren 2016 Overall Winner
Juraj Koren - 2016 Overall Winner
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Top 3 2016 winners 3
2016 Overall Winners: 1st Juraj Koren (paragliding)
2nd Andre Dempers & Justin Armstrong (mountain biking)
3rd Pierre Carter (paragliding)
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Carl Scholtz 2015 Overall Winner
Carl Scholtz - 2015 Overall Winner
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2014 Overall Winners - 1st Andrew Porter, 2nd Nick Neynens & 3rd Pierre Carter
Overall Winners 2014;
1st Andrew Porter
2nd Nick Neynens
3rd Pierre Carter
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2013 Overall Winners X-Berg Challenge
Mountain Bike team
James Pitman & Piers Pirow
won the inaugural
X-Berg Challenge in 2013
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X-Berg Challenge, Neel Breitenbach Trail Running
Run IT
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X-Berg Challenge, Scuttling Spiders Mountain Bike 2
Ride IT
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X-Berg Challenge, Juraj Koren paragliding 1
Fly IT
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Compete in one of the disciplines throughout the race:

– TRAIL RUNNING
– MOUNTAIN BIKING
– PARAGLIDING
– E-BIKING

Option to participate in the mixed discipline class changing between
the disciplines or relay the event swapping with team mates at check points.

"Thanks to our wildly adventurous and dedicated athletes who return year after year, our super loyal sponsors who continue to support our unique event, and our incredible organising team, we are looking forward to celebrating the 10th edition of the X-Berg Challenge in 2022! We have decided to set the 2022 event date for the 2nd half of the year since Covid is still limiting some travel and one of our key team members, Pierre Carter, is planning on climbing Mt Everest in early 2022. We trust that you will make full use of the ample pre-race time to prepare for this ultimate adventure in the Drakensberg. Let's go chase that Dragon again!"
Linda Willemse
X-Berg Challenge HQ

Next race:

X-Berg Challenge Extreme Race 04 - 09 Oct 2022

X-Berg Challenge Mini Race 06 - 09 Oct 2022

"We plan to 'spice things up' and auction off limited entries to the race, so please go ahead and pre-register your interest in participating in the 2022 event to be considered for selection. The 2022 route will be announced soon! I'm working on making it equally hard for all disciplines! In the meantime, contact us to join the training trips in the Berg or to book accommodation at High Berg Cottage in central Drakensberg. If you are interested in my Everest adventure, you can follow me on my personal page. "
Pierre Carter X-Berg Challenge Route Designer & Race Director

The X-Berg Challenge...in short

The X-BERG CHALLENGE is an adventure race between paraglider vs. runner vs. cyclist for Athletes looking for a twist.

The challenge is to fly, run and cycle along a pre-set race route across the Drakensberg, South Africa. The length of the route may differ from race to race (I.e. between 2012 and 2022) but will be around 90 -180 km as the crow flies (straight line distance). The aim of the race is to finish as quickly as possible travelling only by paraglider, foot or bicycle (either you are carrying “IT” or “IT” is carrying you). After starting teams are to self-navigate past pre-determined “turn points” en-route. These turn points along with the overall route will be defined by the Race Committee. The Athlete who completes the route and reaches the finish first shall be declared the winner of the race.

Runner

Run in the towering shadows or if you choose on top of the beautiful uKhahlamba-Drakensberg range where only a few have dared before on foot. You get to decide on your own route between…

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Cyclist

nlike a stage race, you get to decide on your own cycle route between official turn points. You may either go around or over hills, take the scenic route or brave…

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Paraglider

Paragliders have dared to hike & fly this majestic terrain with success. You get to decide on your own…

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Overview of the challenge

Next race:

X-Berg Challenge Extreme Race 04 - 09 Oct 2022

X-Berg Challenge Mini Race 06 - 09 Oct 2022

Race Registration