HOLLA TRAILS INTRODUCTION
Holla Mountain Bike Trails launched on 1 March 2009. Holla Trails are a system of marked mountain biking trails among the farms in the Ballito area similar to that of the EMBA system on Tongaat Hulett land in and around Durban. Only riders with a Holla permit are allowed access to the farmlands in the Ballito, Compensation and Upper Tongaat area, those without permits are trespassing and risk prosecution. This arrangement has been carefully negotiated with private landowners in the region who have become increasingly concerned about the uncontrolled growth of mountain biking in the area.
Nic Jordan who is himself a farmer and landowner in the area, and an avid mountain biker, and Wayne Hulett of Collisheen Estates have joined forces to set up this initiative and are really excited about what they have to offer. Wayne is well known for his high standards he has set at the Collisheen wedding venue and he provides the facilities at the trailhead while Nic is in charge of the trails.
Within the first 6 months, Holla Trails already consists of nearly 300kms of marked and signed trails and is continually being improved and added! There are trails for both novice and experienced mountain bikers alike. The trails were introduced to over 300 riders at the 83 km Golovane X-plore race which was held at the trail head on the 8 February and many of the riders claimed it was the best ride they have ever had. These riders were amazed at the variety of track and spectacular scenery that is available. However Holla is not just for experienced riders. There will be plenty of track for the newer riders and it will finally give many people who want to get into mountain biking the chance to get out without getting lost and risking trespassing. It is anticipated that the sport will be given a huge boost by becoming more accessible to aspirant riders.
The Holla Trails Centre hosted by Collisheen Estates is a great venue where riders are able to park their cars in a secure environment, and shower after their ride before enjoying drinks and great meals on the vast terrace and coffee shop. The emphasis at the trail head is to create an environment that returns kids and families to the outdoor activities of the days of old. You won't find any computer games or cartoon networks here. It’s all about getting outside to play.
Holla Trails is currently running an opening special offer for an annual permit of R82.50 per month.
What we do:
- Manage the mountain biking in the greater Ballito and Umhlali area so that the farmers suffer from a minimum of hassle and continue to permit us to use their private lands for our mountain biking pleasure.
- Protect the landowners by only allocating permits to riders who have signed the rider indemnities.
- Assist the landowners and farm watch security in preventing non-permit holders from cycling on the trails.
- Provide liability insurance with the permit to minimise the risks of the cyclists.
- Mark and manage trails of varying length and difficulty so that cyclists of all abilities can partake in the sport of mountain biking without fear of getting lost and trespassing.
- Build and maintain new single track where landowners are kind enough to allow us.
- Spend 20 % of our trail team’s time controlling noxious weeds on behalf of the farmers as a gesture of thanks for being allowed on their lands.
- Provide a facility at the Holla trailhead for mountain bikers and their families to socialise and interact around the sport.
- To grow the sport of mountain biking by making it possible for new riders to enter the sport easily.
What we can’t do:
- Provide a collection service for riders who are broken down or injured. (We do not have the man power or facilities at this stage)
- Manicure the trails. Our philosophy is to provide natural, free-flowing trails that are fun to ride the way they have always been since the first cyclists rode this area.
Holla Trails future objectives:
- To be the best mountain biking trails venue in South Africa. That means the longest, most varied and fun trails that can be found in one area.
- To have 300 km of marked mountain bike trail by July 2010
- To have a 20 km single track descent from the escarpment by Aug 2010
