Ma Feature
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Flying Journo’ s
EPIC PASSION
Thanks to his expert reporting and incredible‘ hands-on’ coverage of events via radio, social media posts and videos, and through his incredible photography, Jeff Ayliffe has built a huge reputation in sports journalism in South Africa, and one of his favourite events to cover is the Absa Cape Epic. – BY ROXANNE MARTIN
hrough the years, Jeff has worked on some of the biggest sporting events South Africa has to offer, and you will be hard-pressed to find an adventure-based or endurance sport that Jeff hasn’ t reported on. Amongst his favourite events to work on he includes sailing’ s Volvo Ocean Race, mountain biking’ s Absa Cape Epic, as well as trail running’ s Otter Trail Run, and he says these events have provided some of the best moments of his career.“ During the 2015 Otter Trail, I was running alone with Swiss runner Marc Lauenstein, filming his record-breaking run, and it was such an honour to be there alone – to watch and feel this legend at work, that moment is one of my career highlights,” says Jeff.
A natural thrill-seeker – Jeff has made close to 3000 skydives, competed internationally for South Africa in the sport, and also ran a skydiving school – he is often rewarded on assignments with thrilling moments that make him thankful for the opportunity to do what he does.“ Covering the Volvo, I have raced with some of the top sailing teams in the Pro-Am, and I get to set up on the mast or on the rigging in 30 knot winds, reporting on the race. It’ s a thrill every time,” he says, adding that a visit to the Kyalami Race Track produced a moment that he will never forget.“ Sitting in the passenger seat of a BMW touring car with Williams Formula One driver Thierry Boutsen at the wheel, it was raining and we went through a mineshaft corner at 170 kilometres per hour. That was a definite career highlight!”
EPIC LOVE AFFAIR
Jeff has worked on the Absa Cape Epic for seven of the 14 years that it has taken place, and he has gained a deep understanding of the race, allowing him to get to know the riders and bring many great stories to light.“ My secret is that I live like the riders, including sleeping in the tented village,” explains Jeff, even though he says that always being on site means he is invariably always working.“ I really don’ t mind that, though, because I don’ t view the Epic as a job, I’ m always finding something to do, someone to interview.”
42 ISSUE 96 JULY 2017 / www. modernathlete. co. za