The Karkloof Youth Festival will take place at the Absa Karkloof Country Club on 4-6th July 2025. The event is a first for Karkloof and a first for South Africa with the aim of exposing the Youth to various disciplines of MTB and encouraging development through talks, skills sessions and riding.
The event is also SA Youth Championships, and the club is proud to be hosting this in 2025, 2026 and 2027. The Karkloof Youth Festival will be hosting the Nippers, Sprogs, Sub-Junior and Youth age categories.
Enter on www.easyreg.co.za/events/karkloof-youth-festival-sa-youth-champs-2025
Youth Festival (SA Youth Champs) Combo Entry
Compete in the Karkloof Youth Festival (SA Youth Champs) event. The Youth festival will be hosting the Nippers, Sprogs, Sub-Junior and Youth age categories. The event covers the Time Trail (Fun Ride), XCC, EDR and XCM races. The Youth Festival Combo entry fee (Mandatory) includes a Youth Festival branded beanie and a branded rustic tin cup.
Please note:
Age Eligibilty 8+
Early Bird rate is valid from Wednesday, 04 June 2025 - 12:00 - R1250
Standard Entry rate is valid from Friday, 13 June 2025 - 09:00 - R1380
Late Entry rate is valid from Wednesday, 25 June 2025 - 09:00 - R1680
Online Registration closes on Wednesday, 02 July 2025 - 23:59
Youth Festival (incorporating SA Champs)
Three days of riding and an opportunity to experience all the different disciplines within MTB.
Short course XCC, Enduro and Marathon. based at Karkloof there is an option to camp for the three days at the club or come and go each day. Please note the programe for each day will include more than just the race events there will be skills course, technical workshops and talks from experienced riders, mechanics, coaches and officials. Open to riders 8+yrs old!
The disciplines that will be raced:
Short course: XCC is similar to schools lap racing where there is a very short track and the riders do a few laps and are timed, however, the XCC race is very short and quick.
Enduro is a timed event where the downhill segments are timed. The "transitions" between the downhill sections are not timed but the riders must ride between each section.
Marathon: XCM is an out ride that covers varying terrain and technical sections, the youth festival marathon distances will be age appropriate (e.g. 15km up to 30km depending on ages)
Weekend Itinerary:
Friday, 4th July
Registration, Fun Time Trial race in the morning, XCC in the afternoon, Enduro training in the afternoon. Evening Enduro talks.
Saturday, 5th July
Enduro Lite in the morning, Marathon skills training in the afternoon. Evening XCM talks
Sunday, 6th July
XCM Marathon morning race. Final Prizegiving at lunch time. Event closed at 1pm.
Note: Detailed event times and batching will be posted at the event on the weekend.
Camp Out at the Karkloof Youth Festival!
📍 Karkloof Country Club | 4 – 6 July 2025
Spend the whole weekend soaking up the vibes, riding trails, and making memories under the stars?
🔥 TENTS included – Ready and waiting for you!
🫧 Hot showers
🍫 Marshmallows by the fire
🌙 Evening campfire stories
Laid-back vibes & good company – New friends guaranteed
A meals voucher can be purchased at registration which caters for the rider’s 2 breakfasts, 2 lunches and 2 dinners of a set catered menu. Drinks are excluded
So grab your sleeping bag, your sense of adventure, and let’s make it a weekend to remember.
👉 Limited tents available – choose that option when entering on www.easyreg.co.za
The Karkloof Country Club is offering both the option of a limited menu or a meal plan. The purpose of the meal plan is to allow for hearty food at an attractive price within a short space of time. The festival breakfast, lunch, and dinner slots are quite short due to a busy itinerary - so ordering off the normal menu might not allow time for food to arrive before the next event/courses begin.
Detailed Meal Plan:
Friday 4th July
LUNCH: BUILD A BURGER (CHICKEN OR BEEF)
DINNER: SPAGETTI BOLOGNAISE OR CHICKEN A-LA-KING
Saturday 5th July
BREAKFAST: CEREALS, OATS, SCRAMBLED EGG, BACON, TOAST AND FRUIT
LUNCH: BUILD A WRAP (CHICKEN)
DINNER: LASAGNE OR MAC and CHEESE
Sunday 5th July
BREAKFAST: CEREALS, OATS, SCRAMBLED EGG, BACON, TOAST AND FRUIT
Note: Meal plan excludes all drinks, coffees etc available at bar
If you’d like to place an order for a meal plan, simply head to your Karkloof Youth Festival registration on the EasyReg dashboard. From there, click ‘Edit’ to update your registration, then choose ‘Buy More’ under Merchandise and Donations. You’ll be able to select the number of individuals you’d like to order meals for. Click ‘Review Order’ to review your order and proceed to payment. Be sure to double-check your selection before confirming your order to ensure you and your friends and/ family members are covered.
#cyclingsouthafrica #youthmtb #kidsthatride #enduroshredders #mtbfamily #KarkloofTrails
Karkloof Youth Festival 2025
XCM Info:
Sub-Junior and Youth 35km with 2 water tables. All batched together.
Nippers and Sprogs 15km with 1 water table. All batched together.
Start and Finish at Karkloof Trail Head.
No feed/Tech zones permitted.
Nippers and Sprogs will have Hares to lead and Sweeps to follow.
Sub-Junior and Youth will have sweeps only.
Route files will be released on 30/06.
Reminder to competitors that route marking takes preference.