It's much more than a race

Jesse Jackson KauraisaMany see the annual Nedbank Desert Dash competition just as a fun racing competition but it is much more than that.The Dash has provided Swakopmund with plenty of economic boosts and also the Namibian health sector.It has become a tradition for many athletes who are willing to paddle for their lives on the bumpy, mountainous route from Windhoek to Swakopmund. From accommodation establishments literally bursting at the seams, to a surge in adventure tours and even booming butchery sales, Nedbank's Desert Dash makes a significant and wide ranging impact on the economy of the holiday town of Swakopmund.Its impact on Namibia's economy as a whole is estimated to amount to a whopping N$20 million.According to Thusnelda Araes, who deals with the reservations at Swakopmund Hotel and Entertainment Centre, not a single room is free at this popular refuge between 9 and 15 December this year.They have no less than 90 rooms – 80 of which have been block-booked by large groups of people. Equally, close to 200 bungalows managed by the Municipality of Swakopmund are filled to capacity for the Nedbank Desert Dash weekend.By Friday, 24 November, Swakopmund Sands Hotel only had six of their 25 rooms free for Friday, 8 December, and only one room for the following day, and Victoria Valombola says they expect these to fill up as the international cycling bonanza draws nearer. “The majority of the bookings are Desert Dash people,” Araes said.Tilla Naudé, who sees to it that guests at Strauss Holiday Flats and Bed and Breakfast are well nourished, said more than 50% of their flats have already been reserved more than two weeks before the Desert Dash. Clarice Theys, who until recently managed a bed and breakfast from her home in the suburb of Vineta, says her experience has been that the Nedbank Desert Dash consistently results in a scramble for a place to stay because of its popularity and international appeal.“The Desert Dash without a doubt makes a definite impact on the town's economy,” Theys noted.Jessica Enslin from Abenteuer Afrika Safari has seen a surge in the number of adventure tours booked, particularly over the past two years.Lala Bezuidenhout from Benguela Butchery, situated in the suburb of Tamariskia, says despite being busy over the December festive season in general, there is a noticeable peak during the weekend the cycling world and their loved ones make Swakopmund their home for the Nedbank Desert Dash.According to Gabes Hevita from Bidvest Rent A Car, they usually do not have a single vehicle left that is up for grabs over that weekend. “Normally, between 8 and 15 December, all cars are booked,” he says.Their busiest time is prior to and after the Nedbank Desert Dash, Alfons Kiesewetter from Cycles 4 U says. Before the race, cyclists bring their bicycles to him and his team to get them ready and “afterwards, they come for a wash and a lube to clean their bikes”.Kiesewetter says they experience a whopping 60% increase in their business activities as a direct result of the Nedbank Desert Dash.Wesley Pieters, a lecturer from the University of Namibia (Unam) and a second-time Desert Dash participant, says from the perspective of a cyclist, the economic impact of the event on Swakopmund is multi-fold.“Not only would the support vehicle have to be refuelled at the town, but participants spend money at the prize-giving event.“Moreover, cyclists usually make their sore-body way to local massage parlours to have their aches and stiff muscles dealt with,” Pieters noted.Andrew Resor a United Nations Peace Corp volunteer partnering with the Namibia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NCCI) in Swakopmund witnessed his first Desert Dash last year.“I would say from an observer's perspective, there is a lot more economic activity over that weekend,” Resor noted.Lionel Matthews, the managing director of Nedbank Namibia also spoke highly of the event. “In the annals of Namibian cycling, December has come to be known as the month of the Nedbank Desert Dash, and the entire Nedbank family is immensely proud of our association with this truly iconic event. “Following our first foray into the essence of this race last year, this time around we are ready to offer an even greater experience for race participants.”Matthews added that their race organisers and co-sponsors have implemented some exciting new developments for the 2017 event, which include quite nifty innovations that will broaden both the scope and appeal of our second Dash.“We all know cycling does well on so many levels. It is beneficial to the environment - with the lowest CO2 emissions of all forms of transport - it improves fitness, it's excellent for mental health and it brings people together in an active community.“At Nedbank, we've been fortunate to be part of this community for the best part of three decades.”Gernot de Klerk the head of marketing and communications said: “The Desert Dash is such an iconic race and very unique to Namibia, but also well known internationally.“When we saw the opportunity, especially given the obvious disappointment amongst the cycling community, we decided to step up to the plate. We owed it to the public and the cyclist to continue with a race that has become a bucket-list event.”De Klerk revealed that after several discussions with the creator of the Desert Dash, Aiden de Lange, and with the able guidance of Mannie Heymans and Leander Borg, they have managed to convince the relevant stakeholders that the Desert Dash will be in responsible hands and they have committed to be an anchor sponsor for five years.The 13th edition of the competition will start at the Grove Mall on Friday, 8 December at 15:00, with the cut-off time slated for Saturday at 15:00. Last year, Switzerland's Konny Looser won the male solo rider category while Germany's Rebecca Robisch was the top female solo rider. Looser clocked a time of 14 hours, 37 minutes and 45 seconds, while Robisch finished in 17 hours, 18 minutes and 10 seconds. Looser was followed by German Andreas Seewald who clocked 14:7:45, and Adele de la Rey of Namibia came second behind Rebecca Robisch in a time of 18:47:28. Namibian Anri Parker was the third woman home in 21:31:27, while Jaco Davel of South Africa clocked 15:42:19 to finish third in the men's category.

It's much more than a race

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Namibian Sun 2025-06-19

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It's much more than a race

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Namibian Sun 2025-06-19

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