Modern Athlete Magazine Issue 103, February 2018 | Page 32
MULTISPORT
looking forward to making a living some time in the
future without my heart rate at 200 beats per minute!
MA: You currently divide your time between SA
and the USA? What are the benefits of the mix?
BW: For the majority of the year I am based in
Stellenbosch, which is pretty much the perfect
location. I am able to train with the strong swimming
squad at Stellenbosch University, my running squad
is also based there, and it’s important to have access
to good trails to keep refining technical off-road skills
on both the mountain bike and run, so having the
Jonkershoek Nature Reserve so close to home is a
massive asset.
The
CHAMP
However, all the travelling really broke me
last year, so in 2017 I chose to base
myself closer to the international
races, and chose Boulder in
Colorado. Altitude is incredibly
beneficial to improving aerobic
athletic ability, and Boulder not
only sits at 1600m above sea
level, on the foothills of the
Rocky Mountains, but many
quality athletes train there, and
having World Champions and
Olympians as training partners
was a massive part of my
success.
is Here
In October SA’s Bradley Weiss earned
the title of Off Road Triathlon World
Champ after winning the XTERRA
World Championship final in Kapalua,
Maui, in Hawaii. We caught up with him
to ask him about his big win as well as
his plans for 2018.
MA: Congrats on the win in Maui! After a hugely
successful year on the XTERRA circuit, were you
confident that you would claim the title?
BW: It is difficult to go into a World Championship
event feeling 100% confident that you are going to
win, but my preparation was perfect, and after a very
successful season, I believed I could win if I executed
to my ability. Most importantly, I didn’t lose any time
on the swim, which was unbelievable! My swim has
been letting me down all these years, and last year I
came out the water more than two minutes behind the
leaders, so when I stood up out of the water and saw
the leaders right there, I thought, “Game on!” I think
mentally I won the race there. I was just so confident.
MA: You’re sponsored by PUMA,
amongst others. How has your
partnership with PUMA benefited you?
me a
little spent
– and craving
home – so I took the
time to not only thank but also celebrate alongside all
those who played their part in my fairytale. Luckily my
home town Stellenbosch provided plenty of fine wine
to keep us going late into the night! I just wanted to
get lost in the moment, because these moments of
elation are rare in sport, and only a lucky few get to
experience them.
Looking ahead, the new season is here and I’m up for
it. I’m still young and enjoying what I do, but I don’t
see myself beating up a tired body in my late 30s.
Once my passion begins to shift, new and exciting
opportunities will present themselves. I am just
BW: I started with PUMA as an
enthusiastic youngster with a dream back
in 2012. I was already running in the brand as it
worked so well with my biomechanics, but PUMA
clearly saw potential and I couldn’t be more thankful
to the crew for always having my back. The people
who have made this happen will never understand the
impact they have made on my life.
MA: You’re also quite active on socials media…
BW: I like to share my life experiences, both good
and bad, with a little humour for good measure,
because I try not to take life too seriously. I love the
opportunity to connect with so many people globally
– from updating my Gran back home, to a fan in the
Philippines, it can all be done in a simple Tweet or
Instagram update.
Ruzafa and Josiah Middaugh would be coming,
and I knew I had to put a gap on Mauricio Mendez,
because he’s proven time and again that he can put
in the fastest run splits. I lost the lead to Ruben on the
bike leg, but I put in a charge early in the run to take
back the lead. The guys brought out the best in me
and I had to dig deep, but the Maui gods definitely
looked after me.
MA: You seem to be enjoying the pro life?
BW: I competed in 13 XTERRA Championship
races across Asia, Europe and America in 2017, and
the opportunity to travel and experience cultures all
around the world is incredibly appealing and fulfilling.
Living my 20s while travelling to remote corners of
the world to compete in a sport I love, has been a
blessing, a privilege, and one I never take for granted.
MA: So what’s on the cards for the coming year?
BW: 2017 was an emotional rollercoaster and left
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ISSUE 103 FEBRUARY 2018 / www.modernathlete.co.za
MA: You still had to race hard for the win, though…
BW: Definitely. I got on the bike and I knew Ruben